Tharisa Q1 FY2024 production report
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JSE share code: THA
LSE share code: THS
A2X share code: THA
('Tharisa' or the 'Company')
PRODUCTION REPORT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER FY2024 ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Tharisa, the mining, metals, and innovation company dual-listed on the Johannesburg and London stock exchanges, announces its production results for Q1 FY2024[1] and cash balance as at quarter end.
Quarter highlights
‒ Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate ('LTIFR') of
‒ 0.09 per 200 000-man hours worked at Tharisa Minerals
‒ 0.13 per 200 000-man hours worked at Karo Platinum
‒ Increased mill throughput of 8.7% at 1 424.4 kt, with improvements in both grade and recovery for PGMs and chrome concentrate leads to
‒ PGM output increasing to 35.7 koz (Q4 FY2023: 30.7 koz)
‒ Record quarterly chrome output at 462.8 kt (Q4 FY2023: 413.4 kt)
‒ PGM basket price showed slight improvement of 1% to US$1 344/oz (6E basis) (Q4 FY2023: US$1 331/oz)
‒ Average metallurgical grade chrome concentrate prices held steady at US$291/t (Q4 FY2023: US$291/t)
‒ Group cash on hand at US$221.5 million (30 September 2023: US$268.8 million), and debt of US$126.6 million (30 September 2023: US$142.2 million), resulting in a net cash position of US$94.9 million (30 September 2023: US$126.6 million)
‒ Production guidance for FY2024 remains between 145 koz and 155 koz PGMs (6E basis) and 1.7 Mt to 1.8 Mt of chrome concentrates
Key Operating Numbers
| Quarter ended 31 Dec 2023 | Quarter ended 30 Sep 2023 | Quarter on quarter movement % | Quarter ended 31 Dec 2022 | Year ended 30 Sep 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reef mined | kt | 1 058.6 | 1 158.9 | (8.7) | 1 081.5 | 4 177.3 |
| Reef milled | kt | 1 424.4 | 1 310.2 | 8.7 | 1 427.4 | 5 409.8 |
| PGMs produced (6E) | koz | 35.7 | 30.7 | 16.3 | 42.7 | 144.7 |
| Chrome concentrates produced (excluding third party) | kt | 462.8 | 413.4 | 11.9 | 383.1 | 1 580.1 |
| Average PGM basket price | US$/oz | 1 344 | 1 331 | 1.0 | 2 360 | 1 893 |
| Average metallurgical grade chrome concentrate price - 42% basis | US$/t | 291 | 291 | - | 223 | 263 |
Phoevos Pouroulis, CEO of Tharisa, commented:
"A positive start to our new financial year in what is traditionally a tough quarter with the festive season and inclement weather typically causing challenges to operations. We have made good operational improvements, with waste mining advances leading to a better mining and plant performance, resulting in record quarterly chrome production.
This performance is vital and underpins our development of the Karo Platinum Project and sets the trajectory for the coming decades at our multi-generational Tharisa Mine.
PGM prices remain subdued, negatively affecting many of the PGM miners in South Africa, once again our co-product business model continues to be operationally cash-generative, and the chrome market continues to enjoy strong demand as we enter the Chinese New Year.
This year we will be expanding and rolling out our R&D projects in distinct stages of development and commercialisation. With a solid foundation we can re-frame the operating context and re-focus our energy on our key competencies ultimately unlocking value to all stakeholders."
Health & Safety
‒ LTIFR of
‒ 0.09 per 200 000-man hours worked at Tharisa Minerals
‒ 0.13 per 200 000-man hours worked at Karo Platinum
Market Update
‒ Continued strong demand was evident in the chrome market, particularly in the lead up to, these days, a less disruptive Chinese New Year period (official start date 10 February 2024), with demand underpinned by economic fundamentals and continued concerns about inland logistics in South Africa. Freight rates are ticking up on the back of geo-political events impacting maritime shipping routes
‒ The PGM market has continued to suffer from pricing pressure, however, a short-term reprieve towards the end of the quarter, driven by technical short covering, saw some price spikes. The effect of these low prices is evident on the PGM mines in South Africa, with shaft and even mine closures underway. The major pressure on PGM prices remains the (perceived) excess inventory in the PGM pipeline. We expect this to be balanced once the real demand we have seen from end users becomes evident, in particular as further supply cuts are implemented and, on a macro level, policy reduction of subsidies for EV vehicles influences demand
Operational Update
‒ Total reef mined slightly down at 1 058.6 kt (Q4 FY2023: 1 158.9 kt)
‒ Strategic ROM ore purchases supplemented own mine production with Q1 FY2024 milling at 1 424.4 kt (Q4 FY2023: 1 310.2kt)
‒ Quarterly chrome production at a record 462.8 kt (Q4 FY2023: 413.4 kt)
‒ Grade of 19.1% Cr2O3 (Q4 FY2023: 18.7%)
‒ Recovery at 70.3% (Q4 FY2023: 70.0%)
‒ Quarterly PGM production at 35.7 koz (Q4 FY2023: 30.7 koz)
‒ Rougher feed grade of 1.60 g/t (Q4 FY2023: 1.57 g/t)
‒ Recovery of 66.1% (Q4 FY2023: 62.7%)
Karo Platinum Update
‒ The previously announced review of the commissioning timeline of the Karo Platinum Project remains on track for first ore in mill (FOIM) for June 2025
‒ Funding solutions ring fenced to Karo Platinum are being pursued in line with the revised production timeline
Cash Balance and Debt Position
‒ Group cash on hand at US$221.5 million (30 September 2023: US$268.8 million), and debt of US$126.6 million (30 September 2023: US$142.2 million), resulting in a net cash position of US$94.9 million (30 September 2023: US$126.6 million)
Guidance
Production guidance for FY2024 is set between 145 koz and 155 koz PGMs (6E basis) and 1.7 Mt to 1.8 Mt of chrome concentrates.
Any forward looking statements have not been reported on or reviewed by Tharisa's auditors.
| Quarter ended 31 Dec 2023 | Quarter ended 30 Sep 2023 | Quarter on quarter movement % | Quarter ended 31 Dec 2022 | Year ended 30 Sep 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reef mined | kt | 1 058.6 | 1 158.9 | (8.7) | 1 081.5 | 4 177.3 |
| Stripping ratio | m 3 : m 3 | 12.0 | 14.0 | (14.3) | 10.6 | 12.8 |
| Reef milled | kt | 1 424.4 | 1 310.2 | 8.7 | 1 427.4 | 5 409.8 |
| PGM flotation feed | kt | 1 048.0 | 970.6 | 8.0 | 1 115.3 | 4 122.0 |
| PGM rougher feed grade | g/t | 1.60 | 1.57 | 1.9 | 1.66 | 1.64 |
| PGM recovery | % | 66.1 | 62.7 | 5.4 | 71.7 | 66.5 |
| 6E PGMs produced | koz | 35.7 | 30.7 | 16.3 | 42.7 | 144.7 |
| Platinum | koz | 20.5 | 17.3 | 18.5 | 23.2 | 80.3 |
| Palladium | koz | 5.2 | 5.2 | - | 7.5 | 24.8 |
| Rhodium | koz | 3.3 | 3.0 | 10.0 | 4.2 | 13.5 |
| Average PGM basket price | US$/oz | 1 344 | 1 331 | 1.0 | 2 360 | 1 893 |
| Platinum | US$/oz | 914 | 940 | (2.8) | 967 | 981 |
| Palladium | US$/oz | 1 090 | 1 227 | (11.2) | 1 952 | 1 594 |
| Rhodium | US$/oz | 4 216 | 3 841 | 9.8 | 12 951 | 8 992 |
| Average PGM basket price | ZAR/oz | 25 189 | 24 842 | 1.4 | 41 682 | 34 107 |
| Cr 2 O 3 ROM grade | % | 19.1 | 18.7 | 2.1 | 17.0 | 17.9 |
| Chrome recovery | % | 70.3 | 70.0 | 0.4 | 65.7 | 67.6 |
| Chrome yield | % | 32.5 | 31.6 | 2.8 | 26.8 | 29.2 |
| Chrome concentrates produced (excluding third party) | kt | 462.8 | 413.4 | 11.9 | 383.1 | 1 580.1 |
| Metallurgical grade | kt | 389.9 | 338.4 | 15.2 | 347.2 | 1 356.9 |
| Specialty grades | kt | 72.9 | 75.0 | (2.8) | 35.9 | 223.2 |
| Third party chrome production | kt | 45.4 | 58.9 | (22.9) | 40.9 | 201.9 |
| Average metallurgical grade chrome concentrate contract price - 42% basis | US$/t CIF China | 291 | 291 | - | 223 | 263 |
| Metallurgical grade chrome concentrate contract price | ZAR/t CIF China | 5 445 | 5 273 | 3.3 | 3 932 | 4 840 |
| Average exchange rate | ZAR:US$ | 18.7 | 18.7 | - | 17.6 | 18.2 |
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