South32 confirms FY opg unit cost, production guidance

Withdraws guidance for Australia Manganese due to Cyclone Megan (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Sydney, 22 Apr - Miner South32 confirmed its production and operating unit cost guidance for the year ending in June with the exception of the Australia Manganese unit, where it withdrew guidance after being forced to temporarily suspended activities in March due to Tropical Cyclone Megan.

South 32 said that recovery plans are underway for the Australian manganese unit to enable a safe return to operations and ore exports.

In the nine months, manganese ore production fell 6% while in the third quarter alone, it was down 8%. In the nine months, aluminium production rose 1% as Hillside Aluminium achieved record production and Brazil Aluminium continued to ramp up toward nameplate capacity.

Alumina production fell 1% as the group completed the planned calciner maintenance at Worsley Alumina while Brazil Alumina is on track to achieve production guidance.

Cannington payable zinc equivalent production increased by 15% year to date, as the operation realised higher average metal grades, and mitigated the impact of heavy rainfall following Tropical Cyclone Kirrily. Sierra Gorda payable copper equivalent production decreased by 13% year to date, as higher throughput was offset by lower planned copper grades, and lower molybdenum recoveries in the current phase of the mine plan. Cerro Matoso payable nickel production decreased by 5% year to date, while increasing by 8% in the quarter due to higher planned nickel grades. Illawarra Metallurgical Coal saleable coal production increased by 60% in the quarter, as the operation completed two planned longwall moves in the prior quarter, and delivered improved longwall performance at the Appin mine.

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(RADIOCOR) 22-04-24 09:42:47 (0162) 5 NNNN