Pan African Resources PLC
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under Companies Act 1985 with
registered number 3937466 on 25 February 2000)
AIM Code: PAF
JSE Code: PAN
ISIN: GB0004300496
("Pan African" or "the Company")
GROUP OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Following the recent successful acquisition of a 100% interest in Evander Gold
Mines Limited ("Evander"), Pan African is pleased to issue an update in respect
of its group operations.
Barberton Gold Mine Operations ("BGMO") and Evander
Production highlights for the quarter ended 31 March 2013 at BGMO and Evander
are as follows:
Evander BGMO
1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd
Description Unit Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter
FY 2013 FY 2013 FY 2013 FY 2013 FY 2013 FY 2013
**
Tonnes Milled (tonnes '000) 159 141 143 80 76 76
Gold Sold (oz) 24,853 20,737 25,592 23,200 21,726 25,881
**The purchase of Evander was completed on 28 February 2013. Gold sold
attributable to the Pan African group from Evander was 10,325oz for March 2013.
Both BGMO and Evander achieved good results in this last quarter in terms of
recovered grades and gold produced and sold. The overall average recovered
grade for the last quarter of the 2013 financial year is expected to be 9.7 g/t
for BGMO and 4.6 g/t for Evander. The underground recovered grade, excluding
surface sources, for the upcoming quarter is expected to be 10.7 g/t for BGMO
and 6.5 g/t for Evander.
Evander
A key short to medium-term objective at Evander is to identify, evaluate and
advance organic growth projects. The mine has begun to equip the No 7 Shaft
area to retrieve additional ounces from previously mined areas. Further
optimisation opportunities have also been identified in low grade surface rock
dumps.
Evander's results will be consolidated into the Pan African group results with
effect from 1 March 2013.
Barberton Tailings Retreatment Project ("BTRP")
The BTRP remains on target and within budget to commence production in the
first quarter of FY 2014.
The project is expected to retreat 1,200,000 tonnes of gold tailings per annum,
with a total life of project production of 160,000oz of gold at an average
recovered grade of 0.54 g/t. The BTRP is anticipated to increase the annual
production profile at BGMO by approximately 20,000oz per annum.
The necessary Eskom supply agreements have been concluded and the two overhead
lines for the required 4,000 MVA have been installed. The environmental impact
assessment for the Tailings Storage Facility ("TSF") has been approved. In line
with the planned schedule, Stefanutti Stocks has begun construction of the TSF,
and phase 1 is anticipated to be completed by July 2013. The project has
invoiced ZAR 194.2 million since the start of construction in April 2012 and
has a projected project value of ZAR 305.8 million.
Phoenix Platinum Mining ("Phoenix")
Phoenix produced 1,463oz 6E PGE for the quarter under review. Production at the
plant remained constrained due to the supply of oxide tailings by ferrochrome
producer International Ferro Metals Limited, which negatively affects the
flotation recovery.
The Company continues to explore options to ameliorate the impact of this oxide
feed material. These options include:
increasing feed tonnages into the plant;
additional test work to be carried out on the chemical reagent suite; and
expediting deliverables for the new TSF project.
Ron Holding, Joint Interim CEO of Pan African commented:
"The acquisition of Evander has propelled Pan African into a new phase of
growth. Our current emphasis is the successful integration of the asset into
the group. This integration is progressing well and is in line with our
expectations. We will continue our efforts to create and maintain a safe
working environment, achieve our stated production targets and control costs at
all of our operations."
Johannesburg
7 May 2013
JSE Sponsor
One Capital
PAN AFRICAN ENQUIRIES
South Africa UK
Pan African Resources Canaccord Genuity Limited - Nomad
and Joint Broker
Mr Cobus Loots
Andrew Chubb / Peter Stewart / Joe
Non-executive director and Joint Interim Chief Weaving
Executive Officer +44 (0) 20 7523 8000
+27 (0) 11 305 8900
Mr Ron Holding
Chief Operating Officer and Joint Interim
Chief Executive Officer
+27 (0) 11 243 2900
One Capital finnCap Limited - Joint Broker
Sholto Simpson / Megan Young Elizabeth Johnson / Joanna Weaving
+27 (0) 11 550 5000 +44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Vestor Investor Relations St James's Corporate Services
Limited
Louise Brugman Phil Dexter
+27 (0) 11 787 3015 +44 (0) 20 7499 3916
+27 83 504 1186
Gable Communications
Justine James
+44 (0) 20 7193 7463 / +44 (0) 7525 324431
For further information on Pan African, please visit the website at
www.panafricanresources.com
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