Australian mining giant Anglo American Corporation has announced the production results for the third quarter ended on September 30, 2011.
The iron ore output of Anglo American in the given quarter increased by 14 percent year on year, to 12.5 million mt due to faster than planned increased production volumes from the Kolomela mine in South Africa. Kolomela is expected to produce at least 7 million mt in 2012, with full production of 9 Mtpa in 2013. Meanwhile, the production from Sishen mine of 9.8 million mt declined by seven percent, as mining feedstock and quality constraints continued to impact plant throughput.
In the third quarter, metallurgical coal production increased by 12 percent to 4.5 million mt, while nickel production increased by 38 percent on year-on-year basis, to 9,000 mt due to the ramp-up of Barro Alto in Brazil, partially offset by lower production at Loma de Níquel in Venezuela, which stopped production in September 2012.