3
decreased R41 million to R133 million (US$20 million). A
significant portion of this expenditure was directed at the
major projects, with R23 million (US$4 million) at 1 tertiary
and 5 shaft at Driefontein, R9 million (US$1 million) at Kloof
4 shaft, R4 million (US$1 million) at Kloof 1 shaft pillar
extraction and R29 million (US$4 million) at Beatrix 3 shaft.
The Australian operations incurred capital expenditure of
R111 million (A$22 million) compared with R122 million
(A$24 million) in the June quarter. Expenditure at St Ives
included development costs at Argo and Leviathan
underground. At Agnew, the majority of the expenditure
was spent on development. Included in capital expenditure
was ongoing exploration expenditure at both operations of
R34 million (A$7 million). At the Ghanaian operations,
capital expenditure amounted to R72 million (US$11 million)
mainly on the new heap leach pads projects at Tarkwa and
the Damang main pit cutback. This compares with R117
million (US$18 million) in the previous quarter. Major
projects are still forecast to be in line with approved votes.
Proceeds on disposal of various Group wide mining assets
amounted to R4 million (US$1 million) for the quarter.
Financing activities include the half yearly payment of the
debt portion of the Mvela loan of R140 million (US$22
million).
Net cash outflow for the quarter was R431 million (US$65
million). After accounting for a negative translation
adjustment of R144 million (US$4 million positive), the
funding of capital expenditure and the dividend as detailed
above, the cash balance at the end of September was
R2,800 million (US$442 million). The balance at the end of
June was R3,375 million (US$504 million).
Detailed and operational review
Group overview
Attributable gold production for the September 2005 quarter
decreased 8 per cent to 993,000 ounces when compared
with the June quarter. Production from the South African
operations at 647,000 ounces accounted for 65 per cent of
the Group’s total attributable production, compared with
687,000 ounces or 64 per cent last quarter.
At the South African operations, gold production decreased
6 per cent compared with the previous quarter. The
decrease of 7,100 ounces and 8,100 ounces at Kloof and
Driefontein respectively was mainly due to the strike during
the quarter, while Kloof continued to experience lower
grades than reserve grades in the earlier part of the quarter.
At Beatrix the 24,600 ounce reduction was due to the strike
and slow start-up after the strike, together with the smectite
problems detailed earlier. Operating profit at the South
African operations decreased from R224 million (US$35
million) to R170 million (US$26 million), mainly as a
consequence of the lower gold production.
Production from the Australian operations was 13 per cent
lower quarter on quarter at 181,800 ounces. The decrease
in production at Agnew of 3,100 ounces was due to the
lower grades as forecast last quarter. At St Ives the
decrease of 23,300 ounces was due to the mill shut down,
and lower underground volumes during the quarter together
with an additional 12,000 ounces from mill clean up in the
June quarter.
Despite the lower production, operating profit from the
Australian operations increased from R159 million (A$33
million, US$25 million) to R177 million (A$36 million, US$27
million), primarily as a result of the higher gold price which
increased from an average of A$551 per ounce to A$578
per ounce for the September quarter, allied with lower costs.
The Ghanaian operations showed a 10 per cent decrease in
attributable gold production to 164,600 ounces. Damang
was slightly lower, as forecast. At Tarkwa the decrease was
due to movements in GIP and lower grades. Ghana
contributed operating profit of R207 million (US$32 million),
a 24 per cent decrease when compared with the June
quarter due to the lower production.
The international operations contributed R384 million
(US$59 million) or 69 per cent of the total operating profit of
R554 million (US$85 million). This compares with R433
million (US$68 million) or 66 per cent of the total operating
profit of R656 million (US$103 million) last quarter.
South African Operations
Project 500 was initiated in September 2003 to increase
revenue and reduce costs through two sub-projects i.e.
Project 400 and Project 100. These projects have proved
successful and led to additional projects – Project 100+ and
Project Beyond as detailed below.
Project 400
Project 400 was aimed at improving revenue such that an
additional R400 million (US$60 million) per annum could be
generated on a sustainable basis. This was to be achieved
through a basket of productivity initiatives; by eliminating
non-contributing production and replacing low-grade surface
material with higher margin underground material - all aimed
at improved quality volumes. In F2005 this has resulted in
improved yields, in line with the life of mine grades for each
of the South African operations, as reflected in the table
below.
Quarter ended
F2004
F2005
Sep
2005
Driefontein:
Life of mine head grade as per the 2003,
2004 and 2005 annual report
8.7
8.1
8.0
Life of mine head grade adjusted for
estimated metallurgical recoveries
8.4
7.8
7.8
Driefontein (underground yields achieved)
8.1
8.3
8.1
Kloof:
Life of mine head grade as per the 2003,
2004 and 2005 annual report
9.8
10.5
9.7
Life of mine head grade adjusted for
estimated metallurgical recoveries
9.5
10.2
9.4
Kloof (underground yields achieved)
9.0
9.1
8.7
Beatrix:
Life of mine head grade as per the 2003,
2004 and 2005 annual report
5.1
5.5
5.4
Life of mine head grade adjusted for
estimated metallurgical recoveries
4.9
5.3
5.2
Beatrix (underground yields achieved)
4.6
5.0
5.2