Mining company Kenmare Resources said production rose significantly in the third quarter of the year, and said it remained confident in its outlook for full-year production.
The company, which produces titanium minerals and zircon, operates the Moma titanium minerals mine in northern Mozambique. It said total shipments of finished products amounted to 322,600 tonnes, a 173 per cent increase year on year.
Heavy mineral concentrate production was 413,400 tonnes in the quarter, up 60 per cent year on year, while ilmenite production was up 87 per cent to 314,400 tonnes. Primary zircon production was 15,700 tonnes, a 44 per cent increase on last year on higher HMC production.
Managing director Michael Carvill said the third quarter of the year, which ended on September 30th, represented the first quarter of ilmenite production at nameplate capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum, an 87 per cent increase on the production achieved in the same quarter in 2020.
“Despite expected lower grades in Q4, we remain confident in the outlook for 2021 annual production and reiterate our guidance of 1.1-1.2 million tonnes of ilmenite,” he said.
“Market conditions for all products remained strong in Q3 2021, with pricing strengthening quarter on quarter, a robust order book in place and positive outlook across markets.”
Demand for Kenmare’s products remained “robust” in the third quarter, the company said.
