22nd Feb 2007 07:00
Lonmin PLC22 February 2007 Smelter Update Lonmin announces that, due to a number of furnace bricks failing certaincapability tests, the rebuild timetable for the Number One furnace has now beenextended to around 135 days, including furnace warm up, with the first matte tapnow forecast to take place at the end of April 2007. In order to mitigate this delay, we have accelerated the start up of our newlyre-commissioned Merensky furnace and expect the first matte tap from thisfurnace around 9 March 2007. Following the completion of the Number One furnacerebuild, we will run the Merensky furnace in parallel with the Number Onefurnace and, as required, our Pyromet furnaces. Our full year sales forecast remains between 980,000 and 1,000,000 ounces ofPlatinum. These sales will consist of around 835,000 ounces of refined Platinumfrom Lonmin's own metallurgical facilities, around 125,000 ounces of tollrefined Platinum and between 20,000 and 40,000 ounces of semi refined Platinumsales. The estimate for the repair and extra metallurgical division costs for the fullyear is now around US$7.8 million (R55 million). Enquiries: Alex Shorland-Ball +44 (0)20 7201 6060Vice President,Investor Relations & Communications This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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