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ROYAL BAFOKENG PLATINUM LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 2008/015696/06)
(JSE share code: RBP ISIN: ZAE000149936)
("RBPlat" or the "Company" or the “Group”)
ROYAL BAFOKENG PLATINUM LIMITED QUARTERLY REVIEW AND PRODUCTION REPORT FOR THE
PERIOD 1 JULY TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2022 (“REPORTING PERIOD”)
QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE IMPACTED BY OPERATIONAL DISRUPTIONS DUE TO EXTENDED
STYLDRIFT SECTION 54 STOPPAGE, HIGH INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT AND
UNPRECEDENTED ESKOM POWER GRID LOAD RESTRICTIONS
OVERVIEW
One fatal accident during the quarter
10.2% reduction in tonnes hoisted
4.9% reduction in tonnes milled
2.6% reduction in built-up head grade
Improved recoveries due to Maseve upgrade
6.2% reduction in 4E ounces
Increase in cash operating costs and unit costs reflective of higher overall inflationary environment
10.8% decrease in capital expenditure, in line with project and operational requirements
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Ensuring the health and safety of our employees remains a key objective in achieving operational excellence
through safe and responsible mining. Embedding a resilient operating culture is based on our value of “Safety and
People First” through leadership, respect, trust and teamwork. Year-to-date improvements of 2.7%, 15.5% and
7.5% were recorded in our serious injury (SIFR), lost time injury (LTIFR) and total injury (TIFR) frequency rates.
Sadly, despite the improvements in our key safety metrics, there was a tragic fatality at our Styldrift operation. On
11 September, Ms Sibilanga was fatally injured in a trackless mobile machinery-related incident. The Board of
Directors and management wish to extend their sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ms
Sibilanga.
We are committed to the ongoing focus on the wellness of our workforce and remain confident that our safety
strategy, as evidenced by achieving 3 000 000 fatality-free shifts on 3 July, will allow us to achieve our goal of zero
harm.
PRODUCTION
As experienced during the first half of the year, the third quarter operating environment continued to be
characterized by high inflationary pressures due to global supply chain disruptions and market volatility
stemming from the geopolitical instability caused by the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the longer-term impact of the
Covid-19 pandemic and unreliable power supply. Furthermore, as a result of the ongoing uncertainty caused by
the current corporate action, there are signs of safety and production related impacts.
Notwithstanding a strong BRPM operational performance, overall performance for the quarter was below
expectation with total tonnes hoisted and milled decreasing by 10.2% and 4.9% to 1 203kt and 1 187kt,
respectively. 4E metals in concentrate production reduced by 6.2% to 119.1koz (2021: 127.0koz).
Year to date, total tonnes hoisted amounted to 3 536kt, representing a 1.1% increase compared to the
comparative 2021 reporting period. Total tonnes milled year to date amounted to 3 492kt, a 2.5% increase
against the comparative 2021 period.
Closing surface reef stocks at the end of the reporting period are estimated at 225kt.
BRPM
Total reef tonnes hoisted for the reporting period increased by 4.0% to 709kt (2021: 682kt), with Merensky
production contributing 314kt and UG2 395kt. Tonnes milled increased by 9.6% to 741kt (2021: 676kt), with UG2
tonnes milled accounting for 56.1% or 416kt of BRPM ore milled during the quarter. Year-to-date tonnes milled
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increased by 8.5% to 2 006kt (2021: 1 848kt), with UG2 accounting for 54.5% of BRPM tonnes milled. Closing
surface reef stocks are estimated at 54kt.
The built-up head grade for the quarter and year to date improved marginally to 3.96g/t (4E) and 3.88g/t (4E),
respectively, compared to 2021.
The increased volumes and improved head grades have resulted in increased 4E ounce production for both the
quarter and year to date of 12.4% and 10.2% to 78.1koz and 204.7koz, respectively, compared to 2021.
STYLDRIFT
Total reef tonnes hoisted for the reporting period decreased by 24.9% or 164kt to 494kt (2021: 658kt). The key
contributor to the lower performance is the Section 54 1(a) Stop Notice issued following the fatal accident on 11
September. The Section 54 stoppage materially affected September production performance with the loss of all
remaining FULCO production shifts in the month and only 98kt being hoisted compared to the 220kt hoisted in
September 2021. Meeting the Section 54 stipulations to recommence operations necessitated upgrading the
current collision avoidance system (CAS) for the entire Styldrift trackless fleet. This included the installation of
new hardware, recalibration of the CAS operating settings for vehicle and personnel detection (on all mobile fleet
which is in excess of two hundred units), independent specialist verification of the upgrades, and the re-training
of all associated mining and engineering personnel.
Quarterly stoping production was further impacted by the temporary loss of face length in the higher-grade north-
western production sections as these sections negotiate and re-establish through a known fault feature. The fault
feature coincides with a change in reef-facies type resulting in a geotechnically more complex mining
environment, additional dilution and increased tip-to-face tramming distances.
Tonnes milled for the quarter and year to date decreased by 22.0% to 446kt (2021: 572kt) and 4.7% to 1 486kt
(2021: 1 560kt), with closing surface stocks estimated at 171kt.
The built-up head grade for the quarter and year to date declined by 8.6% and 5.7% to 3.51g/t (4E) and 3.61g/t
(4E), respectively. The reduction in built-up head grade is attributable to the re-establishment of stoping sections
in the north west resulting in an increase in on-reef mining dilution and lower higher-grade stoping tonnage
contribution to the overall ore mix. The built-up head grade is expected to improve during the fourth quarter as
these sections successfully re-establish and stoping volumes improve.
The reduction in volumes and lower head grades have resulted in a decrease in 4E ounce production for both the
quarter and year to date of 28.8% and 10.8% to 41.0koz and 140.2koz, respectively, compared to 2021.
Key operational focus remains geared towards:
Re-establishing mineable face length
Reduction of tip-to-face tramming distances
Improving trackless fleet availability and utilisation.
CONCENTRATING
Total tonnes milled for the reporting period decreased by 4.9% to 1 187kt (2021: 1 248kt). Merensky and UG2
tonnes milled amounted to 772kt and 416kt, respectively, with UG2 equating to 35% of total milled volumes.
Overall concentrator performance was impacted by increased load curtailment events experienced during the
quarter and reduced Maseve throughput related to the grind and load optimisation processes required to ensure
the optimal configuration of the newly commissioned secondary high intensity grind (HIG) mill to maximise
recoveries.
The BRPM concentrator treated volumes increased by 3.0% to 695kt, of which 34kt was UG2 (4.9%). Year to
date, BRPM concentrator tonnes milled increased by 4.0% to 2 000kt (2021: 1 923kt).
Maseve concentrator tonnes milled decreased by 11.7% to 394kt, of which 283kt was UG2 (71.8%). Year to
date, Maseve concentrator tonnes milled increased by 2.2% to 1 184kt (2021: 1 158kt).
Toll treatment tonnes for the reporting period were reduced by 22.7% or 29kt with the reduction being
attributable to toll concentrating being placed on temporary hold due to load curtailment.
The combined built-up head grade for the quarter and year to date declined by 2.6% and 2.1%, respectively, to
3.79g/t (4E) and 3.76g/t (4E). The reduction in head grade is attributable to the increased contribution of the
lower grade South shaft UG2 from BRPM and the on-reef dilution challenges at Styldrift.
Despite the impact of load curtailment, encouraging improvements have been noted in the Maseve recoveries
since the commissioning of the MF2 circuit and HIG mill optimisation, with Maseve recoveries for the quarter
and year to date improving by 4.2% and 2.3%, respectively. This has resulted in the Group 4E recovery
performance for the reporting period improving by 1.3% to 82.38% despite the reduction in built-up head grade.
Lower milled volumes, lower built-up head grade and associated recoveries yielded 119.1koz 4E metals in
concentrate for the quarter. 4E metals in concentrate for the year to date are marginally higher (0.6%) equating
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to 344.9koz compared to 2021.
Equivalent 4E metals in surface stocks are estimated at approximately 21koz.
CASH OPERATING COSTS
BRPM cash operating costs for the quarter and year to date increased by 18.3% and 19.0% to R1 245 million
and R3 389 million, respectively, in line with production volumes, UG2 toll treatment and on-mine inflation. Unit
cash costs per tonne milled and per 4E ounce for the quarter increased by 8.0% and 5.3% to R1 680 and
R15 941, respectively. Year-to-date unit costs have increased by 9.6% to R1 689 per tonne and by 8.0% to
R16 556 per 4E ounce.
Styldrift cash operating costs for the quarter and year to date increased by 14.8% and 18.9% to R1 253 million
and R3 435 million, respectively. The increase in cash costs is attributable to increased mining consumables,
secondary support and trackless fleet maintenance costs and on-mine inflation. The lower milled volumes and grade
resulted in unit cash cost increases for the quarter of 47.3% to R2 809 per tonne milled and by 61.3% to R30 561
per 4E ounce. Year-to-date unit costs have increased by 24.9% to R2 312 per tonne milled and by 33.4% to
R24 501 per 4E ounce.
Total cash operating costs for the reporting period increased by 16.6% to R2 498 million and 19.0% for the
year to date to R6 824 million compared to 2021. The cost drivers are attributed to production volumes and the
current higher inflationary environment.
The decrease in production, on-mine inflation and lower grade have resulted in a 22.5% and 24.3% increase
in cash unit cost per tonne milled and 4E ounce, respectively, to R2 104 and R20 974 for the reporting period.
Year to date, unit costs have increased by 16.1% to R1 954 per tonne milled and 18.3% to R19 785 per 4E
ounce.
CAPITAL
Total capital expenditure for the reporting period increased by 10.8% to R466.4 million in line with project and
operational stay-in-business (SIB) capital requirements. Expansion capital expenditure for the quarter
decreased by 20.6% to R81.9 million compared to 2021, with the decrease in line with the project schedule
and construction progress at Styldrift, and the completion of the Maseve concentrator MF2 upgrade and
BRPM tailings storage facility expansion.
Replacement capital expenditure amounted to R192.6 million for the quarter and is attributable to the Styldrift
replacement project which is currently extending the footwall declines to the north, south and east to establish
and secure the required ore-reserves to sustain production in the longer term.
SIB capital increased by 37.4% or R52.2 million to R191.9 million equating to 7.7% of cash operating costs.
The increase in SIB expenditure is mainly attributable to BRPM UG2 ore reserve development and increased
Styldrift trackless fleet rebuild and strike belt extension related works.
FINANCIAL POSITION
As at 30 September 2022, the Company had net cash of R5 110 million, compared to a net cash position of
R4 884 million as at 30 June 2022. Cash movements for the quarter include the payment of approximately
R711 million for the interim dividend.
At the end of the reporting period, RBPlat had approximately R3 billion of debt facilities available in addition to
the R5 110 million cash on hand.
COMPANY GUIDANCE
Given the third quarter operational performance, Group production and cost guidance is revised from the
guidance communicated in our 2022 interim results. Subject to any unforeseen operational disruptions, tonnes
milled are forecast at between 4.60Mt and 4.70Mt (previously 4.65Mt and 4.90Mt), yielding 4E ounce
production of between 455koz and 470koz (previously 485koz and 505koz) at a built-up head grade of 3.76g/t
for the year.
Total cash operating unit costs per 4E ounce for the Group are now forecast to be between R19 500 and
R20 500, compared to the previous range of R18 500 and R19 000. Group capital expenditure is revised lower
to R2.0 billion from R2.2 billion, with SIB expenditure between 7% and 8% of operating cost for the year.
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Unaudited Unaudited Quarter 3 YTD Sept
Unaudited Unaudited
quarter quarter 2022 vs. 2022 vs.
YTD 30 YTD 30
Description Unit ended 30 ended 30 Quarter 3 YTD Sept
September September
September September 2021 % 2021 %
2022 2021
2022 2021 Change Change
Safety
TIFR (/1 000 000 hrs) rate 4.87 7.73 37.0 7.01 7.58 7.5
SIFR (/1 000 000 hrs) rate 1.26 0.97 (29.9) 0.71 0.73 2.7
LTIFR (/1 000 000 hrs) rate 2.04 1.77 (15.3) 1.47 1.74 15.5
Production
Tonnes hoisted kt 1 203 1 340 (10.2) 3 536 3 498 1.1
BRPM kt 709 682 4.0 1 985 1 820 9.1
Styldrift kt 494 658 (24.9) 1 551 1 678 (7.6)
Tonnes delivered kt 1 207 1 313 (8.1) 3 501 3 435 1.9
BRPM kt 755 697 8.3 2 015 1 845 9.2
Styldrift kt 452 616 (26.6) 1 486 1 590 (6.5)
Tonnes milled kt 1 187 1 248 (4.9) 3 492 3 408 2.5
BRPM kt 741 676 9.6 2 006 1 848 8.5
Styldrift kt 446 572 (22.0) 1 486 1 560 (4.7)
Merensky kt 772 957 (19.3) 2 399 2 580 (7.0)
UG2 kt 416 291 43.0 1 093 828 32.0
% UG2 of total tonnes milled % 35 23 52.2 31 24 29.2
BRPM concentrator kt 695 675 3.0 2 000 1 923 4.0
Maseve concentrator kt 394 446 (11.7) 1 184 1 158 2.2
Toll kt 99 128 (22.7) 308 327 (5.8)
Closing surface stocks kt 225 228 (1.3) 225 228 (1.3)
BRPM kt 54 66 (18.2) 54 66 (18.2)
Styldrift kt 171 162 5.6 171 162 5.6
4E built-up head grade g/t 3.79 3.89 (2.6) 3.76 3.84 (2.1)
BRPM g/t 3.96 3.94 0.5 3.88 3.85 0.8
Styldrift g/t 3.51 3.84 (8.6) 3.61 3.83 (5.7)
Merensky g/t 3.77 3.87 (2.6) 3.76 3.85 (2.3)
UG2 g/t 3.83 3.96 (3.3) 3.77 3.81 (1.0)
Concentrator recovery (4E) % 82.38 81.36 1.3 81.55 81.48 0.1
BRPM concentrator % 82.07 82.35 (0.3) 81.43 82.46 (1.2)
Maseve concentrator % 83.49 80.10 4.2 82.18 80.32 2.3
Toll % 80.48 80.73 (0.3) 80.11 80.01 0.1
Metals in concentrate produced
Total
6E koz 135.2 142.4 (5.1) 389.6 384.4 1.4
4E koz 119.1 127.0 (6.2) 344.9 342.8 0.6
Platinum koz 75.7 81.9 (7.6) 220.5 220.8 (0.1)
Palladium koz 32.6 34.0 (4.1) 93.5 91.8 1.9
Rhodium koz 8.1 7.6 6.6 22.3 20.6 8.3
Gold koz 2.7 3.5 (22.9) 8.6 9.6 (10.4)
Iridium koz 2.7 2.6 3.8 7.6 7.0 8.6
Ruthenium koz 13.4 12.8 4.7 37.1 34.6 7.2
Nickel kt 0.636 0.743 (14.4) 1.921 2.060 (6.7)
Copper kt 0.389 0.458 (15.1) 1.179 1.269 (7.1)
Cobalt kt 0.018 0.020 (10.0) 0.055 0.057 (3.5)
BRPM
6E koz 89.4 78.4 14.0 233.0 209.6 11.2
4E koz 78.1 69.5 12.4 204.7 185.7 10.2
Platinum koz 49.2 44.3 11.1 129.5 118.0 9.7
Palladium koz 21.3 18.7 13.9 55.4 50.0 10.8
Rhodium koz 6.2 5.0 24.0 16.0 13.6 17.6
Gold koz 1.4 1.5 (6.7) 3.8 4.1 (7.3)
Iridium koz 1.9 1.5 26.7 4.8 4.0 20.0
Ruthenium koz 9.4 7.4 27.0 23.5 19.9 18.1
Nickel kt 0.259 0.293 (11.6) 0.719 0.804 (10.6)
Copper kt 0.167 0.182 (8.2) 0.461 0.500 (7.8)
Cobalt kt 0.007 0.008 (12.5) 0.021 0.023 (8.7)
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Unaudited Unaudited Quarter 3 YTD Sept
Unaudited Unaudited
quarter quarter 2022 vs. 2022 vs.
YTD 30 YTD 30
Description Unit ended 30 ended 30 Quarter 3 YTD Sept
September September
September September 2021 % 2021 %
2022 2021
2022 2021 Change Change
Styldrift
6E koz 45.8 64.1 (28.5) 156.6 174.9 (10.5)
4E koz 41.0 57.6 (28.8) 140.2 157.2 (10.8)
Platinum koz 26.5 37.7 (29.7) 91.0 102.8 (11.5)
Palladium koz 11.3 15.3 (26.1) 38.1 41.8 (8.9)
Rhodium koz 1.9 2.6 (26.9) 6.3 7.1 (11.3)
Gold koz 1.3 2.0 (35.0) 4.8 5.5 (12.7)
Iridium koz 0.8 1.1 (27.3) 2.8 3.0 (6.7)
Ruthenium koz 4.0 5.4 (25.9) 13.6 14.7 (7.5)
Nickel kt 0.377 0.450 (16.2) 1.202 1.256 (4.3)
Copper kt 0.222 0.276 (19.6) 0.718 0.769 (6.6)
Cobalt kt 0.011 0.012 (8.3) 0.034 0.034 0.0
Cash operating costs
Cash operating costs R’m 2 498 2 143 (16.6) 6 824 5 735 (19.0)
BRPM R’m 1 245 1 052 (18.3) 3 389 2 847 (19.0)
Styldrift R’m 1 253 1 091 (14.8) 3 435 2 888 (18.9)
Cash operating cost / tonne milled R/t 2 104 1 717 (22.5) 1 954 1 683 (16.1)
BRPM R/t 1 680 1 556 (8.0) 1 689 1 541 (9.6)
Styldrift R/t 2 809 1 907 (47.3) 2 312 1 851 (24.9)
Cash operating cost / 6E ounce R/oz 18 476 15 039 (22.9) 17 515 14 915 (17.4)
BRPM R/oz 13 926 13 418 (3.8) 14 545 13 583 (7.1)
Styldrift R/oz 27 358 17 020 (60.7) 21 935 16 512 (32.8)
Cash operating cost / 4E ounce R/oz 20 974 16 874 (24.3) 19 785 16 730 (18.3)
BRPM R/oz 15 941 15 137 (5.3) 16 556 15 331 (8.0)
Styldrift R/oz 30 561 18 941 (61.3) 24 501 18 372 (33.4)
Capital expenditure
Total capital expenditure R'm 466.4 421.0 (10.8) 1 287.1 1 250.5 (2.9)
Expansion R'm 81.9 103.2 20.6 288.9 451.7 36.0
Replacement R'm 192.6 178.1 (8.1) 503.1 485.7 (3.6)
Stay-in-business (SIB) R'm 191.9 139.7 (37.4) 495.1 313.1 (58.1)
BRPM R'm 65.4 29.3 (123.2) 149.0 66.6 (123.7)
Styldrift R'm 108.8 87.4 (24.5) 313.0 217.3 (44.0)
Maseve R'm - 0.8 100.0 1.6 1.3 (23.1)
Concentrators R'm 17.7 22.2 20.3 31.5 27.8 (13.3)
BRPM SIB - % of operating cost % 5.3 2.8 (89.3) 4.4 2.3 (91.3)
Styldrift SIB - % of operating cost % 8.7 8.0 (8.7) 9.1 7.5 (21.3)
* Please note any difference in totals in this table is due to rounding
The information set out in this announcement has not been reviewed and reported on by the Company’s external
auditors.
Johannesburg
21 October 2022
JSE Sponsor:
Merrill Lynch South Africa Proprietary Limited t/a BofA Securities
For further information, please contact:
Lindiwe Montshiwagae
+27 (0) 10 590 4510
Email: lindiwe@bafokengplatinum.co.za
Thandeka Mthembu
+27 (0) 10 590 4510
Email: thandekam@bafokengplatinum.co.za
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