African mineral sands producer Base Resources has overcome unplanned stoppages to lift Sept qtr (Q1FY23) mined volumes at its Kwale project in Kenya to 4.4Mt, from 3.9Mt in the previous period.
Production of ilmenite rose to 86,000t (Q4FY22: 83,800t) while changes in the mineral assemblage and lower recoveries lowered rutile to 18,900t (19,200t) and zircon to 6,600t (6,800t). Low-grade products totalled 5,700t (4,900t).
BSE maintained its FY23 guidance at 62,000-73,000t rutile, 260,000-310,000t ilmenite and 22,000-27,000t zircon.
With mining continuing on the South Dune orebody and the Kwale North Dune on schedule to commence in March 2023, BSE expects to extend the Kwale operations by 13 months to late 2024.