Sierra Rutile Provides Production Update (Sierra Leone)

Sierra Rutile Limited has announced an update on 2011 and 2012 production guidance and execution of its first 2012 sales contracts.

To date, production in H2 2011 has been significantly higher than in H1 2011 (27,149 tonnes in H1 versus approximately 39,000 tonnes forecast for H2) as a result of the dredge operating in a higher grade area of the Lanti deposit and from reduced dredge downtime as the effects of planned catch-up maintenance have been realised.

In 2012 rutile production is expected to be approximately 80,000 tonnes, a substantial increase of  20  per  cent.  on  the  previous  year. This  increased  production  is  the  product  of  the  essential  maintenance  and  refurbishment  of  existing  assets  that  has  been  ongoing  through  2011, combined with an expected continuation of the high in-situ resource grades experienced in H2  2011. The  80,000  tonne  2012  guidance  includes  the  impact  of  a  planned  three-week  maintenance shutdown on the dredge in Q2.

Sierra Rutile Limited

Sierra Rutile Limited is a mining company with operations in the Republic of Sierra Leone. The Group is one of the country’s largest private sector employers and produces rutile, zircon and ilmenite for use in industrial applications. The Company changed its name to Sierra Rutile Limited on 24 February 2011.

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Dredging Today Staff, December 21, 2011; Image: sierra-rutile