Tharisa bounces back as strong commodity prices help earnings

Tharisa is an integrated resource group incorporating mining, processing, exploration and the beneficiation, marketing, sales and logistics of PGMs and chrome concentrates.

Its principal asset is the Tharisa Mine located in the South-Western Limb of the Bushveld complex, South Africa.

The mechanised mine has a 14-year open pit life of mine (LOM) and the ability to extend operations underground by at least 40 years.

(, ) said its mine in South Africa had reported the best three months in its history in the final quarter of the year just ended.

Production of platinum and associated metals (PGM) rose 12% quarter on quarter to 43,700oz in the three months to end September and by 11% to 157,800oz year-on-year.

Chrome output rose 4% on a quarterly basis and by 12% over the year to 1.5mln tonnes.

Prices of both metals also improved with the PGM basket up 80% over the year even after a sharp drop in the final three months and chrome 10% higher yoy.

Tharisa PLC (LSE:THS, JSE:THA, FRA:7YZ) has started cold commissioning of its Vulcan ultra-fine chrome recovery and beneficiation plant at the Tharisa Mine in the Bushveld Complex of South Africa.

The integrated resource group said it is on track to complete the construction of the new US$55mln (GBP40mln) plant with initial saleable production due before the end of the year.

Tharisa PLC pledged to reduce carbon emissions 30% by 2030 and said it intends to be carbon net neutral by 2050.

The platinum and chrome producer said it reviewed its operations with respect to establishing a corporate plan to reduce its carbon emissions whilst it continues to grow operations to produce metals needed in the energy transition away from fossil fuels and towards the decarbonisation of economies.

No one could doubt that the world now is a very different place to the world as it seemed at the beginning of this year. Coronavirus has come and wreaked havoc on the health and wellbeing of millions around the world, and disrupted markets and income streams everywhere.

In one or two serendipitous cases however, the outcomes haven’t been all bad. There’s the online delivery and tech sectors, for a start. There’s the international iron ore mining industry, in which prices have held up as supply from Brazil has collapsed even as demand from China remains strong.

(, )’s September quarter broke previous production records for platinum metals and chrome by 8% and 4% higher respectively, said Peel Hunt.

Higher-than-expected ore mined and milled was a reason, but also higher rougher feed grades in the PGM circuit than expected.

This is a good sign that the mine reset is now allowing a better and more stable mix of the various mineralised seams into the plant, said the broker.

(, ) (LSE:THS, ) Phoevos Pouroulis, chief executive joins Proactive to talk about their fourth quarter performance and their full year results for 2021.

Production of platinum and associated metals 9PGM) rose by 12% quarter by quarter to 43,700oz in the three months to end September and by 11% to 157,800oz year-on-year. Chrome output rose by 4% on a quarterly basis and by 12% over the year to 1.5mln tonnes.

He says the fourth quarter of their financial year delivered the highest production of PGMs and chrome concentrates in the history of the Tharisa Mine.