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18.02.2020
Sibanye-Stillwater Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves declaration as at 31 December 2019

 

Johannesburg, 18 February 2020: Sibanye-Stillwater (Tickers JSE: SGL and NYSE: SBGL - https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/sibanye-stillwater-company-teaser-2019/ ) is pleased to report updated Group Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, as at 31 December 2019.

 

Salient features

-          90% increase in the total Platinum Group Metals (PGM) Mineral Resources to 389.0Moz and a 20% increase in the Group’s PGM Mineral Reserves to 55.1Moz, primarily due to the inclusion of the Marikana (previously Lonmin) assets, acquired in June 2019

-          Ongoing successful definition drilling at the Blitz project, Stillwater Mine, at the United States (US) PGM operations yielded 2.0Moz of additional Mineral Reserves

-          Gold Mineral Resources at the South African (SA) gold operations increased by 52% primarily due to a reduction in costs associated with the Kloof integration project, facilitating a decrease in cut-off grades

-          Exploration projects advanced through the establishment of key partnerships including Aldebaran Resources Inc, Generation Mining Ltd and Wallbridge Ltd

 

The group complies with both the JSE and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines on commodity prices used in the estimation of Mineral Reserves at all managed operations and projects. An average exchange rate of R14.50/US$ and the commodity prices illustrated below were used in the estimation process:

 

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

Precious metals

US$/oz

R/oz

R/kg

US$/oz

R/oz

R/kg

Gold

      1,300

       18,850

      610,000

      1,238

      16,796

         540,000

Platinum

         887

       12,862

      413,506

         959

      12,994

         417,781

Palladium

      1,123

       16,284

      523,526

         819

      11,097

         356,791

Rhodium

      3,600

       52,200

    1,678,267

      1,180

      15,989

         514,058

Iridium

      1,247

       18,082

      581,333

         814

      11,030

         354,613

Ruthenium

         200

         2,900

        93,237

         102

        1,382

          44,436

Base Metals

US$/lb

US$/tonne

R/tonne

US$/lb

US$/tonne

R/tonne

Nickel

          6.33

       13,955

      183,454

        4.99

      11,009

     149,172

Copper

          3.14

         6,923

        91,133

        2.68

        5,913

        80,121

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

 

US$/lb

US$/tonne

R/tonne

US$/oz

US$/tonne

R/tonne

Cobalt

      28.00

       61,729

      895,076

      20.00

      44,092

         597,441

Uranium oxide (U3O8) 1

      32.00

       70 548

             960

      37.00

      81,569

      1,105,266

Chromium oxide (Cr2O3)2 3

0.07

            165

          2,393

        0.09

           207

            2,804

 1,2 Long term contract price

3 42% Concentrate

 

Over the past six months, PGM prices, in particular palladium and rhodium have increased significantly. Recent spot prices of palladium have exceeded US$2,500/oz and rhodium US$11,000/oz, resulting in increases of more than 100% and 200% over reported Mineral Reserve prices respectively. Both the Southern Africa (SA) and US PGM operations are exposed to these movements, with the US PGM operations predominantly palladium rich (78% of the 2E basket), and palladium and rhodium constituting approximately 30% and 9% of the 4E basket at the SA PGM operations. In addition, the Rand/US$ exchange rate, is currently trading at approximately R14.90 further enhancing the profitability of the SA operations.

 

 

-          Group overview

 

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

PGM operations

Tonnes

Grade

2E/4E

2E/4E

Tonnes

Grade

2E/4E

2E/4E

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

US

152.9

16.5

81.1

79.9

48.3

17.3

26.9

25.6

SA

1,492.5

4.5

218.0

96.2

290.3

3.0

28.2

20.4

Total operations

1,645.4

5.7

299.1

176.0

338.6

5.1

55.1

46.1

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

PGM projects

Tonnes

Grade

2E/4E

2E/4E

Tonnes

Grade

2E/4E

2E/4E

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

Americas

138.6

0.0

3.1

4.0

 

 

 

 

SA

626.0

4.3

86.8

24.4

 

 

 

 

Total projects

764.7

3.7

89.9

28.3

 

 

 

 

Total PGM                

2,410.1

5.0

389.0

204.4

338.6

5.1

55.1

46.1

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

Gold operations

Tonnes

Grade

Gold

Gold

Tonnes

Grade

Gold

Gold

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

SA

591.9

2.7

51.5

33.9

268.9

1.3

10.9

12.1

Total operations

591.9

2.7

51.5

33.9

268.9

1.3

10.9

12.1

Gold projects

Tonnes

Grade

Gold

Gold

Tonnes

Grade

Gold

Gold

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

SA

467.1

3.1

46.5

63.7

32.2

4.3

4.5

4.5

US

2,636.2

0.1

6.6

6.6

 

 

 

 

Total projects

3,103.3

0.5

53.1

70.3

32.2

4.3

4.5

4.5

Total Gold

3,695.2

0.9

104.6

104.2

301.1

1.6

15.4

16.6

 

 

 

Uranium at gold operations

Tonnes

Grade

U3O8

U3O8

Tonnes

Grade

U3O8

U308

(Mt)

(kg/t)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

(Mt)

(kg/t)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

SA

11.4

1.1

27.0

27.0

 

 

 

 

Total operations

11.4

1.1

27.0

27.0

 

 

 

 

Uranium projects

Tonnes

Grade

U3O8

U3O8

Tonnes

Grade

U3O8

U308

(Mt)

(kg/t)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

(Mt)

(kg/t)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

SA

262.3

0.1

51.7

51.7

 

 

 

 

Total projects

262.3

0.1

51.7

51.7

 

 

 

 

Total Uranium

273.7

8.9

78.7

78.7

 

 

 

 

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

Copper projects

Tonnes

Grade

Copper

Copper

Tonnes

Grade

Copper

Copper

(Mt)

(%)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

(Mt)

(%)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

US

2,774.5

0.3

18,711.5

18,795.8

 

 

 

 

Total projects

2,774.5

0.3

18,711.5

18,795.8

 

 

 

 

Total Copper

2,774.5

0.3

18,711.5

18,795.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1For the US PGM operations, the 2E is represented by Pt and Pd.

2For the SA PGM operations, the 4E is represented Pt, Pd, Rh and Au.

3Numbers may not appear additive due to rounding

 

The substantial increase in the PGM Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve base, largely as a result of ongoing drilling at the Blitz project at the Stillwater Mine in the US and the acquisition of Lonmin Plc, enhances the mine to market strategy and positions the PGM operations to continue delivering value on a sustainable basis. The inclusion of Lonmin’s projects into the portfolio has substantially improved both the greenfields and brownfields project pipeline, providing the Company with significant development and growth optionality under appropriate economic circumstances.

 

Subsequent to the substantial but necessary restructuring that took place in 2018 and 2019 the Mineral Reserve base at our SA gold operations has remained relatively steady during 2019,. The significant growth in Mineral Resources, which was largely driven by a forecast reduction in costs associated with the Kloof integration project, is pleasing, and provides for optionality under an enhanced metal price environment

Group Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves per segment

 

-          US PGM operations

 

-          Total 2E PGM Mineral Resources of 81.1Moz, an increase of 2%

-          Total 2E PGM Mineral Reserves of 26.9Moz, an increase of 5%

 

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

PGM operations

Tonnes

Grade

2E

2E

Tonnes

Grade

2E

2E

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

Stillwater (2E)

85.0

17.6

48.2

45.8

26.8

19.4

16.7

14.8

East Boulder (2E)

67.9

15.1

32.9

34.0

21.5

14.7

10.2

10.9

Total US PGM operations

152.9

16.5

81.1

79.9

48.3

17.3

26.9

25.6

Note: 2E PGM = Pt (78%) + Pd (22%)

 

 

Mineral Resources remain largely unchanged with mining depletions offset by resource growth (+2,5Moz) at the Blitz section of the Stillwater mine.  The growth in Mineral Reserves was driven by further positive drilling results at the Blitz section of the Stillwater Mine. Ongoing external audits by independent parties have noted that Mineral Reserve tonnages may be marginally understated and grades marginally overstated due to the addition of unplanned mineralised dilution during stoping.  This is not deemed to have a material impact on estimated Mineral Reserve ounces and further definition of unplanned dilution is currently being investigated for inclusion in future Mineral Reserve estimates, including the implementation of scanning technology in stoping operations.

 

A detailed reconciliation of 2018 to 2019 US PGM operations Mineral Reserves is shown in the table below.

 

US PGM operations – Mineral Reserve reconciliation

 

Factors

2E PGM (Moz)

31-Dec-18

25.6

Depletion

-0.7

Area Inclusions/Exclusions1

1.7

Geological Interpretation

0.3

31-Dec-19

26.9

1Expansion in the Blitz project area

 

-          Other projects in the Americas

 

-          Total 2E PGM Mineral Resources of 3.1Moz, a decrease of 22%

-          Total Gold Mineral Resources of 6.6Moz, unchanged

-          Total Copper Mineral Resources of 18,711.5Mlb, a decrease of <1%

 

 

2E5 PGM Mineral Resources

Au Mineral Resources

Cu Mineral Resources

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

Projects

Tonnes

Grade

2E PGM

2E PGM

Tonnes

Grade

Gold

Gold

Tonnes

Grade

Copper

Copper

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(%)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

Altar1

 

 

 

 

2,613.9

0.1

6.3

6.3

2,613.9

0.3

17,931.0

17,931.0

Marathon2

138.3

0.7

3.1

4.0

 

 

 

 

138.3

0.2

645.8

730.1

Rio Grande3

 

 

 

 

22.3

0.3

0.2

0.2

22.3

0.3

134.7

134.7

Denison4

0.3

5.9

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Americas Projects

138.6

0.0

3.1

4.0

2,636.2

0.1

6.6

6.6

2,774.5

0.3

18,711.5

18,795.8

1100% Attributable, non-managed

255.58% Attributable, non-managed, based on a 49% direct and a 6,58% indirect interest.

319.9% Attributable, non-managed

480% Attributable, non-managed

52E PGM represented by Pt and Pd (Prill split Marathon: Pd (76%) Pt (24%), Denison: Pd (55%), Pt(45%))

 

The Altar and Rio Grande Mineral Resources remained unchanged, with no advance in earn-in by our JV partner, Aldebaran Resources Inc. During 2019, Aldebaran Resources Inc. drilled four holes at Altar totalling 5,416 m, discovering a new Cu-Au-Mo porphyry directly under the QDM gold resource.

 

During 2019, Sibanye-Stillwater concluded an agreement with Generation Mining Limited (Gen Mining) through which Gen Mining acquired a 51% interest in the Marathon project and formed an unincorporated joint venture with Stillwater Canada Inc., in exchange for a cash consideration of 3.0 million Canadian dollars (CAD) and a 12.9% equity interest in Gen Mining. Gen Mining has an option to earn up to an 80% interest through spending of $10 million and preparing a Preliminary Economic Assessment within four years of the property acquisition date marked as July 11, 2019.

 

Gen Mining published a revised Mineral Resource estimate for the Marathon deposit dated 9 September 2019, and has also included additional Mineral Resources at the Geordie and Sally deposits, which forms part of the greater Marathon Property. The total PGM Mineral Resource of the Marathon project has increased from 4Moz to 5.5Moz. Due to the transaction with Gen Mining, the attributable reported Marathon PGM and Cu mineral resources for Sibanye-Stillwater declined by 23% and 12% respectively.

 

The Mineral Resources for the Denison PGM exploration project is included for the first time. Denison project is a PGM exploration project on the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC), approximately 30km to the west southwest of the town of Sudbury. During 2019, Sibanye-Stillwater acquired the entire shareholding in Lonmin PLC, including the Denison project, which was 100% held by Loncan, a subsidiary of Lonmin. During 2019, Loncan entered into a binding agreement with Wallbridge Mining whereby Loncan has appointed Wallbridge as the operator of the Revised Denison Property to raise the necessary funding, implement the business plan and manage the daily operations of Loncan. Loncan has at the end of October 2019 issued Wallbridge with 20% of Loncan (Current Loncan shareholding is currently 80% Lonmin and 20% Wallbridge).

 

-          SA PGM operations

 

-          Total 4E PGM Mineral Resources of 218.0Moz, an increase of 127%, inclusive of 124.3Moz attributable to Marikana operation

-          Total 4E PGM Mineral Reserves of 28.2Moz, an increase of 38%, inclusive of 9.2Moz attributable to the Marikana operation

 

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

PGM operations

Tonnes

Grade

4E

4E

Tonnes

Grade

4E

4E

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

Rustenburg underground

499.8

5.0

80.6

82.2

111.9

3.8

13.7

14.5

Kroondal underground1

41.7

3.2

4.3

4.7

14.6

2.6

1.2

1.5

Mimosa underground2

55.3

3.6

6.4

6.7

15.2

3.5

1.7

1.8

Total underground (Excl. Marikana)

596.8

4.8

91.3

93.6

141.7

3.7

16.6

17.8

Marikana underground3

811.3

4.7

123.8

 

64.2

4.2

8.6

 

Total Underground (Incl. Marikana)

1408.1

4.8

215.1

93.6

205.8

3.8

25.2

17.8

Rustenburg Surface

69.4

1.1

2.4

2.6

69.4

1.1

2.4

2.6

Total Surface (Excl. Marikana)

69.4

1.1

2.4

2.6

69.4

1.1

2.4

2.6

Marikana Surface3

15.0

1.2

0.6

 

15.0

1.2

0.6

 

Total Surface (Incl. Marikana)

84.4

1.1

2.9

2.6

84.4

1.1

2.9

2.6

Total SA PGM operations (Excl. Marikana)

666.2

4.4

93.7

96.2

211.1

2.8

19.0

20.4

Total SA PGM operations (Incl. Marikana)

1492.5

4.5

218.0

96.2

290.3

3.0

28.2

20.4

1, 50% Attributable, managed

2 50% Attributable, non-managed

3 95,25% Attributable, managed

 

The large increase in 4E PGM Mineral Resources was primarily due to the inclusion of the Marikana assets (124.3Moz), which were acquired through the Lonmin acquisition. 4E PGM Mineral Reserves at the Rustenburg, Kroondal and Mimosa operations decreased by 1.4Moz, primarily as a result of depletion of 1.6Moz from mining activities during 2019, partly off-set by 0.2Moz increase due to the latest life of mine scheduling.

 

A thorough review of the historic (Sept 2018) 4E PGM Mineral Reserves at the Marikana Operations, post the takeover of these assets by Sibanye-Stillwater in June 2019, resulted in a decrease of 22.1Moz primarily due to:

-          Depletion of 1.2Moz from mining activities during 2019 (15 months Oct 2018 to Dec 2019)

-          Reduction of 1.1Moz due to an updated geological interpretation influencing design and scheduling.

-          Reduction of 1.5Moz due to the application of the economic evaluation process.

-          Removal of Mineral Reserves of 11.7Moz from operations on Care and Maintenance without the requisite feasibility studies in line with Sibanye-Stillwater’s policy.

-          Removal of Mineral Reserves of 11.8Moz from projects below infrastructure which are not included in the life of mine. 

-          Feasibility studies are currently being conducted on selected projects to confirm economic viability at current economic parameters which may positively impact future mineral reserve estimations.

 

  • The decrease was partially offset by:

 

-          An addition of 0.3Moz included under the Marikana Mineral Reserves identified as a synergistic benefit.

-          Sibanye-Stillwater has reported reserves on an attributable basis of 95.25%, increasing the total reported Mineral attributable Reserves by 4.9Moz in line with Group policy.

 

A detailed reconciliation of 2018 to 2019 SA PGM operations Mineral Reserves is shown in the table below.

 

SA PGM Operations – Mineral Reserves Reconciliation

Factors

4E PGM (Moz)

31-Dec-18 (Excl. Marikana)

20.4

Depletion

-1.6

Geological Interpretation1

0.01

Economic Parameters

0.02

Modifying factors1

0.1

31-Dec-18 (Excl. Marikana)

19.0

Marikana (30-Sept-18)

31.2

Attributable Adjustment to 95.25%6

4.9

Depletion

-1.2

Area Inclusions/Exclusions2,3

-23.2

Geological Interpretation4

-1.1

Economic Parameters5

-1.5

Modifying factors

0.0

Marikana (31-Dec-18)

9.2

Total (31-Dec-18)

28.2

1Updates in geological interpretations and modifying factors

2Removal of Mineral Reserves from projects and operations placed on care and maintenance and below infrastructure

3Benefit associated with synergies realised between shaft boundaries

4Increases in geological loss with latest interpretation

5Removal of sub-economic mineral reserves at the end of LoM due to tail cutting

6Reserves declared at 95,25% attributable in line with Group methodology

 

-          SA PGM Projects

 

-          Total 4E PGM Mineral Resources of 86.8Moz, an increase of 256%, inclusive of Akanani and Limpopo (acquired as part of the Lonmin assets)

 

 

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

PGM Projects

Tonnes

Grade

4E

4E

Tonnes

Grade

4E

4E

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

Blue Ridge1

23.1

3.3

2.4

2.4

 

 

 

 

Vygenhoek2

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.2

 

 

 

 

Zondernaam3

77.4

6.4

15.9

15.9

 

 

 

 

Hoedspruit

32.6

5.5

5.8

5.8

 

 

 

 

Total (Excl. ex Lonmin Projects)

133.1

5.6

24.1

24.4

 

 

 

 

Akanani4

293.4

3.9

36.8

 

 

 

 

 

Limpopo5

199.6

4.0

25.9

 

 

 

 

 

Total SA PGM projects

626.0

4.3

86.8

24.4

 

 

 

 

150% Attributable, managed

2 Prospecting right expired

374% Attributable, managed

474% Attributable, managed

5Attributable portions of Baobab (95,25%), Doornvlei (95,25%) and the Dwaalkop JV (45,3%), managed

 

The inclusion of Akanani and the larger Limpopo project have dramatically enhanced the Group’s project pipelineThese projects provide the company with significant short-term and longer-term growth options, with Akanani being a high-quality resource on the Plat Reef, amenable to bulk mining methods, and Limpopo being a well maintained operation under care and maintenance.

 

-          SA gold operations

 

-          Mineral Resources of 51.5Moz, an increase of 52%.

-          Mineral Reserves of 10.9Moz, a decline of 10%.

 

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

Gold operations

Tonnes

Grade

Gold

Gold

Tonnes

Grade

Gold

Gold

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

Beatrix underground

50.3

6.4

10.3

7.4

11.3

4.1

1.5

1.2

Cooke – underground1

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

 

 

Driefontein - underground

42.6

10.0

13.8

10.1

11.6

7.1

2.6

3.3

Kloof - underground

67.5

10.8

23.5

8.2

19.0

7.3

4.4

5.0

Total underground

160.4

9.2

47.6

29.8

41.9

6.4

8.5

9.5

Beatrix - surface

 

 

 

0.0

 

 

 

0.0

Cooke - surface

11.0

0.3

0.1

0.2

11.0

0.3

0.1

0.2

Driefontein - surface

 

 

 

0.0

 

 

 

0.0

Kloof - surface

8.3

0.3

0.1

0.1

8.3

0.3

0.1

0.1

DRDGOLD - surface2

412.2

0.3

3.8

3.8

207.7

0.3

2.2

2.2

Total surface

431.5

0.3

3.9

4.1

227.1

0.3

2.3

2.6

Total SA gold operations

591.9

2.7

51.5

33.9

268.9

1.3

10.9

12.1

1Closure Initiated

2 38% Attributable, non-managed

 

The increase in SA Gold Mineral Resources is primarily due to the use of lower cut-off grades at the Kloof operation. The planned pay-limits at this operation reduced due to cost savings realised from the Kloof integration project.  This project is designed to close the unprofitable Kloof 3 and Kloof 7 shafts, and to increase production at Kloof 8 and Kloof Main Shafts, which will result in increased volumes and lower fixed costs.

 

The decrease in Gold Mineral Reserves can largely be attributed to:

-          Depletion of 0.8Moz from mining activities during 2019

-          Changes in the Mineral Resource model for the Ventersdorp Contact Reef (VCR) at Kloof 4 Shaft, which contributed to an overall decrease for Kloof of 0.3Moz

-          Structural geology adjustments on the Carbon Leader Reef (CLR) at Driefontein 5 Shaft, which resulted in geotechnical pillar adjustments and which contributed to an overall decrease at Driefontein of 0.5Moz

-          These decreases were offset by an extension of the Beatrix 4 Shaft Life of Mine (0.5Moz), where the operation has shown continued profitability following rationalisation in 2018.

 

A detailed reconciliation of 2018 to 2019 SA Gold Operations Mineral Reserves is shown in the table below.

 

SA gold operations – Mineral Reserves Reconciliation

Factors

Au (Moz)

31-Dec-18

12.1

Depletion

-0.8

Area Inclusions/Exclusions1

0.3

Geological Interpretation2

-0.2

Estimation Methodology3

-0.3

Economic Parameters4

-0.2

Modifying factors5

0.1

31-Dec-19

10.9

1Beatrix 4 Shaft LoM extended, Driefontein 1 Shaft inclusions, Kloof 4 Shaft exclusions, DRDGOLD changes

2Kloof 8 Shaft sub-crop position changed, Driefontein 5 Shaft structural complexities in Overbank Area

3Driefontein CLR changes in Overbank Area, Kloof VCR changes in 4 Shaft

4Surface unpay exclusions, Driefontein 5 Shaft unpay exclusions

5Improvement in the MCF at Driefontein and Kloof

 

-          SA gold projects

 

-          Total Gold Mineral Resources of 46.5Moz, a decrease of 27%.

-          Total Gold Mineral Reserve of 4.5Moz, unchanged.

 

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

Gold Projects

Tonnes

Grade

Gold

Gold

Tonnes

Grade

Gold

Gold

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

(Mt)

(g/t)

(Moz)

(Moz)

Beatrix  - BI1

7.9

5.6

1.4

1.7

 

 

 

 

Driefontein – BI

38.3

8.9

11.0

9.1

 

 

 

 

Kloof – BI

32.8

11.9

12.6

16.5

2.7

5.1

0.4

0.4

Burnstone

69.3

4.9

11.0

11.0

14.2

4.3

1.9

1.9

Bloemhoek

28.3

4.7

4.3

4.3

 

 

 

 

De Bron Merriespruit

28.3

4.4

4.0

4.0

15.3

4.3

2.1

2.1

DRDGOLD2 - Underground

 

 

 

14.8

 

 

 

 

Total Underground

204.8

6.7

44.3

61.5

32.2

4.3

4.5

4.5

Cooke surface tailings3

262.3

0.3

2.2

2.2

 

 

 

 

Total Surface

262.3

0.3

2.2

63.7

 

 

 

 

Total SA Gold Projects

467.1

3.1

46.5

63.7

32.2

4.3

4.5

4.5

1BI = Below Infrastructure

238% Attributable, non-managed

3Tailings dams retained post the sale to DRDGOLD

 

The single largest impact on the Gold Projects Mineral Resources was the exclusion of the attributable portion of the DRDGOLD underground resource at ERPM, following the flooding of the underground workings, resulting in a decrease of 14.8Moz.  In January 2020, Sibanye-Stillwater exercised its option to increase its shareholding in DRDGold to 50.1%.  This increase in shareholding will positively impact the Company’s attributable Gold Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves in future reporting periods. The other material impact was at the Kloof Below Infrastructure (BI) Mineral Resources, which decreased by 4Moz due to an update in the estimation modelThe estimation domains were adjusted in line with changes in the facies for the EBA area, as well as constraining the estimate in the areas with a lack of borehole information by using the Global Mean for simple kriging.

 

Mineral Reserves remained unchanged.

 

A detailed reconciliation of 2018 to 2019 SA gold projects Mineral Reserve is shown in the table below.

 

SA gold projects – Mineral Reserves Reconciliation

Factors

Au (Moz)

31-Dec-18

4.5

31-Dec-19

4.5

 

 

-          SA Uranium Operations and Projects

 

-          Total U3O8 Mineral Resource remained unchanged at 78.7Mlb.

 

 

 

Mineral Resources

Mineral Reserves

 

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

31-Dec-19

31-Dec-18

Uranium at gold operations

Tonnes

Grade

U3O8

U3O8

Tonnes

Grade

U3O8

U308

(Mt)

(kg/t)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

(Mt)

(kg/t)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

Beatrix (Beisa)

11.4

1.1

27.0

27.0

 

 

 

 

Total Uranium operations

11.4

1.1

27.0

27.0

 

 

 

 

Uranium projects

Tonnes

Grade

U3O8

U3O8

Tonnes

Grade

U3O8

U308

(Mt)

(kg/t)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

(Mt)

(kg/t)

(Mlb)

(Mlb)

Cooke surface tailings1

262.3

0.1

51.7

51.7

 

 

 

 

Total Uranium Projects

262.3

0.1

51.7

51.7

 

 

 

 

Total Uranium operations and Projects

273.7

0.1

78.7

78.7

 

 

 

 

1Includes the Cooke portion of the WRTRP assets not included in the deal with DRDGOLD in 2018

 

  • Corporate Governance

 

Sibanye-Stillwater reports its Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves in accordance with the SAMREC Code, the updated Section 12 of the JSE Listings Requirements; and in consideration of the SEC Industry Guide 7, which is aligned with the guiding principles of SOX. Recent amendments adopted by the SEC to modernise the property disclosure requirements for mining registrations, which has not come into effect fully yet, aligns closely with the requirements under the JSE and SAMREC, and any non-compliance to SEC Industry Guide 7 is therefore considered immaterial. The Altar, Marathon and Rio Grande Mineral Resources were originally compiled under NI 43-101 guidelines but are deemed to be SAMREC compliant.

 

This Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource declaration represents a condensed and consolidated summary of the full Sibanye-Stillwater Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve declaration available in the Group Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Report, which will be published on 22 April 2020 and will be available at www.sibanyestillwater.com

 

 

Guided by a commitment to best practice corporate governance, the statement has been reviewed and confirmed by each segment’s Technical Services.

 

The Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves are estimates at a particular date, and are affected by fluctuations in mineral prices, the ZAR/US$ exchange rate, operating costs, mining permits, changes in legislation and operating factors. Although all permits may not be finalised and in place at the time of reporting, there is no reason to expect that these will not be granted.

 

All statement figures are managed by Sibanye-Stillwater with the exception of those for Mimosa, the attributable portion for DRDGOLD and the US Projects.  Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves, and production volumes are reported in metric tonnes (t).

 

Gold and Uranium estimates are reported separately from each other; therefore, no Gold equivalents are stated to avoid potential anomalies as a result of year-on-year metal price differentials.

 

The Southern African PGM Operations statement are reported as 3E PGM + Au, which consists of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold.  The US operations are reported as 2E PGM, which consist of platinum and palladium.

 

The individual proportions of the reported PGM’s are provided in the tables below.

 

4E Prill split (SA PGM operations)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unit

Rustenburg

Kroondal

Marikana

Mimosa

MER

UG2

UG2

MER

UG2

MSZ

Platinum

%

63.80

54.53

54.94

61.88

59.53

49.35

Palladium

%

27.30

34.31

33.95

27.79

28.70

38.47

Rhodium

%

3.99

10.43

10.38

3.30

11.21

4.20

Gold

%

4.92

0.72

0.72

7.02

0.56

7.97

MER – Merensky Reef

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UG2 – Upper Group 2 Chromitite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MSZ – Main Sulphide Zone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6E Prill Split (SA Region)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Precious Metals Prill Split

Unit

Rustenburg

Kroondal

Marikana

Mimosa

MER

UG2

UG2

MER

UG2

MSZ

Platinum

%

59.76

46.00

47.20

57.25

48.00

45.80

Palladium

%

25.57

29.04

25.71

25.71

23.14

35.70

Rhodium

%

3.73

8.55

8.45

3.06

9.04

3.90

Gold

%

4.61

0.68

0.59

6.50

0.45

7.40

Ruthenium

%

3.23

12.65

14.42

6.39

15.58

3.20

Iridium

%

3.11

3.09

3.64

1.10

3.79

4.00

MER – Merensky Reef

UG2 – Upper Group 2 Chromitite

MSZ – Main Sulphide Zone

 

2E Prill split (US PGM operations)

 

 

 

 

 

Unit

Stillwater Mine

East Boulder Mine

Average

Platinum

%

22.17

21.73

22.01

Palladium

%

77.83

78.27

77.99

 

All financial models used to determine Mineral Reserves are based on current tax regulations at 31 December 2019. Rounding of figures may result in minor computational discrepancies. Where this happens, it is not deemed significant.

 

For the United States Region operations, the lead competent person designated in terms of the SAMREC Code, who takes responsibility for the consolidation and reporting of the Stillwater and East Boulder Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, and for the overall regulatory compliance of these figures, is Brent LaMoure, who gave his consent for the disclosure of the 2019 Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Statement. Brent [B.Sc Mining Eng] is registered with the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America (01363QP) and has 25 years’ experience relative to the type and style of mineral deposit under consideration. For the US projects Resource estimation, the competent persons are Stanford Foy (Altar and Rio Grande) and Rodney N Thomas (Marathon). Stan is registered with the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc. (4140727RM) and has 28 years’ experience relative to the type and style of mineral deposit under consideration. Rodney is registered with the Society for Professional Geoscientists (Ontario) and has 40 years’ mineral industry experience, including several years relative to the type and style of mineral deposit under consideration and is the designated Qualified Person for Generation Mining Limited.

 

For the Southern African Platinum Operations, the lead competent person designated in terms of the SAMREC Code, who takes responsibility for the consolidation and reporting of the SA Platinum Operations Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, and for the overall regulatory compliance of these figures, is Andrew Brown, who gave his consent for the disclosure of the 2019 Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Statement. Andrew [M.Sc Mining Eng] is registered with SAIMM (705060) and has 36 years’ experience relative to the type and style of mineral deposit under consideration.

 

For the Southern African Gold Operations, the lead competent person designated in terms of the SAMREC Code, with responsibility for the consolidation and reporting of the SA Gold Operations Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, and for overall regulatory compliance of these figures, is Gerhard Janse van Vuuren, who gave his consent for the disclosure of the 2019 Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Statement.  Gerhard [GDE (Mining Eng), MBA, MSCC and B. Tech (MRM)] is registered with SAIMM (706705) and has 32 years’ experience relative to the type and style of mineral deposit under consideration.

 

The 38.05% Attributable portion (as at 31 December 2019) of the DRDGOLD current surface tailings operations including the ERGO and FWGR operations. For this attributable portion of the DRD resources and reserves, the company was reliant on external competent persons as follows: The Mineral Resources for the ERGO surface operations is based on depletion (up to December 2019) and the Competent Person designated in terms of SAMREC is Mr M Mudau, MSc Eng, Pr. Sci. Nat., the Resource Geology Manager at the RVN Group. The Competent Person designated in terms of SAMREC who takes responsibility for the reporting of the surface Mineral Reserves, also based on depletion up to December 2019, is Professor S Rupprecht, Principal Mining Engineer of the RVN Group. The Competent Person designated in terms of SAMREC who takes responsibility for the reporting of the Mineral Reserves for the Far West Gold Recoveries operation, also based on depletion up to December 2019, is Mr Vaughn Duke of Sound Mining Proprietary Limited

 

 

Investor relations contact:

 

Email: ir@sibanyestillwater.com

James Wellsted

Head of Investor Relations

Tel: +27 (0) 83 453 4014

Sponsor: J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited

 

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

 

Ends.

 

 

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This announcement includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbour” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “target”, “will”, “forecast”, “expect”, “potential”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “can” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. The forward-looking statements set out in this announcement involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sibanye-Stillwater, that could cause Sibanye-Stillwater’s actual results and outcomes to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Sibanye-Stillwater undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, save as required by applicable law.



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