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Business Reporter

Mineral production during the first quarter of the year grew by between 8 and 64 percent on the back of stellar output growth in major minerals except chrome and coal. Chamber of Mines chief executive Mr Isaac Kwesu said this was an improvement from the 2015 performance. “I want to underscore that this is when you compare to 2015, this is not what we want but it is better than last year,” he said.Platinum grew by 43 percent from 3,01 tonnes to 4,3 tonnes, gold grew by 21 percent from 4,18 tonnes to 5,06 tonnes, pladium 45 percent from 2,39 tonnes to 3,4 tonnes, Nickel 10 percent from 4 440 tonnes to 4 874 tonnes.

In terms gold output small scale producers and customs millers recorded the biggest jump in production of 54 percent from 1,21 tonnes during Q1 in 2015 to 1,87 tonnes during the period under review, while secondary producers (Unki, Mimosa and Unki) recorded 33 percent growth in production to 0,49 tonnes from 0,37 tonnes.

Large producers recorded a 5 percent increase to 2,73 tonnes from 2,59 tonnes during the same period last year.

The robust performance in volumes produced, the mine values for the mineral produced declined by 3,45 percent to $419,96 million on the back of depressed prices, with the exception of gold, palladium and platinum.

Earning from gold were up 17 percent to $189,65 million during the period under review from $161,67 million in the prior comparable period, while platinum earnings were up 6 percent to $108,97 million compared to $102,65 million in 2015.

Iridium which recorded a 64 percent growth in production to 0,19 tonnes from 0,11 tonnes, recorded a 38 percent jump in earning to $1,75 million from $1,2 million in the prior period.