Aquarius Platinum will review its Everest mine following a series of problems that have caused output to fall 17 per cent.

A two-week strike at the South African operation dented production and was compounded by safety stoppages elsewhere.

"The mine is now also under an optimisation study as a result of near-term poor ground conditions, lower prices and the significant delays in permitting the open-cast reserves," Aquarius chief executive officer Stuart Murray said in a statement.

Output at Everest fell by over a quarter (26 per cent) in the December quarter from a year before to 18,712 platinum group metal (pgm) ounces.

Across the company's entire operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, pgm output fell 17 per cent to 105,629 oz.

Aquarius, the world's fourth-largest primary platinum producer, will limit production from Everest to 10,000 pgm ounces a month for the next 12-18 months as the review is carried out.

Source:

Aquarius Reviews Everest Mine as Platinum Output Falls 17% (31/01/12)

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