JSE-listed Northam Platinum has reported a 3.7% year-on-year increase in total equivalent refined platinum group metals (PGMs) produced from its own operations and a 14.8% year-on-year increase in chrome concentrate production for the six months ended December 31.

Total equivalent refined metal production from own operations totalled 467 818 oz of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold (4E), while chrome concentrate production for the period totalled 822 759 t.

Additionally, Northam notes that equivalent refined PGMs from third parties amounted to 83 448 oz of 4E, representing an increase of 39.7% year-on-year.

“Our operations performed well,” Northam states in an update to shareholders.

The company notes that its Zondereinde mine, in Limpopo, is benefitting from logistics decongestion as a result of the ongoing shift of UG2 stoping from the western to the higher-yielding eastern portions of the mine, as well as an increase in mining productivity arising from focussed Merensky stoping in the western extension.

The company also points out that its Booysendal mine, in Mpumalanga, continues to focus on productivity and efficiency gains, while the Eland mine is making positive progress in its ramp-up programme with improvements achieved in both square metres and tonnes mined.

At Zondereinde, Northam says, the ramp-up of stoping continues within the western extension section. Equipping of 3 Shaft for personnel and material transport, as well as the provision of services, is nearing completion.

The company adds that reaming of 3a Ventilation Shaft also continues, noting that both shafts are scheduled for commissioning during the first quarter of the 2026 calendar year.

The company says this will deliver sustainable efficiency benefits to mining in the western extension.

Pilot drilling of 4 Shaft, which will be a rock hoisting shaft, is complete, and reaming has begun.

Meanwhile, at Booysendal, Northam says decline development is continuing to increase mineable reserves and operational flexibility.

At the Eland mine, Northam says ore production from underground mining is ramping up.

In addition, the reconfiguration of the mine’s ventilation circuit has enabled multi-blast conditions, which allow accelerated decline development rates.

The company says the focus remains on strike and raise development in order to increase mineable reserves.

The ongoing ramp-up of stoping is improving feed volumes and grades to the concentrator, and further enhancements to the concentrator circuits are yielding additional benefits to PGM and chrome production.

At the group’s metallurgical facilities, Northam says, upgrades to the base metal removal plant have been completed and the new furnace slag concentrator is processing slag inventory at a satisfactory pace.