RNS

REG - International Ferro - Agreement with Anglo Platinum for chromite supply

Released: 17/02/2010

 
For best results when printing this announcement, please click on the link below:
http://pdf.reuters.com/Regnews/regnews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20100217:nRSQ2500Ha
RNS Number : 2500H
International Ferro Metals Limited
17 February 2010 
 
17 February 2010 
 
International Ferro Metals Limited 
 
("IFL" or the "Company") 
 
Agreement with Anglo Platinum for chromite supply derived from UG2 
 
The Company has entered into an agreement with Rustenburg Platinum Mines Limited ("RPM"), a subsidiary of Anglo Platinum
Limited, whereby IFL will pay approximately ZAR150m for the construction of a chrome re-treatment plant ("CRP") to treat
the tailings arising from RPM's UG2 concentrator situated at their Waterval section. The CRP's primary objective will be to
extract chromite from the tailings. The CRP will be constructed and commissioned by an EPCM Contractor and owned,
maintained and operated by RPM. 
 
IFL will be entitled to 15,000 tonnes of chromite per month (tpm) at no cost other than the cost of transporting the
concentrate to its facilities at Buffelsfontein, which is about 50km from the CRP. The 15,000tpm represents almost 30% of
the Company's current concentrate requirements and the effective cost of the concentrate will be significantly below the
Company's in-house mining cost. 
 
The contract endures for ten years from commencement of the project and IFL is entitled to 15,000tpm from the date of
commissioning of the CRP. It is estimated that IFL will therefore receive concentrate for a period of nine years. 
Construction on the CRP is expected to commence in June 2010 and commissioning is expected to follow 12 months later. The
Company will fund the project using existing cash facilities. 
 
David Kovarsky, Chief Executive Officer of IFL commented: 
 
"This is a very exciting and innovative deal for International Ferro Metals and we are very pleased to be partnering with
Anglo Platinum, the world's leading primary producer of platinum group metals.  This new source of chromite supply for our
two furnaces will reduce our input cost and will enable us to better leverage the improving ferrochrome market conditions. 
This agreement and the start up of the co-gen plant expected in the second half of the calendar year illustrates the
management's focus on lowering costs and increasing production capacity." 
 
ENDS 
 
For further information please visit www.ifml.com or contact: 
 
International Ferro Metals Limited 
 
David Kovarsky, Chief Executive Officer 
 
Mob: +27 82 650 1192 
 
Brunswick Group 
 
Carole Cable / Fiona Mulcahy 
 
Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7404 5959 
 
Numis Securities Limited 
 
John Harrison / Stuart Skinner 
 
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7260 1000 
 
About International Ferro Metals: 
 
International Ferro Metals produces ferrochrome, the essential ingredient in stainless steel, from its integrated chromite
mine and ferrochrome processing operations in South Africa.  International Ferro Metals is listed on the London Stock
Exchange under the symbol IFL. 
 
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange