African Copper produced a record 2,429 Mt of copper in concentrate from its 100%-owned mines in Botswana in the fourth quarter. All of the ore processed at the Mowana facilities during FY 2013 was sourced from the higher grade sulphide ore rich Thakadu Mine.

Ore processed in the fourth quarter was lower than the third and second quarters as a result of lower ore production following a change in mining contractors which was highlighted during the third quarter results announced on 24 January.

During March, ore production improved, and mining took place in the wider, higher grade eastern part of the Thakadu orebody as reflected by the March copper grade.

Copper recovery at the plant has continued to benefit from the increasing proportion of sulphide ore, particularly during March when a new production record of 1,314 tonnes of copper in concentrate was achieved. In the three months to the end of March the proportion of sulphide ore processed increased to 80% of the total from 54% in Q3 and 56% in Q2. Trucking operations from Thakadu to the Mowana Mine processing facilities, a distance of 70km, ran to plan throughout the quarter and FY 2013.

(Story provided by StockMarketWire.com)