Kenmare Resources recently announced that it set a record for ilmenite production between April and June this year. The Dublin and London listed company manages the Moma titanium minerals mine located on the coast of the northern Mozambican province of Nampula. It said that production in the second quarter of this year was remarkably good.
In a statement, the company said that it generated 41 per cent more heavy mineral concentrate this year than in the same period last year. The company said that the increase in grade and volume led to the extraction of 283,000 tonnes of ilmenite. This indicated a 35 per cent increase.
Apart from ilmenite, the other two minerals sourced from the mine similarly displayed increases over the same quarter last year 2020. Zircon increased by 28 per cent to 14,900 tonnes while rutile increased by 47 per cent to 2,200 tonnes.
“Market conditions for ilmenite, and titanium feed stocks in general, remained strong in the second quarter of this year 2021 with pricing strengthening quarter on quarter. The outlook for zircon has also continued to improve, with increases during the quarter continuing to date,” he said.
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Kenmare’s managing director, Michael Carvill said that the company is taking action to ensure that it protects its workers and the local community from Covid-19 and its effects.
“Protecting our people and the communities in which we operate has always been Kenmare’s highest priority. In addition to the various physical distancing and hygiene protocols, and testing procedures, Kenmare has been working with industry partners and the government of Mozambique to acquire, distribute and administer vaccines. The vaccines are now on the way to site and vaccinations of the mine workforce and local communities are expected to begin later this month,” he added.
Ilmenite and rutile, which are produced by the Moma mine, are used to make white pigments for plastic, paper and paint and zircon for insulating purposes.
