The BHP third quarter production report is out iron ore is fountaining from the big Australian:
Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) production increased by 15 per cent in the September 2014 quarter to a record 62 Mt (100 per cent basis) as the ramp-up of Jimblebar continued ahead of schedule and we improved the availability, utilisation and rate of our integrated supply chain. In addition to the strong operational performance achieved at our mines, a higher proportion of direct to ship ore increased outflow capacity at the port and facilitated record sales volumes of 63 Mt (100 per cent basis).
WAIO production guidance for the 2015 financial year remains unchanged at 245 Mt (100 per cent basis) with the tie-in of shiploader 2 expected to be completed during the December 2014 quarter. Further growth in supply chain capacity to 270 Mtpa (100 per cent basis) is expected to be achieved without the need for additional fixed plant investment. Beyond that, the Inner Harbour Debottlenecking and Jimblebar Phase 2 projects3 have the potential to increase total capacity to 290 Mtpa (100 per cent basis) by the end of the 2017 financial year at very low capital cost.
As production grows we will maintain a relentless focus on costs. We expect unit cash costs4 of less than US$20 per tonne5 in the medium term, a reduction of more than 25 per cent on the average achieved in the 2014 financial year. Sustaining capital expenditure guidance of approximately US$5 per tonne over the next five years reflects the size and quality of our major operating hubs and highly concentrated resource.
Samarco production increased by 12 per cent from the June 2014 quarter to 7 Mt (100 per cent basis). The ramp-up of the fourth pellet plant to 30.5 Mtpa (100 per cent basis) is expected before the end of the 2015 financial year.
62mt in Q1 2015, it’s going to smash the 245mt target…
