4
Results for the second quarter FY14
and six months ended 31 December 2013
Message from the chief executive officer
Harmony has been in operation for 63 years – and we are positioned
to remain sustainable for many years to come. We manage costs and
production to ensure profitability at all gold prices. That is what our
approach to management is all about. At the same token, changes
to our operations and operating parameters are not affected at the
expense of safety. Safety is a core value.
We focus on profitable ounces and on operating margins. We reward
our mining teams to the extent that they contribute to improving
productivity and profitability. We hold our people accountable for the
company’s safe and profitable operations.
Harmony is sustainable and is thriving with gold in its current price range
of US$1 200/oz to US$1 250/oz – 20% down on year-ago levels. We are
confident that we can continue to manage our operations so as to remain
profitable even should the gold price come under further pressure. In
fact, five of our mines are very profitable and are thriving at an all-in cost
of below US$1 000/oz. At present Target 1 (US$854/oz), Bambanani
(US$742/oz), Joel (US$921/oz), Steyn 2 (US$811/oz) and Phoenix
(US$861/oz) are each operating at an all-in sustaining costs of less than
US$1 000/oz.
Our group average all-in sustaining cost is less than US$1 250/oz or
lower than the R400 000/kg on which our current near-term strategic
planning is based. By this financial year’s end (June 2014) we are
planning on having reduced our costs to a sustainable average of
between US$1 100/oz and US$1 150/oz or R380 000/kg. Our core
competency is on mining profitably and managing our production and
costs. We are nimble enough to respond and adjust to changes.
We have restructured and right-sized Hidden Valley in Papua New
Guinea (PNG) so that its costs are now less than US$1 200/oz. We are
continuing to refine our Golpu gold and copper resource knowledge
in PNG.
Costs at Kalgold and Unisel are already below US$1 200/oz, and at
Doornkop we have eliminated the unprofitable lowest grade reserves
(the Kimberley reef). Target 3 and Masimong will follow suit.
At Kusasalethu and Tshepong we have introduced management and
technical changes to increase production and consequently, lower unit
costs. Phakisa is on the same road, though it is spending on capital
during its production build-up phase.
We have already limited our spending on exploration, corporate
overheads, support services, electricity and capital. In the process,
Harmony has become South Africa’s most productive deep level miner
measured in terms of R/tonne costs, which is where we intend to stay.
Harmony’s strength has always been its ability to adjust quickly and
efficiently to adverse conditions. Harmony has positioned itself to
thrive at current prices and provide investors with handsome returns
when market conditions improve. We will continue to be able to react
optimally to any further adverse market conditions.
1. SAFETY
It is with regret that I report that three employees lost their lives as a
result of mine accidents during the quarter, bringing the total amount
of fatalities for financial year 2014 to seven. On behalf of management
and the Board, I wish to express our sincere condolences to the families
and colleagues of Gcinokuhle Vincent Ngqulunga (driller at Phakisa),
Sehla Mchithakau (driller at Tshepong) and Vincent Tsoeute (driller
at Joel).
The safety performance at Harmony’s South African operations
improved quarter-on-quarter. Management changes that were already
effected at operations and ongoing safety risk training will certainly
contribute to an improvement in safety at those operations in future.
Some operations continue to do well in safety, such as Target 3,
Bambanani, Steyn 2, Unisel, Tshepong and Target 1, who reached
1 million and more fatal free shift milestones during the quarter.
2. OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
Gold production remained steady quarter-on-quarter, with a 7%
increase in grade. Gold production for the December 2013 quarter
decreased slightly by 1% (120kg) to 9 515kg in comparison to 9 635kg
in the September 2013 quarter. Underground recovered grade improved
by 7% to 4.85g/t for a third consecutive quarter.
Production at Hidden Valley showed a marked improvement following
the restructuring at the mine over the last couple of quarters. Closing
the Kimberley Reef at Doornkop resulted in a 13% increase in recovered
grade, with Target 1, Bambanani and Unisel performing very well.
Operating profit for the December 2013 quarter was 5% lower than
in the previous quarter at R986 million, due to a 3% decrease in the
gold price received as well as gold production being stable quarter-on-
quarter.
The rand gold price received decreased by 3% from R429 566/kg in the
September 2013 quarter to R415 532/kg in the quarter under review.
The US dollar gold price decreased by 5% from US$1 342/oz in the
September 2013 quarter to US$1 277/oz. The rand weakened by 2%
against the US dollar in the December 2013 quarter to R10.12/US$
from R9.96/US$ in the September 2013 quarter.
Cash operating costs decreased by 6% or R187 million in the
December 2013 quarter.
Capital expenditure for the December 2013 quarter remained fairly
constant at R640 million (R622 million in the September 2013 quarter).
South African operations increased expenditure by 8% or R48 million,
whilst Hidden Valley recorded a 61% (R29 million) decrease in capital
to R19 million.
Our focus on driving our all-in-sustaining cost lower has resulted in an
all-in sustaining cost of R397 503/kg for the December 2013 quarter,
a 2% improvement compared to the R404 694/kg recorded in the
September 2013 quarter and a 15% improvement over the last three
quarters.
3. EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) sought
to proceed with strike action on a number of gold mining operations
with effect from 20 January 2014 in relation to the wage agreement
that was finalised in September 2013 in the gold sector between the
employers and the National Union of Mineworkers, UASA and Solidarity
and which was applied to all employees in the represented bargaining
units. Together, these three unions represented 72% of employees in
the sector. The agreed increases and improved benefits were backdated
to 1 July 2013 and all employees, irrespective of union affiliation, have
been in receipt of these since September 2013.
On 30 January 2014 South Africa’s Labour Court ruled that a strike
threatened by the AMCU at our Kususalethu and Masimong mines
would be unprotected, and that employees should continue to proceed
to work. The ruling ruled that AMCU must return to court on 14 March
2014 to explain why this interim interdict that was applied for by the
Chamber of Mines should not be made permanent.