South32’s alumina production up 9% QoQ in Q4; Worsley Alumina production climbs 12%

South32 reported alumina production of 5.05 million tonnes in FY19, as compared to 5.06 million tonnes in FY18. In Q4 FY19, alumina production increased 9% quarter-on-quarter to 1.3 million.

Production at Worsley Alumina increased 1% year-on-year to 3.79 million tonnes in FY19. In Q4 FY2019, alumina production stood at 996,000 tonnes, up 12% QoQ, due to uplift in calciner availability.

“Calcined alumina production is expected to approach nameplate capacity of 4.6Mt (100% basis) in FY20 as we further benefit from initiatives that are expected to sustainably improve calciner availability and the refinery processes excess hydrate stocks,” South32 said.

Sales from Worsley Alumina rose 2% YoY to 3.85 million tonnes in FY19.

Production at Brazil Alumina decreased 4% YoY to 1.25 million tonnes in FY19, “as boiler performance and power outages impacted production and our ability to realise the full benefits of the De-bottlenecking Phase One project.” In Q4 FY2019, alumina production stood at 311,000 tonnes.

“The addition of package boilers in the June 2019 quarter is expected to improve the reliability of steam generation at the refinery in FY20.”

Sales declined 8% YoY to 1.24 million tonnes in FY19. Sales increased by 51% QoQ in the June 2019 quarter to 374,000 tonnes.