South 32 increases aluminium production by 15% in last quarter
Worsley Alumina and Brazil Alumina operated above nameplate capacity in the December 2022 quarter, delivering an 8% increase in quarterly alumina volumes.
Aluminium production increased by 15% in the December 2022 half year, with a 50% uplift in low-carbon aluminium, following its acquisition of an additional shareholding in Mozal Aluminium and restart of the Brazil Aluminium smelter.
WORSLEY ALUMINA (86% SHARE)
Worsley Alumina saleable production decreased by 3% (or 57kt) to 1,922kt in the December 2022 half year, while saleable production improved by 9% (or 82kt) in the December 2022 quarter following the completion of planned calciner maintenance in the September 2022 quarter. FY23 production guidance remains unchanged at 4,000kt with the expectation that nameplate production rates (4.6Mtpa, 100% basis) are achieved following planned calciner maintenance in the March 2023 quarter.
Brazil Alumina saleable production increased by 10% (or 60kt) to 691kt in the December 2022 half year, as the refinery operated at nameplate capacity (3.86Mtpa, 100% basis), following the bauxite ship unloader outage in the prior period. FY23 production guidance remains unchanged at 1,395kt.
Brazil Aluminium saleable production was 23.7kt in the December 2022 half year, following the successful restart of the smelter in the June 2022 quarter. Production increased by 86% (or 7.1kt) in the December 2022 quarter as potlines one and two continued to ramp-up
towards capacity and potline three was restarted in November 2022.
During the December 2022 quarter, the smelter experienced temporary challenges with its alumina feeding systems and higher than expected pot failure rates. As a result, fewer pots are in operation than planned, and the ramp-up to nameplate capacity (179ktpa, 40% basis) is delayed to the September 2023 quarter. Accordingly, we have reduced FY23 production by 25kt (or 25%) to 75kt and FY24 production guidance by 31kt (or 17%) to 148kt.
HILLSIDE ALUMINIUM (100% SHARE)
Hillside Aluminium saleable production increased by 1% (or 4kt) to 362kt in the December 2022 half year as the smelter continued to test its maximum technical capacity despite the impact of elevated load-shedding. FY23 production guidance remains unchanged at 720kt.
While sales increased by 8% in the December 2022 quarter, inventory remained above target levels as two shipments were delayed to January 2023 due to shipping delays at Richards Bay.
Mozal Aluminium saleable production increased by 34% (or 46kt) to 182kt in the December 2022 half year, reflecting our increased ownership of the smelter. Production decreased by 2% (or 2kt) in the December 2022 quarter as operations in Potroom A were temporarily suspended as we responded to the fatal incident on 7 November 2022. FY23 production guidance remains unchanged at 370kt, with the smelter having subsequently returned to full production and continued to test its maximum technical capacity despite the impact of elevated load-shedding.
Worsley Alumina and Brazil Alumina operated above nameplate capacity in the December 2022 quarter, delivering an 8% increase in quarterly alumina volumes.
