/ 4 May 1999

JCI MINING RESULTS AVERAGE

GOLD mines Randfontein Estates and Western Areas turned in satisfactory, although not sparkling, results for the March quarter, mineowners JCI said on Friday. The company said in a statement Randfontein boosted its profit from gold by 31% to R44-million, from R33,7-million in December. Production costs for the quarter were 3,5% higher than the December quarter, at R334,2-million. Gold output of 6658 kilograms was marginally lower than the 6670 kg produced in the December quarter. The company’s other mine, Western Areas, returned a profit of R195,3-million in March, up from the R181,1-million recorded in December. Gold production at Western Areas was down 9% to 285l kg in the quarter, JCI said.