Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia Ltd
(ASX:ERA) says ore milled for the September quarter at its Ranger operation was 17 per cent higher than the September 2008 quarter as a result of higher plant utilisation and higher throughput rates.
Ore milled was five per cent lower than the previous quarter however due to lower utilisation after a planned five day maintenance shutdown in September.
Uranium oxide production rose four per cent to 1,405 tonnes in the quarter compared to the same quarter last year.
The result was down five per cent on the June quarter though, due to lower tonnes milled.
Total material mined fell four per cent from the previous quarter due to some operational interruptions as a result of detected instability of the southern wall of the pit.
The company says it is working to stabilise this area, and the interruption is not expected to impact on uranium oxide production in 2009.
Ore mined was 64 per cent higher than the June quarter due to the company regaining full access to the Ranger pit in a timely manner following the 2009 wet season.
Energy Resources of Australia recorded net profit of $221.7 million in 2008, its best result in five years.
