Lonmin has confirmed that work on its number one furnace has been completed ahead of schedule.

The furnace underwent extensive rebuilding work in order to improve its long-term performance levels and to reduce the amount of future repairs needed.

Work was completed in just 27 days, despite initial plans for another five days of maintenance, allowing the furnace to be fully functioning once again.

Lonmin officials emphasised the safety aspect of the rebuilding work and said that all safety standards were met and maintained during the project, which also finished within the original budget.

"I am delighted we have completed the rebuild in record time and within budget," commented Alistair Ross, the president of Lonmin Platinum.

A number of improvements were made, such as replacing the copper waffles contained in the furnace, enabling the firm to use it continuously for two years with only limited maintenance required.

Lonmin recently announced that first quarter production for 2006 showed an increase on figures for the same time last year and that it expects to reach full year targets of one million ounces of platinum sales and 1.9 million ounces of pgm sales.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd