Unki production increases by over 40 percent
Zimbabwe’s second biggest platinum group metal (PGM) producer Unki Mine has recorded a production increase of 41 per cent during the quarter ended 30 September 2022 compared to the same quarter of last year, figures from Unki’s parent company Anglo American Platinum indicate.
The Anglo-American Platinum-owned PGM producer recorded 59 900 tonnes during the quarter compared to 42 600 tonnes produced during the comparable quarter of 2021. However, there was a 10 per cent decrease compared to the previous quarter ended 30 June 2022 where the mine recorded 66 300 tonnes of production.
Compared to the first quarter of 2022, the PGM producer recorded an increase from 53 300 tonnes while during the fourth quarter of 2021, the mine produced 63 200 tonnes.
During the first three quarters of 2022, the PGM producer recorded a 27 per cent increase to 179 500 tonnes from 141 400 tonnes produced during the first three quarters of the previous year.
Completion of the company’s R700 million de-bottlenecking project towards year-end resulted in an improved capacity.
The project focused on upgrading the flotation circuit, the primary mill and other ancillary equipment.
Unki last year invested US$48 million towards increasing its concentrator capacity, which is expected to boost output by 30 per cent.
General Manager, Walter Nemasasi, at the time said the new concentrator was set for commissioning sometime in September last year.
The new plant was the second major value addition and beneficiation project by the mine after the commissioning of a US$60 million smelting plant at the mine by President Mnangagwa in 2019.
The project was expected to increase the production of platinum group concentrate at the plant by 30 per cent and ultimately increase exports by the same margin.
The company said the project was so huge that it will increase production from 180 000 tonnes a month to 210 000 tonnes a month.
Zimbabwe is envisioning a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023. Of the US$12 billion, platinum will contribute US$3 billion.