Zimplats injects US$521m to boost smelting capacity
Zimbabwe’s largest platinum miner, Zimplats has set aside US$521m for the construction of a 38MW furnace and an acid plant as it targets to double the smelting capacity.
The investment is part of the miner’s US$1.8bn kitty recently approved by the board to be invested over a 10-year period beginning in 2021.
Zimplats’ current smelting capacity is at 132 000 tonnes of concentrate per year and with the capital injection the mine is expecting to hit 380 000 tonnes of concentrate per year.
“The expanded smelter complex will have capacity for toll treatment of third-party material. The acid plant, in addition to reducing Point-source sulphur dioxide emissions, will produce sulphuric acid – a vital feedstock in the manufacture of fertiliser,” the company said in a quarterly update for the period ending December 31, 2021.
Zimplats reported that they are within course in the implementation of Mupani Mine development project and Bimha mine upgrade as replacement to Rukodzi, Ngwarati and Mupfuti mines set to be depleted in the financial year 2022, 2025 and 2028 respectively.
“Implementation of the Mupani mine development project, the upgrade of Bimha mine and the construction of the third Concentrator plant progressed according to plan during the quarter, with project-to-date expenditure of US$211m and commitments of US$131m at period end, against a combined budget of US$562m,” Zimplats said.
In the period under review, mined tonnage decrease by 7% both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year mainly due to disruptions at Mupfuti Mine during a changeover of trackless mining equipment service provider.
Milled tonnes increased by 3% quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year due to higher running time at the concentrator plants while 6E metal in final product decreased by 2% to 140 768 ounces from the prior quarter, impacted by the lower head grade notwithstanding the higher tonnes milled.
