The country’s biggest Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) producer, Zimplats, has announced that phase two of its sulphur dioxide (SO₂) abatement plant construction will recommence in the first quarter of the 2026 financial year, with an expected completion date of June 2028, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The project is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to expand and enhance its processing capacity, particularly in response to increasing environmental regulations and production targets.
To date, Zimplats has invested a combined US$444 million into both the SO₂ abatement plant and its smelter expansion project. These initiatives are crucial for managing sulphur dioxide emissions—a major byproduct of the smelting process that can contribute to air pollution, acid rain, and health hazards. In its half-year report for the period ending December 31, 2024, Zimplats stated that both projects were “technically complete” and will significantly improve the company’s ability to mitigate its environmental impact.
The SO₂ abatement plant is designed to capture sulphur dioxide emissions and convert them into valuable byproducts such as sulphuric acid, which can be used in various industrial processes. This aligns with global efforts to reduce industrial emissions and supports Zimplats’ compliance with stricter environmental standards.
As part of its broader US$1.8 billion capital expansion programme, Zimplats is investing in several integrated projects, including the smelter expansion, a base metal refinery, a sulphuric acid plant, and a 110-megawatt power station. These investments are expected to support the company’s planned ramp-up in production while reducing its environmental footprint.
The new smelter furnace, once completed, will more than double the company’s smelting capacity from 135,000 tonnes per annum to 380,000 tonnes per annum of concentrate, significantly enhancing its output capabilities.
“Phase Two of the SO₂ abatement plant will resume construction in Q1 FY2026 and is expected to be completed in June 2028. As of December 31, 2024, a total of US$443 million had been spent on both projects, against an approved budget of US$544 million,” Zimplats confirmed in a statement.
However, the company also reported challenges during the period under review. Mined volumes were negatively affected by the limited availability of trackless mobile machinery (TMM) and intermittent power outages. Production volumes fell by 2.5 per cent to 3.9 million tonnes, down from 4.0 million tonnes in the same period the previous year. Similarly, tonnes milled decreased by 2.6 per cent to 3.8 million tonnes due to lower ore supply, and metal-in-concentrate production dropped by two per cent year-on-year to 279,890 6E ounces.
According to Zimplats, this decline was largely due to lower-than-planned concentrator production, an increase in furnace lock-up, and delays in commissioning the expanded smelter converters. The 6E (platinum, palladium, rhodium, gold, ruthenium, and iridium) production decreased by 15 per cent to 279,890 ounces from 327,810 ounces. A further 23,191 6E ounces were locked up in concentrate and final production during the period.
Despite these setbacks, Zimplats reported a slight improvement in mill head grade for the six metals, which increased to 3.38 grams per tonne (g/t) from 3.34 g/t in the same period last year. This was attributed to improved mining quality across its operations and increased tonnage from higher-grade zones at the Rukodzi and Bimha mines.
Financially, the company’s performance was impacted by these production challenges. Revenue for the half-year stood at US$350.2 million, a six per cent decline from the previous period, mainly due to a 13 per cent reduction in sales volumes.
Zimplats remains focused on its long-term strategy of increasing production and reducing its environmental footprint. The completion of phase two of the SO₂ abatement plant and other expansion projects is expected to place the company in a strong position to meet its sustainability and production goals while continuing to comply with global environmental standards.
