Ngezi Platinum Mine

History

In early 1998, Delta completed an initial reconnaissance programme of drilling on the Ngezi South tenements, to assess the viability of open cast mining of sulphide ores in this area. The programme indicated that there was potential for such a mine, and that the depth of metallurgical weathering was quite limited in this area.

Between Sept 1998 and June 1999, Zimplats completed a detailed drilling programme in the area. It also completed a feasibility study for a 2 mtpa open cast mine and concentrator, mining and treating sulphide ore only from depths between 20m (the general lower limit of metallurgical weathering) and 50m (an initially defined economic transition between open cast and underground mining). This project would have produced concentrate for smelting by one of the SA majors.

Shortly prior to completion of this feasibility study, Zimplats acquired the BHP interest in the assets of the Hartley Platinum Joint Venture, which included the concentrator and smelter complex at Selous Metallurgical Complex ("SMC"). During the period July 1999 to March 2000 the feasibility study was modified. It now incorporated the construction of a road between Ngezi and Selous for the transport of ore, and the utilisation of the SMC concentrator and smelter for treatment of Ngezi ore to produce a final white matte product rather than a final concentrate product. As part of this modified study, a trial mining exercise was carried out at Ngezi to expose and mine some 12,000 tonnes of ore along the horizon from approximately 20m depth to about 35m depth. This trial mine gave exposure to actual mining conditions and was also used to prove the proposed grade control technique.

In May 2001 Zimplats completed financing arrangements for development of the mine, and construction of the Ngezi Opencast mine commenced in that month. These financing arrangements allow for the mining of 40 million tonnes of ore lying between 20m and 50m deep by opencast methods, under tribute to HMC.

Available infrastructure

Ngezi is located 77km south of Selous, which lies on the main Harare to Bulawayo road. A new 9 metre wide all weather tar road to connect Ngezi and Selous has been constructed as part of the Ngezi Platinum Mine development programme.

In addition, the Ngezi mine site is connected to the National Grid by a new 33kV overhead power supply.

As part of the development of the mine infrastructure a single person's camp is being developed at Ngezi for all the personnel who will be based at Ngezi, and good telephonic communications are installed.