Photo by: Northam Platinum
Name of the Project
Zondereinde Western extension project.
Location
Limpopo, South Africa.
Project Owner/s
Northam Platinum Holdings Limited.
Project Description
The Zondereinde mine is an established, conventional, long-life operation that mines upper group two (UG2) and Merensky reef ore, producing about 300 000 oz/y of refined platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, or 4E, platinum-group metals (PGMs).
In early 2018, Northam acquired a portion of the Amandelbult mining right – the Western extension – from Anglo American Platinum, containing 21-million ounces of PGMs within the high-grade Merensky and UG2 orebodies of the Bushveld Complex.
The extension provides Zondereinde with immediate access to an additional 3.6 km of mineable strike to the west of its existing underground operations, extending Zondereinde's life-of-mine to more than 30 years, and increasing production to 350 000 oz/y of 4E by 2026.
Northam has developed, and is equipping, a vertical personnel and materials shaft (No 3 shaft), at a depth 1 382 m, to access the Western extension. It is also developing separate ventilation and rock-hoisting shafts on the same site. The shafts are being developed using the raise-boring method, which has safety, cost and time benefits.
No 3 shaft will be able to carry 126 people at 12 m/s using a three-deck cage and counterweight configuration. The rock shaft is planned to hoist 115 000 t a month using 14 t skips in a skip-skip configuration. The ventilation shaft will be able to exhaust air at 400 kg/s.
The shafts will connect with an underground decline cluster, allowing for personnel transport, material distribution to and rock hoisting from the respective production levels. They will further enhance the provision of piped mining services including; backfill, chilled service water and ventilation, to the underground workings.
Mining activity from the existing workings of the Zondereinde mine will gradually transition into the Western extension block.
Potential Job Creation
The expanded mining footprint is enabling the creation of direct, meaningful, sustainable employment for an additional 600 people.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.
Capital Expenditure
R4.7-billion.
Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.
Latest Developments
Northam has implemented several capital preservation initiatives, deferring certain workstreams pertaining to the Western extension project, where these will not have a material impact on the overall project.
In its results for the six months ended December 31, 2023, released in March 2024, Northam reported more than 1 600 m of access tunnels had advanced within the Western extension section, on plan. Strike development on some levels is approaching the fifth mining line, while raises are being developed on the third mining line. Stoping and ledging is in progress on the first two mining lines.
Chairlift decline development between levels 3 to 7 is scheduled to be completed towards the end of the 2024 financial year. Equipping is in progress and is scheduled to be completed towards the end of the 2025 financial year.
Progress on the 3 Shaft complex is on track.
In the six months to December, the equipping of 3 Shaft reached a depth of 450 m. The reaming of 3a ventilation shaft to its final diameter of 4.8 m reached a depth of 430 m. The equipping of 3 Shaft, and the reaming of 3a shaft are scheduled to be completed in line with the chairlift declines. Pilot drilling for a third shaft, 3b, designed for rock hoisting, reached 1 320 m during the six months to December 31, 2023, and is on schedule for completion during the second half of the financial year. This is expected to be commissioned in 2028 and will allow for optimal ore extraction from the Western extension.
Earthworks, civil engineering and construction of surface infrastructure to support the shaft complex are under way.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Master Drilling (raise-bore drilling contractor); and BBE (design and build of refrigeration plant).
Contact Details for Project Information
Northam Platinum, tel +27 11 759 6000.
R&A Strategic Communications, on behalf of Northam Platinum, tel +27 11 880 3924 or email marion@rasc.co.za.