Tinashe Makichi Business Reporter
Zimbabwe’s largest platinum miner, Zimplats has committed about $26 million for completion of phase two of its projects at Ngezi scheduled for the first quarter of 2015.
“The implementation of the Ngezi Phase 2 Expansion Project is progressing well and $26 million has been committed,” said Zimplats chief executive Mr Alex Mhembere in a statement in its integrated annual report for 2014.
A total of $37 million was spent on stay in business projects in the year, which was 28 percent higher than the $29 million in the prior year.
Mr Mhembere said in December last year a localised explosion occurred at its smelter resulting in a tap block blow-out and eruption of molten material from the furnace.
“The furnace was repaired and put back on full power in the same month. Concentrator mass pulls were reduced to allow the smelter to process all the concentrates stockpiled during this outage,” he said.
A total of 132 800 tonnes of concentrates were smelted in the year producing 239 700 ounces of platinum in converter matte, 21 percent above the 198 100 ounces produced in the prior year.
Four elements (4E) metal production for the year at 486 900 ounces was 23 percent above the prior year, reflecting the benefit of higher throughput from the concentrators.
Tonnes milled for the year at 5,94 million were 27 percent above the previous year’s 4, 68 million due to increased capacity from the Phase 2 Ngezi concentrator module, which was commissioned in the final quarter of the previous year.
The overall recovery rates were at 81,7 percent ,1 percent below the prior year’s performance due to the impact of lower grades and reduction in mass pull from 2,4 percent to 2,3 percent.
The impact of grades and mass pull was somewhat offset by increasing reagent dosages at both concentrators.
Average 4E head grade for the year was 3,26 grammes per tonne, 2 percent lower than the previous year’s 3,32 grammes per tonne mainly due to dilution arising from self-mining in areas affected by faulting and the Mutambara Shear.
“The increase in mining height from 2,5 metres to 2,75 metres in predetermined footprints at Ngwarati, Rukodzi and Mupfuti mines had a negative impact on head grade.
“A total of 134,000 tonnes low-grade partially oxidized ore from the old stockpiles were milled in the year further diluting head grade,” Mr Mhembere said.
Zimplats continues to be a dominant player in the mining industry in Zimbabwe and one of the major contributors to the economic recovery of the country.
In the just ended year 2013, the Company spent $215 million in local procurement excluding payments to Government institutions.
In addition, Zimplats spent $83 million on employment costs thereby enhancing consumer spending power in the economy.