JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Precious metals miner Pan African has started cold commissioning of a chrome tailings retreatment plant (CTRP) at its Phoenix Platinum operation in South Africa’s North West province.

The Aim- and JSE-listed company is targeting first concentrate from the plant, built at International Ferro Metals’ Lesedi mine, by the end of December, CEO Jan Nelson said in a statement on Monday.

The R105-million plant construction started in May and was completed within its planned timeline.

The cold commissioning of the CTRP followed the issuing of a C1 Level: Certificate of Mechanical Completion by consulting engineering firm Basil Read subsidiary, Matomo Projects. The project was part of a lump sum turnkey contract, and was completed to the satisfaction of Phoenix’s third party inspectors.

The certificate was issued on completion of plant construction and indicates that the plant was ready for the safe start of cold commissioning.

The Phoenix project is expected to produce 211 000 oz of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold over 17 years, with a yearly retreatment capacity of 240 000 t/y.

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