Name of the Project
Far West Gold Recoveries (FWGR) project.

Location
Gauteng, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
South African gold producer DRDGold's acquisition of multinational precious metals mining company Sibanye-Stillwater's FWGR assets was finalised on July 31, 2018.

Following the successful implementation of the transaction between the two companies, Sibanye-Stillwater now owns 38.05% of the issued share capital of DRDGold.

Under the terms of the transaction, entered into in November 2017, Sibanye agreed to exchange selected surface-gold processing assets and tailings storage facilities (TSFs) for shares in DRDGold.

Sibanye also has an option to subscribe for further shares in DRDGold, enabling it to potentially hold up to 50.1% of DRDGold within 24 months at a 10% discount.

Project Description
The FWGR will be rolled out in a phased approach.

According to DRDGold, the first phase, including early-stage production, design and planning over a 24-month period, will involve upgrading the Driefontein 2 and 3 plants to process tailings from the Driefontein 5 dump at between 400 000 t a month and 600 000 t a month, depositing the residue in the Driefontein 4 tailings dam.

Phase 2 envisages the construction of a high-volume central processing plant capable of processing 1.2-million tonnes a month and the development of a new regional TSF.

In this phase, reclamation will initially be from the Driefontein 3, Libanon and Kloof 1 dumps, and then from the Ventersdorp North and South dumps. The scale of the infrastructure established in this phase will allow for reclamation from other sources in the region.

Phase 2 is expected to extend the life of the operation from five years to 20 years.

As an alternative to Phase 2, or if Phase 2 is delayed, Phase 1 can be extended by blending in material from the Driefontein 3 dump. Envisaged is the treatment of 77.7-million tonnes from the Driefontein 3 and 5 dumps, and a further upgrade of the Driefontein 4 tailings dam.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
DRDGold estimates the net present value (NPV) of the entire FWGR at R2.1-billion.

The estimated NPV of the alternative option is R2.7-billion, assuming a capital outlay of R397-million, in addition to the initial Phase 1 capital outlay.

Capital Expenditure
DRDGold invested R330-million on Phase 1.
 

The cost of Phase 2 will depend on whether DRDGold chooses to build a second plant and TSF or if it expands the existing plant and TSF capacity.

Planned Start/End Date
The miner reached commercial production of Phase 1 in April 2019.

Phase 2 is planned to be completed in 2024/5.

Latest Developments
In the six months to December 31, 2020, FWGR’s all-in sustaining costs increased by 40% to R365 070/kg, owing to higher cash operating costs and expenditure on several capital projects, including the conversion of the upper compartment of the Driefontein No 4 TSF to cyclone deposition and the completion of irrigation infrastructure for dust-inhibiting vegetation of the TSF.

Work on a definitive feasibility study and planning for FWGR Phase 2 continued apace in the period under review. The amended design for the regional TSF was submitted for approval to the Department of Water and Sanitation in November 2020.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
R&A Strategic Communications James Duncan, on behalf of DRDGold, tel +27 11 880 3924 or email james@rasc.co.za.