JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Low-cost platinum-group metal (PGM) producer Sylvania Platinum, which remained on target to achieve 40 000 oz of PGM by the end of June, would increase its production to 60 000 oz in 2012, the ASX- and Aim-listed miner said on Wednesday.

Sylvania currently has five producing PGM plants, but the expansions at the Mooinooi and Lannex plants, and the Tweefontein development project, would allow the company to achieve the 60 000 oz of PGM material and maintain this level of production from dump retreatment until 2017.

The company was well under way with expanding production at its existing plants, in addition to commissioning a sixth operation during 2012, CEO Terry McConnachie said.

The heavy media separation plant at the Mooinooi tailings plant, in the western limb of the Bushveld Complex, was completed and commissioned on time and in budget. Mine life has extended from a five-year dump project to more than 15 years owing to displacement of dump feed. Run-of-mine (ROM) throughput increased from 15 000 t/m to 40 000 t/m.

The board also recently approved a second-phase expansion at the plant, which would be complete in November. The expansion would comprise the construction of additional chrome spiral capacity and a second PGM flotation plant, which would increase ROM to 60 000 t/m, with total plant feed increasing to 75 000 t/m, and up production to more than 1 600 oz/m.

In April, the Lannex tailings dam was completed and has now been commissioned.

A final project study has been completed for the Tweefontein plant, located in the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex, and would be presented to the board for approval in June. Plant construction is expected to be complete by May 2012.

The plant would be built next to the existing Samancor washing plant at the Tweefontein mine, and production was expected to reach 880 oz/m.

The company said there was a possibility that Tweefontein could undergo a second-phase expansion as Mooinooi, where feed would be treated directly from underground. This was still under review with the host mine.

Deputy CEO Nigel Trevarthen said work was also progressing at the Volspruit and Northern Limb projects. “We look forward to validating our ability to deliver a profitable business that exploits the low grade deposits in the Bushveld Complex," he added.
 

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