All systems go at Hernic as Jubilee eyes new projects

2nd December 2016 By: Natasha Odendaal - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Mine-to-metals company Jubilee Platinum is days away from starting the commissioning of its new Hernic platinum group metals-bearing chrome tailings processing plant, in the North West.

With some 90% of the budgeted capital spent to date, the group is nearing the full completion of the mechanical construction phase “within the next few days” and gearing up to deliver its first saleable platinum concentrate in February, on track as per its contractual commitment.

The remaining 10% of capital spend will be linked to the performance of equipment as Jubilee commissions the 660 000 t/y Hernic platinum and chromite processing plant in December.

“Within the December month, we will commence with the commissioning of the plant, testing the motors, start circulating the liquid and water through the plant and build up to design capacities [prior to] producing our first saleable platinum concentrate,” Jubilee CEO Leon Coetzer said during a question and answer webcast on Friday.

Jubilee had mobilised its full workforce to the site to prepare for the process.

“[It is] going to be a very intense, very exciting December for Jubilee,” he said.

Coetzer said the company was in “active” discussions and negotiations to conclude its third and fourth projects in South Africa.

“We are very confident that we will be in a position to expand dramatically on our success at both the Dilokong chrome mine project and Hernic. Basically, [Jubilee plans to] implement similar projects, [with] similar commercial relationships with other partners.”

“We have been able to clearly establish our lead in the industry and demonstrate our ability to outpace our competitors, and that bodes very well for our current discussion for the next operations we are targeting at this stage,” Coetzer concluded.