JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Thursday signed a strategic memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) to help fund the development of road infrastructure in Limpopo.
The funding will support the upgrade, from gravel to tar, of 20 km of the D4180 road.
Amplats will contribute R46.8-million towards the design and construction of the road and RAL has committed to providing the balance of funds required to complete the project.
“We believe in playing an active role in understanding and supporting the Limpopo government’s development plans, which are aimed at improving the local economy and improving the livelihoods of community members,” said Amplats CEO Chris Griffith.
The initiative is part of Amplats’ ongoing commitment to sustainable community development and improving the standard of living in communities neighbouring its mining operations through its social and labour plans (SLPs).
In addition to the MoA, as part of its SLPs, Amplats has completed a number of road infrastructure initiatives identified by the communities neighbouring its Twickenham project and the Greater Tubatse municipality.
To date, a 1.3 km internal road in Greater Tubatse municipality connecting Ga-Makgopa and Swazimanyane has been completed and a 4.3 km road will be completed this year.
Two access bridge roads have been built in close proximity to the Marapong and Dithabaneng communities and Amplats contributed R20-million to the upgrade of the R37 carriageway, interchange and the bridge-widening junction.
“Our road infrastructure delivery is centred on job creation for locals who we ensure form part of these projects throughout the construction value chain. Through this, we encourage and promote self-ownership,” said RAL CEO Petrus Matji.