Wesizwe projects executive Jacob Mothomogolo
Photo by: Duane Daws
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Platinum group metals (PGMs) miner Wesizwe Platinum has decided to appoint contract miners to operate its Bakubung platinum mine, near Rustenburg.
At a media briefing, in Johannesburg, on Friday, Wesizwe projects executive Jacob Mothomogolo explained that 70% of South Africa’s start-up PGMs mines had implemented contract mining for the first five years of mine life, after which the mine became owner-operated.
A project was sensitive to delays during the early years of production and contract mining tended to yield a better performance during that time, he explained.
Wesizwe will adopt contract mining for the first five years of Bakubung’s mine life and will, thereafter, review whether it should continue with contract mining for another five years or switch to owner-operated mining.
The company is setting up a scoping document and, following commissioning, will “strategically appoint” two mining contractors.
“We will split the mine in two,” corporate affairs executive Hamlet Morule said.
Wesizwe is on track to commission the first phase of the Bakubung main shaft, as well as hoist its first ore, in 2017.
It will also start process plant construction and complete all surface infrastructure and installations next year.
It expects to reach a production rate of 230 000 t/m by 2020.