JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Dual-listed mine-to-metals specialist Jubilee Platinum’s commissioning of chromite recovery and platinum group metals (PGMs) plants at its Hernic ferrochrome operation is progressing to schedule, with the first chromite concentrate product targeted within the next two weeks.

At full production, the project is expected to be the largest PGMs beneficiation plant of surface chrome tailings in South Africa, targeting the processing of 55 000 t/m of chrome and PGM-rich material.

The integration of the two circuits will start in February.

“We are excited with the progress as we complete the testing and commissioning of our Hernic project. The complexity of bringing such a large project into operation has been well managed through a disciplined commissioning programme and the support of our contracted engineering and project management partners,” said Jubilee CEO Leon Coetzer.

The commissioning of the PGM recovery plant would be the natural succession of the chromite recovery plant with integration of the two recovery plants targeted for February, he explained.

The commissioning activities include the structural, mechanical, electrical, control and instrumentation, piping and equipment testing; the pre-operational functional testing and operating of the equipment; and the integrated functional testing of process units in closed loop using process water to complete commissioning of mechanical and process control functionality of the integrated metallurgical process unit.

Lastly, Jubilee will undertake the final functional testing of the fully integrated metallurgical unit processes using process water prior to feeding through chromite and PGM material.

“The final step of integrating the chromite recovery plant into Hernic’s current operations to receive Hernic feed material and ramping up of production, is targeted for completion within the next two weeks,” Coetzer said.