Name and Location
Kudumane Manganese Resources mining project, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Client
Kudumane Manganese Resources (KMR) is co-owned by two black economically empowered companies – Northern Cape Manganese Company (50%) and Dirleton Minerals & Energy (50%).

Project Description
The proposed Kudumane manganese mine is located about 1 km from Hotazel and about 50 km from Kuruman, in the Northern Cape.

The project comprises an openpit or combination openpit and underground mine, with further underground mining planned in the future, a crushing and screening plant, mine residue disposal storage and facilities, as well as various support infrastructure and services.

Production of manganese ore from the project is estimated at 1.5-million tons a year, which will increase to 2-million tons a year and later to 2.5-million tons a year, with the introduction of underground operations in 2019.

The openpit/combination mining operations have an expected mine life of 10 to 15 years, after which underground mining will continue for an estimated 30 years.

The infrastructure to be developed includes 5.3 km of railway siding, an automated 3 500 t/h rapid loading station, road trucks with a loading capacity of 300 t/h, a crushing and screening plant, roads and general developments in and around Hotazel.

Value
R1.5-billion.

The sinter smelter will cost an additional R1.5-billion.

Duration
The project is expected to be in full production by the end of 2013.

Latest Developments
Production at Kudumane started at the end of November 2012 and Kudumane Manganese is planning to complete mine development by March next year.

Meanwhile, the Kudumane manganese mine, is set to start the construction of its processing plant this year, and is scheduled to produce first ore in April 2014.

The processing plant project was expected to be approved in January 2013. Construction is expected to start in June. The mechanical engineering of the processing plant components is expected to be completed by December next year.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
VBKom (mine design); Blue Chip Mining (mining work); key contractors for rail siding – WRW Consulting Engineers (project management), Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium (rail track), Actom (signalling), Tractionel (overhead traction equipment).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
KMR, tel +27 11 880 2771 or email info@kmr.co.za.
Vuma Reputation Management, on behalf of KMR, director of government relations, Oscar Tshifure, tel +27 87 941 3497, fax +27 86 677 3448 or email oscar@vumareputation.com.
Blue Chip Mining & Drilling, Martin van Zyl, tel +27 53 712 2858, fax +27 53 712 0773 or email martin@bluechipmining.co.za.
VBKom, tel +27 12 654 0004, fax +27 86 671 1400 or email info@vbkom.co.za.
WRW Consulting Engineers, tel +27 11 425 2724, fax +27 86 687 2019 or email info@wrw.co.za.
Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium, tel +27 13 690 9911 or email general@evrazhighveld.co.za.
Actom, tel 27 11 820 5111 or fax +27 11 820 5100.
Tractionel, tel +27 11 768 7373, fax +2711 768 7376 or email info@traction.co.za.