Name of the Project
Nokeng fluorspar mine and concentrator project.

Location
Rust de Winter, Gauteng.

Client
Nokeng Fluorspar Mine, a wholly owned subsidiary of SepFluor.

Project description
Nokeng will mine two deposits, Plattekop and Outwash Fan, over 19 years at a run-of-mine rate of 630 00 t/y. There is the prospect of extending the life-of-mine with Wilton – a third, yet-unexplored deposit.

The mine has a 12.2-million-ton-compliant reserve, which is considered large when compared with those of other new fluorspar projects worldwide.

The average grade, about 27% calcium fluoride, is also considered high, ensuring sound economics and locked-in markets for its production of  180 000 t/y of acid-grade fluorspar and 30 000 t/y of metallurgical-grade fluorspar.

The ease with which Nokeng’s surface and near-surface orebody can be mined, and the efficiency of its state-of-the-art concentrator positions the mine in the bottom cost- quartile of fluorspar producers globally.

Jobs to be Created
About 300 fixed-term jobs will be created during construction and about 200 jobs when the mine and concentrator are in production.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
R1.7-billion, to be funded through a mixture of debt and shareholder equity.

Duration
Construction is scheduled for completion within 21 months, with first production achieved in February 2019 and full production in June or July 2019.

Latest Developments
Ground was broken in July 2017. 

Key Contracts and Suppliers
DRA Projects SA and Group Five Construction joint venture (engineering procurement and construction). The mining contract has not yet been awarded.

On Budget and On Time
Yes.

Contact Details for Project Information
SepFluor Limited CEO Rob Wagner, tel +27 (12) 622 9400 or email robwagner@sepfluor.co.za.