Name of the Project
Triple Crown expansion project.

Location
North West province, in South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Sedibelo Platinum Mines.

Project Description
Sedibelo plans to expand operations at its Pilanesberg Platinum Mines (PPM) into the contiguous deposits of Sedibelo Central, Magazynskraal and Kruidfontein – known as the Triple Crown properties. The properties – considered one of the world’s biggest undeveloped platinum-group metals (PGMs) deposits – have an estimated resource base of more than 60-million platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, or 4E, PGMs ounces.

The predominantly shallow deposits will allow for safe and sustainable mining activities for potentially more than 60 years.

The Triple Crown expansion will be mined simultaneously, with ore from the existing openpit upper group two (UG2) and Merensky operation, using two decline shaft systems.

The existing PPM concentrator plant has the capacity to process the Triple Crown ore and ore from the openpits. With minimal reconfiguration, the Triple Crown UG2 and Merensky ore will be blended and processed through the existing Merensky plant, thereby significantly reducing capital expenditure and lowering operating costs.

Sedibelo also plans to build a 110 000 t beneficiation plant at PPM using cost- and energy-efficient Kell Technology. Kell reduces energy consumption by an estimated 82%, with the associated significant reduction in carbon emissions also improving recoveries and lowering operating costs. Kell is unconstrained by concentrate grade, resistant to other impurities and is not sensitive to chrome levels. It will also improve the economic return of the Triple Crown expansion.

Potential Job Creation
Sedibelo’s current 1 500-employee workforce is expected to increase significantly as the Triple Crown operations develop. More than 60% of the current workforce are from local communities. Sedibelo expects that the new positions will predominantly be filled by local employees.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The approved expansion will be funded through Sedibelo’s existing cash resources and future cash flow.

Planned Start/End Date
The first ounces from Triple Crown are expected to be extracted in 2023.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sedibelo Platinum Mines, tel +27 12 661 4280 or email info@sedibeloplatinum.com.
Media and investor relations on behalf of Sedibelo Platinum Mines,
Johannes van Niekerk, cell +27 82921 9110 or email johannes@capitalvoice.co.za.