Name of the Project
Zandfontein upper group two tailings facility.

Location
The project is located at the Crocodile River mine, near the town of Brits, in South Africa’s North West province.

Client
Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) and its subsidiary Barplats Mines.

Project Description
The project entails the construction, mining and processing of the Zandfontein tailings resource, and the subsequent offtake of chrome concentrate from the retreatment project. 

The chrome circuit is designed to improve on the recoveries of chrome concentrate, compared with the recoveries using traditional technology, which could expand available resources for mining and processing.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
Capital expenditure is estimated at R164-million, which is expected to be funded from cash on hand, the upfront project payment from Union Goal Offshore Solution and revenue from the retreatment project.

Duration
The parties have presourced equipment and the construction phase is estimated to be seven months. Eastplats expects the project will result in revenue-producing operations, through offtake of the chrome concentrates produced to Union Goal, when production starts in 2018.

Latest Developments
Eastplats expects to start revenue-producing operations at the retreatment project in the fourth quarter of this year.

The company has been focused on the construction of the retreatment project and is about to commission it with a focus on bringing it into full operation as quickly as possible.

In March, Eastplats and its subsidiary, Barplats Mines, entered into a framework agreement with Union Goal with regard to the construction, remining and processing of the tailings resource and offtake of chrome concentrate from tailings facility at the Crocodile River mine.

During the quarter ended September 30, the company continued to focus its resources and efforts to complete the construction phase of the retreatment project.

The chrome plant water commissioning is scheduled to start this month, followed by the introduction of slurry into the chrome plant. Ore production will ramp up during the start-up period in December.

The tailings infrastructure has been completed and is ready to deliver slurry to the chrome plant and separately to accept tailings deposition as needed from the operations, the company has said.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Eastplats, tel+1604 800 8200, fax +1 604 210 4516 or email info@eastplats.com.