Black Rock mine and Gloria modernisation projects, South Africa – update

8th September 2023 By: Sheila Barradas - Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

Black Rock mine and Gloria modernisation projects, South Africa – update

Name of the Project
Black Rock mine and Gloria modernisation projects.

Location
Black Rock, in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Assmang, which is jointly controlled by Assore and African Rainbow Minerals.

Project Description
The projects will modernise and expand the mine by increasing volume and flexibility to produce the differentiated medium- to high-grade products, which the manganese market is increasingly demanding and for which it is paying a premium, while improving efficiencies.

The project will increase overall production to about five-million tons a year of manganese, subject to rail availability and market conditions.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
R2.97-billion has been approved for the project, most of it sustaining capital expenditure. Eighty-seven per cent of the approved capital for the project was spent on the Gloria project as at December 31, 2021.

The Black Rock project is estimated at R7.3-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Black Rock was completed in September 2022, while Gloria’s raise section achieved construction completion in June 2023.

Latest Developments
Project close-out on the Gloria project is under way, with the project forecast to be formally closed out within the approved budget of R3-billion.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
DRA Global (engineering, procurement and construction management).

Contact Details for Project Information
Assore, tel +27 11 770 6800.
African Rainbow Minerals investor relations and corporate affairs head Jongisa Magagula, tel +27 11 779 1300, fax +27 11 779 1312 or email jongisa.magagula@arm.co.za.