JSE-listed Mantengu Mining has successfully commissioned the first of three chrome processing plants at its Langpan mining operation, in Limpopo.
The commissioning of the first plant follows 18 months of preparatory work, including a competent person's report and the appointment of Jacques Pretorius as Langpan’s GM.
Pretorius has more than 30 years’ experience in the mining industry and, notably, helped reopen Northam Platinum’s Eland platinum mine, which is located on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex.
The competent person's report estimates the Langpan chrome reserve at 2.17-million tonnes, which underpins the operations’ valuation at R851-million.
Mantengu group CEO Mike Miller says the initial chrome plant was originally designed to accommodate a production throughout of 30 000 t a month, or 70 t/h. The commissioning of the new chrome plant has, however, enhanced production capacity to a throughput rate of 36 000 t a month, or 100 t/h.
The plant is expected to produce about 18 000 t of chrome concentrate every month, with a chrome content of between 42% and 44%.
The first deliveries of chrome concentrate from the plant are expected on or about June 8.
The other chrome processing plants will consist of a spiral processing and jigging processing plant, respectively. The second plant has a planned production capacity of 30 000 t a month, while the third plant’s production capacity will be 14 000 t a month.
Mantengu plans to commission both plants in August.