The board of directors of platinum group metals miner Zimplats has approved an overall capital investment strategy worth $1.8-billion to be implemented over a ten-year period, beginning this year, with $1.2-billion of projects already approved for implementation.
The projects, including those that are currently in the process of being approved, will concentrate on maintaining current production levels through mine replacements and upgrades, as well as expanding production levels through growth projects, including the development of a new mine and increased processing capacity.
This, Zimplats said, would boost nameplate capacity from 6.7-million tonnes a year to 8.8-million tonnes a year and in-country processing capacity to 380 000 t/y of concentrate, as well as see the establishment of an abatement facility to mitigate sulphuric dioxide emissions emanating from the current and expanded smelting capacity.
In addition, projects will also include refurbishing the mothballed base metals refinery to further beneficiate converter matte and investing in a 185 MW solar plant to augment power supplies and enhance environment, social and corporate governance metrics to maintain Zimplats’ licence to operate.
The projects are expected to be funded from internally generated resources.