Beneficiation gathers momentum
PLATINUM group metals (PGM) producer, Zimplats, is said to have temporarily agreed to process ore for other producers of PGMs as they finalise the construction of their additional smelters and refurbishment of their base metal refinery as beneficiation of minerals gather pace.
The Zimplats board approved the refurbishment of the mothballed base metal refinery (BMR) at Selous Metallurgical Complex at a cost of US$200 million, as it seeks to further beneficiate matte. The project is part of the group’s overall capital investment strategy, which has a budget of US$1,8 billion to be implemented over a 10-year period beginning in 2021.
Of the total investment, US$1,2 billion has already been approved for implementation. Zimplats base metal refinery project resonates with the Government’s thrust on mineral beneficiation.
The Government has over the years been exploring possible methods of ensuring the beneficiation of minerals, with policies targeting mostly platinum, diamonds, gold and chrome mining with the intention to unlock the full potential of the mining sector.
Mineral beneficiation is in line with the Government’s quest for a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023.
According to the State of Mining Industry Survey Report for 2024 released by the Chamber of Mines recently, PGM producers have since signed commitment letters with Zimplats to regularise the arrangement
“Information gathered from platinum producers indicates that Zimplats agreed to process other producers PGMs materials once they finalise construction of their additional smelters and refurbishment of their base metal refinery.
“The producers have since signed commitment letters with Zimplats to regularise the arrangement. This position was also agreed with Government,” reads part of the report.
Zimbabwe is the world’s third-largest producer of platinum after Russia and South Africa and Zimplats, Unki, and Mimosa are the country’s major producers of world sought platinum. PGMs output is projected to remain on a positive trajectory in view of several platinum projects that are currently underway.
These include investments being channeled towards the mineral’s extraction by Karo Resources and Great Dyke.
Beneficiation and value addition in the lithium sector, the survey information shows that all lithium producers are constructing processing facilities and concentrators to process their materials.
“They are currently exporting concentrates as per Government policy. Some of the lithium producers have signed an MOU with the Government to participate in the Mines to Energy Park.”
The Energy Park project includes the construction of two 300 megawatts of power stations for power generation, a Coking Plant with a capacity of 1,2 million tons of coke per annum, a 130,000 tons per annum of Lithium Salt Plant, Graphite Processing plant and Nickel Chromium Alloy Smelter and Nickel Sulphate.
Capital projects in the lithium sector outlined by the report include the Zulu Lithium and Tantalite project which started production in the first quarter of 2023 and has since commissioned a 50,000 ton per year pilot plant valued at $35 million.
Bikita Minerals has invested over US$300 million over exploration work and expansion of their operations over the past two years.
The mine has constructed and commissioned a dual lithium processing plant (including Spodumene Project), Flotation Separation Plant and a New Smelter Plant. The report said the expected production is up to 300 000 tons of spodumene concentrate and 480 000 tons of petalite.
Acadia Lithium Mine is said to have spent in excess of US$300 million in Capex over the past three years.-chronicle
