Lower grades weigh on Unki PGMs production
ZIMBABWE’S third-largest platinum group metals (PGM) producer, Unki Platinum Mine, recorded a 15 percent decline in PGM production to 53 600 ounces in the first quarter (Q1) ending March 31, 2025, compared to 62 800 ounces in Q1 2024.
Parent company Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), in a production update, attributed the lower production primarily to the expected lower grades in the current mining area, coupled with slightly lower recoveries.
“The impact of a five-day planned plant maintenance shutdown also affected volumes milled. In the prior period, this maintenance was performed in the second quarter of 2024,” reads the trading update.
The country’s operating PGM mines, predominantly owned by South African companies, have been involved in various expansion and new mine development projects amidst weakening commodity prices. Unki Mine continues to benefit from the concentrator debottlenecking project completed in 2022. The debottleneck project, completed in 2021 and reaching optimum production in 2022, was executed at a cost of US$48 million, with the expansion aimed at increasing throughput capacity.
Zimbabwe’s PGM sector also boasts upcoming producers at different stages of development. Karo Platinum Holdings is advancing with the development of its platinum mine despite falling PGM prices, having completed several on-site infrastructure developments. Bravura Consortium is also progressing in the development of its PGM mine, having completed several processes and is currently mobilising equipment for mine development.
The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) considers Zimbabwe to have the world’s second-largest platinum group metals (PGM) resource, after South Africa, on the Great Dyke.
According to the production update, total PGM production for Anglo American Platinum decreased by 17 percent compared to the prior period, totaling 696 300 ounces.
This decline was primarily due to lower third-party production, with Kroondal volumes of 61 000 ounces transitioning to a 4E tolling arrangement from September 2024, and lower production from Amandelbult of 41 000 ounces. On a like-for-like basis, accounting for the Kroondal transition and Amandelbult flooding impact, total PGM production decreased by 5 percent against the prior period.
Globally, the platinum market is expected to remain in deficit for the third consecutive year, with a projected shortfall of 848 000 ounces in 2025, following a 995 000-ounce deficit in 2024, according to the World Platinum Investment Council.
Mr. Craig Miller, the chief executive officer of Anglo American Platinum, emphasised that safety underpins everything the group does as a commitment to zero harm.
“As a result of the widespread flooding in the northern part of South Africa in February, which impacted the Tumela mine at Amandelbult, quarterly own-mined M&C production decreased by eight per cent to 462 000 ounces.”-herald
