Adelaide Ruiters Mining and Exploration (ARME) is currently developing its flagship Zandheuvel phosphate mine and beneficiation plant. The mine will produce 216 000 t/y of phosphate rock concentrate at a quality of 28% phosphorous pentoxide.

ARME CEO and founder Adelaide Ruiters states the this will be the only low-carbon beneficiated organic rock phosphate concentrate product produced in the Western Cape, in South Africa, by a company that is majority black woman owned.

The overall declared resource of 37.37-million tonnes phosphorous pentoxide, which complies with the South African Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, will be mined over 20 years.

Technical bankable feasibility studies have also been completed.

The development addresses low-carbon, sustainable and environment-friendly development goals, directed to tackle global sustainable agriculture practice needs.

Phosphate is a key input to food security for sustained and secure food supply. The Zandheuvel phosphate project is positioned to provide true sustainability while supplying humanity with a healthy phosphate resource alternative for the future. This involves the use of green, unique beneficiation that replaces diesel as a frother with locally sourced canola oil, in addition to using municipal wastewater treated effluent instead of potable water during the process. The Zandheuvel phosphate will also have a low-cadium heavy metals content, promoting food quality and health improvement. Consequently, the phosphate will be suitable to export to Europe, complying with EU as well as South African standards.

“We are also exploring the economic viability of mining and selling our overburden to be a potential sand and calcrete mineral resource for the construction industry in the Western Cape. What further excites us very much is the possibility of a high-grade silica sand that we are currently exploring. These are all very positive for the Zandheuvel phosphate mine,” says Ruiters.

In addition, the company is continuing to explore the viability of setting up a new generation, environmentally friendlier phosphoric acid plant at a suitable site for the benefit of the Southern African Development Community and for export.

“We have already completed pre-feasibility studies in the EU towards this endeavour. More about this, will be revealed in due course. Watch this space,” adds Ruiters.

Watch a video in which Ruiters talks to Mining Weekly at the Investing in African Mining Indaba.