Name of the Project
Booysendal South platinum mine project.

Location
About 35 km west of Mashishing, straddling the border of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, in South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Independent integrated platinum group metals (PGMs) producer Northam Platinum.

Project Description
Booysendal South incorporates the infrastructure of Aquarius Platinum’s former Everest mine, which Northam acquired in June 2015 for R450-million. The acquisition of Everest included a 250 000-t-a-month concentrator, underground access and equipment, a tailings storage facility (TSF), workshops and offices, infrastructure, and access to power and water.

The South mine includes three upper group two (UG2) modules – BS1, BS2 BS4 – and one Merensky module (BSM).

The current plan unlocks mineral reserves of almost seven-million ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, or 4E PGMs, mineable over an estimated 25-year mine life.

Booysendal South mine will sustain production at 250 000 oz of 4E PGMs for more than 25 years. In an innovative application of engineering solutions, Northam has installed an aerial rope conveyor system to transport ore over challenging terrain, at low operating cost, while minimising environmental impact.

The system comprises two independent but linked rope conveyors that allow for the transport of ore from the BS1 and BS2 modules, as well as over-spill production from the adjacent Booysendal North mine to the Booysendal South concentrator, which is almost 5 km away. The conveyor has a capacity of 1 150 t/h.

The first phase comprises 12 tower structures, which support the conveyor. The construction of the second phase comprises seven tower support structures.

Northam has said that project expansion is possible.

Potential Job Creation
The project has created about 3 500 long-term jobs to the benefit of local and national economies.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
R5.6-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
The mine achieved steady-state production levels during 2023.

Latest Developments
An application for permitting to expand the South mine tailings storage facility is in progress.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Doppelmayr Transport Technology (Ropecon); WBHO (Phase 1 contract for the establishment of the Booysendal South central road and boxcut); and DRA (engineering, procurement and construction management contractor).

Contact Details for Project Information
R&A Strategic Communications, on behalf of Northam Platinum, tel +27 11 880 3924 or email northam@rasc.co.za.