A dedicated team from opencut mining contractor Moolmans will oversee the ramp-up of contract mining to full operations by April 1, at Black Mountain Mining’s (BMM’s) Gamsberg zinc mine, in the Northern Cape.

Moolmans, a subsidiary of engineering-led contractor Aveng, secured the 60-month, R10.6-billion contract last month, with plans to significantly increase contracted volumes, supporting BMM’s growth strategy.

BMM is a joint venture between mining companies Vedanta Zinc International and Exxaro Resources.

“We are committed to delivering operational excellence and ensuring a seamless transition to the new contract while maintaining the highest safety and productivity standards,” says Moolmans MD Rod Dixon.

Moolmans, in taking on the new contract, has redeployed equipment from completed projects, with new machinery commissioned in partnership with key original-equipment manufacturers.

The contract enables a R1.3-billion fleet renewal programme, funded through project cashflows.

The contract will also create 342 direct new jobs, bringing the site workforce to 690, with recruitment well underway.

“This contract underscores Moolmans’ expertise and strong client relationships. We are proud to support Gamsberg’s growth while boosting employment and economic benefits in the Northern Cape,” says Aveng CEO Scott Cummins.

Gamsberg Overview
Gamsberg forms part of BMM’s Black Mountain Complex, alongside the Deeps and Swartberg mines.

BMM’s operations started in 1979 with its Deeps and Swartberg underground operations, which are now considered mature mines; while Gamsberg is an openpit operation.

Gamsberg, the largest zinc project in the Northern Cape, includes a dedicated concentrator plant and a robotic assay laboratory.

Once fully developed, Gamsberg is expected to rank among the world’s top five zinc mines, according to Vedanta.

The operation primarily produces zinc in concentrate, with Gamsberg Phase 1’s full production capacity producing 4-million tonnes of ore a year, resulting in 250 000 t/y of zinc in concentrate.

The mining process at Gamsberg employs conventional drilling and blasting methods, followed by loading and haulage.

The extracted zinc ore undergoes crushing and milling before being processed through aeration and flotation procedures, eventually reaching the concentrator for zinc concentrate production.

The Gamsberg mine, with an estimated life-of-mine of over 20 years, has reserves and resources exceeding 180-million tonnes, with an average grade of between 6% and 6.5%.

Currently in the construction phase, the Gamsberg Phase 2 expansion is expected to more than double the mine’s yearly ore capacity to 8.5-million tonnes, while the expansion is set to also double Gamsberg’s processing capacity to 500 000 t/y of metal in concentrate.

In addition to creating between 2 000 and 2 500 jobs during construction, a further 800 to 1 000 permanent roles are expected to be created at peak operational capacity of the mine.

The updated mineral reserves and resources realised by Phase 2 indicate a potential mine life of about 50 years.

The investment approval for Gamsberg Phase 2 was announced in March 2022, with the official groundbreaking ceremony led by Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul on August 5, 2022.

“At Vedanta, we are committed to fostering strong partnerships with our business partners, recognising our collective growth and success are closely interconnected,” says Vedanta Base Metals CEO Chris Griffith.

“Our long-term vision is to create a prosperous future for the Black Mountain Complex where all stakeholders, including our employees, business partners and surrounding communities, can thrive,” Griffith concludes.