Name of the Project
Eland mine complex.

Location
South-eastern portion of the western limb of the Bushveld Complex, near Brits, in South Africa’s North West province.

Project Owner/s
Northam Platinum Holdings Limited.

Project Description
Northam acquired the Eland mine from Glencore for R175-million in 2017.

The Eland mine had been on care and maintenance since 2015. Two decline systems, Kukama and Nyala, accessed three mining levels on the upper group two (UG2) reef and these were fully equipped. Operations were restarted in 2019, following the conclusion of a feasibility study on the Kukama project, particularly the western decline system and mining section of Eland UG2 mine.

The operations comprised the development of the underground mine on a hybrid array of conventional breast stoping and mechanised ore transport using hydropower technology imported from Northam’s Zondereinde mine.

Eland hosts a shallow, UG2 orebody containing 14.4-million ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, or 4E, resources and 3.2-million ounces of mineral reserves. Mineral resources and reserves include those contained within the Maroelabult mine, which was acquired from Barplats Mines in 2020.

Maroelabult is situated immediately west of Eland, and underground development from the Kukama decline has connected with that of the Maroelabult decline, which is aiding the provision of underground services, as well as the build-up of mineable reserve.

The inclusion of Maroelabult will enhance Eland mine’s ramp-up, which will produce 180 000 oz/y 4E in concentrate at steady state by 2028.

Potential Job Creation
Eland currently employs 2 900 people. At steady state, the mine will provide direct, long-term employment for more than 2 500 people.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Total capital expenditure is estimated to reach R4.5-billion by 2028; R3.8-billion has been spent to date.

Planned Start/End Date
Mine development started in 2020. Steady-state production is scheduled for 2029.

Latest developments
Decline development was temporarily paused to prioritise strike and raise development in 2023. This strategy increased mineable reserves and allowed for a ramp-up of stoping activity. Decline sinking resumed at the start of the 2025 financial year, and to date, 3 260 m of declines have been developed, providing access to 11 strike drives. They are essential for steady-state production, though new drives will need to replace the depleted ones, requiring accelerated decline development going forward.

Completion of a 4.5-m-diameter raise-bored ventilation shaft has markedly improved underground conditions, especially in deeper areas critical to the medium-term ramp-up. The reconfigured ventilation circuit also supports the possibility of faster decline development rates from the 2026 financial year, enhancing overall flexibility. Strike development has linked the Kukama section with Maroelabult and Nyala, strengthening underground and building reserves. At Nyala, lateral and raise development has started, with limited mining planned in the medium term.

Stoping continues in the upper western portion of the mine, with 44 crews averaging 5 900 m² of stoping a month. Batch processing of run-of-mine ore alongside third-party surface material is ongoing. Recent upgrades to the processing circuits have improved platinum group metals and chrome recovery, with further enhancements under way to maximise returns. 

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

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.