Name of the Project
Elandsfontein phosphate project.

Location
Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
The Elandsfontein project is held by Kropz (70%), African Rainbow Capital, or ARC (25%), and a smaller empowerment partnership (5%). Ubuntu Botho Investments forms part of the ARC structure.

Project Description
The Elandsfontein deposit is the biggest sedimentary phosphate deposit in South Africa.

The phosphate mineralisation is contained in the Varswater formation, with the phosphate occurring in phosphatised shell fragments and phosphorite pellets. The remainder of the deposit consists of silica sand and calcium oxide.

The project has an initial mine life of about 14 years and can deliver one-million tonnes a year of phosphate rock concentrate at steady state.

The processing plant will produce a final saleable concentrate to the expected specification of 68% bone phosphate of lime and about 31% phosphorus oxide using a flotation configuration of direct flotation, followed by a reverse flotation circuit.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated. 

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Kropz has spent $120-million to bring its Elandsfontein phosphates mining and processing project into production and requires an additional $16-million to cover its augmentation.

Planned Start/End Date
While the project was first scheduled to start producing phosphate in 2018, it reported first production of phosphate rock concentrate only on March 18, 2022.

The project has been plagued by various delays since October 2017, when its water-use licence was contested by an environmental protection group, in addition to other challenges such as changes to its processing plans and Covid-19-related delays.

Latest Developments
Kropz has made the final drawdown of R52-million pertaining to a bridge loan facility it secured with its major shareholder, African Rainbow Capital Fund, in December.

The full R115-million loan is meant to meet the immediate cash requirements of the Elandsfontein phosphate mine.

The company continues to experience delays in ramping up operations at the mine, which have led to funding shortfalls.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
DRA (engineering, procurement and construction management); Minopex (processing plant operation); and VDM Transport.

Contact Details for Project Information
Kropz, tel +27 21 930 0927 or email info@kropz.com.