Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe visited JSE- and ASX-listed Orion Minerals’ flagship Prieska copper/zinc mine (PCZM) in South Africa’s Northern Cape, as the mine progresses towards becoming a copper and zinc producer.

The visit follows the release of the PCZM definitive feasibility studies (DFS) in March, outlining an optimised two-phase development strategy aimed at derisking the mine’s development pathway and accelerating value creation.

This approach will deliver first production from the upper-level phase within 13 months from the start of construction, with the cash generated helping to fund the ongoing dewatering and other early works required for the Deeps Phase of the mine.

Orion posits that it is well-positioned to become a near-term producer after delivering positive studies for both PCZM and the Flat Mines project at Okiep.

“Orion welcomes the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) to PCZM to showcase the high potential of its assets, as well as our plans to advance these projects and financing strategy, while delivering on our skills development and employment opportunities goals. We are committed to delivering meaningful economic and social change in the region,” says Orion CEO and MD Tony Lennox.

Orion highlights that it is making progress with the next stage of its development strategy, including advancing project financing and dewatering of PCZM, which has a mineral resource of 31-million tonnes at an average grade of 1.2% copper and 3.6% zinc.

PCZM has the potential to develop into a long-life, financially robust mining operation with a yearly steady-state production of 22 000 t of copper and 65 000 t of zinc, the company points out.

“After visiting the mine, I am hopeful for the future of the Prieska mine to create value, improve lives, support other businesses and uplift the Northern Cape. I will come back to visit when the mine produces its first copper,” Mantashe promised.

He embarked on a underground visit and was shown the dewatering infrastructure and freshly exposed ore at the site of the recent underground trial mining.

The Minister, who was employed at Prieska Copper Mines from 1975 to 1983, unveiled a plaque located at the main shaft headgear to commemorate his visit.