Name of the Project
Zondereinde – Western extension project.

Location
Limpopo, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Northam Platinum Holdings.

Project Description
The Zondereinde mine is an established, conventional, long-life operation that mines upper group two (UG2) and Merensky reef ore, producing about 300 000 oz/y of refined platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, or 4E, platinum-group metals (PGMs).

In early 2018, Northam acquired a portion of the Amandelbult mining right – the Western extension – from Anglo American Platinum, containing 21-million ounces of PGMs within the high-grade Merensky and UG2 orebodies of the Bushveld Complex.

The extension provides Zondereinde with immediate access to an additional 3.6 km of mineable strike to the west of its existing underground operations, extending Zondereinde's life-of-mine to more than 30 years, and increasing production to 350 000 oz/y of 4E by 2026.

Northam has developed, and is equipping, a vertical personnel and materials shaft (No 3 Shaft), at a depth 1 382 m, to access the Western extension. It is also developing separate ventilation and rock-hoisting shafts on the same site. The shafts are being developed using the raise-boring method, which has safety, cost and time benefits.

No 3 Shaft will be able to carry 126 people at 12 m/s using a three-deck cage and counterweight configuration. The rock shaft is planned to hoist 115 000 t a month using 14 t skips in a skip-skip configuration. The ventilation shaft will be able to exhaust air at 400 kg/s.

The shafts will connect with an underground decline cluster, allowing for personnel transport, material distribution to and rock hoisting from the respective production levels. They will further enhance the provision of piped mining services including; backfill, chilled service water and ventilation, to the underground workings.

Mining activity from the existing workings of the Zondereinde mine will gradually transition into the Western extension block. 

Potential Job Creation
The expanded mining footprint is enabling the creation of direct, meaningful, sustainable employment for an additional 600 people.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
R4.7-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Underground tunnel development within the Western extension section has progressed to plan, with more than 3 440 m of access tunnels having been advanced, Northam has reported in its ‘Annual Integrated 2024 Report’ for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Strike development on some levels is approaching the fifth mining line, raises are being developed on the third mining line and stoping is in progress on the first two mining lines.

Northam has stated that crew productivity is continuing to benefit from the combination of better mining conditions and focused logistics over the ten mining levels comprising these lines, as well as the logistical decongestion resulting from the ongoing shift in UG2 stoping from the western to the eastern portions.

Development of chairlift declines between levels 3 to 7 is on track, while equipping is scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2025.

An additional estimated 50 000 oz/y 4E will, ultimately, accrue to Zondereinde mine’s production profile from the Western extension expansion project.

Development and equipping of a shaft complex, comprising three vertical shafts is in progress. Equipping of No 3 Shaft, designed for the conveyance of personnel and materials, together with services, including ventilation, process water, tailings slurry for backfill placement underground and electricity, is progressing. Drilling has reached a depth of 780 m.

Reaming of 3a Shaft – a dedicated, upcast ventilation way – to its final diameter of 4.8 m, has reached 680 m deep.

The pilot drilling of the third shaft, 3b, designed for rock hoisting, has reached 1 420 m and completion is expected during the first half of the 2025 financial year. 
The shaft is expected to be commissioned in 2028 and will allow for optimal ore extraction from the Western extension.

Earthworks, civil engineering and construction of surface infrastructure to support the shaft complex is under way. However, in light of the current market conditions, the project is being monitored and, if necessary, workstreams that can be delayed without a detrimental impact on the project will be temporarily curtailed. 

An Eskom intake yard has been commissioned and energised. The shaft winder-house has been built and equipped, and the steel headgear for No 3 Shaft has been erected and commissioned. 

Civil construction of the hydropower refrigeration plant is in progress. The schedule for all surface work required is aligned to shaft commissioning.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Master Drilling (raise-bore drilling contractor); and BBE (design and build of refrigeration plant).

Contact Details for Project Information
Northam Platinum, tel +27 11 759 6000.
R&A Strategic Communications, on behalf of Northam Platinum, tel +27 11 880 3924 or email marion@rasc.co.za.