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 `No (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 3 b rock shaft is planned to hoist 115 000 t a month using 14 t skips in a skip-skip configuration. The 3a 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
Northam has reported that Zondereinde is benefiting from logistics decongestion, as a result of the ongoing shift of UG2 stoping from the western to the higher-yielding eastern portions of the mine, as well as an increase in mining productivity from focused Merensky stoping in the Western extension.

In its production update released on January 14, the company notes that the ramp-up of stoping continues in the Western extension section. 

It further reports that the equipping of No 3 Shaft for personnel and material transport, as well as the provision of services, is nearing completion. Reaming the 3a ventilation shaft is also continuing.

Both shafts are scheduled for commissioning during the first quarter of 2026. This will deliver sustainable efficiency benefits to mining in the Western extension. 

Pilot drilling of No 4 shaft, which will be a rock-hoisting shaft, is complete, and reaming has started.

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.