Wesizwe Platinum says production at the Bakubung Platinum Mine (BPM) in South Africa is expected to start as “soon as possible” after the commissioning of the processing plant has been completed.
It said the test run of the main system of the processing plant was completed towards the end of January 2023.
The cold and hot commissioning of the BPM processing plant was expected to begin in March or this month after the deficiencies or snags which were identified during the test run have been resolved and rectified.
However, a steady state operation was not achieved due to several challenges during this period.
“It is envisaged that these challenges will be resolved swiftly and that commissioning of the BPM processing plant will commence before the end of May 2023,” said Wesizwe.
Wesizwe officially launched the BPM development project in July 2011.
BPM will consist of an underground mine with a twin vertical shaft system - a main shaft and a ventilation shaft which will also function as the second escape route – and a process plant.
The main shaft is planned to have a hoisting capacity of 230 000 tonnes of ore plus 40 000 tonnes of waste per month.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
Exclusive
Responsible business practices ‘no longer optional’, says WDC President Feriel Zerouki
The president of the World Diamond Council takes time out of her busy schedule to tell Rough&Polished readers about the critical work of the WDC. Zerouki, the first female present of the body, which includes all the important industry organizations among...
14 october 2024
James Campbell: Botswana Diamonds optimistic as it enters uncharted territory of using AI for mineral exploration
London-listed Botswana Diamonds has expressed optimism about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to scan the exploration database in Botswana to look for new mineralised deposits. Company managing director James Campbell told Rough...
07 october 2024
Artur Salyakayev: For me, happiness is freedom to make my ideas happen and create valuable products
Artur Salyakayev is an art entrepreneur, founder of the International Jewelry Academy (IJA) and the INCRUA jewelry company. He has initiated and developed successful projects in jewelry industry and services sector. He is also a leading expert...
30 september 2024
Paul Zimnisky: China key for sustained recovery in demand for natural diamonds, prices
The curtailing of upstream and midstream natural diamond production in the past months is starting to have an effect on prices, according to the New-York-based independent diamond and jewellery analyst and consultant, Paul Zimnisky. He told Rough & Polished’s...
23 september 2024
Vladimir Pilyushin: The jewelry market is not stand-alone and moves by the same laws as other markets
Vladimir Pilyushin is editor-in-chief of Russian Jeweler, a leading magazine about the jewelry industry in Russia. He told Rough&Polished about his view on the evolution of the jewelry industry in Russia and touched upon some of its problems.
16 september 2024
