Modern Mining August 2023

Afrimat’s load-out facility.

Afrimat busy with rail load-out in the Northern Cape.

segment has implemented an internal efficiency drive with new tech nology, which has proven to be highly successful,” concludes Van Heerden. 

“Looking ahead, careful project implementation and the rollout of a well thought-through strategy for Glenover will be a top priority. This is expected to include vermiculite process ing, optimisation of the high-grade phosphate project, and the implementation of the super single phosphate project. These product lines will add further volumes in future,” says Van Heerden. Bulk Materials Afrimat’s Bulk Commodity business remains the backbone of the company, consisting of Demaneng and Jenkins iron ore mines, and the Nkomati anthracite mine, which together contributed a whopping 81,9% to the Group’s operating profit. “This excellent performance was largely due to increased volumes from Jenkins, the successful turnaround of Nkomati, and cost-saving initiatives.” The Nkomati anthracite mine has turned the corner from initial start-up losses to profitability, contributing 23,1% to the segment’s revenue for the year. It produces a high-quality product sold into the local market, and is recognised as a con sistent, reliable supplier of anthracite. During F2023, volumes at Nkomati amounted to 317 943 tonnes (F2022: 219 845 tonnes). Furthermore, an exciting new operational strategy is being implemented by the mine, which is expected to improve performance significantly in the near future. Van Heerden explains that the long-term sustainable life of mine plan is being enhanced through the opening of two opencast pits and the continued development of the under ground operations. “The first anthracite from these developments was extracted early in the new financial year. These planned new sources will enhance the mine’s production capacity significantly.” Afrimat also started the development of the underground entrance, which will allow the company to add new production. Moreover, the company has upgraded the washing plant and beneficiation blocks to handle additional product volumes. The miner invested an estimated R500 million for the devel opment of the open-cast pits, the underground entrances and upgrades to the washing plant and beneficiation blocks. Afrimat is also gearing up to bring the Driehoekspan and Doornpan iron ore assets online, once Demaneng volumes begin to reduce. “This should be within the next three years.” “We continue to focus on sustainable diversification in all five segments. In the new Future Materials and Metals seg ment, the priority is to ramp up the production of high-grade phosphate and to execute the next stages of the project as seamlessly as possible, while the Bulk Commodities

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August 2023  MODERN MINING  15