Modern Mining January 2015

PLATINUM

Bakubung shaft sinking runs

Wesizwe Platinum, which is developing the Bakubung Platinum Mine (BPM) on the Western Limb of the Bushveld Complex north of Rustenburg in the Sun City area, achieved another milestone in early December (2014) when the mine’s ventilation shaft intersected the Merensky Reef at a depth of 725 m below collar. Sinking of both the ventilation and main shafts is now well ahead of the original programme, with the 8,5 m diameter main shaft expected to reach its full depth of 970 m in November this year, 55 days ahead of forecast, and the 7,5 m diameter ventilation shaft its full depth of 880 m in September 2016, 144 days ahead of schedule.

T o mark the intersection of the Merensky Reef, Wesizwe hosted a visit to the mine by a media group (including Modern Mining ) which was taken down the ven- tilation shaft in a kibble to view the progress being made by the shaft sinkers, Aveng Min- ing – Shafts & Underground. The media tour was hosted by BPM’s General Manager, Ed- die Mohlabi, who joined Wesizwe in April 2013 from AngloGold Ashanti where he was Eddie Mohlabi, GM of the Bakubung PlatinumMine.

Looking up the ventilation shaft from the kibble towards the sinking stage (photo: Arthur Tassell).

32  MODERN MINING  January 2015