Modern Mining January 2023

Platreef’s production profile at a glance Both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 processing flowsheets incorporate a three-stage crushing circuit feeding crushed material to the milling and flotation modules. Flotation is followed by concentrate thickening, concentrate filtration, tailings handling and tailings disposal facility. The Phase 2 annual production capacity would rank Platreef as the world’s fifth largest primary platinum-group metals (PGM) mine on a palladium equiva lent basis. Future expansions to 12 million tonnes of ore per annum and beyond, as demonstrated in the company’s previous studies, would position Platreef among the world’s largest and lowest-cost nickel and PGM mines: producing more than 24,000 tonnes of nickel and 1.1 million ounces of palladium, rho dium, platinum, and gold per year.

Phase 1

Phase 2

Concentrator capacity: 770 000 tonnes per annum module.

Concentrator capacity: Two 2.2 million tonne-per-annum modules (Combined 4.4 million tonne-per annum). Average annual production: More than 590 000 oz of palladium, platinum, rhodium, and gold, plus more than 40 million pounds of nickel and copper.

is investing in and advancing its own internal decar bonisation plans. Although Platreef currently makes use of coal based electricity, Ivanplats is exploring options to use electricity generated from renewable, green, solar power together with liquefied natural gas. The company is also in progress with the construction of a 5 MW solar facility. Construction started in the third quarter of 2023 and commissioning is expected in the second half of 2023. The solar-generated power from the plant will be used for mine development and construction activities.

Average annual production: 113 000 ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, plus 5 million pounds of nickel and 3 million pounds of copper.

The company is also using emission-free, battery electric underground mining equipment including face drill rigs and loaders, which will be charged using the solar power generated on site. 

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January 2023  MODERN MINING  33