Modern Mining July 2023

PLATINUM

Nkwe Platinum hands SLP Water Supply Projects to Sekhukhune Nkwe Platinum, a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group, recently hosted a ceremony to hand over its Social and Labour Plan (SLP) Water Supply Projects to the Sekhukhune District Municipality.

T he event marked the completion of Nkwe Platinum’s SLP water supply projects for its mining communities that fall under the local municipalities of Makhuduthamaga and Fetakgomo-Tubatse. The projects provide communities and livestock surrounding the Zijin Garatau Platinum Mine with access to clean and safe drinking water. A total of 31 boreholes, supported by the installation of 52 JoJo water tanks, were drilled and/or equipped for the water supply projects across all four of the mine’s communities, i.e. Garatouw, Maandagshoek, De Kom and Hoepakrantz, . This clean water supply is dis tributed to the communities via 92 taps, which are stationed at various strategic points to cater for both community and livestock. Nkwe Platinum’s water supply projects sup port 1 742 households within the communities with 320 000 litres of water per day and have created a total of 72 job opportunities for members of these communities. The water supply projects include the mine’s first solar-powered water supply system for the Ga Mpuru Village in the Garatau community. In addi tion to providing round-the-clock water for members of the community, the solar system also powers an electric security fence for the water supply infrastruc ture. The water supply system pumps over 55 000 litres (continuous flow) of clean water from a pipe line, which spans over two kilometres within the community. “Nkwe Platinum firmly adheres to the co-devel opment belief of ‘Mining for a Better Society’ and believes that the development of enterprises is closely related to the sustainable development of

our surrounding com munities. Through education, industrial support, infrastruc

Zhiyu Fan, CEO of Nkwe Platinum.

ture construction and joint projects, the company is committed to developing and working together in a mutually beneficial and harmonious way for the ben efit of all,“ said Zhiyu Fan, CEO of Nkwe Platinum. To date, Nkwe Platinum has spent R53 million on its Social and Labour Plan. The investment includes the upgrade of the Garatau Community Access Road, as well as adult training and education, bursa ries, learnerships, internships, traditional leadership training and excavator operations, which have ben efited the surrounding mine communities of the Zijin Garatau Platinum Mine. Community empowerment initiatives include contracts awarded to communities and local busi nesses, such as R7.6 million for the site preparation work for the box cut in 2021, and around R36 million for the supply of crusher material and tipper trucks and diesel. The Zijin Garatau Platinum Mine is currently in its construction phase, with construction scheduled to take five years to complete. Phase 1 production from the Merensky Reef is set to reach 3.4 mt/y within two years, while Phase 2 production, which will take a fur ther two years to achieve, will increase production by another 1.8 mt/y from the UG2 reef. In essence, it will take four years after completion of the mine construc tion, to reach peak and a steady output of 5.4 mt/y. “Whilst the mine is still in the construction phase, we have honoured our SLP commitments to our stakeholders, including government and our mine communities,” said Fan. 

Nkwe Platinum’s water supply projects support 1 742 households within the communities with 320 000 litres of water per day and have created a total of 72 job opportunities for members of these communities.

Water Supply Projects.

A view of the water tanks.

16  MODERN MINING  July 2023