Anglo Platinum is currently pressing ahead with a number of new greenfield mining projects in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Earlier this week, the world's largest platinum producer revealed that it hopes to open its first mine in Zimbabwe, at the Unki deposit to the south-east of Shurugwi, in October.

The company expects the facility to produce 65,000 oz of platinum per year at full capacity and is set to use the bord-and-pillar mining method for the orebody.

Work at the site includes the construction of an 8km pipeline from the Lucilia-poort dam to the mine reservoir, a 132/11kV substation, a 33km powerline, a twin decline and four ventilation shafts.

Meanwhile, in South Africa, Anglo is looking to tap into a number of platinum projects on the central and eastern limbs on the Bushveld Complex.

The construction of the De Hoop dam is said to be progressing well and is scheduled to supply water to several communities in Limpopo province from the first quarter of 2011.

Anglo is one of 21 firms to sign a memorandum of agreement to develop the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project, of which the De Hoop dam is a part.

The Twickenham project, which is also located in Limpopo province, will exploit the UG2 reef zone and should eventually offer 180,000 oz per year of refined platinum.

Although the economic downturn has delayed the facility's steady-state production and capital expenditure by two years, first production should occur in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Anglo Platinum, which is a subsidiary of giant mining conglomerate Anglo American, was formed in 1995 following the unbundling of Johannesburg Consolidated Investments.

Source:

Anglo Platinum: Greenfield platinum projects set in (25/06/10)

© Adfero Ltd