The world's second largest platinum miner, Impala Platinum, is to ramp up its smelting capacity.

Implats says it will expand its Mineral Processes' facility, ultimately boosting capacity to 2.8 million ounces of platinum each year.

Costing an estimated R750 million, the development will include an upgrade to the firm's No 4 Furnace, which itself will deliver a sustained output of 2.3 million ounces of platinum per annum.

Implats said that the expansion would be partnered by work being done at its Precious Metals Refinery (PMR) and Base Metals Refinery (BMR) in Springs.

The PMR work will see its capacity expand from two to 2.3 million ounces of platinum by 2008.

Meanwhile, a feasibility study is currently examining the prospects for increasing capacity at both the BMR and PMR to as high as 2.8 million ounces of platinum per annum.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd