Northam Platinum's Booysendal project could be up and running as early as 2010 with full production commencing three years later, it has been claimed.

Glyn Lewis, Chief Executive at Northam Platinum, has said that the Booysendal operation would be rapidly developed over the coming years so that it would be ready to begin production by the end of the decade.

Mr Lewis was speaking after it was revealed that the company is to acquire full ownership of the Booysendal programme as part of Anglo Platinum's black economic empowerment (BEE) transaction with Northam shareholder, Mvela Resources.

Speaking at a presentation in Johannesburg, Mr Lewis explained that the transaction would help Northam to ramp up operations at Booysendal, which have been held up because of concerns surrounding Anglo Platinum's BEE threshold.

Northam Platinum is planning to invest around R4.9 billion into the Booysendal project in an effort to deliver in the region of 325,000 oz of platinum per year, Mr Lewis added.

Sources:

Northam targets 2010 production start-up at Booysendal project, 4/09/07
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=116176

Mvela Resources to speed up Booysendal project, 4/09/07
http://africa.reuters.com/business/news/usnBAN424781.html

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