Sylvania Resources has confirmed today (13th March) that it is ramping up the development of its new chrome and platinum recovery plants, MiningWeekly.com reports.

Construction on the Doornbosch plant - which could produce around 26,000 oz pgm per year - commenced in January, with commissioning also being brought forward four months from January 2010.

The Tweefontein plant is also due for commissioning by the end of this year - with construction to start this month - and looks set to be capable of treating around 37,000 tonnes per month of dechromed material.

Sylvania has also revealed that its production continued to develop steadily in the six months to 31st December 2008, with 4E (platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold) output up from 5,621 oz to 13,124 oz on a year-on-year basis.

The results come despite Samancor Chrome, its main feed supplier, cutting back following a mass closure of all its mining and smelting operations between mid-December and the end of February.

In addition, the company's Millsell and Steelpoort plants generated 12,237 oz pgm during the six-month period, a performance mainly attributed to the installation of recovery-enhancing beads.

Sylvania also revealed that it is scaling down its Mooinooi project, which will now treat 37,000 tonnes per month of chrome feed, rather the original target of 70,000 tonnes per month.

Source:

Sylvania accelerates new chrome, platinum recovery projects (13/03/09)
http://www.miningweekly.com/article/sylvania-accelerates-new-chrome-platinum-recovery-projects-2009-03-13