Open pit operations at Thabazimbi ceased in 2016, and the mine is currently only engaged in the rehandling of iron ore from stockpiles of ROM material from historical production.
Thabazimbi iron ore mine had been slated to supply Vanderbijlpark with some 360 000 tonnes of iron ore from 2023 using beneficiated stockpiles. However, full projected production is expected to be achieved in Q1 2024 after production problems were experienced in 2023. In December 2022, production was halted because the mine’s slimes dam did not comply with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management, to which ArcelorMittal South Africa is a signatory. In July, after compliance was achieved, production began to ramp up, averaging 23 000 tonnes per month with the first shipments of iron ore being receiv ed at Vanderbijlpark in October. |