The schematic of the Zimplats operation cuts obliquely across the 2m to 10m thick platinum-bearing MSZ orebody with an approximate northnortheast strike distance of 16km at Ngezi in the south, where the Mupani, Bimha, Mupfuti, Rukodzi and Ngwarati portals are located.
The Mupani Mine development and Bimha Mine upgrade projects, which replace Ngwarati, Rukodzi and Mupfuti mines on depletion, progressed as planned during the 2023 year.
Following approval of the Mupfuti replacement bankable feasibility study (BFS) in 2021, Bimha Mine’s shaft capacity was increased from the current design capacity of 2Mtpa to 3.1Mtpa in FY2023. Mining and construction work to upgrade Mupani Mine’s infrastructure from its design capacity of 2.2Mtpa to 3.6Mtpa is underway, with a target completion date of 2028. The development, aimed at creating more
underground face-length to accommodate new teams at these two mines, was incorporated into the business plan and production ramp-up will start while Mupfuti Mine is still on full production. This will allow the operations to achieve higher production rates during the five-year period, along with the benefits of ongoing productivity improvements.
Ngwarati Mine production was 8% above last year’s comparative, owing to the contribution from the development fleet introduced in the first half of the year to create face length and sustain operations until the end of the mine’s life in FY2024. Mupfuti Mine tonnage incr ........