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South Africa
Mogalakwena Mine

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 Location:
54 km W from Polokwane, South Africa

  Address:
Sandsloot Farm, N11 Groblers Bridge Road
Mogalakwena Mine, Private Bag X2463
Mokopane
South Africa
0600
Phone015-418-2000
Fax086-776-3656
WebsiteWeb
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Production
  • Reserves
  • Costs & Financials
  • Fleet
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

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Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • PGM
  • Platinum
  • Palladium
  • Rhodium
  • Iridium
  • Ruthenium
  • Gold
  • Nickel
  • Copper
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start1993
Mine Life2097
Mogalakwena – the world’s largest open pit PGMs mine.

The Future of Mogalakwena work continues to make good progress in the six workstreams to optimise the long-life and value creation at Mogalakwena. The workstreams are as follows:
• Resource development plan (RDP) – optimal open-pit plan, including progressing underground opportunities.
• Operational efficiencies (P101) – optimise mine plan and operational performance.
• Communities – create trusting relationships and valued partnerships.
• Technology and innovation – develop and deploy technology, including hydrogen fuel-cell trucks.
• Expanding concentrator capacity – design and build the concentrator of the future.


Owners

Source: p. 97,270,271
CompanyInterestOwnership
Anglo American plc. 79.2 % Indirect
Anglo American Platinum Ltd. (operator) 100 % Direct
Anglo American Platinum Ltd. wholly owns and operates the Mogalakwena mine.

Anglo American plc. held through an effective 79.2% interest in Anglo American Platinum Limited.

Contractors

ContractorContractDescriptionRef. DateExpirySource
Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd Power supply Electricity to the mine is supplied by Eskom via an electricity distribution network. Feb 28, 2023


Deposit Type

  • Magmatic

Source: Source p.19, 37

Summary:

The mine exploits the Platreef, the primary PGM-bearing horizon developed in the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex. The reef averages 150m in thickness, with a prominently top- loaded grade profile, hosting optimal Mineralisation in the upper 30m to 40m of the reef package. The Platreef is developed in the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex and can be described as a multiple-pulse mafic magmatic horizon, dominantly pyroxenitic in composition. It averages 150m in thickness, with a prominently top-loaded grade profile, where the optimal Mineralisation is located in the upper 30m to 40m of the package and strikes ~north-south, dipping at an average of 40° to 50° to the west. In comparison to the Merensky and UG2 reefs, the Platreef is a far thicker and more variable orebody, typified by extensive contact with metasedimentary and granitic floor rocks and assimilation of footwall fragments. The variability of lithology and thickness along strike is attributed to underlying structures and assimilation of local country rocks. This assimilation ranges from shales and banded ironstones in the south, through to dolomites in the centre of the mining area, to granites in the northern portion of the property. Carbonate floor rocks incorporated into the basal Platreef have been altered to mineralised parapyroxenites and calc-silicates formed during extensive syn-magmatic interaction with high-Mg silicate melts. Towards the north, where the Platreef country rock is Archaean basement granite, partial melting of this protolith has resulted in the formation of a metamorphic rock referred to as a Granofels. The Granofels is present in a prominent interaction zone developed between the base of the Platreef and the underlying basement granite. As a result, the Mineralised horizon defined for the Platreef orebody often incorporates significant portions of the immediate footwall. The Platreef strikes north north-west/south south-east across the length of the Mogalakwena Mineral Right area, dipping at an average angle of 40° to 50° to the west with local flattening occurring. Within the mining complex, the Platreef is structurally affected by dolerite dykes ranging between 5m and 40m in width and several predominantly lateral fault systems such as the Drenthe, Mohlosane, NM and Pit fault systems, orientated in a north-east/south-west direction, dipping between 60° and 85° towards the south-east. The fault systems display normal to reverse fault displacements ranging between 50m and 600m, with the up-thrown blocks proving favourable to mine design. The dykes and Platreef adjacent to major fault systems constitute areas of no mineralisation and are discounted as geological loss zones. The Platreef hosts significant dolomite inclusions in the southern region of the mining area and these also constitute geological loss zones.


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader

Source:

Summary:

Mining of the orebody is by open pit methods whereby material is extracted in vertical benches to create a large open excavation. Benches are mined from top to bottom and are accessed by means of haul roads in the hanging and footwall to connect multiple benches to surface entry and exit points. Open pit mining is the most widely used surface mining method used to extract minerals relatively close to surface by means drilling, blasting, loading-and-hauling. Material is moved by means of truck and shovel to the processing plants, stockpiles, and waste rock dumps along a network of constructed surface road-ways. The walls of an open pit excavation are mined at the maximum allowable slope angle achievable within the specified geotechnical constraints, and berm-offsets are created between benches to reduce the potential risk of rock falls along the overall slope. The final shape of the excavation is determined by the overall economics of the exploitation process and is generally subdivided into three-dimensional phases expanding the open pit to maximise the potential net present value of the mine within specified constraints. Waste rock from each open pit is placed in close proximity to the open pit activities. Open pits at Mogalakwena Mine will not be backfilled and all pits will remain as final voids. There are ore stockpiles within the mining area that consist of low-low-grade material, high-low grade material and oxidised ore. These stockpiles will be processed when there is a requirement for makeup tonnages in the concentrating circuits. Current mining areas comprise five open pits: Sandsloot, Zwartfontein, Mogalakwena South, North and Central. Pit depths vary from 30m to 260m. Open pit mining could ultimately be supplemented by underground mining with initial access via decline shafts in the footwall of the Sandsloot Pit. Mogalakwena Mine's life of mine (LoM) extends well beyond 2080 and could potentially continue for a further period of some 100 years. In July 2022, at the Mogalakwena PGMs operation, Anglo American launched the prototype for a fleet of hydrogen powered mine haul trucks – a world first at this scale.


Crushing and Grinding
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Processing

  • Purification & crystallization
  • Acid plant
  • Smelting
  • Ore sorter (multi-sensor)
  • Electric furnace
  • Hydrochloric acid (reagent)
  • Crush & Screen plant
  • Flotation
  • High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL)
  • Magnetic separation
  • Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
  • Dissolving & Crystallising

Flow Sheet: Source

Summary:

There are two mineral processing plants at the mine, Mogalakwena North Concentrator (MNC) and Mogalakwena South Concentrator (MSC). The PGM’s are extracted from the ore in the form of a concentrate at both MSC and MNC. The concentrate is transported to the AAP Polokwane Smelter for smelting to produce furnace matte. The matte then undergoes an acid converting process at the Waterval Smelter complex in Rustenburg. FLOTATION. The separation of the valuable content from the ore takes place in flotation cells where reagents are added to an aerated slurry to produce high-grade PGMbearing concentrate. SMELTING. Use of electric furnaces to smelt concentrate to produce a sulfur-rich matte with gangue impurities removed as slag. SLAG CLEANING. Converter slag is reduced in an electric furnace to recover PGMs and base metals for recycling back to the converter. CONVERTING. Oxygen-enriched air is blown through a topsubmerged lance converter to oxidise sulfur and iron contained in furnace matte to SO2 gas and slag respectively. The resulting converter matte is slow-cooled to concentrate PGMs into a metallic fraction. MAGNETIC CONCENTRATION PLANT (MCP). Crushed converter matte is milled and the PGM fraction is separated magnetically. This is pressure leached to yield a solid final concentrate that is sent to PMR. Base metal-rich non-magnetic solids and leach solution are processed further in the base metal refinery. ACID PLANT. The SO2 gas is converted to SO3 by passing it over catalytic beds and the subsequent addition of water produces 98% sulfuric acid which is sold to fertiliser manufacturers. LEACHING. Base metal-rich solids are leached in high-pressure autoclaves and contacted with MCP leach solution to yield separate nickel and copper streams. PURIFICATION. The separate nickel and copper streams are purified. During this process cobalt sulfate is recovered. ELECTRO-WINNING. Nickel and copper metal cathodes are produced by passing electrical current through the separate purified stream. CRYSTALLISATION. Excess sulfur in solution is neutralised with sodium hydroxide and crystallised to form a sodium sulfate product. PGM REFINING. Final concentrate is dissolved using hydrochloric acid and chlorine gas. PGMs are sequentially separated and purified to yield platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium and gold. Osmium is precipitated as a salt. 2021 - A full-scale ore sorting (BOS) unit, which will deliver improved grade feed to plants through the early rejection of waste, reducing energy consumption, water usage, and unit costs in the process, is now operational at our PGMs business’s Mogalakwena North Concentrator. A modular ultra-fines recovery plant has also been constructed there, which will address the industry-wide challenge of reducing ultra-fine mineral losses, with the potential to increase recovery rates by up to 3%. 2022 - A full-scale coarse particle recovery (CPR) plant has been constructed at the Mogalakwena North concentrator, with start-up anticipated in late 2023.


Production:

CommodityUnits2023202220212020201920182017
PGM koz 1,000-1,100 ^1,0261,2151,1821,2151,1701,098
Platinum koz 430512501518495464
Palladium koz 476561545558541509
Rhodium koz 343938373632
Iridium koz 7.58.88.18.37.96.8
Ruthenium koz 313634333229
Gold koz 485755625858
Nickel kt 151515161616
Copper M lbs 202122222223
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate. ^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics202220212020201920182017
Total tonnes mined 84,674 kt86,801 kt80,870 kt81,315 kt89,062 kt88,328 kt
Ore tonnes mined 16,102 kt11,950 kt14,050 kt14,282 kt18,060 kt19,689 kt
Waste 68,572 kt74,851 kt66,821 kt67,033 kt71,002 kt68,639 kt
Tonnes milled 13,855 kt14,203 kt13,531 kt13,710 kt13,775 kt13,622 kt
Stripping / waste ratio 4.3 6.3 4.8 4.7 3.9 3.5

Reserves at December 31, 2022:
A 1.00 4E g/t cut-off grade is used to define Platreef open pit Mineral Resources and A 1.30 4E g/t cut-off grade is used to define Platreef underground Mineral Resources (excluding oxidised and calc-silicate stockpile material for which a 3.00 4E g/t cut-off grade is applied).

CategoryOreTypeTonnage CommodityGradeContained Metal
Proven Stockpiles 22.3 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 1.41 g/t 1 M oz
Proven In-Situ (OP) 820.5 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 2.91 g/t 76.7 M oz
Probable Stockpiles 40.9 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 1.47 g/t 1.9 M oz
Probable In-Situ (OP) 332.4 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 3.34 g/t 35.7 M oz
Proven & Probable Stockpiles 63.2 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 1.45 g/t 2.9 M oz
Proven & Probable In-Situ (OP) 1,153 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 3.03 g/t 112.4 M oz
Measured Total 189.1 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 2.19 g/t 13.3 M oz
Indicated Total 1,476 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 2.3 g/t 109.3 M oz
Measured & Indicated Total 1,665 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 2.29 g/t 122.6 M oz
Inferred Total 423.8 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 2.18 g/t 29.7 M oz
Total Resource Total 2,089 Mt 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) 2.27 g/t 152.3 M oz

Commodity Production Costs:

CommodityUnits202220212020201920182017
Cash costs PGM USD 826 / oz   694 / oz   520 / oz   564 / oz   592 / oz   498 / oz  
Cash costs Platinum USD 1,325 / oz   1,398 / oz   1,179 / oz  
All-in sustaining costs (sold) PGM USD 1,135 / oz†   866 / oz†   1,118 / oz†   729 / oz†   724 / oz†   648 / oz†  
All-in sustaining costs (sold) Platinum USD -594 / oz†   -429 / oz†   286 / oz†   340 / oz†  
† Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs:

Units20222021202020192018201720162015
Total operating costs ($/t milled) ZAR 663567499496456351428409

Financials:

Units2022202120202019201820172016
Growth Capital M ZAR 849  317  77  38  
Sustaining costs M ZAR 8,294  6,656  4,848  4,240   3,313   2,193  
Capital expenditures M ZAR 9,988  8,082  5,520  3,695   2,787   2,012   2,300  
Revenue M ZAR 40,352  56,001  28,317  25,845   18,106   16,118   14,227  
EBIT M ZAR 22,592  36,534  15,546  12,466   6,325   5,969   3,959  
EBITDA M ZAR 25,341  38,612  17,447  14,375   8,249   7,700   5,781  
Operating Cash Flow M ZAR 23,457  39,294  


Pipelines and Water Supply
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Heavy Mobile Equipment:
HME TypeModelQuantityRef. Date
Drill Sandvik DR410i 4 Feb 14, 2023
Drill Epiroc PV-271XC 3 May 10, 2022
Truck (haul) Komatsu 40 May 3, 2022

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
Concentrator Manager Herman Kemp LinkedIn Mar 24, 2023
General Manager Sustainability Sam Kgarimetsa LinkedIn Mar 24, 2023
Mining Manager Mothibe Jerry LinkedIn Mar 24, 2023
Production Manager Judd Barlow LinkedIn Mar 22, 2023
Project / Contractor Manager Werner Voigt LinkedIn Mar 22, 2023
Sr. General Manager Willie Noordman LinkedIn Mar 22, 2023
Sr. Mine Planner Witness Netshikulwe LinkedIn Mar 22, 2023

Staff:

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
2,241 208 2,449 2022
2,081 251 2,332 2021
2,000 244 2,244 2020
1,936 272 2,208 2019
1,886 282 2,162 2018
1,854 412 2,266 2017
1,828 424 2,252 2016
1,770 557 2,328 2015

Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
Other 2023
Other 2023
Annual Result 2022
Integrated Report 2022
Other 2022
Other 2022
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2022
Annual Report 2021
Annual Result 2021
Integrated Report 2021
Other 2021
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2021
Annual Report 2020
Annual Result 2020
Corporate Presentation 2020
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2020
Annual Report 2019
Other 2019
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2019
Annual Report 2018
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2018
Annual Report 2017
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2017
Annual Report 2016
Financial Review 2016
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2016
Annual Report 2015
Corporate Presentation 2015
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2015
Other 2014
Other 2011
Corporate Presentation 2010

Aerial view:

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