OVERVIEW
Mining Eight new investments are bringing jobs to Limpopo.
M
ining companies are increasingly concerning themselves with environmental issues. A R1.5-billion project to improve air quality at Anglo-Platinum’s Polokwane smelter will be finalised in 2020. The Sulphur Dioxide Abatement project will reduce carbon emissions by 96%, create 500 construction jobs and provide contract work for about a dozen Limpopo companies. The smelter is shown in the main picture on this page. Anglo Platinum’s (Amplats) Mogalakwena mine produced a record 1 170 000 PGM ounces in 2018, an improvement of 7%. The company recorded a number of improvements in efficiencies (operating time of concentrators rose to over 94%) and the company is investigating possible expansion of the mine complex. The sale in late 2018 of Glencore’s stake in the Mototolo PGM mine and chrome plant marked the end of that company’s foray into platinum. The purchase of Glencore’s 39% stake takes Amplats’ share in the complex LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2019/20
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SECTOR INSIGHTS Amplats’ Polokwane smelter has installed sophisticated air-quality equipment.
up to 89%, giving Amplats access to a further 130 000oz of platinum and improving the prospects of working on the adjacent Der Brochen. The deal was worth about R1.5-billion. Eland mine, after being put on care and maintenance, was sold in
