Zimplats to reopen Bimha Mine

PLATINUM mining giant Zimplats is on course to meet the April 2018 target to reopen its collapsed Bimha Mine and to develop the new Mupani Mine project, which will employ 1 000 people upon completion.

Bimha Mine collapsed in 2014, resulting in 50 percent loss of ore production and this was mitigated through the subsequent opening of South Pit Temporary Mine as a stop gap measure.

The conveyance system, which is expected to bring ore from underground and the transfer tower are being set up towards full operationalisation of the mine.

Speaking during a tour of the two Zimplats mines and processing plants, Zimplats engineer Tendai Goto said everything was on course for the opening of the mine in April 2018.

“Bimha is the largest underground mine and it is scheduled to be reopened in April 2018,” he said.

The project is expected to cost more than $100 million and is coming at a time when the mine is also developing the Base Metal Refinery in Selous as part of the beneficiation process.

At least $23,4 million has so far been spent in procuring equipment to be installed to modify the old plant that was owned by BHP.

Some of the equipment is on site, while boilers have been made locally and await transportation to the site.

Work on the plant will need at least 400 people and a camp has already been constructed, while the Selous Village has been extended to house senior staff.

Zimplats acting processing general manager Mr George Mugoro said the matter to be produced will be send to South Africa for the last stage of beneficiation.

“Through having the smelter we are the only company that goes the furthest in terms of beneficiation and the BMR will help in separating the base metals, which include copper, nickel and cobalt, among others,” he said.

There are about five BMR plants in the world owing to the high cost of setting them up against value derived.

This has seen most platinum companies preferring to outsource services from established plants.

Zimplats head of corporate affairs Mrs Busi Chindove said the company had been declaring all the 10 metals in the Platinum Group of Metals.

“There has been a lot of misconception that Zimplats only declares platinum, leaving out the other nine metals, but records at Zimra show that every metal among the 10 that make up the PGM is accounted for in terms of export,” she said.

Meanwhile, Zimplats has scooped the highest tax contributor, highest dollar value and highest dollar value growth accolades from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.

“Records at Zimra vindicate Zimplats as practising good corporate governance as shown by the awards we won on Monday,” said Mrs Chindove.

Zimplats employs more than 5 000 people, with the majority coming from areas around the mine such as Mhondoro, Chegutu and Zvimba.