Our strategy

DELIVERING ON OUR STRATEGY

The strategic regeneration of business has been underpinned by Northam’s empowerment transaction, which has served as a catalyst for the company’s growth while also providing a strong and supportive balance sheet. The strategy to diversify the group’s production base into shallower, mechanisable operations has translated into the acquisition of AQPSA’s Everest mine, infrastructure and resources. Management continues to evaluate a number of growth opportunities, given the company’s positioning and ability to take advantage of opportunities that may arise from time to time, even in the adverse economic conditions.

Internally the strategy has been unpacked into a number of initiatives, which are serving to optimise the mining and metallurgical operations.

Zondereinde

Life of mine extended to >21 years by husbanding Merensky orebody
Shifting the mining ore mix profile to increase UG2 tonnages
Unlocking metallurgical constraints in the process plant, increasing the throughput of UG2 concentrator
Pursuing deepening project to increase access to Merensky ore

Booysendal

Completing the original decline by December 2015
Ramp-up to full production
Sustaining concentrator recoveries at 85%
Plan to expand first UG2 module with a deepening project currently in design phase
Bulk sample in progress to evaluate potential of mining Merensky reef from existing footprint
Development of Booysendal South in design phase

Processing and refining

Increasing milling capacity of UG2 from 90 000 tonnes per month
Expanding the smelter by adding a dedicated 20MW UG2 furnace
New autoclave installed at the base metals removal plant to match increasing throughput from the smelter
Improving the throughput and yield of the chrome ore plant run by Northam Chrome Producers (NCP)