The commissioning of the solar project and the enlarged furnace complex at Zimplats has positioned this Zimbabwe platinum group metals (PGM) operation to benefit from improved processing capacity, environmental performance and lower energy costs, Implats CEO Nico Muller has reported.

The 35 MW solar plant project, which was commissioned in August, is ramping up power generation to design capacity.

Overall, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed PGMs mining and marketing company is on track to deliver this financial year’s (FY2025’s) operational, cost and capital expenditure guidance, the first-quarter production report for the three months to September 30 outlined on October 30.

Advancing competitive position and ensuring portfolio delivery of the operational results required to navigate the PGM pricing cycle is a current group focus.

“Healthy ongoing metal purchases and recent discussions with our core customer base confirm our view of robust demand for our key products over the coming year, with shifts in metal requirements also affirming our assessment of underlying market trends.

“The macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty that has typified the global outlook for much of the past two years has persisted. As a result, we continue to assume a prudent risk-adjusted view to our operational planning and capital allocation to ensure Implats’ long-term sustainability and ongoing value creation,”Muller stated in a release to Engineering News & Mining Weekly.

Health & Safety

Regrettably, three first-quarter fatalities at managed operations resulted from a fall-of-ground incident at Impala Rustenburg and a drowning incident at Impala Bafokeng. The board and management team have extended their sincere sympathies and continue to offer support to the families of Joao Jose Goma, Orlando Auze Gola and Fenias Boaventura Gomes.

The group’s lost-time injury frequency rate improved by 3% to 3.31 per million work-hours worked from 3.40 reported in the previous comparable quarter, while the all-injury frequency rate improved by 20% to 6.83 compared with the 8.55 of the first quarter of FY2024.

Production

Tonnes milled at managed operations declined 6% to 7.09-million tonnes on the revised operating parameters at Impala Canada and Styldrift as well as safety stoppages at Impala Rustenburg and BRPM. Six-element (6E) production from managed operations fell to 751 000 oz. The benefit of a 2% improvement in 6E milled grade to 3.83 g/t was offset by the temporary increase in concentrate inventory at Zimplats owing to furnace commissioning.

Meanwhile, 6E concentrate production from Implats’ joint ventures at Mimosa and Two Rivers improved by 3% to 145 000 oz.

In line with market guidance, third-party 6E concentrate deliveries to Impala Refining Service (IRS) declined by 19% to 50 000 oz, reflecting changes in the contractual mix. Consequently, group 6E production volumes declined by 5% to 947 000 oz.

Refined 6E production, which includes saleable ounces from Impala Canada and Impala Bafokeng, declined 9% to 807 000 oz.

Scheduled annual processing maintenance was completed in the period, with refined volumes further impacted by water supply interruptions owing to extended Rand Water maintenance activities.

Excess inventory increased by 105 000 6E ounces from the end of FY2024 to 495 000 6E ounces at period-end and 6E sales volumes were a 4%-lower 792 000 oz, including saleable production from Impala Canada and Impala Bafokeng.

Impala Rustenburg

Production at Impala Rustenburg continued to demonstrate sustained improvement owing to increased operational flexibility, despite the lengthy safety stoppage following the fatal fall-of-ground accident in the period.

Tonnes milled decreased 6% to 2.84-million tonnes, while grade benefited from improving ore mix and mining discipline, increasing by 5% to 4.17 g/t. Stock-adjusted 6E production was 2% lower at 361 000 oz and refined 6E production 8% lower at 282 000 oz.

Impala Bafokeng

Impala Bafokeng benefited from improved mining flexibility and delivered in line with its operating plan, despite a reduced labour complement and a lengthy Section 54 safety stoppage following the fatal accident at BRPM.

Milled volumes declined 9% to 1.08- million tonnes, with the planned reduction in mined throughput at Styldrift and the impact of safety stoppages at BRPM exacerbated by a mill breakdown.

Production benefitted from the 2% increase in milled grade to 4.33 g/t and higher plant recoveries, which moderated the impact of lower throughput.

Concentrate production declined 4% to 130 000 6E ounces, with saleable ounces of 110 000 6E reflecting the payable metal content in terms of the offtake agreement.

Zimplats

Tonnes milled at Zimplats increased by 1% to 1.98-million tonnes, while 6E production in matte declined by 9% to 150 000 oz. With the commissioning of the expanded smelter commencing in the period, a temporary build-up of concentrate inventories resulted, with first matte tapped in October 2024.

Marula

A labour restructuring was completed and a turnaround programme initiated at Marula to restore mining flexibility and operational efficiency.

Milled volumes declined 13% to 426 000 t, while milled head grade regressed 3% to 4.18 g/t.

Production was adversely impacted by commissioning an underground collision avoidance system and still-constrained mining flexibility.

Improved processing recoveries mitigated the impact on 6E-in-concentrate production, which declined by 8% to 53 000 oz.

Impala Canada

Production at Impala Canada reflected a revised operating strategy, which is aimed at maximising volume and cost performance over the remaining life-of-mine. Tonnes milled declined 15% to 767 000 t, with an 8% decrease in grade to 2.86 g/t resulting in a 22% reduction in 6E volumes in concentrate to 58 000 oz.

Mimosa

Tonnes milled at Mimosa in Zimbabwe increased 7% to 750 000 t compared with the prior comparable period when throughput was impeded by power interruptions and a scheduled plant shutdown. Stable 3.61 g/t grade, improved plant stability and higher resultant process recoveries resulted in an 8% increase in 6E concentrate production to 66 000 oz.

Two Rivers

Milled volumes at Two Rivers improved by 1% to 944 000 t, while higher processing recoveries helped offset marginally lower milled grade of 3.14 g/t, yielding 6E concentrate production volumes of 79 000 oz.

A labour restructuring was completed during the period and, post commissioning of the concentrator, the Merensky project was successfully placed on care and maintenance, as planned.

Impala Refining Services

Refined 6E production declined by 8% to 361 000 oz.

Mine-to-market 6E receipts from Zimplats and Marula declined 7% to 207 000 oz, owing to operational challenges at Marula and the accumulation of concentrate at Zimplats.