JSE-listed Wesizwe Platinum says in an operational update that it has awarded a contract to an experienced contractor to start implement a rectification plan of the concentrator plant at its Bakubung mine in the third quarter.  

During the hot commissioning of the concentrator plant, certain defects were identified in the plant which required rectification and an experienced team of industry experts were appointed to develop a rectification plan.

The stoping production ramp up will start in the first quarter of 2025 after the underground critical infrastructure is completed. 

As soon as the plant rectification plan is completed, the concentrator ramp-up will start in the fourth quarter of 2025.

It is envisaged that the underground mining ramp up will reach about 83 000 t a month by the fourth quarter of 2025.

The mine already has an about 500 000 t incidental ore stockpile from the on-reef development activities.

Wesizwe says the teams at the Bakubung platinum mine, in the North West province, has done an “excellent” job with the development of critical infrastructure to open up the ore body and facilitate future stoping activities.

The current underground activities include the development, construction and equipping of

permanent infrastructure such as ore passes, silos, workshops and permanent water and power services among others to support future stoping activities.

SECTION 189 PROCESS

A Section 189 process relating to the restructuring of Bakubung, as announced last year, was concluded in the second quarter after lengthy engagements relating to the rationale and analysis of the impact on the community, the company says.  

As part of the restructuring, 345 positions were made redundant. A number of employees left the company through natural attrition, while others were transferred to in-house vacancies based on the skillset held and others took voluntary separation packages.

Thirteen employees were retrenched, seven of whom are to be absorbed by the company’s training services provider.