https://newsletter.en.creamermedia.com
Africa|Business|Mining|Platinum|Projects|Refinery|Solar|Maintenance
Africa|Business|Mining|Platinum|Projects|Refinery|Solar|Maintenance
africa|business|mining|platinum|projects|refinery|solar|maintenance

Zimplats weighs reopening mothballed mine as prices rebound

23rd July 2025

By: Reuters

  

Font size: - +

-Impala Platinum's Zimbabwean business is considering reopening a mine mothballed in 1998, an official said on Wednesday, after platinum prices rallied to their highest level in more than a decade.

Australia-listed Zimplats, 87% owned by Impala, took over the Hartley mine when it acquired assets previously owned by BHP in 2001.

The mine was put under care and maintenance after failing to meet key production targets, Impala board chairperson Thandi Orleyn said during the commissioning of a 35 MW solar plant at Zimplats on Wednesday.

"Zimplats is conducting studies and trials to develop a safe and efficient mechanised mining method for reopening the mine," Orleyn said, without giving further details on any time frame or possible capacity.

Platinum prices surged 36% in the second quarter, driven by a rise in Chinese imports and a drop in supply from major producer South Africa.

A two-year slump in prices has forced Impala and its peers to suspend projects and cut costs.

Last year, Impala postponed spending on some of its $1.8 billion capital projects at Zimplats, citing weak prices for the metals used to make catalysts that curb toxic emissions in vehicles.

The company has, however, now completed projects including the first phase of a 185 MWsolar plant and an expanded smelter, which were officially commissioned on Wednesday.

Zimplats said it planned to complete the capital projects, including the rehabilitation of a base metal refinery, by 2031.

Edited by Reuters

Comments

Showroom

ESAB showroom image
ESAB South Africa

ESAB South Arica, the leading supplier of high-end welding and cutting products to the Southern African industrial market is based in...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa (Pty) Ltd
Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa (Pty) Ltd

Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa is sole distributors for Goodwin electrically driven, submersible, abrasion resistance slurry pumps.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.235 0.325s - 186pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now