Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (Private) Limited – a subsidiary of Zimplats, which falls under the auspices of the Impala Platinum Holdings group – has been given the green light for the development of the US$264-million Mupani Mine (Portal 6).
Alex Mhembere CEO of Zimplats Holdings Limited, noted in a statement that the new underground mining complex would replace production from Rukodzi Mine and Ngwarati Mine once these were mined out and closed.
Early project work, including mining the box cut and constructing the main access road, project offices and other essential project infrastructure, started in June 2016. The box cut was completed last month and preparations to start developing the main underground access have been initiated, according to Mhembere.
He said the first mining teams were to be deployed from early 2021.
“The project will increase Zimplats’ mineral reserves by 3 million to 9 million platinum ounces,” he said.
