RUSTENBURG (miningweekly.com) – Chinese-backed emerging platinum producer Wesizwe Platinum has reached another milestone at its flagship Bakubung platinum mine project, which is already two-and-a-half years ahead of schedule.

Despite facing tensions in the platinum belt during the year, continual progress had been made in sinking the main and ventilation shafts at Wesizwe’s platinum mine project, with the intersection of the Merensky reef a mere 11 m away from the current level of the main shaft.

All eyes were now on the intersection of the secondary upper group two (UG2) reef, which would be reached shortly, Bakubung mine manager Eddie Mohlabi said during an underground site visit on Thursday.

Bakubung’s most recent milestone earlier this year was the cutting of the first level of the ventilation shaft, some 690 m below the shaft level and 45 m above the first intersection of the platinum-rich Merensky reef.

The main shaft of the envisaged 420 000 ounce-a-year 4E (platinum at 62.4%, rhodium accounting for 7.4%, palladium at 28% and gold at 2.2%) platinum group of metals underground mine was now at 730 m below collar and the ventilation shaft 750 m below collar.

The development of its main shaft to 970 m, which would have a hoisting capacity of 255 000 t of ore and 15 000 t of waste a month, would be completed by October next year, 55 days ahead of schedule.

An initial 230 000 t/m would be mined from the Merensky reef, with the balance sourced from the UG2 reef. Once Merensky reef was depleted in the next 10 to 15 years, the full 255 000 t would be sourced from the UG2 reef only.

The ventilation shaft, which would reach its final depth of 880 m in September 2016, was 144 days ahead of schedule.

The implementation of an adopted optimisation plan earlier this year ensured that the mine, boasting a 30-year life-of-mine, would undergo its main commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2018, before being ramped up to full production in 2020.

Several services projects were on track, with the first phase of 20 MVA power supply from State-owned power utility Eskom commissioned during 2014, along with the signing of a bulk water-supply agreement with Magalies Water.

The group also concluded the housing project prefeasibility study, with focus now shifting to securing land in partnership with local communities for the development of housing.

A feasibility study had also kicked off on the first phase of the housing project, which would consider off balance sheet funding options.

Bakubung would also shortly start construction of the access roads for the mine.

During 2015, Bakubung would start its waste development programme, commission the bulk water supply, start Phase 2 of the power supply project and embark on key shaft bank installations.