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Senior Business Writer

ZIMPLATS’ exploration activities remained curtailed during the quarter that ended on September 30 in response to depressed metal prices although other projects undertaken are at various stages of progress.

The focus was on the interpretation of previously drilled core and updating the group’s geological and mineral resource models. However, during the period under review, mined volumes increased by three percent both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter, benefiting from the ramp-up in production at Mupani Mine.

Production from Ngwarati Mine, which ceased primary operations in June this year, was successfully replaced by a combination of the ramp-up in output from pillar reclamation at Rukodzi Mine and production from Mupani Mine.

The mining house noted that 6E (platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and gold) head grade improved by two percent year-on-year and three percent quarter-on-quarter, benefiting from increased tonnage from higher-grade stomping areas at Mupani Mine.

A total of 400 tonnes of concentrate was fed into the new furnace by quarter-end following the commissioning of the expanded smelter.

“This, together with the accumulation of concentrate ahead of the smelter commissioning, resulted in a nine percent year-on-year and three percent quarter-on-quarter decrease in metal in the final product, with a circa 15 500-ounce differential between 6E in concentrate and 6E in the final product for the quarter,” said the company.

Giving an update on major projects under execution during the period, the development of Mupani Mine, which replaces the depleted Rukodzi and Ngwarati mines, is said to be progressing well and remains on schedule, with full production of 3,6 million tonnes per annum planned for H1 FY2029.

The Bimha Mine upgrade, to partly replace tonnage from Mupfuti Mine on depletion in FY2029, was completed in FY2024 with its design capacity successfully increased from 2,0 million tonnes to 3,1 million tonnes per annum.

The firm said as of September 30, a cumulative US$413 million has been spent on these projects against a total project budget of US$468 million.

A total of US$412 million has been spent on the smelter expansion and SO2 abatement plant project against a total project budget of US$544 million; US$36 million has been spent on the 35MW solar plant project against a budget of US$37 million.

The solar plant was commissioned at the end of August 2024 and is currently ramping up power generation to design capacity.

On the other hand, a total of US$29 million has been spent on the Base Metal Refinery refurbishment project, against a total budget of US$190 million.