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Nokuthaba Brita Ncube, [email protected]

PLATINUM Group Metals (PGMs) producer, Zimplats says phase two of its sulphur dioxide (SO2) abatement plant will resume construction in the first quarter of financial year 2026 and is expected to be completed in June 2028.

The project is part of expanding and enhancing processing capacity.
In a report for the half-year ended December 31, 2024 Zimplats said the Sulphur dioxide (SO2) abatement plant and smelter expansion projects were technically complete.

The company said it had invested a combined US$444 million in the two projects thus far.
A sulphur dioxide plant is important for capturing and processing sulphur dioxide emissions, which are by-products of smelting and roasting sulphide ores to prevent air pollution and for potential conversion to valuable products like sulphuric acid.

Sulphur dioxide is a major air pollutant, contributing to acid rain, respiratory problems and damage to ecosystems.
Under its US$1,8 billion capital programme, Zimplats intends to establish integrated projects including smelter expansion, base metal refinery, sulphuric acid plant and 110-megawatt power plant.

The investments are designed to support planned production ramp-up.
In addition, the new furnace is set to increase smelting capacity from the current capacity of 135 000 tonnes per annum of concentrate to 380 000 tonnes per annum of concentrate.

“Phase Two of the SO2 abatement plant will resume construction in Q1 FY2026 and is expected to be completed in June 2028. As of December 31, 2024, a total of US$443 million had been spent on both projects against an approved budget of US$544 million,” Zimplats said in a statement.

Zimplats has invested a combined US$444 million sulphur dioxide abatement plant (File picture)

The company also reported that mined volumes during the period under review were negatively impacted by the limited availability of trackless mobile machinery(TMM) and intermittent power outages.

“Volumes declined by 2,5 percent to 3,9 million tonnes from 4,0 million tonnes in the comparable period last year”.Moreover, tonnes milled decreased by 2,6 percent to 3,8 million tonnes due to lower ore supply, and metal in concentrate production declined by two percent year-on-year to 279 890 6E ounces.

According to Zimplats, lower-than-planned concentrator production, an increase in furnace lock-up, and the delayed commissioning of the expanded smelter converters impacted 6E production, which decreased by 15 percent to 279 890 ounces from 327 810ounces therefore, 23 191 6E ounces were accumulated between concentrate and final production in the period.

The company, however, noted that mill head grade for the six elements including platinum, palladium, rhodium, gold, ruthenium and iridium improved marginally to 3,38g/t from 3,34g achieved in the same period last year, benefitting from improved mining quality across the mines and increased tonnage from higher-grade zones at Rukodzi and Bimha mines.

Meanwhile, revenue of US$350,2 million was six percent lower, impacted by a 13 percent decline in sales volumes.