Nkomati mine has increased its platinum group metal (pgm) reserves by 70 per cent, its owners have revealed.

LionOre and its black economic empowerment partner, African Rainbow Minerals, have revealed that the mine's pgm reserves have now risen to 4.18 million ounces.

The upward revision of the mine's reserves has come following the completion of a number of pit optimisation studies, based on the large-scale expansion of the Nkomati mine.

The pgms at the facility are the by-products of the mine's main production efforts to produce nickel, but represents a significant part of Nkomati's productivity.

Colin Steyn, President and Chief Executive of LionOre, described the increase in pgm reserves as "very exciting", providing an opportunity to "enhance the economics of the Nkomati expansion".

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