Wesizwe will generate its own electricity in the platinum mine on the Frischgewaagd-Ledig complex as it cannot rely on Eskom to guarantee power.

Chief Executive Officer of the firm Mike Solomon said it was a matter of "playing it safe" in terms of the South African power crisis.

"We have signed contracts with Eskom for the ramp-up and the production phases of the Frischgewaagd-Ledig project. We cannot take Eskom's delivery for granted - we are not taking any chances. Hopefully, when the mine comes into production in 2011 or 2012, all these problems will be sorted out," he told Mining Weekly.

The temporary power requirement for construction of the mine is 5MVA and Eskom can only commit to 2MVA, a situation forcing Wesizwe to look for the extra 3MVA.

When up and running, the new mine is expected to produce 350,000 oz of platinum -something that will, according to Mr Solomon, make the firm a "fully fledged platinum producer".

Source:

Self-generation contingency for new R5,6bn Wesizwe platinum mine, 11/04/08

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