Braemore Resources and Ridge Mining are thought to be contenders to establish an independent platinum group metal (pgm) smelter and refinery complex.

Both groups have received official support for their plans because they are viewed as a national priority.

According to reports from Mineweb, Braemore has joined up with Mintek to develop the ConRoast process as Ridge Mining has sought the services of South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).

It will see the IDC take a 26 per cent share offering in the Sheba Ridge project.

The technical challenge facing the platinum firms is controlling the level of chrome in the mix and the ConRoast process focuses on treating ores with higher chromium content.

Braemore has run the process at Mintek from October 2007 and has seen 600 tonnes of alloy containing pgms produced.

The firm has also said that its pgms recovery rate has exceeded 99 per cent, a fact that may have prompted it to consider the feasibility study for a 10MW smelter to be built near the Rustenburg facility.



Source:

Race for an independent platinum smelter is on, 04/07/08
http://www.miningmx.com/platinum/649587.htm