The Mimosa mine will now be able to produce 100,000 oz pgm per year after the completion of an expansion project, it emerged on Friday (4th December).

Impala Platinum confirmed that the Phase 5.5 project at the Zimbabwean facility, which is a joint venture with Aquarius Platinum, has been successfully concluded.

The mechanised, shallow underground mine saw tonnes milled increase by 21 per cent to 2.1 million in 2009, while platinum-in-concentrate production was up by 19 per cent to 91,500 oz.

However, the latest development will take output into six-figure territory, with Impala stating that further growth could be attained through the North Hill and Mtshingwe resources.

"Mimosa and Zimplats both have expansion opportunities, which Implats will investigate during the next six to 12 months," CEO David Brown told Mining Weekly.

"Implats remains positive and believes that Zimbabwe's wealth of platinum resources makes it an attractive proposition for future production growth."

The sizable milling and production increases at Mimosa this year can be largely attributed to the Wedza Phase 5 expansion project, which has also now been completed.

Impala Platinum is the world's second-largest producer of the precious metal and also has substantial interest in the platinum-rich Bushveld Complex in South Africa.

Source:

Production and expansion parameters met at Mimosa (04/12/09)

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