Sylvania Resources has commissioned its fifth pgm and chrome recovery plant in South Africa, it was confirmed today (8th July).

The company spent R97 million constructing the Doornbosch plant, which is located on the platinum-rich Bushveld Complex, and has now passed first slurry through it.

Saleable concentrate is set to be produced at an initial rate of 670 oz of pgms per month, before eventually ramping up to a steady-state production of 1,000 oz per month.

"The Doornbosch plant is well positioned to become one of the lowest-cost producers of the Sylvania plants, due to the potentially high-grade feed that we expect from this new mine," commented Sylvania Chief Executive Terry McConnachie.

"This supports our strategy of low-cost extraction from chrome current risings and tailings dumps."

Sylvania decided to build the new facility in order to process 20,000 tonnes per month of pgm plant feed from Samancor Chrome's Doornbosch chrome plant.

Meanwhile, the company has confirmed that its Lannex pgms tailings project will resume output at a reduced capacity until a new tailings dam can be built.

The facility, which is also located on the Bushveld Complex, as temporarily shut down earlier this year as a result of inadequate tailings being recovered from its current dam.

Sources

Sylvania commissions new South African plant (08/07/10)

Sylvania commissions R97m Doornbosch PGMs plant (08/07/10)

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