Walter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
Karo Platinum’s US$540 million mine in Mashonaland West is set to become one of Zimbabwe’s major platinum group metals (PGMs) producers, with the project expected to create about 1 200 direct jobs at full production and significantly increase the value of minerals processed locally.
The mine, which is being developed by Tharisa PLC, is designed around beneficiation, with ore worth about US$200 a tonne expected to be processed on site into concentrate valued at almost US$7 000 a tonne.
Karo Platinum Resources head of processing Mr Qhubekani Moyo said about US$240 million had so far been invested in the first phase of the project.
He said the parent company has since secured a further US$300 million to complete the concentrator plant and finance mining operations already under way.
Phase One is expected to produce 226 000 ounces of PGMs annually, putting Karo in the same production league as established operations such as Mimosa and Unki, although still below the country’s largest platinum producer, Zimplats.
“We are coming in at a time where we will definitely beef up the PGM production for the world market,” said Mr Moyo.
The project is currently employing 811 people, comprising 107 permanent employees and 704 contractor workers, mainly employed by the mining contractor and JRG, which is constructing the Chirindazi Dam.
A further 250 casual workers have been drawn from surrounding communities.
Women currently account for 12 percent of the workforce, with the company targeting 15 percent once full operations begin.
Mr Moyo said beneficiation was central to the project and was in line with Government’s policy of processing minerals locally before export.
The ore will be mined at a grade of about three grammes per tonne and concentrated to approximately 100 grammes per tonne.
“A tonne of ore that we will be mining is valued at about US$200, but a tonne of concentrate will be costing almost US$7 000,” he said.
Mashonaland West Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Marian Chombo, who recently toured the mine, said the investment demonstrated the potential of the platinum belt running through the province.
She said the Government would continue pushing for local mineral beneficiation rather than the export of raw minerals.
“You cannot export raw minerals. We saw a concentrator here, so we are going to have a concentrator right on site,” she said.
Minister Chombo said the project would create about 1 200 direct jobs at full production, while each mining job could generate an estimated seven additional jobs elsewhere in the economy, potentially taking the overall employment impact to about 8 400 direct and indirect jobs.
During the tour, Minister Chombo also visited families relocated to make way for the Chirindazi Dam, who have been provided with new houses.
