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Zimbabwe’s third-largest platinum group metals (PGM) producer, Unki Platinum Mine, recorded a 15 percent decline in PGM production to 53 600 ounces in the first quarter (Q1) to March 31, 2025, compared to 62 800 ounces in Q1 2024.
Parent company Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), in a production update, said the lower production was mainly a result of the expected lower grades in the current mining area, as well as a combination of slightly lower recoveries.
“The impact of a five-day planned plant maintenance shutdown also affected volumes milled. In the prior period, this maintenance was performed in the second quarter of 2024,” reads the trading update.
The country’s operating PGM mines are majority owned by South African companies and have been involved in different expansion and new mine development projects at a time when commodity prices continue to weaken.
Unki Mine continues to benefit from the concentrator debottlenecking project completed in 2022. The debottleneck project, which was completed in 2021 and reached optimum production in 2022, was executed at a cost of US$48 million, with the expansion targeted to increase throughput capacity.
The country’s PGM sector also has upcoming producers at different stages of development.
Karo Platinum Holdings is proceeding with the development of its platinum mine despite the falling PGM prices, with the mining company having completed several on-site infrastructure developments.
Bravura Consortium is also making headway in the development of its PGM mine, having completed several processes, and is in the process of mobilising equipment for mine development.
The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) considers Zimbabwe to have the world’s second-largest platinum group metals (PGM) resource, after South Africa, on the Great Dyke.
According to the production update, total PGM production for Anglo American Platinum decreased by 17 percent against the prior period to 696 300 ounces, primarily due to lower third-party production, owing to Kroondal volumes of 61 000 ounces having transitioned to a 4E tolling arrangement from September 2024, as well as lower production from Amandelbult of 41 000 ounces.
On a like-for-like basis to account for the Kroondal transition and Amandelbult flooding impact, total PGM production decreased by 5 per cent against the prior period.
Globally, the platinum market is expected to remain in deficit for the third consecutive year, with a projected shortfall of 848 000 ounces in 2025, following a 995 000-ounce deficit in 2024, according to the World Platinum Investment Council.
Mr Craig Miller, the chief executive officer of Anglo-American Platinum, said safety underpins everything the group does as a commitment to zero harm.
“As a result of the widespread flooding in the northern part of South Africa in February, which impacted the Tumela mine at Amandelbult, quarterly own-mined M&C production decreased by 8 per cent to 462,000 ounces.
“At Amandelbult, our team’s emergency response ensured the safe evacuation of all our employees and contractors and, together with the authorities, ensured that support was provided to those in our surrounding host communities most affected by the floods.
“Progress has been made to recover from the flooding event, with Dishaba mine, Tumela Upper and surface operations back in production. The team has worked tirelessly to complete the pumping and dewatering activities at Tumela Lower while also stabilising the rest of the mine.
“We anticipate production at Tumela Lower to commence around mid-year, and we expect to remain within our production and cost guidance,” he said.
