The mine, being developed at a cost of R1.3 billion, is expected to produce 162,000oz per annum of platinum from 2004.
Brandrill Torrex’s 20-month contract involves the development of about 12km of tunnels for a twin decline system, 3.5km apart, and associated level development. The work is scheduled to start next month.
“The recent merger of Brandrill South Africa and (South African firm) Torrex Contracting has created a formidable contracting business which has been welcomed with open arms by the local mine owners,” said Brandrill Torrex managing director, Barry Hodgkinson.
“Brandrill Torrex now has a well diversified client base, including the world’s three largest platinum producers, Anglo Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonrho Platinum, and a significant manganese contract associated with Associated Manganese Mines of South Africa at their Nchwaning mine.”
Managing director of Western Australia-based Brandrill, Jeff Branson, said there appeared to be exceptionally good growth potential for 51%-owned Brandrill Torrex in South Africa on two fronts: rising demand for mechanised mining services, and possible strong demand for Brandrill’s PCF (penetrating cone fracture) contract mining services after the completion of current PCF rock-breaking technology development programs in the platinum and gold mining sectors.
Anglo Platinum itself is in the middle of an expansion program designed to increase annual platinum output from a 1999 base of 2 million ozpa to 3.5Mozpa by the end of 2006.
Originally published in the February 2001 edition of Australia's Mining Monthly.
