• EXCURSION
value from mining , through the value chain to final base metal and precious metal refining . The project is based on proven technologies and industry best practices . 1
At the time of writing in January 2023 – with exploration completed , the engineering and design of the project was on schedule with a 24-month construction schedule having commenced in July 2022 ; key positions were filled ( projects director , senior finance manager , HR manager ); key tenders for earthworks were awarded and active recruitment had started in Zimbabwe for key construction civils in October 2022 ; ground breaking had commenced in December 2022 ; long lead items such as ball mills and flotation cells had been ordered and a pilot PGM concentrator was already fully operational ; and a mining contractor ( Zimbabwean and South African combo ) had been selected with beneficiation and Phase 2 evaluation planned for 2023 . The first ore in mill ( FOIM ) is scheduled for July 2024 with a mining plan targeting 2.1 Mt / y of run of mine material for the Phase 1 operations , at a grade of 3 g / t ( 5PGE + Au ).
An owner ’ s mineral resource management team will be in place for oversight of the mining operations and grade control . The mining operations will see the development of four open pits being developed sequentially , up to a maximum pit depth of 100m over a total strike length greater than 20km . 2
The processing of the ROM will be through an MF2 PGM flotation circuit , processing 205 000t / mth of ROM . The average annual production of PGMs in concentrate will be 190kozpa .
Primary crushing will reduce ROM to F80 -120mm followed by secondary ( F80 - 40mm ) and tertiary ( F80 -15mm ) cone crushing followed by primary ball milling to F60 -75micron followed by a bank of six primary rougher flotation cells and three high grade cleaner stages , thickening and filtration using a tower press filtration . Primary rougher flotation tails go to secondary ball milling ( F80 -75micron ) then a bank of six secondary rougher cells and two low grade cleaner stages prior to the thickening and filtration .
In conclusion to the Karo investment case Pouroulis quoted Warren Buffet saying , “ Price is what you pay , value is what you get .” Karo is set to be a value accretive investment and well worth the wait . •
Developing a tier one project in this unique geological setting comes once in a lifetime .
References
1 . https :// www . tharisa . com / pdf / investors / presentation / 2022 / tplc-karoannouncement-presentation-final . pdf
2 . https :// miningzimbabwe . com / karo-commencement-of-constructionceremony-on-today /
20 • African Mining • May 2023 www . africanmining . co . za