Zimplats redevelops its biggest mine

Zimbabwe’s largest platinum miner Zimplats has begun redeveloping its biggest underground mine, which was shut down after one of its sections collapsed early this year, the company announced today.

When Zimplats closed Bimha, its largest underground operation, following a ground collapse at the mine in July, it had projected that subsidence of the ground would cost the company 70 000 platinum ounces worth about $100 million.

The mining company said an independent assessment had shown that it was now safe to resume operations, adding that it would take three years to get back to the original footprint.

“Further to the announcement on August 20 2014 regarding the precautionary closure of Bimha, Zimplats is pleased to advise stakeholders of the commencement of the redevelopment of the mine after carrying out a comprehensive risk assessment to ensure safe operations and effective evacuations should need arise,” the company said in a statement.

The company’s output for the first quarter ending September was down 13 percent to 1.32 million tonnes in the first quarter to September compared to 1.51 million tonnes in the corresponding year after the closure of Bimha Mine.-The Source

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