President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday 28 February 2019 presided over the official inauguration of Vedanta Zinc International’s (VZI’s) Gamsberg mine, near Aggeneys, in the Northern Cape.

The mine, which boasts one of the largest known and undeveloped zinc orebodies in the world, will contribute more than $1-billion of investment into the South African mining industry. The mine is estimated to have a life-of-mine of more than 30 years.

VZI is simultaneously pursuing a feasibility study into the development and construction of a smelter-refinery complex, which speaks to both the company and government’s commitment to local metal beneficiation.

The inauguration event also celebrated the end of construction and the start of ramp-up, with VZI CEO Deshnee Naidoo telling delegates that the Gamsberg mine was now “officially ready for steady-state production.” She added that, within the next two years, Vedanta intends to have women comprise 30% of its workforce.

In his keynote address, Mr Ramaphosa said that it was government’s commitment to work with the mining industry to improve the investment climate and to improve the ease with which mining companies do business in the country.

Though the Northern Cape province remains grossly underdeveloped and has an expanded unemployment rate of about 39%, the President said that mining offered the opportunity to fundamentally change this. He added that beneficiation of minerals can also play a huge role for broader economic expansion. He called for the industry to move away from the pit-to-port approach and, instead, to focus on intensifying and increasing investment into mineral beneficiation.

Mr Ramaphosa said that the investment will change the economic landscape of the region and contribute to much-needed social development. He also affirmed government’s commitment to partnering with VZI in realising the benefits of the investment for not just the company, but also for its employees and the surrounding communities.

Mining Weekly