Zimplats has officially commissioned its expanded 38-megawatt smelter, tripling its platinum processing capacity and enabling more local beneficiation of the metal.
CEO of parent company Implats, Nico Muller, said the expansion allows Zimplats to process platinum concentrates not only from its own mines but also from other operations, including Mimosa, jointly run with Sibanye, and new projects such as Karo.
The move comes after Zimbabwe imposed a 5% levy on unrefined platinum in January, as part of efforts to boost local processing. Zimplats’ US$1.8 billion investment includes opening new mining areas, expanding processing capacity, and upgrading its base-metal refinery.
Mines like Mimosa currently produce platinum concentrates, while Zimplats smelts these into PGM matte, an intermediate product. The upgraded refinery will take beneficiation to the final stage, producing platinum, palladium, rhodium, and other metals locally.
