INDIAN mining and energy company Vedanta is nearing completion of a $400m zinc project in SA and is considering doubling its size and building Africa’s second zinc refinery. The refinery, the second outside Namibia, would produce 400,000 tonnes of zinc metal a year from the new Gamsberg mine in the Northern Cape and cost about $500m to build. It would need 300MW of power and possibly need a supply from an independent power producer, Vedanta Zinc CEO Deshnee Naidoo said. The first phase of the Gamsberg mine will come into production by the middle of next year, ramping up to 4-million tonnes a year of ore, which will deliver 250,000 tonnes of zinc in concentrate. About 100,000 tonnes of this concentrate would be sent to Vedanta’s Skorpion zinc complex in Namibia for refining and the balance sold onto the market, she said. Vedanta was keen to more than double mining output to 10-million tonnes a year, which would give it 400,000 tonnes of zinc, she said, adding Anglo had already done a...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.