Zimplats Bimha to adopt new mining method

[miningmx.com] – ZIMPLATS said it would implement a new mining method at its Bimha shaft and added that it was closely monitoring how it went about exploiting two other projects following a collapse of ground at Bimha last year.

Alex Mhembere, CEO of Zimplats, said in an interview that extraction ratios would be affected at Bimha when it restarted production. The head grade would be unaffected.

“We will have to embark on a new mining method,” said Mhembere. “It will still be board-and-pillar [method], but it will be different in terms of the pillar sizes, and the size of the stopping areas. We are evaluating the extent of the blast.”

Zimplats said in December that a study carried out by consultants after the collapse of the mine had concluded that it was feasible to re-develop Bimha mine, its biggest, “along strike, 30 meters above the current footprint”.

Although the other mines had been marked as safe from the ground support problems that affected Bimha, Mhembere said the Mupfuti mine and the P5 replacement mine project – which are in close proximity to Bimha – are now being monitored and evaluated to ensure they sustainable safety.

Zimplats is a 270,000 platinum ounce a year producer in which Johannesburg-listed Impala Platinum has an 87% stake. The ground support problems at Bimha resulted in the loss of an estimated 70,000 ounces from its 2015 target of about 240,000 ounces.

Zimplats will present its half year update to the end of December at the end of this month.

Mhembere, who is also chamber of mines president, said the higher cost of electricity miners were incurring in Zimbabwe was aimed at guaranteeing power supplies. Miners such as Zimplats have a deal, running until 2017, with the Zimbabwean state power company to import electricity straight from Cahora Bassa which is more expensive.

“We have an arrangement with ZESA were we import power from Hydro Cahora Bassa in Mozambique. That arrangement is still in place up to 2017 and we are getting sufficient power for our current requirements,’ he said.