Paul Dunne

NORTHAM Platinum reached a major milestone in 2025: total annual metal sales exceeded 1 million ounces for the first time in the company’s history. That reflects the fact that under Paul Dunne, Northam expanded its production base in the face of depressed prices – a gamble that seems to have paid off with the rebound in PGM prices in the second half of last year.

Northam remains firmly focused on organic growth in the wake of its failed tussle with rival Impala Platinum to acquire RBPlat. Part of that is a natural caution on the metal markets. Dunne was among the first to call a price correction and remains watchful now amid global volatility. On the operational front, the glittering jewel in Northam’s crown is its mechanised high-grade and low-cost Booysendal mine which it is aiming to wring 520,000 ounces of production per annum out of by 2030. Northam unveiled an ambitious target to cut its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 60% from a 2019 baseline.

That is a faster and bigger target on this front than any of its peers. Its pipeline of renewable projects includes an 80MW solar power plant to service its Zondereinde mine and a 140MW wind farm. In his role as president of South Africa’s Minerals Council, Dunne bluntly laid into the government over its proposed Minerals Development Amendment Bill, saying it was the council’s “considered view that the proposed bill in its original form does not encourage or sustain the growth and investment that the mining industry needs”. The government took heed and talks between it and the industry subsequently showed signs of progress.