Wesizwe’s core project is the Bakubung Platinum Mine (formerly known as the Frischgewaagd-Ledig project). BPM is located approximately 40 km North-West of the city of Rustenburg, and directly south of the Pilanesberg Alkaline Complex on the Western Limb of the Bushveld Complex.
The mine falls within the jurisdiction of Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, as well as the Rustenburg and Moses Kotane Local Municipalities. The mine is located on portions of the farms Ledig 909 JQ and Frischgewaagd 96 JQ. The Elands River forms the southern boundary of the approved mining right area.
The initial bankable feasibility study (BFS) was completed in year 2009, by TWP Projects – with subsequent mine optimisation studies by WorleyParsons in 2014. The basis of the current mine design was primarily based on the bankable feasibility study and subsequent optimisation studies with some local and regional design updates completed by Ukwazi in 2020 and 2021.
Additional optimisation studies were conducted during 2023 that resulted in localised design changes on both the Merensky Reef and UG2 Chromitite layer. Both the Merensky Reef and the UG2 are well developed on the property, with the middling distance between the two reef horizons large enough to enable the extraction of ore over the largest part of the lease area.
These reefs are gently dipping (5º) over considerable portions of the lease area, separated vertically between 15 m to 50 m and occur at depths ranging from 650 metres below surface (mbs) to 850 mbs.
The mine consists of a single underground operation. It is accessed through a twin vertical shaft system and 6 m diameter raise bore ventilation holes for ventilation purposes.
Planned mining operations include the extraction of both the Merensky Reef and UG2 Chromitite Layer. The hoisting capacity of the main shaft is 250 kilo tonnes per month (ktpm) of reef and 15 ktpm of waste.
Mining operations will be facilitated through semi-mechanised or hybrid methods using conventional stoping methods and mechanised methods for development and rock-handling operations.
The twin reef access drives were designed for reef access orientated on strike. During the initial production operations, the rock will be transported directly to the main shaft until construction of the conveyor system is completed.
All development activities are completed by trackless mechanised mining equipment. The initial stope production activities commence with ledging of the raise and the establishment of a series of breast panels located on both sides of the ledged raise.
The advance strike drives (ASD) are developed from the reef raise and maintained marginally ahead of the advancing stope panel to facilitate a free breaking face and the movement of rock, men and material.
Stoping activities are based on conventional methods, blasted rock is scraped from the stoping panel to the ASD by 37-kilowatt face winches using two 0.9 tonne (t) effective scraper shovels connected in tandem. Load-haul-dumpers transport the rock from the ASD to the truck loading point located in the raise. Low profile, 30t capacity trucks tram rock to the internal conveyor transfer tip or directly to the shaft.
The production ramp-up goals, with the Merensky Reef as the focus, is as follows:
• Initial ROM ramp-up to 1 Mtpa.
• Subsequent ROM ramp-up to targeted 3 Mtpa.
• Target Merensky Reef ratio of approximately 90% of total ROM.
• Achieve steady balance of ROM tonnes to the plant throughout life of mine.
• Maintain a mineable area of 12 months ahead of stoping operations throughout life of mine.
• As the Merensky Reef depletes, focus on strategic changeover to UG2 Chromitite Layer production.
BPM is in the final stages of capital infrastructure development for a 1mtpa mine, with the revised target of reaching full production of 83ktpm in January 2026.