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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau

Platinum giant, Zimplats, is now pushing forward hard on its huge investment of US$1,8 billion to expand mining and output over the next decade and is busy preparing for the successful and safe achievement of the expansion.

Zimplats held a safety symposium last week in Ngezi for contractors who will be working on the expansion, with 160 participants representing over 70 contractors attending.

Speaking at the symposium, Zimplats managing director Mr Stanley Segula said: “As you bring together diverse business and safety cultures, there is need to align and ensure a common vision in the quest for zero harm.

“We have embarked on a journey that will create measurable value for our stakeholders and on our country’s economy. We cannot travel this journey alone; we need to carry all our key stakeholders, including contractors, on board with us as we seek to create a better future through the metals we produce and the way in which we do business.”

Mr Segula urged contractors working with Zimplats to commit to the safety agenda to deliver intended projects safely.

Contractors said ‘Zero Harm’ was achievable by carrying out all risk assessments on all tasks and adhering to set standards and procedures.

The contractors signed a pledge committing to lead by example in cultivating a safe production culture, promoting values of respect, care and delivery, and supporting the quest for sustainable zero harm whilst subscribing to various quality systems that were the bedrock of Zimplats’ operations.

Participants at the symposium were encouraged to invest in recognised systems, cultivating safe employee behaviour and creating a workplace environment that promotes safety.

Through its expansion programme, Zimplats will be bringing in a significant number of contractors that will support Government’s call for employmemnt creation in line with Vision 2030.

Zimplats has nearly 7 000 employees working at both the company’s Ngezi and Selous sites, of which 3 500 are contract employees.

Zimplats anticipates that the number of employees will double through the expansion programme.

Some of the projects that Zimplats will embark on under the expansion drive include the development of Mupani mine to replace Rukodzi and Ngwarati mines at a cost of US$388 million, construction of a third concentrator plant at a cost of US$133 million, implementation of the SMC concentrator tailings dam extension project to sustain the operation at the termination of the existing tailings storage facility, abating sulphur dioxide emissions for US$200 million; and smelter expansion for US$280 million.

A major leap in output comes from development of Hartley Mine at a cost of US$289 million to increase overall production.

Of particular importance is the US$200 investment to build a platinum group metals refinery allowing exports of pure metal rather than concentrates.

A total of 1 400 new houses and a solar plant are on the list.