(Alliance News) - Tharisa PLC on Tuesday said cold commissioning of its Vulcan utra-fine chrome recovery and beneficiation plant, located near Rustenburg, South Africa, has commenced.
The Cyprus-based platinum group metals and chrome co-producer said the timetable to completion of the new USD55 million plant remains on track with initial saleable production due before the end of 2021.
Once fully commissioned, Tharisa mine is expected to increase its chrome recoveries to 82% from 62%, resulting in increased chrome production of 20% at low incremental unit operating costs. The plant, which will process live tailings produced by the independent Voyager and Genesis plants, will ensure further beneficiation of the company's chrome production at the Tharisa mine, while reducing unit output of carbon emissions.
"Vulcan provides the company with the ability to further beneficiate our product whilst staying on track to meet our decarbonisation targets, thanks to the dedicated work from Arxo Metals, that has not only delivered the Vulcan process but has also delivered further beneficiation opportunities, including metal alloys and platinum group metals products using non-conventional methodologies," said Chief Executive Phoevos Pouroulis.
"Vulcan is an important part of our sustainable growth strategy and ensures that Tharisa continues to drive sustainable returns for all of our stakeholders, while simultaneously pushing us even lower on the cost curve," added Pouroulis.
By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com
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Tharisa (THS)