Staff Reporter

Karo Resources Pvt Ltd is set to build its platinum concentrator plant as soon as it gets an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

This was revealed by a contact within the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), who disclosed that his organisation is working on an EIA to ensure everything is above board before the construction of a platinum concentrator.

 “Of course as EMA, we are aware of the benefits to be derived from the construction of platinum concentrator, however, it is our mandate to ensure that due diligence is taken, for the protection of the environment and the people, which is what we are seized with at the moment,” said the contact.

This publication managed to interview a source within the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, who confirmed that the platinum concentrator will not only process platinum, but will serve to process other minerals to the advantage of the country.

He disclosed that once approved, the plant will ensure that only processed products are exported as compared to exporting raw ore.

“The platinum concentrator plant will not only be used to process platinum alone, but will also process palladium, rhodium, gold, copper and nickel among others.  This will benefit the country since the processing will ensure the harvest of other minerals from platinum such as osmium. The plant will have a capacity of producing 175 000 tonnes of concentrate per year,” said the contact.

Due to the delayed process of the EIA, Karo Resources has applied for an extension to export chrome concentrate in Mhondoro, which is part of a US$4.2 billion project including investment in platinum mining and beneficiation, coal mining and power generation.

Meanwhile, the construction of the plant is expected to commence during the last quarter of the year. The construction of the processing plant dovetails with the Government’s vision of attaining the US$12billion Mining Economy by 2023 through beneficiation and value addition.