Amandelbult has been operating since the 1970s and is situated in the Thabazimbi Magisterial District, within the Thabazimbi Local Municipality and Waterberg District Municipality and extends over some 20 km from west to east. The mine is approximately 15 km north northeast of Northam and 30 km south west of Thabazimbi on the northern limb of the Platinum Belt.
The AMB Complex currently employs a labour-intensive conventional mining methodology for the mining of its narrow tabular ore body. In line with the broader Anglo American Platinum (AAP) strategy to adopt mechanised mining methods in their underground operations, the AMB Complex has finalised transformative plans for mechanising selected mining operations in its portfolio. This initiative was embedded in the 2022 business plan (BP22) and associated budget and aligned to achieving P101 levels, advancing the AMB Complex by establishing low cost, high margin, and long-life operations. The mechanisation projects consist of the following five major Capital Projects:
- Middellaagte Upper & Middellaagte Lower (including an Open Pit);
- Tumela 15E Extension;
- Tumela 1 Sub Shaft; and
- Dishaba East Upper and Dishaba East Lower.
- Concentrator Upgrade
Each project is being developed as a strategic portfolio as part of the AMB Complex mechanisation strategy. The production profiles demonstrate AMB’s strategic intent to transform from conventional to mechanised mining by 2032. The primary objectives of the mechanisation strategy are to position AMB in H1 of the industry cost curve and employ technology decisions that result in sustainable mining of the AMB Complex endowment.
In addition to this, the AMB Complex requires some smaller projects in order to continue the mining operations, namely Stay-in- Business (SIB) projects.
Prior to the construction of these projects, the following legislated processes are required, namely a Basic Assessment process and an Environmental Impact Assessment process In addition to this, the projects will also trigger the need to a Water Use and Waste Licence Application.
SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SRK) was appointed by AAP as the independent environmental assessment practitioner (EAP) to manage and facilitate the integrated EA processes and undertake the associated public participation process in accordance with NEMA, NEM:WA, NWA and MPRDA.
