DRAFT SCOPING REPORT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, FOR THE UNDERGROUND EXPANSION PROJECT AT EAST AND WEST MINES FOR THARISA MINERALS

Tharisa Minerals (Pty) Ltd (Tharisa) is an opencast mining operation that produces chrome and platinum group metals (PGM) concentrate. Tharisa is now proposing to expand the mining operation into the underground working to extend its life of mine (LoM) by approximately 100 years, with underground mining taking place at approximately 100 – 150m below ground level. The proposed project is referred to as the Underground Expansion Project. It is proposed that the expansion into the underground workings will increase production by an additional 5 000 tons per day thereby reducing the amount of ore required to be imported. The proposed expansion will occur within the approved MR footprint. The ore extracted will be taken to the existing processing plant for further processing before being sold to a third party. The proposed expansion will occur within the approved mining footprint.
Province(s): North West