Junior phosphate rock miner Kropz SA (Pty), Century City, South Africa, said on Feb. 2 its Elandsfontein phosphate project in South Africa’s Western Cape Project continues on budget, has made significant progress, and remains on track for achieving the target date for production in fourth-quarter 2021.
Targeted capacity is 1 million mt/y (GM Oct. 25, 2019). Kropz said earthworks are largely complete and civil construction is advancing. Fabrication of structural steel, platework, and piping has commenced, and the first major mechanical equipment has been delivered to site.
On Feb. 4, Kropz gave an update on the Hinda project in the Republic of the Congo. The company said it has appointed Hatch Africa (Pty) Ltd., a global engineering and construction firm, to complete the updated feasibility study on Hinda. This follows the conclusion of the focused logistics study, completed by Hatch in September 2020.
The updated feasibility study will target a phased approach in line with the terms of the mining investment agreement, with initial production of 1 million mt/y of phosphate rock being exported from the existing port facility at Pointe-Noire, which is 50 km from Hinda. A second phase production ramp-up of 2 million mt/y will also be evaluated with export from a new port site, located north of Pointe-Noire. The updated feasibility study will be concluded by the end of September 2021.