Name and Location
Lift II copper project, Limpopo, South Africa.

Client
Palabora Copper, a subsidiary of the Palabora Mining Company.

Project Description
Palabora Copper has been producing copper in South Africa for more than 50 years, initially as a large opencast operation and thereafter as an underground block cave operation in 2002, known as Lift I.

The current underground block cave operation was developed to deplete the Lift I reserve by 2020. The closure of Lift I has been brought forward by five years to December 2015, owing to dilution from the North wall failure.

A comprehensive geological, mine and financial study has demonstrated that copper production at Palabora Copper can be extended on an economically rational basis beyond this date by building a second lift underground block cave operation, which will be known as Lift II. The operation will be identified as one of the deepest block cave mines in the world.

A new Lift II mining footprint 450 m below Lift I will ensure a continuation of copper mining until 2033.

In addition, Palabora intends to raise-bore 2 m × 6.2 m-diameter holes to a depth of 1 200 m – mining to such depths using this technology has never been done in Africa before.

Lift II will also be the first mining operation in South Africa to operate electric load haul dumpers.

Value
The project is estimated at R9.3-billion.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The Lift II project has been approved by shareholders to proceed to full execution.

The approval follows extensive investment in prefeasibility and feasibility studies, as well as the critical early works development on which an estimated R 2-billion was spent.

The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs through the construction of the new underground mine, as well as in business opportunities for national, provincial, local and previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

A variety of jobs,ranging from nonskilled, semiskilled, skilled and professionals will be required to implement the project. Palabora Copper will directly generate some of these work opportunities; however, project contractors will generate the bulk of these opportunities.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Palabora Copper manager of corporate affairs Hulisani Nemaxwi,  tel +27 15 780 2019 or email hulisani.nemaxwi@palabora.co.za.