An employee at the construction of Twickenham platinum mine
Our platinum business is the world’s leading primary producer of platinum group metals and accounts for around 40% of newly mined platinum.
Its operations were restructured in 2009 to split the former Rustenburg Section into the Bathopele, Khomanani, Thembelani, Khuseleka and Siphumelele mines. The former Amandelbult Section was also split into the Tumela and Dishaba mines while its Union, Mogalakwena and Twickenham mines remained managed operations.
Platinum also has a 50:50 joint ventures with a BEE consortium, led by African Rainbow Minerals, at Modikwa platinum mine; and with XK Platinum Partnerships in respect of the Mototolo mine. In addition, Platinum has 50:50 pooling and sharing agreements with Aquarius Platinum covering the shallow reserves of the Kroondal and Marikana mines and portions of the reserves at Thembelani and Khuseleka. Platinum is in partnership with the Royal Bafokeng Resources, and has a 33% shareholding in the combined Bafokeng-Rasimone platinum mine (BRPM) and Styldrift properties.
During 2010, the listing of Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RB Plat) was completed successfully. Platinum, through RPM, holds 12.6% of RB Plats' issued share capital. The listing was a landmark transaction marking the fulfilment of Platinum's commitment towards facilitating the creation of an independently controlled and managed, black-empowered PGM producer.
Its smelting and refining operations are wholly owned through Rustenburg Platinum Mines and treat concentrates not only from 100% owned operations but joint ventures and third parties.
Elsewhere in the world, our platinum business is developing the Unki platinum mine in Zimbabwe and is actively exploring in Brazil. It also has exploration partners in Canada, Russia and China.