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Tharisa Plc, the publicly traded South African platinum and chrome miner run by the Pouroulis family, has the right to take over a platinum mine project in Zimbabwe that could ultimately cost $4.2 billion.
The company in June last year paid $4.5 million for a 26.8% stake in Karo Mining Holdings Ltd., also run by the family. Karo is overseeing the project, which is seen by the government as key to reviving the economy from a two-decade slump. The mine could be Zimbabwe’s biggest platinum operation.
While Zimbabwe has the world’s second-biggest platinum deposits, their development has been stymied by political instability, economic collapse and a controversial local-ownership law that only recently was softened. Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd., Anglo American Platinum Ltd. and Sibanye Gold Ltd. have operations in the country.
While Zimbabwe has the world’s second-biggest platinum deposits, their development has been stymied by political instability, economic collapse and a controversial local-ownership law
The “option to acquire the balance of the equity in the project economics make sense,” Tharisa said in a response to questions. The Johannesburg-based company had previously said it could increase its stake in the project, without being more specific.
Karo is expecting to publish how much platinum it believes is in the 23,903 hectare (59,064-acre) concession, in a so-called resources and reserves statement, in December, Tharisa said. The company is focusing exploration at a depth of 50 meters to 150 meters (164-492 feet), significantly shallower than the world’s biggest platinum mines in South Africa.
In addition to the mine, which the government estimates will produce 1.36 million ounces of platinum group metals by 2024, Karo Power, another related company, may install 300 megawatts of solar power.
Besides Karo, the government expects production from existing mines to be 1.03 million ounces of platinum group metals by 2023 while a project, the identity of which will be disclosed in December, will produce 108,000 ounces. Great Dyke Investments, a venture between Russian and local investors, will produce 290,000 ounces in 2023, the government said. Current national output is 979,000 ounces.
Tharisa should exercise caution before taking over the whole project, given the state of Zimbabwe’s economy, said Luvuyo Booi, an analyst at Noah Capital Markets, who rates the company as a buy. The country is experiencing hyperinflation and gross domestic product is expected to contract this year for the first time since 2008.
“Its a high-risk jurisdiction,” he said. “I would rather they do it in small tranches.”
The Pouroulis family set up the South African platinum-mining ventures Lefkochrysos and Eland Platinum. Eland was sold to Xstrata Plc in 2007 for the equivalent of $1.1 billion.
(By Antony Sguazzin, with assistance from Godfrey Marawanyika)
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