Gamsberg expansion takes Northern Cape zinc mine from construction to production
The Presidency has marked the inauguration of Vedanta Zinc International's Phase II expansion at Gamsberg, an operation it says could make South Africa the world's largest zinc producer.
The Presidency has inaugurated a major expansion of Vedanta Zinc International’s Gamsberg operation in the Northern Cape, marking a milestone it describes as an investment moving from commitment through construction into production.
In a broadcast published by The Presidency of South Africa (YouTube), the speaker recalled opening the first phase of the mining operation in 2019 and said the return visit, seven years later, was to witness another important milestone. The source is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCEdywcoyi8.
The broadcast describes Gamsberg as one of the most significant zinc mining operations not only on the African continent but in the world, and says that with the work being done there Vedanta Zinc is poised to become the largest producer of zinc in the world once it reaches a further milestone.
The Presidency framed the expansion as a national point of pride, noting that South Africa is already a leading producer of platinum, manganese, chrome and a number of other minerals, and that zinc would be an addition to that list.
The broadcast also credited the investment’s progress to cooperation between government, business, workers and communities, describing the project as an example of what can be achieved when those parties work together in pursuit of a common purpose. It referred to a commitment made at an investment conference, associated in the remarks with Minister Ramaphosa, which it said had since advanced from commitment to construction and from construction to production.
The transcript does not state the value of the investment, the number of jobs created, the mine’s output or the date on which the expansion is expected to reach full production.
