Ramaphosa opens Gamsberg zinc expansion as Northern Cape braces for 1 000 jobs
The Phase II project at Aggeneys will lift zinc-in-concentrate capacity to about 500 000 tonnes a year, with recruitment drawn mostly from the Northern Cape.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday officially inaugurate the Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) Gamsberg Phase II Expansion Project at Aggeneys in the Northern Cape.
The expansion sits in the Khâi-Ma Local Municipality in the Namakwa District. According to SAnews, the South African Government News Agency, it is among the largest mining investments in South Africa in the past decade and is expected to strengthen the country’s zinc production capacity and support economic activity in the region.
Phase II will raise Gamsberg’s annual zinc-in-concentrate production capacity to approximately 500 000 tonnes per annum, positioning the operation to become one of the world’s largest zinc-producing mines.
The project is expected to sustain between 800 and 1 000 jobs during operations, with recruitment predominantly from the Northern Cape. The government news agency says this is expected to support local employment, skills development and economic activity in surrounding communities.
The inauguration is themed “Partnerships for Progress” and will highlight collaboration between government, business, employees and communities in advancing inclusive growth and regional development.
SAnews describes the event as forming part of VZI’s long-term commitment to South Africa and as underscoring the role of mining investment in supporting industrial development and creating economic opportunities.
A media tour of the Gamsberg Mine is scheduled for Thursday at 15:00, ahead of the main inauguration event on Friday.
This report is based on the SAnews announcement of the inauguration, which is a government summary rather than the underlying project agreements, and states only what that announcement states. The source is SAnews (South African Government News Agency), at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-ramaphosa-inaugurate-vedanta-gamsberg-phase-ii-expansion-project.
