Name of the Project
VZI one-million-tonne-a-year zinc metal-in-concentrate project.

Location
The project will be located across Vedanta Zinc International’s (VZI’s) Southern Africa zinc asset base, with the South African components in the Namakwa Special Economic Zone, in the Northern Cape, and the Namibian component in the Karas region of southern Namibia.

Project Owner/s
The South African components will be undertaken through VZI subsidiary Black Mountain Mining (BMM), which includes the BMM and Gamsberg operations. The Namibian component will be undertaken through the Gergarub Exploration and Mining joint venture, which includes Rosh Pinah Zinc (RPZ), under Appian Capital.

Project Description
The project forms part of VZI’s plan to increase production from its Southern Africa zinc operations to one-million tonnes a year of zinc metal-in-concentrate (MIC).

The programme comprises three proposed mining developments: the expansion of Gamsberg, the development of new openpit mining areas at BMM’s Swartberg operation, and the development of the Gergarub underground project, in Namibia.

At Gamsberg, the project will involve expanding the current openpit operation and developing an underground operation below the existing pit. Ore from the expanded mining operation will be treated through an enlarged processing plant with a capacity of up to ten-million tonnes a year. Gamsberg’s MIC production is expected to increase from about 250 000 t/y to 470 000 t/y.

The operation’s current mineral reserves and resources support a potential life-of-mine (LoM) of 29 years.

At BMM, the existing underground operation has a capacity of 1.2-million tonnes a year. The proposed project will include the development of new openpit mining operations at Swartberg, which are expected to provide an additional 500 000 t/y of mining capacity. MIC production is expected to increase from about 40 000 t/y to 80 000 t/y. Current mineral reserves and resources support a potential LoM of about 30 years.

At Gergarub, the project will involve the development of a new underground mining operation with capacity of one-million tonnes a year. The operation is expected to produce about 80 000 t/y of MIC. Current mineral reserves and resources support a potential LoM of more than 13 years.

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to create between 1 800 and 2 000 jobs during construction, and a further 800 to 1 000 permanent jobs at peak operations.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Not stated.

Planned Start/End Date
Gamsberg is expected to come into operation between the 2028 and 2032 financial years. The smelter is expected to come into operation between the 2028 and 2031 financial years. Black Mountain Mining is expected to come into operation between the 2027 and 2030 financial years. Gergarub is expected to come into operation between the 2028 and 2030 financial years.

Latest Developments
The concept study for the proposed project was completed in 2025.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
VZI, tel +27 11 685 3960 or email info@vedantaresources.co.za.