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Limpopo Business 2022-23

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The 2022/23 edition of Limpopo Business is the 14th issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2007, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Limpopo Province. Both of the province’s two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have taken several pages in this journal in order to share their goals with potential investors. The business case for the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) in the province’s far north has been accepted and the SEZ has received its official designation. Several investors have signed on and infrastructure development is underway. The Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ in the east is building up its infrastructure in terms of roads, railway sidings and water provision and both SEZs are taking an interest in renewable energy, and green hydrogen in particular. A special feature on green hydrogen appears in the front section of this journal. News related to mining, agriculture, tourism, construction and property, water, education and more.

FOCUS Community trust

FOCUS Community trust donates vital equipment to maternity ward The Northam Zondereinde Community Trust actively supports public healthcare. The maternity ward of the Thabazimbi Local Hospital has received a donation of new equipment from the Northam Zondereinde Community Trust (ZCT). Among the vital items donated are infant incubators and radiant warmers (10 each), foetal cardiotocography (CTG) machine with twin probes (20), obstetric electric beds (three), ultrasound trolleys (two), hospital beds and mattresses (20 each). Also included in the donation were special types of equipment and furniture for the ward. The equipment donation aligns with the passion of the Provincial Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, for enhancing infant and maternal mortality and health. “We believe that the sponsorship will improve the medical situation of our communities and assist the government to cope with the demands of bringing good healthcare services to expecting mothers and babies,” said the Northam Zondereinde Community Trust Chairperson, Simphiwe Dlungwana. The Zondereinde Community Trust is a share-ownership vehicle that Northam Platinum Holdings Limited has set up for mine communities, including communities which fall under the Thabazimbi Local Municipality. The primary focus of the trust in terms of sponsorship is education and healthcare. The items donated fulfil the mandate of the trust. In 2020, the trust and Northam Zondereinde jointly sponsored Covid-19 personal protective equipment to various primary healthcare facilities in nearby local municipalities, as well as equipment for the Covid-19 ward in the Thabazimbi Local Hospital. The trust is dedicated to continually providing support for the improvement of the public health service. ■ LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2022/23 44

FOCUS Northam Zondereinde breaks record Unprecedented new drilling depth opens way for mine to continue to provide income and jobs. The Zondereinde Western Extension is a quality-resource block containing 21-million ounces of platinum group metals (PGMs) within the high-grade Merensky and UG2 orebodies. The resource was purchased in 2017 for R1-billion. The addition of the Western Extension improves operational flexibility at Zondereinde and will permit annual PGM output to increase to 350 000 ounces 4E by 2026. At a recent event, dignitaries from Northam Platinum, prominent mining media houses and several contractors witnessed the historical milestone of the No 3 Shaft drilling completion at a world-record depth of 1 382 metres. Expressing the magnitude and importance of the project, Northam CEO Paul Dunne said, “This project milestone was delivered on time and budget by the Zondereinde team, in collaboration with our project service provider, Master Drilling. The resultant long-term stability and life-of-mine extension delivered by this project will have a beneficial impact on the mine, its stakeholders and the local economy for decades to come.” The project will add 50koz of PGMs with the expansion of the remaining life of the operation to over 30 years and create 600 permanent and sustainable jobs. The terrace is 95% complete and the team has commenced with erecting the manwinder building. “Bulk electrical supply is nearing completion. The switching yard and control room are almost complete. Major activity remaining is completing the consumer substation building, equipping of the control room and the consumer substation as well as the loop-in-loop out of the 132kV overhead line,” noted Northam Group Services Engineering Manager: Projects, Jako Pienaar, while breaking down the progress of the project. No 3 Shaft In the coming months, the raised bore foundation is set to be removed to develop a cold-air duct into one side of the raised borehole. Then shaft shutters will be installed into the cast of reinforced concrete shaft lining from the shaft sub-bank to the toe-in position 16m below the raised bore collar. “The raised borehole will be ready for equipping towards July 2023,” added Pienaar. “Civil construction of the permanent lamp room and change houses, as well as the surface-water storage dams, will commence in January 2023.” ■ 45 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2022/23

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