Braemore Resources has confirmed PGM production figures for the first period of operation for its 3.2MW smelter at the Mintek  facility. Since being commissioned last September, the enlarged Mintek smelter has produced 5,971 oz PGM and has achieved a recovery rate of 99.52% from the high-chrome content PGM concentrate feed. A further 50% expansion of current capacity is underway to address increased demand for the smelter technology.

Since October 2007, Braemore has successfully treated low-PGM content, high-chrome smelter feed at its ConRoast demonstration facilities using Mintek’s DC arc furnace in Johannesburg, South Africa.  In September 2008, Braemore announced the successful installation of the new, enlarged 3.2 MW smelter at the Mintek facility. The new facility is capable of processing around 2,000 t/month of concentrate and other smelter feed and producing PGM in an iron-nickel alloy at an annualised rate of up to 70,000 oz/y, depending on the feed grade.

The smelter has been ramping up to capacity since October 2008 and has produced a total of 5,971 oz of PGM since restarting smelter operations.  In December alone, the smelter produced 4,024 oz of PGM from high-chrome content feed, averaging 83 g/t  PGMs and 3% Cr.  Smelter recoveries averaged 99.52% over this period and chrome content was as high as 4.84%.

Leon Coetzer, CEO of Braemore, commented: “This is an exceptional recovery rate for a smelter processing high-chrome, low-PGM content concentrates and the smelter is well on its way to achieving its annualised PGM production targets.  We have achieved an important milestone for Braemore along our stated strategic path of transitioning from the original ‘proof-of-concept’ smelter to a commercially-viable facility.”