PGE Production in Southern Africa, Part I: Production and Market Trends

Abstract

Platinum group elements (PGEs) are an important resource for many applications, such as automotive catalytic converters for vehicles, jewelry, electrical devices and as catalysts in the chemical and petroleum industries. At present, the greatest share of global PGE supply is extracted from the South African Bushveld Complex and from the Zimbabwean Great Dyke. In this context, this article provides a comprehensive summary of detailed mining data between 2010 and 2015 and discusses these in regard to the global PGE market. On the supply side, the data reveal that the production volumes as well as the ore grades fluctuated in recent years, while the mining and processing of economically less favorable Upper Group 2 (UG2) ore increased. The average head grade from 2010 to 2015 was 3.58 g 6E/t. In the long term, the ore grades decreased. On the market side, PGE prices and increasing (primary) production costs can be observed. On the market side, the demand for vehicles is expected to grow globally resulting in an increase in PGE demand. At the same time, secondary production is expected to increase and will eventually compete with primary production. These findings indicate challenging conditions for the Southern African PGE industry.

PGE Production in Southern Africa, Part II: Environmental Aspects

“…Operations in Zimbabwe emit substantially more SO 2 in comparison to facilities in South Africa: the share of SO 2 emissions emitted in by Impala Platinum's facilities in Zimbabwe amounted to 79% of total SO 2 emissions, while the share of production in Zimbabwe only amounted to 36% of Impala Platinum's total PGE production [57]. Thus, an increasing share of PGE production in Zimbabwe, as observed between 2010 and 2015 (see part I [1]), results in an increase in emissions per kg PGE. SO 2 emissions from liquid fuel combustion (assuming the combustion of diesel) range from 6.5 kg to 8.8 kg per 1000 t ore milled (not depicted).…”

“…An explanation for increasing emission trends and energy demand is the increasing effort to hoist the ore. Furthermore, the share of UG2 ore that is processed (part I [1]) increased, resulting in higher energy demands (Section 3.3) and emissions related to energy provision.…”

“…The value fluctuates around 15 t CO 2 -eq.per 1000 t ore milled and accounts for less than 10% of total GHG emissions. Emission profiles of PGE companies remain more or less stable, while PGE output per processed material decreases over the long term due to decreasing head grades (see part I [1]). …”

“…These deposits show a concentration of platinum group elements (PGE) ranging from 3 g/t to 10 g/t in ore [32][33][34]. (A more detailed description of mineral reefs in Southern Africa can be found in part I [1].…”

“…The chosen approach builds on the methodology applied by Mudd and Glaiser [3][4][5][6]: In a first step, the industry structure in Southern Africa was analyzed and production data were compiled (see part I [1]). Based thereon, reported data relevant to the assessed indicators were compiled, analyzed and reviewed.…”