Vedanta Zinc International (VZI)’s Board of Directors has authorised an investment of ZAR seven billion in Gamsberg Phase-2 expansion project in the Northern Cape.
The project will increase mine and plant capacity from four million tpa to eight million tpa. This will make VZI and South Africa the largest zinc producers in Africa.
The company is also in the process of securing a renewable energy contract to assure greenness and decarbonization.
The project’s development will take 18 to 22 months. The project will provide 2,000 to 2,500 construction employment and 800 to 1 000 permanent jobs.
It will be included in the Namakwa Special Economic Zone, which the government is anticipated to approve soon and will benefit secondary industries and downstream beneficiation.
A feasibility study is underway to establish a smelter and refining facility in Namibia. Underground and opencast mining activities now demand 45 MW, and Phase-2 will require an additional 25 MW, bringing the overall power consumption of the complex to 70 MW.