By: OrePulse

Valterra Platinum said this week it began saving an estimated R203 million a year at its Mogalakwena mine in South Africa after replacing most conventional flotation cells at the operation's north concentrator with a much smaller number of Jameson cells.

The switch, which replaced roughly 44 conventional flotation cells with four Jameson units, has cut smelting electricity use by 70.5 megawatt-hours a year and reduced smelting-related carbon dioxide emissions by 70,000 tonnes, according to Valterra. The company also said the change has reduced concentrate haulage by an amount equivalent to keeping 3,000 truck trips off the road each year.

Agit Singh, Valterra's executive head of processing operations, described the results as "big, big benefits." He said the Jameson cells improve separation of platinum group metals from waste rock by creating more efficient contact between air bubbles and mineral particles, which lets the plant use more depressant chemicals without hurting recovery of platinum, palladium, rhodium and other associated metals.

The R203 million in annual savings reflects operating-cost reductions alone and does not include additional revenue Valterra expects to gain from improved metal recovery rates, the company said. The equipment swap also cut the number of individual flotation units running at the north concentrator by roughly 40, reducing that part of the plant's footprint and maintenance load.

Valterra is now studying whether to install the same Jameson cell technology at Mogalakwena's south concentrator. Singh said he expects similar reductions in cost, energy use and emissions if that rollout goes ahead.

Mogalakwena is one of several mining and smelting operations Valterra runs in South Africa's Bushveld Complex, the country's main platinum group metals district. The company has pointed to its integrated downstream processing network, which converts mined ore into refined metal on site, as a competitive advantage over rivals that depend more heavily on third-party or toll treatment arrangements.

The efficiency gains come as South African platinum group metals producers face sustained margin pressure from subdued prices for some metals in the basket, alongside high domestic power and logistics costs, pushing companies across the sector toward low-capital operational improvements rather than large new expansion projects.