Western Areas, in partnership with Vancouver Placer Dome, on Friday commissioned the world’s deepest single drop shaft, South Deep, near Westonaria, 40km south-west of Johannesburg.
The main shaft is the deepest in the world at 2 991,5m — nearly 3km.
The shaft gives direct access to one of the world’s largest identified gold-ore reserves — about 55,6-million ounces.
The R4-billion twin shaft project was started in 1994 and consists of two concrete shafts, a main shaft and a ventilation shaft with an inside diameter of 9m.
”The main shaft will sustain a hoisting rate of 235 000 tones per month of gold-bearing rock and waste from a depth of 3 000m over a 60-year lifespan,” John Bredenhann, CEO of South Deep, said on Friday.
South Deep encompasses one of the world’s largest reserves, with about 55,6-million ounces of gold in the proven and probable mineral reserve categories.
”The project is expected to yield 800 000 ounces of gold per annum by 2009,” Bredenhann said.
Attending the function, Deputy President Jacob Zuma called on the mining industry to go beyond the targets set by the recently adopted mining charter.
He suggested more adult education programmes for both men and women mining employees within the next five years.
He also called on the mining industry not to discriminate against foreign mine workers, and particularly to upgrade mine hostels.
He also said speedier progress should be made in the beneficiation of South Africa’s vast mineral wealth. — Sapa