Northern Cape Business 2019/20 edition

Working smart to
unlock more value
INTERVIEW
Deshnee Naidoo, CEO Vedanta Zinc International (VZI),
expands on plans for the company’s new Gamsberg Mine.
Deshnee Naidoo
How is Gamsberg Mine digitally advanced?
For VZI, the digital transformation is not something that is planned in years
to come, but one that is taking shape today. The next wave will be in the
integration of systems to enable our teams to make data-driven decisions
to find efficiencies, improve planning, lower risk, create safer working
environments and unlock more value from our resources.
When do you expect to be operating at full capacity?
Gamsberg Phase 1 has a Life of Mine of 13 years. Four-million tons a year
of ore will be produced from Gamsberg’s open pit and 250 000t/y of concentrate
from its concentrator plant. By March 2019, we achieved a mining
rate of over five-million tons of ore and waste combined. Concentrate
volumes are in the process of ramp-up as the Gamsberg plant reaches
full steady state by mid-2019.
BIOGRAPHY
After a 20-year career at Anglo
American in various roles,
including CFO of Anglo Thermal
Coal, Deshnee Naidoo was
appointed CEO of Vedanta
Zinc International in 2014. Her
responsibility covers operations
in South Africa and Namibia,
the now closed Lisheen Mine
in Ireland and Copper Mines of
Tasmania in Australia. In May
2018, Deshnee was appointed
to the board of the Minerals
Council of South Africa, a first
for a woman in South African
mining.
Do you have plans to build a smelter and a refinery?
In parallel with the Phase 2 mine and plant, we are looking at developing
a modular smelter/refinery beneficiation complex, which would represent
an estimated direct capital investment of USD-800 million. The complex
would be the first integrated zinc manufacturing facility in South Africa
and the largest in Africa. External factors that will make a critical difference
include power security, competitive power tariff, an offtake for the 1 000
tons of sulfuric acid the complex will produce every day and an efficient
freight transport solution. This will have to be supported by an aggressive
spatial development plan for the region.
When will a decision be taken on investing further?
Vedanta has already committed that Phase 2 of Gamsberg will get
underway as soon as is economically and logistically feasible. Phase 1
was executed with a much larger project in mind. We estimate that up
to 12 000 direct and indirect jobs will be created in Phase 2.
How does Vedanta view its responsibility to the people of
the surrounding area?
Vedanta has always viewed the communities surrounding our mines
as partners and stakeholders. Making sure you contribute to improving
the lives of the communities around your operations is simply the right
thing to do.
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NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2019/20