South Africa
About the asset
A joint venture of Sum Element and African Rainbow Minerals, Nkomati is the only South African producer of nickel concentrate located 300 km east of Johannesburg. Nkomati’s performance is reflected in Sum Element’s financial results using a proportional consolidation method based on its 50% ownership.
Measured and indicated resources
172.2 mt of ore
2018 highlight
Total ore mined by Nkomati reached 3.1 mt (attributable to the Group’s 50% shareholding) with an average nickel content of 0.27%.
Mining assets
Located in South Africa, the Nkomati Deposit with disseminated copper-nickel sulphide ores constitutes part of the Bushveld Complex. Nkomati is comprised of several ore bodies, the key ones being a solid sulphide ore body with a high nickel content. The deposit also contains a peridotite chromite mineralisation zone with a lower metal content vs the main mineral zone and a relatively high chromium content.
Concentration facilities
The feedstock produced through open-pit and underground mining is processed at two concentrators. In 2018, 6.6 kt of nickel and 3.1 kt of copper produced were attributed to Sum Element.
Product range
Apart from nickel, the nickel concentrate produced by Nkomati contains copper, cobalt, chromium and PGM.
