IRON-ORE START-UP

Junior iron-ore miner Manngwe Mining last month officially opened its Assen iron-ore mine, near Brits, in the North West. The mine and its dense medium separation (DMS) plant, which were developed at a cost of R180-million, will initially target production of 60 000 t/m of saleable ore for delivery exclusively to steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa. At the mine’s ribbon cutting ceremony are, from left, ArcelorMittal South Africa CEO Wim de Klerk, Manngwe chairperson Mathatha Tsedu and Manngwe CEO Matodzi Nesongozwi. At the opening, Nesongozwi said that the mine would contribute to the country’s economy by bringing down the cost of steel production and thus assist infrastructure development as outlined in South Africa’s National Development Plan. – Creamer Media Contributing Editor Ilan Solomons