- PLG’s Waterberg Project is expected to be one of the largest and lowest-cost underground PGM mines globally.
- The platinum group metals have a rich history and play a crucial role in various modern applications.
- In September 2024, an independent definitive feasibility study (“DFS”) was completed for the Waterberg Project, confirming its world-class potential.
Platinum Group Metals (NYSE American: PLG) (TSX: PTM), a leading exploration and development company, is making significant strides in the development of its Waterberg Project, a large-scale platinum group metals (“PGM”) mine located in South Africa. The Waterberg Project is designed as a fully mechanized, shallow, decline-access mine focusing on the extraction of platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold, with additional by-product production of copper and nickel. Waterberg is projected to be one of the largest and lowest-cost underground PGM mines globally (https://ibn.fm/unrDY).
The platinum group metals, comprising platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium, have a rich history and play a crucial role in various modern applications. Historically, these metals were known to pre-Columbian civilizations, with platinum artifacts discovered in South American archaeological sites. The first European reference to platinum dates back to 1557, when Italian scholar Julius Caesar Scaliger described a metal found in Central America that was impossible to melt. The term “platinum” itself is derived from the Spanish word platina, meaning “little silver,” reflecting the metal’s appearance and the initial perception of its lesser value compared to silver (https://ibn.fm/RvGbh).
In contemporary times, platinum group metals are indispensable due to their unique properties, including exceptional resistance to corrosion, high melting points, and excellent catalytic abilities. These characteristics make them vital in numerous industries (https://ibn.fm/hQU2t). For instance, platinum and palladium are extensively used in the automotive industry for manufacturing catalytic converters, which reduce harmful emissions from vehicles. According to the World Platinum Investment Council, in 2024 the automotive sector’s demand for platinum was projected to reach its highest quarterly level since 2017 (https://ibn.fm/Uearo).
Beyond automotive applications, platinum group metals are utilized in jewelry, electronics and as catalysts in chemical reactions. Platinum’s resistance to tarnish and the metal’s luster make it a preferred choice for fine jewelry. In the electronics industry, these metals are used in hard disks and thermocouples due to their stable electrical properties. Additionally, platinum compounds have been employed in medical treatments, notably in chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment.
The Waterberg Project represents a significant advancement for Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Discovered in 2011, the project is situated on the northern limb of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, approximately 85 kilometers north of Mokopane. The Bushveld Complex is renowned for its rich PGM deposits, and the Waterberg Project stands out due to its substantial scale and favorable mining conditions. Most PGM deposits mined in South Africa are mineralized layers only one to three meters thick, requiring dangerous and labor-intensive mining methods. The Waterberg deposit hosts mining widths up to 118 meters thick, suitable for safer, more efficient mechanized mining methods. The deposit is also shallow, with depths starting at approximately 140 meters vertical, allowing for decline access mining, which is also safer and more cost-effective than traditional vertical shaft mining (https://ibn.fm/pYrYQ).
In September 2024, an independent definitive feasibility study (“DFS”) was completed for the Waterberg Project, confirming its world-class potential. The study highlighted the project’s robust economics, including projected steady state annual production of 353,208 ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, along with significant copper and nickel by-products, over a 54-year mine life. The DFS also emphasized the project’s commitment to safety and efficiency, with plans for fully mechanized operations and the creation of approximately 2,000 jobs during construction and 1,425 jobs during steady-state operations.
“The 2024 DFS validates the world-class nature of the Waterberg Project,” said Frank Hallam, President and CEO of Platinum Group Metals. “Engineering teams have collaborated to achieve an optimized and de-risked mine plan while also minimizing capital requirements.”
The company’s latest financial results, reported for the six-month period ending Feb. 28, 2025, indicate ongoing progress in advancing the Waterberg Project (https://ibn.fm/ZMK7h). Platinum Group Metals continues to focus on securing the necessary permits and financing to move towards construction and eventual production.
The development of the Waterberg Project aligns with the global demand for platinum group metals, which are essential in various industries, including automotive, jewelry and electronics. As the world transitions towards cleaner energy solutions, PGMs are expected to play a pivotal role, particularly in technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells. The Waterberg Project’s potential to supply these critical metals positions Platinum Group Metals strategically to meet future market needs.
With its focus solidly on platinum group metals development, Platinum Group Metals Ltd. is at the forefront of developing one of the most significant PGM mining projects globally. The Waterberg Project’s innovative design, combined with its substantial resource base, underscores the company’s commitment to delivering value while contributing to the global supply of essential platinum group metals.
For more information, visit www.PlatinumGroupMetals.net.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to PLG are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/PLG
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