Serving the platinum - metals producers
Bateman Metals, a newly formed business unit of BATEMAN BV, has been
focusing increasingly on engineering and processing projects related
to platinum- group metals (PGMs). It has proved and strengthened its
market leadership in platinum-refinery projects and is currently engaged
in the study and implementation of Anglo Platinum’s extension project
aimed at maintaining Anglo’s position as the largest producer of
refined platinum in the world.
BATEMAN supports the whole PGM industry through its development of
novel and niche technologies for platinum refineries and associated
supporting base-metal refineries. Thus, molecular-recognition technology
(MRT) has already been installed in PGM refineries. MRT is marketed
by MRT Africa and MRT Australia, partnerships between BATEMAN and IBC
of Utah, USA.
PGM concentrators continue to be installed in Southern Africa and BATEMAN
has been very much part of this expansion. It has conducted several
projects for Anglo Platinum, including the Bafokeng Rasimone concentrator
just outside Rustenburg, the expansion of the Potgietersrust concentrator
and the Maandagshoek concentrator, which is due to be completed shortly.
It is also involved with the upgrading of the concentrator of Impala
Platinum’s UG2 plant and the recommissioning of the Barplats Crocodile
River plant. Again niche technologies are being utilised whenever possible
to add more value to PGM concentrators.
The concentrator process itself still holds the single largest opportunity
for improving recoveries in PGM processing. New technology offered by
N2Tec, a joint venture with Newmont, USA, is being explored, with a
novel cyclone under development and the use of dense- medium separation
for UG2 type ores being investigated. In respect of the latter, BATEMAN
has specialist skills resulting from the installation of over 300 plants
worldwide to process many minerals. BATEMAN’s engineered technologies
are also having a good impact on the market. This includes Ultrasep
thickeners, tank cells for flotation, electrostatic precipitators, granulators
and materials- handling equipment such as conveyors, chutes and silos.
BATEMAN’s smelter experience includes the refurbishment and modification
of a submerged-arc furnace for Impala Platinum. Hartley Platinum’s
smelter was built by BATEMAN as part of the overall project. BATEMAN
has also conducted studies for smelter operations for either existing
or new plants. Bateman Titaco’s smelting expertise is currently
being expanded with the development of a conroast process in cooperation
with Mintek.
A new BATEMAN focus is on novel methods of implementing smaller brown-
and green-fields projects in order to contain project costs and to pass
the resulting savings on to the owners of projects. The contractual
vehicle for these smaller projects is Tawana Projects (Pty) Ltd, a joint
venture between BATEMAN and Pro Plant Engineering Design.
For further information, please contact:
Dave Arnold, General Manager, PGM & Nickel,
on +27-11-899-2373 or email pgm@batemanengineering.com
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