Track Record

The BATEMAN projects track record over the past decade in the PGM (platinum-group metals) market includes the Rasimone Platinum concentrator, Potgietersrust Platinum's concentrator, Impala Platinum Limited-Refineries' UG2 project and the EPMR and platinum circuit, Hartley Platinum's surface works, Western Platinum's base-metal refinery, the Stillwater plant extensions and Anglo's Waterval, Modikwa and PMR projects.

Besides the major projects during this period, BATEMAN has also been involved in more than 20 feasibility and project development studies.. In addition to technical aspects, the work has often involved assisting clients to source the finance required.

A few project profiles are provided:
(Click the headings for more information)

Impala Platinum orders another Bateman-Elex electrostatic precipitator

Bateman Engineering has been awarded a contract by Impala Platinum Ltd (Implats) to supply a Bateman-Elex electrostatic precipitator (ESP) for its R800 million smelter expansion project, 20 km northwest of Rustenburg, North-West Province, South Africa. The new unit will be constructed alongside three existing Bateman-Elex ESPs.

Reagent-plant upgrade for Impala Platinum

Bateman Engineering has upgraded the depressant-dosing circuit in the reagent plant at Impala Platinum Ltd’s platinum concentrator near Rustenburg, North West Province, South Africa.

US$59 million Blue Ridge Platinum Project awarded to Bateman Engineering

Bateman Engineering has been awarded a US$59 million lump sum turnkey project by Blue Ridge Platinum (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Ridge Mining plc, to construct the PGM (platinum group materials) concentrator for a mine Blue Ridge is developing near Groblersdal, South Africa.

Extracting PGMs from chromite tailings at Kroondal -
a world first

The new chromite-tailings retreatment plant for the recovery of platinum-group metals (PGMs) at Aquarius Platinum's Kroondal mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, designed, manufactured and erected by BATEMAN, is thought to be the first PGM-flotation plant in the world to process chrome-mine tailings.

PolyMet Mining awards BATEMAN international metals
feasibility study

BATEMAN has been appointed by PolyMet Mining Corp. as its coordinating consultant for its fast-track NorthMet study in north-eastern Minnesota, USA. The US$2M study concerns the feasibility of establishing a facility to produce 33000 t/yr of copper cathode at NorthMet, a low-grade base- and precious-metals deposit which contains valuable quantities of copper, nickel, cobalt, palladium, platinum and gold.

Modikwa UG2 concentrator commissioned successfully

Hot commissioning of the Modikwa (formerly Maandagshoek) UG2 concentrator was successfully completed during the second half of 2002, on behalf of Anglo Platinum Management Services (Pty) Ltd. The plant is located in RSA’s Northern Province, approximately 30 km northwest of Burgersfort on the road to Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg).

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.

Micro PGM refinery for Harmony Mines

MRT Africa, a BATEMAN subsidiary, is to supply a micro PGM (platinum-group metal) refinery to Harmony Gold Mines Limited. The plant will recover saleable-grade palladium, platinum, iridium, rhodium and ruthenium from gravity-concentrated feedstock recovered from new mining feed to a gold plant in the Evander area, RSA.

Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine Concentrator Plant

A 200 000 tonne/month concentrator at the Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine (BRPM) as been established for Amplats Management Services (Pty) Ltd just outside Rustenburg, North West Province, RSA.

The Waterval Cleaner Replacement Project

Anglo Platinum's R35 M Waterval Cleaner Replacement Project in Rustenburg, RSA, was completed on schedule in August 2000.

Maandagshoek UG2 platinum concentrator

Anglo Platinum Management Services (Pty) Ltd has awarded BATEMAN a contract for the engineering and detail design of the 200 000 t/yr concentrator to be built in the Burgersfort Steelpoort area, Northern Province / Mpumalanga, RSA. This project followed a control-budget estimate completed by BATEMAN in August 1999.

Impala awards UG2 ore-separation project

Impala Platinum Limited, Mineral Processes, has awarded BATEMAN subsidiary Bateman Engineering Limited, RSA, the UG2 ore-separation project. The project, located 25 km northwest of Rustenburg, RSA and covered by a lump-sum turnkey contract valued at about R100M, will take one year to complete.

Crocodile River platinum concentrator

BATEMAN is again engaged on a project at the Crocodile River PGM (platinum group metals) concentrator, located between Brits and Hartebeespoort Dam west of Pretoria, RSA. Barplats, a subsidiary of Impala Platinum Limited, has awarded BATEMAN an EPCM (engineering, procurement, construction and management) project aimed at restarting operations at the concentrator.

Platinum purification at Impala’s EPMR

The Platinum Purification Project for Impala Platinum Limited-Refineries has been completed successfully. The new platinum purification section is part of Impala’s enhanced precious metals refinery (EPMR) in Springs, RSA, which was completed by BATEMAN in 1997.

Impala platinum metals refinery upgrade

An enhanced precious metals refinery (EPMR) was built for Impala Platinum Limited-Refineries adjacent to Impala's existing 25-year old PMR at Springs, RSA. The new refinery leaches the feed concentrate and then extracts and refines PGMs (platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium and iridium) as well as gold and silver. It has almost double the capacity of its predecessor and is one of the largest platinum group metal (PGM) refineries in the world.

The Hartley Platinum project

This project in Zimbabwe involved the provision of facilities to process 2,1M t/yr of ore from the Hartley Platinum Mine and included conveyors from the mine to the plant, the milling and flotation circuits, the smelter, the base metals refinery and the necessary infrastructure. BATEMAN's involvement in the project was ongoing, starting in 1988 with the preliminary feasibility study and culminating in the execution of the project.

Amplats Potgietersrust platinum concentrator expansion

This EPCM project by BATEMAN for Amplats Management Services increased the processing capacity of the concentrator at the Potgietersrust PlatinumMine, Northern Province, RSA, from 270000 to 425000 tonne/month.

The Bafokeng Rasimone platinum concentrator

Bateman Minerals & Industrial Limited (BMI) is engaged on a project for Amplats Management Services (Pty) Ltd to establish a 200 000 tonne/month concentrator at the Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine, near Rustenburg, Northern Province, RSA.

Impala’s platinum purification project

Good progress is being made on providing a platinum purification circuit at Impala Platinum Limited-Refineries’ enhanced precious metals refinery (EPMR). This R25M project is being undertaken by an integrated team of personnel from Impala and Bateman Minerals.

Amplats project awarded

Bateman Minerals and Industrial Limited (BMI) has been awarded a contract by Amplats Management Services (Pty) Ltd (Amplats). It involves the engineering, design, procurement, construction and commissioning of plant to expand production at Potgietersrust Platinum Limited's existing concentrator plant.