Tharisa Minerals Partners With Cementation Africa for Strategic Underground Transition in South Africa

Tharisa Minerals initiates a five-year underground development at its Bushveld Complex operation in South Africa to extend mine life beyond 2034.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 8:39 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Mining Weekly

The Shift Toward Underground Resource Extraction

Tharisa Minerals has officially entered a new operational phase with the inaugural blast at its underground project in South Africa’s Bushveld Complex. This development marks a critical strategic pivot from open pit mining to underground extraction for the site’s chrome and platinum group metals (PGM) operations. According to Tharisa CEO Phoevos Pouroulis, this transition is essential for extending the life of the world-class mine, particularly as existing open pit resources are projected to reach depletion by 2034.

Partner Selection and Development Timeline

Cementation Africa has been designated as the lead development partner for the project, securing a comprehensive contract that spans the next five years. The scope of the partnership includes managing early works, overseeing the main development program, and directing the production ramp-up. Japie du Plessis, Managing Director of Cementation Africa, noted that the collaboration follows an extensive period of technical and commercial engagement. The project is designed to reach a steady-state production level of approximately 255 kilotonnes per month.

Operational Infrastructure and Portal Progress

The initial phase of development is currently focused on the Apollo portal complex, which includes the construction of three separate portals. These early works have achieved a total advance of roughly 140 metres and involve the installation of critical ground support measures. Engineering teams are utilizing arch-set installations and shotcrete application to stabilize the underground workings. This phase serves as the foundation for the upcoming transition to a bord and pillar operation on the site’s tabular reef.