Mintek to use R44m water atomising plant for Amplats R&D

Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu has launched Mintek's R44 million water atomising plant in the company's Randburg campus, Allafrica.com reports. The plant - designed and built by Johannesburg-based MDM Engineering - will provide an effective means for the production of solid metal powder from six ton batches of molten metal.

Unveiling the new plant, Shabangu said the facility represents an on-going collaboration between Mintek - South Africa's national mineral research organisation - and the platinum industry.

The minister praised the public/private partnership - since "beneficiation can never be government's responsibility alone." She said the technical collaboration was aimed at lowering costs and lessening the environmental burden on the platinum sector, adding that government was working with the industry to remove technical impediments and reduce risk in the sector.

Mintek is one of the world's leading technology organisations, specialising in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. According to Allafrica.com, the new plant will initially be used for a two-year research and development project for Anglo American Platinum (Amplats).

Read the full article on allafrica.com.