Published: 3 hours ago

Mimosa Mining Company recorded a marginal decline in quarterly production for the period ended 31 March 2026, as power supply disruptions and increasingly complex geology weighed on performance at its Zvishavane-based platinum group metals operation.

The mine, jointly owned by Implats and Sibanye-Stillwater, saw milled volumes dip 1% to 688,000 tonnes from 695,000 tonnes in the same period last year. The decline reflects intermittent electricity interruptions that continued to disrupt plant stability and limit consistent operations.

Milled 6E head grade declined by 2% to 3.55 g/t during the quarter, affected by changing ore mineralogy and more structurally complex ground conditions as mining progresses into mature sections of the orebody.

As a result, 6E concentrate production slipped 2% to 58,000 ounces, with recoveries impacted by both unstable power supply and variability in feed quality.

The operation is increasingly confronting the realities of a maturing orebody, with mining advancing laterally into deeper and more complex zones. This shift is contributing to declining grade stability and reduced operational flexibility - a trend common across older platinum assets globally.

Despite the quarterly slowdown, year-to-date performance for the nine months to March 2026 remained relatively stable.

Throughput held at 2.16 million tonnes, supported by consistent mining activity, while the average 6E grade eased slightly by 1% to 3.58 g/t.

However, cumulative 6E concentrate production declined 4% to 181,000 ounces, reflecting the combined effects of lower grades and ongoing operational disruptions.

Mimosa's performance highlights broader structural pressures facing established mining operations, where declining ore quality and increasing extraction complexity are reshaping production profiles.

In response, the company is repositioning its operating model, focusing on simplification, operational efficiency and disciplined capital allocation to sustain value creation despite moderating output levels.

The outlook suggests a gradual transition rather than a sharp decline, as the miner adapts to the evolving geological and operational realities of its asset base.
- miningzimbabwe

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