Beatrix is a large, mature, shallow to intermediate level gold mining and processing operation located in the Free State goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin, in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, near the town of Welkom in the Free State Province of South Africa, 280km south-west of Johannesburg.
Statistics as at 31 December 2022
Life of mine
2026
Gold production
93,655oz
All-in sustaining cost
US$2,989/oz*
Workforce
7,912
employees and contractors
* Elevated costs due to the industrial action during the 2022 year and not reflective of a normalised year
Beatrix was one of the three original assets acquired when Gold Fields International completed its unbundling transaction in February 2013. Mining operations have been carried out in the Free State goldfields since the 1940s and gold has been produced at Beatrix since 1983.
At 31 December 2022, Beatrix had total surface and underground gold Mineral Reserves of 0.8Moz and Mineral Resources of 9.9Moz. Beatrix also holds 27Mlb of uranium resources contained in the Beisa Reef.
A closer look
Beatrix, a conventional mining operation, consists of three operating shafts: No. 1 Shaft, No. 3 Shaft, and No. 4 Shaft. The ore-body is accessed using vertical shaft systems down to 26 Level (the lowest working level at No. 3 Shaft), approximately 1,350m below surface. Mining predominantly takes place from No. 3 Shaft. The No. 1 Shaft will remain open in support of No. 3 Shaft while No. 4 Shaft is in the process of being placed on care and maintenance.
Beatrix is operated under a converted mining right in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA), with DMRE Ref No FS30/5/1/2/2 81 MR (Beatrix MR). The Beatrix mining right expired on 6 February 2019, and a renewal was granted for a further period of eleven years ending in 2030 under DMRE renewal reference: FS 30/5/1/2/2/10047 MR for gold and associated minerals, in respect of a mining area totalling 168.21km².
There is one active TSF, the Beatrix TSF; and one dormant TSF, the No. 4 Shaft TSF. The Beatrix TSF has remaining capacity of 11.8Mt with expected LoM deposition of 7.2Mt, which is 4.6Mt surplus.
The operation is at a mature stage with the current LoM plan ending in 2026. Life extension opportunities are limited, but No. 1 Shaft is being kept open on an incremental value contribution basis in the LoM plan. At No. 3 Shaft, previously unmined areas have been included in the Mineral Reserves and remaining areas will continuously be assessed for viability.
