DRDGOLD (50.10% owned by Sibanye-Stillwater) is a JSE and NYSE-listed company that operates the ERGO and Far West Gold Recoveries (FWGR) operations, and is the world leader in recovering gold from the retreatment of historic TSFs.
Statistics as at 31 December 2025
Life of mine
Ergo: 2043
FWGR: 2045
Gold production
147,958oz
All-in sustaining cost
US$1,872/oz
For up-to-date quarterly production figures, please refer to the latest results booklet.
In 2018, we strengthened our involvement in the circular economy through the initial 38.05% shareholding in DRDGOLD. This acquisition liberated value from resources that were secondary in our operating portfolio while contributing positively to our environment and to DRDGOLD’s portfolio of assets. In January 2020, Sibanye-Stillwater increased its holding in DRDGOLD to 50.1% equity interest which secured the majority shareholding.
At 31 December 2025, DRDGOLD had attributable surface Mineral Reserves of 2.9Moz and attributable surface Mineral Resources of 3.3Moz.
A closer look
DRDGOLD operates the Ergo Mining and Far West Gold Recoveries (FWGR) operations.
The Ergo metallurgical plant, and its associated TSF’s are located 70km east of Johannesburg in the Gauteng province.
The FWGR assets are situated in the West Rand of the Gauteng province, 30km south-west of Johannesburg. The FWGR operation includes historical TSFs, with a total area of 4.1km², and includes the Driefontein No. 2 metallurgical plant.
DRDGOLD and its subsidiaries hold the rights to certain properties where the Mineral Resources are located. They also have agreements in place with other landowners to mine dump material on their properties and rehabilitate the land for other uses. The necessary rights or agreements are valid for all Mineral Reserves in the LoM plan.
DRDGOLD (Ergo Mining (Pty) Ltd) has submitted applications to renew all its related mining rights for a further 30-year period.
Mining rights are held at ERGO Mining (Pty) Ltd level, and their current status is listed below:
- CMR GP, 30/5/1/2/2/10024 MR, 6,16km², expired on 20/06/2014. Renewal application submitted and accepted. Awaiting grant
- Crown GP, 30/5/1/2/2/10022 MR, 11,25km², expired on 20/06/2014. Renewal application submitted and accepted. Awaiting grant
- City Deep GP, 30/5/1/2/2/10023 MR, 5.70km², expired on 17/01/2014. Renewal application submitted and accepted. Awaiting grant
- Knights GP, 30/5/1/2/2/10067 MR, 5.76km², expired on 20/06/2018. Renewal application submitted and accepted. Awaiting grant
- ERGO GP, MR 30/5/1/2/2/10097, 33,58km², expired on 27/10/2021. Renewal application submitted and accepted. Awaiting grant
These rights are in effect until such stage as the DMPR has granted or refused the mining right renewal applications as per the MPRDA. There were impediments on the right to mine the Grootvlei complex and as such DRDGOLD has excluded these from its Mineral Reserves and Resource Statement. Please refer to the DRDGOLD Annual Integrated Report 2025 for details (page 123).
Actual relevant Mining Rights are held at Ergo Mining Pty. Ltd. level, and their current status are listed below:
- CMR GP, 30/5/1/2/2/10024 MR, 6,16km², expired on 20/06/2014. Renewal application submitted. Awaiting grant
- Crown GP, 30/5/1/2/2/10022 MR, 11,25km², expired on 2/06/2014. Renewal application submitted. Awaiting grant
- City Deep GP, 30/5/1/2/2/10023 MR, 5.7km², expired on 20/06/2014. Renewal application submitted. Awaiting grant
- Knights GP, 30/5/1/2/2/10067 MR, 5.76km², expired on 20/06/2018. Renewal application submitted. Awaiting grant
- Ergo GP, MR 30/5/1/2/2/10097, 33,58km², expired on 27/10/2021. Renewal application submitted. Awaiting grant
These rights are enforceable until such stage as the DMRE have acceptable or rejected the mining renewal applications as per the MPRDA.
There are impediments on the right to mine at the Grootvlei Complex and Marievale TSF’s. Please refer to the DRDGOLD Annual Integrated Report 2023 for details (page 89).
At the FWGR operation, the TSF’s were acquired from Sibanye- Stillwater in a transaction in which common law ownership was established over the various TSF’s. A Use and Access agreement articulates the various rights, permits and licenses held by Sibanye- Stillwater in terms of which FWGR operates, pending the transfer to FWGR of those that are transferable.
ERGO currently deposits tailings on the Brakpan/Withok TSF. The Withok compartment is currently undergoing permitting expansion to become ERGO’s primary depositional site (at 1.3 Mtpm with a total capacity of 310Mt). The Daggafontein TSF has been removed from Reserve and is being converted to receive tailings from ERGO to augment Brakpan in the short term and supplement Withok in the long term (at 500ktpm with a total capacity of 120Mt), to allow for a combined TSF capacity of +20years at current deposition rates. Work at Daggafontein is scheduled for completion in 2027.
FWGR phase one production tailings are currently deposited on Driefontein 4 TSF. From 2026, deposition is scheduled to reduce as the TSF is expected to reach full capacity. Replacement capacity is being created at the Regional Tailings Storage Facility (RTSF).
DRDGOLD is developing the FWGR assets into a large scale (1.2Mtpm), long life operation through a phased approach. Phase one, involving the retreatment of the Driefontein No. 3 TSF and Driefontein No. 5 TSF through the Driefontein No. 2 plant, and deposition on the Driefontein No. 4 TSF, has been operational since 2019.
Development of phase two, which involves the construction of a regional storage facility(2.4Mtpa eventual deposition rate for more than 30 years) allowing the retreatment of all the remaining historical TSFs in the region, is underway, progressing well and planned to be available by Q1 FY2027. Civil works on the expansion of the Driefontein 2 Plant, to enable the treatment of an additional 600ktpm (for 1.2Mtpa total), is progressing well and scheduled for completion by Q1 FY2027.
