DRDGOLD is a JSE-listed gold producer and specialist in the recovery of residue metal from the retreatment of tailings. It has a proven track record of optimising innovative technology-driven processing and demonstrated expertise in surface processing infrastructure development.
Statistics as at 31 December 2022
Life of mine
Ergo: 2041
FWGR: 2042
Gold production
178,919oz
All-in sustaining cost
US$1,528/oz
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 2022, DRDGOLD had attributable surface Mineral Reserves of 3.0Moz and attributable surface Mineral Resources of 4.9Moz.
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 Knights metallurgical plant is located 25km east of Johannesburg, off the R29 Main Reef Road
- City Deep is a milling plant which operates as a pump/milling station feeding the Ergo and Knights metallurgical plants
The FWGR assets, acquired in 2018 from Sibanye-Stillwater, are situated in the West Rand of the Gauteng province, 30km southwest of Johannesburg. The FWGR operation includes historical TSF’s with a total area of 4.1km² and includes the Driefontein No. 2 metallurgical plant.
At ERGO, DRDGOLD and its subsidiaries own the rights to some of the properties where the Mineral Resources are located. In other cases, agreements are in place with the landowners to mine the dump material and rehabilitate the land. The necessary agreements are in place for all properties in the LoM plan.
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 2022 for details (page 92).
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 finalisation of the tributing agreements between the parties.
Ergo currently deposits tailings on the Brakpan/Withok TSF, which has sufficient capacity for the planned 13 year LoM. Planning for the expansion of the Brakpan/Withok TSF to accommodate higher grade TSF’s in the far East Rand area and extend Ergo’s LoM is currently underway.
FWGR phase one production tailings are currently deposited on Driefontein 4 TSF, which has sufficient capacity for six years’ at a rate of production at 500ktpm. To fully exploit the larger FWGR Mineral Resources, feasibility studies have been conducted into the possible construction of a large, centralised, regional deposition facility, and permitting is being pursued.
DRDGOLD plans to develop the FWGR assets into a large scale (1.2Mtpm), long life (20 years) operation through a phased approach. Phase one, involving the retreatment of the Driefontein No. 5 TSF through the Driefontein No. 2 Plant and deposition on the Driefontein No. 4 TSF is underway. Phase two involves the construction of a regional storage facility for retreatment of the remaining historical TSFs acquired and allows for potential future expansion into the far west area.
