Valterra Platinum Transitions Mahala Kwinana Mine to Underground

Valterra Platinum plans to transition operations at its Mahala Kwinana mine from open-pit to underground mining through a project called San Salud. As the world's largest open-pit mine, Mahala Kwinana accounts for approximately 50% of the company's total production, yielding between 900,000 and 1,000,000 ounces annually.

The company intends to use the San Salud project to access higher-grade ore at a lower cost while reducing its surface footprint and waste-to-ore ratio. Valterra Platinum stated, "we believe going underground is actually the most cost effective option for us."

Trial mining at San Salud is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company expects to reach a final investment decision regarding the transition in 2027.