Society and nature key values in HBIS Palabora Mining Company's agenda

HBIS Palabora Mining Company, a copper mine, smelter and refinery complex in the town of Phalaborwa, in South Africa's Limpopo Province, owes its origins to a unique rock formation in the region known as the Palabora lgneous Complex.

The mine is located adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park, where several wildlife management programs are run as part of its ongoing sustainability drive.

The mining company takes pride in being a community-based and values-driven company working close to nature and Mother Earth in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. The company is a certified ISO 14001 business, which is an internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems.

Employing more than 2,800 employees directly and 2,600 indirectly through contractors, HBIS PMC collaborates closely with various communities in the Ba-Phalaborwa region to boost economic development and alleviate poverty through its Socio-Economic Development and Enterprise and Supplier Development programs.

HBIS PMC's trading history and reputation is evident in its processing and sales of high-quality products such as refined copper rod, magnetite, nickel and vermiculite. For instance, the company operates a successful underground block-cave mine, producing 50,000 metric tons of copper ore per annum. This block-cave mine is a benchmark for integrated design, as no other block-cave mine has been put into a competent orebody. The block height of the cave is a record 450 meters in the center, increasing up to 700 meters on the periphery, making Palabora a world-class mine.

HBIS PMC commissioned Murray & Roberts' cementation shaft-sinking team to deliver a new ventilation shaft. It is part of the mining company's Lift II project, which aims to extend the life of the mine beyond 2040. In 2023, HBIS PMC reached the milestone 800-meter mark, which represents two-thirds of the shaft's 1,184-meter depth.

The success of this project was owed to the innovation and collaboration between the two parties and was completed in record time without any material safety incidents. HBIS PMC's goal of achieving zero injuries for such a major project was met after world-class safety measures were upheld throughout the project, the company said.

Over the years, HBIS PMC has dedicated hundreds of millions of rand to improving the lives of the vulnerable in the mining communities within the Ba-Phalaborwa municipality. With the assistance of local stakeholders and the government, the mining giant has been able to construct and repair roads throughout the local townships and villages and invest in infrastructure-related projects in education, roads and sanitation.

According to the company, over the past year, projects include funding Mosubutjana Primary School's construction, awarding 153 tertiary study bursaries, building tar roads in local communities, providing adult education bursaries, improving school facilities, repairing potholes and continuing road construction in Selwana village. A cleanup campaign supporting Ba-Phalaborwa municipality has also been initiated.

HBIS PMC enjoys a good relationship with local communities and traditional leaders through consultations and engagement, which has been instrumental in the success of these projects. They are all underpinned and guided by the core values of integrity, teamwork, courage, caring and accountability, the company said.

HBIS PMC was awarded three safety awards by the Southern African International Metal and Metallurgy Mine Safe Awards to mark the company's past year of safe mine practices. The awards include CEO Award — Best Improved Safety; Magnetite Division — Best Safety Performance in Class; and Best Safety Performance.