Projects and Clients

Prime Resources has delivered technical advisory, feasibility, and design services across multiple jurisdictions.

Environmental aspects include pre-feasibility and feasibility studies (PEA/PFS/DFS); Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and associated specialist impact studies; Environmental Management Plans / Programmes (EMPrs) and associated reporting including Environmental Awareness Plans, Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans and Closure and Rehabilitation Plans; compliance auditing and performance assessments.  Social aspects include Social Impact Assessments (SIAs); public consultation processes; the compilation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs); Social and Labour Plans (SLPs); and Public Consultation and Disclosure Plans (PCDPs).  Technical aspects include the technical review and design of mine waste facilities as well as geotechnical investigations.

We are further experienced with international best practice, most notably the Equator Principles, IFC Performance Standards, and World Bank Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines. 

Featured International Projects

Environmental, social and permitting

  • Baomahun Gold Project, Sierra Leone (Africa Finance Corporation)

    • Appointed as Independent Environmental and Social Consultant to a Lender group financing a gold mine development, delivering an Environmental and Social Due Diligence and Action Plan update benchmarked against IFC Performance Standards, followed by ongoing construction- and operations-phase E&S monitoring and periodic reporting to Lenders.

  • Kiniero Gold Project, Guinea (Palaris Europe)

    • Appointed as Environmental and Social specialist within a Lender's Independent Technical Engineer team assessing the restart of a gold mine, delivering a gap analysis of the ESIA, Resettlement Action Plan, and Environmental Management Plan against the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards, and drafted an Environmental and Social Action Plan

  • Maamba Colliery, Zambia (Snowden Mining Consultants)

    • Environmental, social, and tailings advisory as part of an Equator Principles Independent Technical Review (ITR) for a coal mine expansion, on behalf of project lenders. Phase 1 (2013) Undertook gap analysis against Equator Principles, IFC Performance Standards, and World Bank EHS Guidelines. Co-authored the Equator Principles Action Plan with Mott MacDonald. Phase 2 (2014) Conducted follow-up site visits and updated/finalised the ITR and Action Plan ahead of Financial Close; ongoing quarterly monitoring of Action Plan implementation planned through 2015 to 2016. Post-Financial Close monitoring (2015 - 2024) Reviewed outstanding ESAP items and MCL/Golder documentation, reporting back to Lenders via Snowden.

  • Somika Due Diligence, DRC (Snowden Optiro)

    • Environmental and social due diligence review covering tailings, waste rock dumps, E&S, and hydrology at the Lupoto, Kimin, and Kimpe operations, benchmarked to international standards (ANCOLD, GISTM for tailings).

  • Chilalo Graphite Project, Tanzania (Auramet International / Evolution Energy Minerals)

    • Independent Environmental and Social Consultant to a Lender group financing a graphite mine development, delivering a pre-financial-close Environmental and Social Due Diligence review and Action Plan benchmarked against the Equator Principles IV, IFC Performance Standards, and World Bank Group EHS Guidelines.

  • Tongon Diamond Mine (Newfield Resources/Tonguma Ltd), Sierra Leone (African Finance Corporation, via SnowdenOptiro)

    • Tailings, hydrology, and environmental/social specialist on a rapid Stage 1 lender review of an underground diamond mine transitioning from open pit operations, assessing the adequacy of mine waste disposal facilities, dewatering and site water balance, ESIA/ESMP compliance and Equator Principles/IFC Performance Standards alignment, closure and rehabilitation planning, and community/resettlement risk.

  • Minas Rio (Brazil) and Quellaveco (Peru) NI 43-101 Technical Reports (Snowden Optiro)

    • Independent Qualified Persons to prepare the Project Infrastructure, Environmental Studies, Permitting, and Social/Community Impact, and Capital and Operating Cost sections of NI 43-101 Technical Reports for two major operating mines (Minas Rio, Quellaveco), and contributing technical content to Snowden Optiro's report in support of public disclosure requirements under Canadian securities law.

  • Indonesian gold projects in Sulawesi, Indonesia (Datamine Australia)

    • Technical due diligence supporting PT Pampapersada Nusantara's (PAMA) acquisition evaluations of two Indonesian gold projects (Doup and Penjom), covering tailings storage facility and social/environmental workstreams against IFC Performance Standards and Equator Principles.

  • Review of gold assets for Allied Gold Corp (Datamine Australia)

    • Technical review of environmental, social, tailings and water management aspects for input to the Independent Mineral Experts' Report (IMER) for Allied Gold Corp’s London Stock Exchange listing, including Bonikro and Agbaou mines (Cote d'Ivoire), Sadiola mine (Mali), and Asosa project (Ethiopia).

Technical

  • Dordabis Iron Ore Project, Namibia (Lodestone Namibia)

    • Bankable Feasibility Study design of an unlined tailings and waste rock co-disposal facility, including site selection, geotechnical investigation, and a geochemical classification programme (static and kinetic leach testing), together with stability/seepage assessment, BFS-level drawings, and cost estimation.

  • Karibib Gold Project (Twin Hills), Namibia (Osino Resources / Lycopodium)

    • Tailings storage facility component of the Pre-Feasibility and Definitive Feasibility Studies, covering site selection, deposition method selection, capacity modelling, safety classification, geochemical and geotechnical characterisation, and feasibility-level design, drawings, and cost estimates.

  • Twin Hills Gold Project, Namibia (Osino Resources, via Lycopodium Minerals Africa)

    • Advanced the tailings storage facility design from PEA to Pre-Feasibility Study level for a dry-stack filtered tailings facility, delivering geotechnical site investigation and laboratory characterisation, tailings deposition and conveyance trade-off studies, a geochemical and acid mine drainage assessment with static/kinetic leach testing, liner design options, and a preliminary Tailings Management System aligned with the Global Industry Standards for Tailings Management. Scope extended to assess and cost a conventional wet slurry tailings alternative for direct comparison against the selected dry-stack design.

  • Lindi Jumbo Graphite Project, Tanzania (Walkabout Resources / Lindi Jumbo Ltd)

    • Tailings storage facility design across its full lifecycle, from the original Pre-Feasibility design through to detailed design for construction (geotechnical and tailings laboratory characterisation, design criteria confirmation, earthworks, stormwater/seepage control, and construction-issue drawings and documentation), to a 2021 re-engagement as Engineer of Record overseeing construction-phase drawing updates, design queries, and site sign-off ahead of first tailings deposition.

  • Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine, Namibia (Bara Consulting)

    • Geochemical and geotechnical assessment of closure cover material for a uranium tailings/waste rock closure design, including geochemical screening and leach testwork to assess contaminant mobility and closure-cover suitability, geotechnical characterisation of candidate capping materials, preliminary closure cover design aligned with GISTM, ANCOLD, and IAEA guidance, and life-of-mine closure cost input.

  • ORP Tantalite Project, Namibia (Lexrox Mining & Exploration / Orange River Pegmatite)

    • Delivered the mine waste (tailings) disposal facility design aspects of the Feasibility Study for a co-disposal facility (CDF), including desktop information review, site investigation and site selection, tailings physical characterisation and geochemical review, FS-level CDF design, FS-level drawings and capital / operating / closure cost estimates, and a stand-alone FS-level tailings facility report chapter.

  • Teghut Mine, Armenia (Micon International)

    • Engaged as tailings subcontractor supporting a broader Reconstruction and Development Prospects assessment of the Teghut copper-molybdenum mine, to deliver a critical assessment of the existing tailings dam and recommendations for its strengthening, benchmarked against the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).

  • Khnaiguiyah Zinc-Copper Mine, Saudi Arabia (Palaris, for the Saudi Industrial Development Fund / Moxico Ajlan & Brother Mining Company)

    • Technical due diligence review and audit of the Khnaiguiyah zinc-copper project in support of project financing, covering the adequacy of the tailings dry-stack facility design, review of geotechnical foundation studies, and hydrogeology / hydrology risk assessment.

  • Imaloto Coal Project DFS, Madagascar (Lemur Resources / Bara Consulting)

    • Delivered an integrated geochemical and geotechnical/civil scope for the Imaloto Coal Project Definitive Feasibility Study, comprising geochemical characterisation of coal, ash and overburden waste streams; and surface geotechnical investigation and civil design of overburden dumps, an ash disposal facility, infrastructure terrace, and haul/access roads. Findings informed barrier design, closure planning, and the corresponding waste management and infrastructure chapters of the Feasibility Study, aligned to World Bank/IFC guidelines.

Featured National Projects (South Africa)

Environmental, social and permitting

  • Mbila & Msebe Combined Anthracite Project, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa (Menar/Canyon Coal, Petmin) 

    • Phase 1 pre-application environmental legal and permitting gap analysis for an underground/opencast anthracite operation to support the Environmental Authorisation and Water Use Licence Application processes.

  • Modder East Operations TSF Expansion, Gauteng, South Africa (Gold One Group)

    • Multi-year (2022 – 2026) engagement covering Environmental Authorisation, Waste Management Licence, and Water Use Licence Application processes for the expansion of an operating gold TSF.

  • Cons Modder (Gedex) Mine, Gauteng, South Africa (Newshelf 1186 / Gold One Group)

    • Multi-year (2020 – 2026) EMPr amendment, Scoping and EIA, and Water Use Licence Application process for an underground gold mine across two shaft areas and an open pit access to underground.

  • FG Landfill / Kuba Waste Management Site, Gauteng, South Africa (Interwaste Environmental Solutions)

    • Multi-year (2021 – 2024) Waste Management Licence and Environmental Authorisation process for the progressive capping, closure, and continued operation of a general waste landfill, including leachate dam refurbishment.

  • Modder North Holfontein Project, Gauteng, South Africa (Gold One Group)

    • Environmental, social, and mine waste components of a Bankable Feasibility Study for an underground gold mine expansion, including the review and update of specialist studies, assessment TSF and waste rock dump capacity, and management of Environmental Authorisation and Water Use Licence processes.

  • Hotazel Manganese/Iron Ore Project, Northern Cape, South Africa (Sebilo Resources / Tawana Investment Holdings)

    • Environmental permitting workstream in support of a Mining Right Application for an opencast manganese and iron ore project, including compilation of the Social and Labour Plan, a full Scoping and EIA process, and the initial phases of a Water Use Licence Application.

  • Modder East Operations Constructed Wetland, Gauteng, South Africa (New Kleinfontein Goldmine)

    • Multi-phase environmental and engineering programme to establish a constructed wetland at an operating gold mine, from NEMA Basic Assessment through Water Use Licence Application, to detailed engineered channel design and geotechnical investigation.

  • Klinkerstene Waste Management Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa (Interwaste Environmental Solutions)

    • Multi-year (2019 to 2024) environmental and water use regulatory advisory (2019 to 2024), across integrated workstreams spanning waste management licensing, water use licensing, and environmental management planning.

  • Ventersburg Gas Bulk Sampling, Free State, South Africa (Gold One Africa)

    • Environmental and water use regulatory advisory for a proposed methane gas bulk sampling project, including NEMA Scoping and EIA process, greenhouse gas emissions inventory for PASA, and Water Use Licence Application.

  • Middelburg Ferrochrome (MFC), South Africa (Samancor Chrome)

    • Environmental Authorisation and a Water Use Licence amendment for the merging of two adjacent pollution control dams into a single lined facility (footprint unchanged, capacity increased) and the decommissioning of an associated silt trap, under NEMA and the National Water Act.

  • Strategic Environmental Assessment for 70MW DC Arc Furnace, Limpopo, South Africa (Samancor Chrome)

    • Strategic Environmental Assessment comparing two brownfields smelter sites for installation of a new 70MW DC arc furnace, including a GIS-based site sensitivity screening study and a legal and permitting review of existing and required authorisations.

  • Audits for Interwaste’s Gauteng and Western Cape waste facilities, South Africa (Interwaste Environmental Solutions)

    • Independent external audits against compliance with WMLs, WULs, EMPrs, Norms and Standards (GN924 and GN926) the Maluti hazardous waste treatment facility (Germiston), Klinkerstene landfill gas facility, and Cape Town Airport Transfer Station, and others.

Technical

  • Waterberg Project, South Africa (Fraser McGill Mining and Minerals Advisory)

    • Feasibility-level design to convert a conventional thickened tailings disposal facility to a dry stack alternative, including geochemical characterisation, geotechnical testing, liner system re-evaluation in consultation with the Department of Water and Sanitation, volumetric and stability design, and FS-level reporting.

  • Qala Shallows Project, South Africa (West Wits Mining)

    • Detailed civil engineering design for surface infrastructure at an underground gold mine restart, spanning geotechnical investigation, waste rock dump and pollution control dam design, and access road design, together with an appointment as Principal Civil Engineer within the project's EPCM design team to scope and design the demolition of historic mining structures and stabilisation of an existing terrace retaining wall.

  • Doornkop Fluorspar Project, South Africa (ERG Africa, via Royal HaskoningDHV)

    • Pre-Feasibility Study civil and tailings design package for a fluorspar mine, covering waste rock dump design, plant terrace bulk earthworks and stormwater / pollution control infrastructure, and tailings storage facility design, including geochemical waste classification, 3D modelling and capacity analysis, and PFS-level drawings and cost estimates.

  • Middelburg Ferrochrome (MFC), South Africa (Samancor Chrome)

    • Statutory 5-yearly re-classification of MFC's process waste streams, classification against SANS 10234 and the National Norms and Standards for Disposal of Waste to Landfill (NEMWA GNR 635/636 of 2013), and compilation of Safety Data Sheets for streams classified as hazardous.

  • Detailed design of Zulu Lithium Project in Zimbabwe (Premier African Minerals)

    • Detailed design for construction of the tailings disposal facility for the pilot phase of the Zulu Lithium Project in Zimbabwe (~500,000 tonnes over 2–3 years, with allowance for future expansion), covering design criteria development, tailings characterisation and laboratory testing, and detailed civil design.

  • Contaminated Land Assessment, Emalahleni, South Africa

    • Undertook a land contamination assessment of areas within a smelting operation, in accordance with South Africa's National Norms and Standards for Remediation of Contaminated Land (GN 331 of 2014). Conducted soil sampling and  Soil Screening Value analysis (metals, metalloids, organics) to establish contamination status.

  • Gravenhage Manganese Project, Northern Cape, South Africa (Bara Consulting)

    • Due diligence of tailings and waste on the Gravenhage Manganese Project, reviewing the completed feasibility study and subsequent optimisation studies to assess waste dump, stockpile, and tailings storage and management aspects of the project.

  • Highbury Lithium Project, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (SA Lithium)

    • Undertook a comprehensive geochemical characterisation of overburden and waste rock for a proposed hard-rock lithium mine, and waste classification under South Africa's NEMWA Regulations, including barrier design and residue management recommendations.