PALABORA MINING COMPANY LIMITED GMP Mining, a local diversified mining SMME, whose founder, Freddy Ntsenane, from Namakgale, a former employee and bursary holder of Palabora Copper, is set to start with their first ever underground construction works. GMP will be constructing a workshop some 1400 meters below the surface, thanks to Palabora's Lift II project development, which is breaking ground in developing local SMME's as part of the project execution and the company's transformation programme.
Two years ago, this was what Ntsenane could only imagine. 'When we became part of Palabora' Supplier Development initiative, we never imagine working underground so soon,' says enthused Ntsenane, adding that 'here we are, after receiving few civil works on surface, which we used to improve our expertise on the mine, we're going to work more than a kilometre deep.'
GMP will be constructing a complete underground workshop for the Lift II project. When completed, the workshop will be used for maintenance services for underground equipment, washbay and also include administrative offices.
Ntsenane says not only will the project boost the company's portfolio. 'We've employed fourteen people as part of the execution team who come from our local community,' he said, 'and that's adding value to their families' livelihood.'
Clearly upbeat about the project, Ntsenane says it has not been an easy road to be where his company is today. 'The mining environment is very different with much tighter regulations around the safety and quality controls. We had to adapt to all that in such a short space; much thanks to the support of the Lift II project team.'
General Manager at Growth Division, who is responsible for Lift II project, Nick Fouche, says the team will be very involved in guiding GMP to deliver the project on schedule and on time. 'We'll provide a lot of mentoring and supervision.'
Fouche says the Lift II team is very committed to adding sustainable value to local SMME's. 'When the project construction phase is completed in year 2020, we want to be able to look back at the legacy built around the community through SMME empowerment and be proud.'
According to the General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Keith Mathole, the rise of Ntsenane's GMP Mining demonstrates the commitment of Palabora to the local community. Born and schooled at the local Vuxeni Secondary School in Namakgale, Palabora funded Ntsenane with a bursary to study Mining Engineering at the University of Johannesburg, which he completed in record time. 'Freddy also attended the PROTEC programme for the maths and science provided by the Palabora Foundation. To see his rise in business today is extremely heart- warming and is a continuation of a developmental story that began some fifteen years ago.'
Concluding, Ntsenane says Palabora Copper has played a significant role in his career. 'I am where we are today because of this mining company and remain grateful and upbeat about the company's commitment to local economic development. My next assignment is to focus on delivering the project at Lift II,' said the flamboyant Ntsenane, who also worked for Palabora's underground operations a few years back.
Hulisani Nemaxwi Corporate Affairs Manager
Corporate Affairs Department
Email: Hulisani.nemaxwi@palabora.co.za Office: 015 780 2019
Cell: 071 633 6096
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