The deal, launched this month and part of FLSmidth's enterprise development programme, will give Linhleko guaranteed access to FLSmidth's Reflux Classifier technology in a modular plant solution.

FLSmidth noted that the outcomes-based contract with Sibanye-Stillwater will allow the miner to boost revenue via chromite sales but without spending additional capital.

FLSmidth director for engineering and technical support for sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, Terence Osborn, said that it will build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) with the client.

Linhleko managing director Buang Moloto added that the Reflux Classifier has re-treated platinum interstage and waste streams for chromium oxide recovery at product grades exceeding 40%.

"Our FLSmidth modular plant will add value to the mine by re-treating the current interstage chrome removal spiral at no initial capital cost to the client," Moloto confirmed, adding that there will be minimal interruption to the process flow of the mine and no retrofitting will be needed.

"It is a completely separate 'plug and play' concept involving no or very low downtime or risk to current operations."

The Linhleko-FLSmidth partnership was made possible by the government's Mining Phakisa initiative; its goal is to build strategic collaborative relationships between key mining groups.

Linhleko and FLSmidth conducted the metallurgical testwork for Sibanye-Stillwater to prove the concept. FLSmidth, in addition to providing technical support, financed the technology.

Sibanye-Stillwater is one of the early adopters of the Reflux Classifier modular plant for chrome recovery from a UG2 stream. The technology is operating with success now at another South African mining operation, and a second will be exported.