Johannesburg — President Cyril Ramaphosa inaugurated a major expansion of the Gamsberg zinc mine operated by Indian conglomerate Vedanta, highlighting the deep historical ties and shared democratic values between India and South Africa.
The Phase II concentrator plant located in South Africa's Northern Cape province was expanded with an investment of approximately ZAR 10 billion, equivalent to about Rs 5,757 crore, positioning it among the country's largest mining investments over the past ten years.
Ramaphosa officially opened the facility in Aggeneys in the presence of Indian High Commissioner Prabhat Kumar, Consul General Ruby Jaspreet, and other officials. During the event, he emphasized the enduring relationship between the two nations, noting their shared commitment to development and historical cooperation against colonialism.
Highlighting commercial ties, Ramaphosa pointed out that over 150 Indian companies currently operate in South Africa, contributing significantly to local employment, investment, and industrial expertise, with Vedanta serving as a prominent example of this bilateral partnership.
During discussions with Indian business leaders, talks centered on expanding trade and investment into sectors such as manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, technology, and mineral processing. Ramaphosa also encouraged investors to prioritize local job creation, skills transfer, industrial development, and community support.
Additionally, the South African president welcomed future plans by Vedanta to establish zinc-smelting capacity in the Northern Cape, which would allow the nation to transition from producing zinc concentrate to finished refined metal.
The Gamsberg asset was originally acquired by Vedanta from Anglo American in 2011, with the first phase of the mine having been inaugurated by Ramaphosa in February 2019. The operations are managed by Vedanta Zinc International across South Africa and Namibia.
With the completion of the Phase II project, Gamsberg's annual ore-processing capacity is set to double from four million tonnes to eight million tonnes, pushing its annual zinc-in-concentrate production capacity to roughly 500,000 tonnes.