Glencore Technology’s Jameson Cell is now operational at Mogalakwena North Concentrator (MNC), empowering Valterra Platinum to realise the full benefits of their low mass pull strategy. This strategy focuses on extracting valuable minerals in smaller volumes, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing waste. By applying this approach throughout MNC’s processing chain, the company is able to enhance operational efficiency, cut costs, and improve environmental performance. The integration of Jameson Cells means Valterra Platinum can produce higher grades of platinum group metals (PGM) concentrate—where “PGM concentrate grade” refers to the proportion of precious metals in the processed material—at reduced volumes, which results in less material needing to be smelted.
With the Jameson Cell fully commissioned and performing strongly, measurable improvements have been achieved: concentrate volumes at MNC dropped by 14%, while concentrate grade increased by 16%. To put this in perspective, a 16% increase in concentrate grade significantly exceeds typical industry improvements, which often range between 5-10% after similar upgrades. These gains have led to a 21% reduction in material handling and logistics, highlighting the substantial operational impact.
During a presentation on the company’s 2025 financial results, Valterra Platinum CEO Craig Miller commented: “As optimisation continues and the plant’s annualised impact is realised, we’re also encouraged by the almost one percentage point improvement in the adjusted north concentrator recoveries since the commissioning. While the recovery uplift was not the primary objective of the introduction of the Jameson cells, the team is optimistic that further improvements may follow.” Here, “recovery” refers to the percentage of valuable minerals successfully extracted from the ore, and even a modest increase can translate to significant gains in production.
Diesel savings alone are expected to generate substantial cost reductions, as Glencore Technology’s flotation cell is projected to eliminate 3,800 truckloads of concentrate per year. Notably, just four Jameson Cells were needed to replace 40 conventional units, making the technology a clear choice for MNC’s operational objectives. “Selectivity”—the Jameson Cell’s ability to precisely separate valuable minerals from waste—has been a key driver of these results.
“These results once again confirm what we saw through extensive lab and pilot work: the Jameson Cell can scale up accurately while outperforming conventional cells in selectivity and efficiency,” explained Ryan Jones, Senior Metallurgist at Glencore Technology. The inclusion of specific figures and direct insights from company leaders underscores the credibility and clarity of the Jameson Cell’s impact.
Given these efficiency gains, discussions have begun regarding the installation of additional Jameson Cells across Valterra Platinum’s other concentrators. Miller stated: “We’re in the process of refurbishing the south concentrator, and one of the things that we’ll look at in the refurbishment is introducing the Jameson cells at south concentrator as well. That’ll be in a couple of years.” As future technology rollouts and operational changes unfold at Valterra Platinum, the company intends to continue tracking and reporting measurable outcomes and executive perspectives to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to innovation and performance.