Ramaphosa opens Vedanta's Gamsberg Phase II zinc plant in the Northern Cape, doubling ore capacity to 8 million tonnes
16 October 2026
President Cyril Ramaphosa inaugurated the Gamsberg Phase II concentrator plant of Vedanta Zinc International at Aggeneys in the Northern Cape.
Vedanta Zinc International committed about R21 billion to the project at the 2018 South Africa Investment Conference.
The expansion doubles annual ore capacity from about 4 million to 8 million tonnes and lifts zinc-in-concentrate output to about 500,000 tonnes.
More than 1,500 people were employed during construction, and the operation is expected to sustain 800 to 1,000 jobs.
Ramaphosa said more than 150 Indian companies operate in South Africa, and India's High Commissioner Shri Prabhat Kumar attended the ceremony.
The President welcomed Vedanta's ambition to build zinc smelting capacity tied to the Namakwa Special Economic Zone.
In plain words
Concentrator plant Mineral concentrator plant — A plant that separates valuable mineral from crushed ore to produce a concentrate for smelting.
SEZ Special Economic Zone — A demarcated area given special industrial and tax arrangements to attract investment.