Vedanta Opens R10bn Gamsberg Expansion to Double Zinc Processing Capacity

Vedanta Zinc International has opened its R10-billion Gamsberg Phase II concentrator plant in South Africa’s Northern Cape, doubling the mine’s annual ore-processing capacity as the company considers further investment in local zinc refining.

President Cyril Ramaphosa officially inaugurated the expansion at Aggeneys on 16 October 2026. The project increases Gamsberg’s annual ore-processing capacity from four million to eight million tonnes, with zinc-in-concentrate production capacity expected to reach approximately 500,000 tonnes a year.

The expansion strengthens Gamsberg’s position as a major zinc-producing operation and increases South Africa’s capacity to supply zinc concentrate to industrial markets.

Jobs and regional investment

The project employed more than 1,500 people during construction and is expected to sustain between 800 and 1,000 jobs during operations, with recruitment focused largely on the Northern Cape.

The concentrator is located within the Namakwa Special Economic Zone, which aims to attract industrial investment and support mineral beneficiation in the region.

Ramaphosa said the investment demonstrates the opportunity to retain more value from South Africa’s mineral resources by expanding local processing, refining and manufacturing rather than exporting minerals for further processing elsewhere.

Vedanta considers local zinc smelting

Vedanta is also pursuing plans for a zinc smelter and refinery in the Northern Cape. The proposed facility would allow the company to process zinc concentrate into refined metal locally, creating an additional stage of industrial activity around the mine.

However, the project remains subject to the feasibility of establishing competitive smelting operations. Reliable, affordable electricity and supporting infrastructure will be critical to the investment decision.

For South Africa, the proposed smelter represents a potential opportunity to expand downstream mineral processing, develop local industrial supply chains and retain more value from its zinc resources.

The immediate expansion is now in place, increasing Gamsberg’s annual ore-processing capacity to eight million tonnes. The next potential step is to establish the infrastructure needed to turn more of that concentrate into refined zinc within South Africa.