The scope of work included the development, construction and mining operations for the two UG2 decline shaft systems – the Main Decline and North Decline. The Main Decline consisted of one footwall and two on-reef declines, adjacent ledges, ore passes and service excavations. The equipping included decline and strike conveyors, water ventilation and electrical reticulations, chairlifts and workshops (both surface and underground). Further extensions of scope included the lateral development for stoping intersections and room-and pillar stoping operations. The North Decline consisted of conveyor belt and service on-reef declines. The commodities mined included platinum, palladium, rhodium and nickel. Steady-state stoping operations of 250 000 tonnes per month were achieved by Moolmans using the fully mechanised room-and-pillar mining method. Stoping widths were approximately 1.8 metres, with the UG2 reef dipping between six to eight degrees. The Two Rivers Project proved highly successful, with both capital structures finished on time and budget. The mine became one of the lowest cost producers in mechanised platinum mining in South Africa. Features of the project were close teamwork and stakeholder alignment.
