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The event drew a high-level delegation led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, joined by former President and Ivanhoe board member Kgalema Motlanthe, Limpopo Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, and provincial and local officials. Senior representatives from Ivanhoe Mines, Ivanplats, the project’s B-BBEE partners, and its longstanding Japanese consortium partners - ITOCHU Corporation, JOGMEC, and Japan Gas Corporation - were also present.

The ceremony began with President Ramaphosa unveiling a commemorative plaque and cutting the ribbon at the concentrator, formally initiating operations. More than 2,000 attendees, including Platreef employees - 70% of whom come from local communities and nearly 30% of whom are women - joined the celebration.

Robert Friedland, Ivanhoe Mines’ Founder and Executive Co-Chairman, delivered a characteristically vivid reflection on the project’s decades-long journey. He spoke about the early challenges of developing Platreef, recalling that “we were told that nothing would ever be mined here” and that building the mine was “impossible.” He credited the perseverance of Ivanhoe’s partners and the early inspiration of President Ramaphosa, noting: “This will be the largest mine on the African continent for precious metals … today we just have Phase 1, the baby mine.” He also highlighted Platreef’s uniquely broad ownership structure: “150,000 historically disadvantaged, local Black people are actually equity owners in this mine … 26% of this mine is operated by independent trusts on behalf of local people.”

President Ramaphosa emphasised the project’s national significance, describing the start of production as “a culmination of a long journey” and “a gigantic step for our country.” He hailed the mine’s community ownership model as a historic turning point: “This is the first mine opening with the full involvement of the community, not only as workers but as equity owners … opening up a new chapter of how mining should really be done in our country.”

For the mining sector, Platreef represents more than a new operation - it signals a maturing model of inclusive development, global partnership, and long-term value creation rooted in South Africa’s mining heartland.