Waterberg Project Emerges as Potential Global Leader in Platinum Group Metals Production

Platinum Group Metals Ltd. is advancing development of the Waterberg Project, a major platinum group metals mine in South Africa projected to rank among the largest and lowest-cost underground PGM operations worldwide. The project employs a strategic approach to metal extraction as a fully mechanized, shallow, decline-access mine focused on extracting platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold, with additional by-product production of copper and nickel. An independent definitive feasibility study completed in September 2024 confirmed the project's world-class potential, validating its economic viability and operational efficiency.

Platinum group metals, including platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium, serve critical functions across modern industrial and technological applications. These metals hold significant importance across multiple sectors, including automotive manufacturing where they are essential for catalytic converters, electronics manufacturing for various components, medical technologies for diagnostic equipment and treatments, and sustainable energy solutions such as hydrogen fuel cells and renewable energy systems. The growing demand across these diverse applications underscores the strategic importance of developing new, efficient sources for these materials.

The Waterberg Project's development coincides with increasing global demand for platinum group metals driven by technological advancements and industrial expansion. By positioning itself as a potentially low-cost producer, Platinum Group Metals Ltd. aligns strategically with emerging market needs and the technological evolution that increasingly depends on these critical metals. The mine's design and projected efficiency represent a significant advancement in sustainable and economically viable metal extraction, potentially establishing new benchmarks for underground mining operations within the global resources sector. This approach could influence future mining developments by demonstrating how mechanization and strategic planning can enhance both economic and environmental performance in resource extraction.

The project's focus on multiple PGMs, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium, addresses the complex demand patterns across different industries while providing operational flexibility. The inclusion of copper and nickel as by-products further enhances the project's economic profile and resource utilization efficiency. As global industries continue to evolve and demand for specialized metals grows, projects like Waterberg that combine scale, efficiency, and strategic metal production are positioned to play increasingly important roles in supply chain stability and technological advancement across multiple sectors.