As part of its Community Social Responsibility and together with Zimplats, DRA Global donated blankets, food, toiletry, hampers as well as Bibles written in the local Shona and Ndebele languages to the elderly communities of Selous and Ngezi villages in Mashonaland West province in Zimbabwe.
The donation was a gesture of appreciation to the Selous and Ngezi communities for their support and cooperation in the development and operation of the Zimplats Selous Metallurgical Complex (SMC) and SMC Power Expansion project, one of the largest platinum projects in the world.
DRA Global's EVP Projects (EMEA, SENET, SAMER), Mr Alistair Hodgkinson, said the donation reflected the Company's commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of the people and the environment.
“DRA is proud to partner with Zimplats in delivering world-class mining solutions and supporting the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe,” said Mr Hodgkinson
Zimplats' Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alex Mhembere, said the donation was a demonstration of the strong and mutually beneficial relationship between Zimplats and DRA.
“Zimplats valued the contribution of DRA in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the Zimplats Selous and SMC Power Expansion project, which will aid the growth and prosperity of the country,” said Mr Mhembere.
Mr Mhembere also thanked the Selous community for their hospitality and cooperation, and assured them of Zimplats' continued support and engagement, stating that Zimplats was committed to creating shared value for all its stakeholders and investing in social development, especially in the areas of health, education, infrastructure and livelihoods.
The donation ceremony was attended by representatives from DRA Global, Zimplats, the Selous village council, the local church and the beneficiaries. Community members said the donation would help them cope during economic hardships, and the Bibles in their native language would nourish their spiritual needs and strengthen their faith.
The Zimplats Selous and SMC Power Expansion project is part of the US$1.8 billion investment strategy that will increase the production and processing capacity of Zimplats, as well as mitigate the power supply challenges and environmental impacts of the operations. The project involves the development of a new mine, Mupani, and the upgrade of the Bimha Mine, the expansion of Smelter capacity and the establishment of a Base Metal Refinery, and the construction of a 185 MW Solar Plant at Selous Metallurgical Complex (SMC).
DRA's Corporate Social Responsibility program aims to create shared value for all its stakeholders and contribute to the sustainable development of the communities where the company operates.
DRA Global Limited (ASX: DRA | JSE: DRA) (DRA or the Group) is an international multi-disciplinary engineering, project delivery and operations management group, predominantly focused on the mining, minerals and metals industry.
The Group has an extensive track record spanning four decades across a wide range of commodities. We have delivered more than 8,000 projects, studies and managed services solutions, and currently operate more than a dozen sites through its operations and maintenance division.
Our teams have deep expertise in the mining, minerals and metals processing industries, as well as related non-process infrastructure such as, water, and energy solutions. We deliver comprehensive advisory, engineering and project delivery services throughout the capital project lifecycle, from concept through to operational readiness and commissioning as well as ongoing operations, maintenance and engineering services. We do this with a focus on sustainability and assisting clients to achieve their ESG goals.
DRA covers all major mining centres with offices across Africa and the Middle East, North and South America, and the Asia-Pacific.