Cape Town, 12 February 2026
Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) has signed a strategic business partner
agreement with Inayo Mining on the sidelines of the African Mining Indaba
on 12 February in Cape Town. The partnership was formalised by Vijay
Kumar, CEO of VZI, and Thando Maseko, CEO of Inayo Mining, and was
endorsed by the Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, highlighting
strong provincial support for the project.
The agreement enables the development of a five million tonnes-per-annum
open-pit mining operation, sourced from five small open-pits located in
the Southern Swartberg Ore Shoot (SSOS) and Tank Hill (TH) areas. This
end-to-end open-pit solution provides a capital-efficient and timely
pathway to maintain production continuity while extending the
life-of-mine.
While announcing the partnership, Kumar stated, “This partnership plays a
critical role in securing future production at Swartberg, while ensuring
operational continuity, capital efficiency, and responsible mining
practices. Inayo brings strong technical capability in open-pit mining, a
proven safety culture, and a shared commitment to transformation and
inclusive economic participation.”
Project timelines indicate mobilisation in early 2026, with first ore
production expected in late 2026, followed by full ramp-up in early 2027.
This transition will play a critical role in sustaining overall throughput
at Swartberg and maintaining metal production levels as Deeps underground
operations are wound down.
Inayo Mining, established in 2017 through a joint venture between Inala
Mining Services and Ayona Mining, is 51% black woman-owned and a Level 3
BBBEE contributor. The company specialises in opencast mining and mine
rehabilitation with operations primarily in the Emalahleni coal fields.
“The partnership between Inayo Mining and VZI is founded on shared values
of safety and entrepreneurship. Together, we are redefining what
collaboration between mineral rights holders and contractors should look
like - built on trust, shared purpose and long-term impact. Most
importantly, we are united in our commitment to transforming lives in
Aggeneys and the surrounding communities,” said Maseko.
Inayo Mining will execute pre-stripping, ramp-up and steady-state mining,
targeting first ore production in late 2026.
The partnership reflects VZI’s commitment to operational continuity,
responsible mining and inclusive economic participation in the Northern
Cape.
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