• United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK): company history and mission

• History

• United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK) was established in 2005, and is owned by Majestic Silver Trading 40 (Pty) Ltd (51%) and Renova Manganese Investments Limited (49%). The manganese producer started prospecting for manganese in 2005, after being awarded prospecting rights for 15,200 hectare within the Kalahari manganese field and this was followed up with the Mining Right in 2008.
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• Prior to the granting of the Mining Right a total of 361 boreholes led to the determination that the region held a manganese resource of 282 million tons and a reserve of 41.3 million tons, with the most significant manganese deposits being found on the Botha, Smartt and Rissik Farms. Based on the proven reserves at the time, the estimated mining life would extend for the duration of the current mining permit (30 years to 2038) and beyond.
• Small scale mining started in 2008, concurrent with the development of the mine's permanent infrastructure. It has been on a fast development track when UMK was awarded a rail allocation by Transnet. To secure that rail allocation a rapid ore loading system had to be completed by late 2009. In 2009, UMK completed the first phase of the mine's development–the railway loop and load out silo. Production was ramped up in 2010 to about 1.5 million tons. The permanent crushing and screening plant was commissioned at the end of 2011.
• In 2013, UKM officially opened the last infrastructure of the mine–its newly built offices and warehouse. UMK Chairman Lazarus Mbethe noted that this occasion marked a shift as the operation has become the world's third largest producer of manganese. CEO Johan Kriek said that the manganese production could ultimately reach 4 million tons a year.
• The milestones in UMK's development
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• Vision and mission

• Vision
• To become a leading empowerment mining company with an objective of establishing a legacy of sustainable mining and socio-economic development that is environmentally responsible and meets the core needs of its stakeholders.
• Mission
• Operating–to produce manganese ore of consistent quality in a safe and cost-effective manner based on international best practices.
• Sustainable Development–to develop and ultimately leave behind an uplifted community in our mining area, mining in an environmentally responsible way while meeting required shareholder returns.