West Wits Mining achieves significant milestone with the 1 West decline breakthrough
Completion of the 1 West Decline unlocks access to high-grade stopes and accelerates production plans at the Witwatersrand Basin Project
West Wits Mining Limited has announced a significant operational milestone at its Qala Shallows project, part of the Company’s flagship Witwatersrand Basin Project (WBP) in South Africa, following the successful completion of the 1 West Decline development.
The development marks a major step forward in opening access to the unmined 2 Level mining horizon, positioning the company to transition into higher-grade production areas while leveraging extensive historic underground infrastructure.
According to the company, the completion of the 1 West Decline enables West Wits to utilise existing underground workings from previous mining operations, substantially reducing the amount of new development required. This strategic advantage is expected to save approximately one year of development work that would otherwise have been needed to establish access to equivalent new stopes.
The milestone is anticipated to enhance operational efficiency and support a faster, more capital-efficient production ramp-up at Qala Shallows.
West Wits CEO and Managing Director Rudi Deysel described the achievement as a major operational breakthrough for the project.
“The completion of the 1 West Decline into this area of historic 2 Level unmined stopes marks a major operational milestone for Qala Shallows,” said Deysel. “This transition from development ore into higher-grade production areas, with established underground infrastructure already in place, is crucial.”
The newly completed decline provides access to a substantial inventory of high-grade stopes with limited additional development work required. The company believes this will improve operational flexibility while enabling mining activities to respond more efficiently to production targets and market conditions.
Deysel further highlighted the strategic importance of the development, noting that the reduced capital intensity and improved access to established mining areas would strengthen the project’s overall production outlook.
