Rosh Pinah Zinc Commissions Namibia’s First Paste Backfill Plant

Rosh Pinah Zinc (RPZ), together with Appian Capital Advisory, has commissioned Namibia’s first paste backfill plant at the Rosh Pinah zinc-lead-silver mine—marking a significant milestone in the country’s mining sector and setting a new benchmark for underground mining practices.

The commissioning follows Trevali Mining’s 2022 sale of its stake in the Rosh Pinah operation to the Appian Natural Resources Fund. Since then, RPZ has accelerated investment in modern, efficiency-driven infrastructure as part of its RP2.0 expansion programme.

According to the company, the paste backfill facility enables the safe and efficient filling of underground stopes, reducing mining dilution, lowering the volume of tailings deposited on surface, and improving overall ore recovery. The technology is expected to enhance both the environmental footprint and operational performance of the mine.

In parallel with the infrastructure rollout, RPZ has prioritised skills development, investing in training programmes to ensure that the plant is operated and maintained by a locally skilled workforce—helping to embed long-term technical capacity within Namibia.

RP2.0 expansion gathers momentum

The paste backfill plant forms a core component of the RP2.0 expansion project, which includes further underground mine development through a newly constructed portal and decline to access extended orebodies on strike and down dip. The expansion also features the construction of new surface infrastructure, including upgraded processing facilities, a new SAG mill, additional paste fill capacity and modern water treatment plants.

Alongside mine development, RPZ is undertaking an extensive diamond drilling programme aimed at expanding its mineral resource base and extending the life of the operation. The programme includes the replacement of in-house drill rigs and more than 80 kilometres of drilling planned through 2027, covering infill, step-out and regional exploration targets.

The company said results to date have been encouraging, reinforcing the potential for further resource growth and long-term value creation beyond the current RP2.0 phase.

On track for completion

“Commissioning the paste fill plant represents another major step forward for RP2.0,” said Alex Mayrick, General Manager of Rosh Pinah Zinc. “These facilities significantly enhance the efficiency and sustainability of our operations.”

“With construction now more than 85% complete, we are firmly on track—on schedule and on budget—to deliver the RP2.0 expansion safely and responsibly,” Mayrick added. “At the same time, our exploration programme continues to deliver encouraging results, highlighting the strong growth potential of RPZ as we build a larger, longer-life operation.”

Ignacio Bustamante, Head of Base Metals at Appian, said the commissioning underscores RPZ’s ability to execute complex projects in line with modern sustainability standards.

“This achievement strengthens RPZ’s operational foundation as we move into the final phases of construction,” he said.

Overall construction progress on RP2.0 has now exceeded 85%, with project completion expected in the third quarter of 2026 and production ramp-up set to begin shortly thereafter.