Platinum miner, Tharisa yesterday appointed Bernard Pryor as the Managing Director of Karo Mining Holdings, a mine the group acquired last week on 31 March 2022.
Pryor is a Metallurgical Engineer by background with over 35 years of experience in the international
mining industry.
Phoevos Pouroulis, CEO of Tharisa, commented, “We are privileged to have Bernie join our team as we embark on this transformative journey, developing our Tier 1 Karo Platinum asset in Zimbabwe.”
“His technical expertise coupled with developing mines around the globe ensures we have leadership in place that will deliver on our stated objectives. I look forward to working with Bernie as we develop our second high-grade, low-cost and high-return PGM asset.”
The London Stock Exchange-listed miner increased its shareholding in Karo Holdings to 66.3% from 26.8% after the group’s acquisition from The Leto Settlement.
Commenting on the acquisition, the CEO said Tharisa will develop and deliver PGM mine approximately 80 km southwest of Harare, in a world-class geological district that is supported by a pro-mining environment.
“The investment and development of the Karo Project will create noteworthy employment and upliftment opportunities for the communities within the project area, as well as the creation of an economic hub with significant multiplier effects,” Pouroulis said.
“The long-life Karo Project, when added to the more than 60-year LOM of the Tharisa PGM and chrome operations in South Africa, sets the foundation for Tharisa’s growth, particularly in the downstream value-enhancing beneficiation sector. The development of the Karo Project will significantly consolidate Tharisa as one of the world’s most forward-thinking and low-cost producers of PGMs in Africa.”
Pryor’s experience includes international commercial and general management, most notably in
Australia, Brazil, West and Southern Africa, the Middle East and Russia.
The new MD has also held positions as CEO of African Minerals Limited and Q Resources plc and between 2006 and 2010 he held senior positions within Anglo American Plc as Head of Business Development and was CEO of Anglo Ferrous Brazil Inc.
