The R1.7-billion Nokeng fluorspar mine, which unlisted fluorspar developer Sepfluor has built north-east of Pretoria, in Gauteng, was officially opened on Thursday.

The mine is one of only two operating fluorspar mines in South Africa, although there is also a fluorspar tailings operation that produces calcium fluoride.

The Nokeng operation was expected to ramp up to full commercial-scale production by the end of August, Sepfluor officials reported during a visit to the mine site, near Rust de Winter, on Thursday.

The concentrator plant is in its final stages of commissioning with handover from contractor DRA Global and its metallurgical affiliate Minopex expected imminently.