THE South African government awarded a mining right to Southern Palladium’s Bengwenyama project, the exploration and development firm said today. The Bengwenyama project is a potential future PGM mine on the Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex, adjacent to the Valterra/African Rainbow Minerals Modikwa Mine. In July last year, Southern Palladium adjusted its plans in terms of which the mine would be built in two phases, lowering peak funding to $279m from $452m previously. Roger Baxter, chair of Southern Palladium, said the prospect of producing more chrome from Bengwenyama was “particularly encouraging”. Southern Palladium also lodged an environmental guarantee with the DMPR as part of the project’s development requirements.