Botswana diamond project poised for 2017 completion as it surpasses 80% completion mark

Construction of Botswana-based diamond mining company Debswana’s Letlhakane Mine Tailings Resource Treatment Plant project (LMTRTP), in Lethakane Village near Orapa near Botswana, is currently 80%... 

Sula raises $400 000 to advance Sierra Leone gold project

Multicommodity exploration and development company Sula Iron & Gold has raised $400 000 through a subscription for about 304.6-million new ordinary shares of 0.1p each in the company at a price of... 

Gold ETPs continued to see gains in September – WGC

At the end of September, total holdings in physically backed gold exchange traded products (ETPs) were 2 335.6 t, or 75.1-million ounces, representing a 38.1 t month-on-month increase, according to... 

Wheeling touted as viable option for mines facing electricity supply challenges

While mining operations require reliable power on a continuous basis, whether in remote locations, or in developed areas, load-shedding, poor quality power and weak grids are forcing mines to... 

Seabed clearance completed for UK wind farm project

Scottish subsea technology specialist Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) has completed a second major seabed clearance project for gas and oil producer and energy supplier DONG Energy on what will be one... 

Inyatsi to target larger markets as it seeks to double turnover in two to three years

In pursuing a new succession planning strategy, infrastructure construction specialist Inyatsi Construction Group Holdings plans to target larger markets and increase its turnover from R1.5-billion... 

$300m facility for African power, infrastructure projects announced

Standard Bank of South Africa (SBSA), US overseas development financier Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and diversified, community-based financial services company Wells Fargo Bank... 

Weir Minerals posts 10% growth as it bucks first-quarter mining trend

Industrial equipment supplier Weir Minerals Africa has “bucked the mining trend for the year”, says Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East regional MD Gavin Dyer. Despite double-digit negative growth... 

AfDB highlights importance of water security in supporting African growth

Water is central to achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) states senior adviser on inclusive and green growth to the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Professor... 

Mining Indaba opens door for more emerging miners to participate

The Investing in African Mining Indaba has “recreated a platform for the emerging or smaller miner to participate at a palatable price point”, says outgoing Mining Indaba MD Jonathan Moore. Mining... 

Fraser Alexander’s structured funding offering to revolutionise mining industry – CEO

Mining Services and construction company Fraser Alexander has, as part of repositioning its business value proposition, introduced a structured funding offering to its Integrated Mining Service... 

New pipe and flow calculator app to allow for accelerated pipe design

In enabling future generation customers to be part of the smartphone and digital application (app) future, pipes manufacturer DPI Plastics is developing its own internal pipeline design and flow... 

Commission’s ports probe to place spotlight on Transnet’s economic impact

State-owned logistics company Transnet, which owns all commercial ports in South Africa and is the sole operator of the country’s container and automotive terminals, has naturally had a major... 

New radar to improve underground mining safety, productivity

Geotechnical slope stability monitoring radar systems supplier Reutech Mining locally developed the Sub Surface Profiler (SSP) – a compact and convenient ground-penetrating radar system that aims... 

Mining Indaba opens the door for more emerging miners to participate

The Investing in African Mining Indaba has “recreated a platform for the emerging or smaller miner to participate at a palatable price point”, says outgoing Mining Indaba MD Jonathan Moore. Mining... 

Eastern Cape water board warns that restrictions could hit jobs

At the beginning of this month, the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan municipality in the Eastern Cape announced that it would be putting in place minimal water restrictions with residents urged to... 

Government still struggling to honour 30-day payment promise

While there has been a consistent improvement in the setting up of systems to enable government institutions to pay suppliers and service providers within 30 days, the pace of the improvement is... 

Majority of women in mining still in noncore positions

There still has not been enough transformation for women in the mining industry, a sector traditionally regarded as male-dominated, suggests Sam Tambani Research Institute (Satri) research... 

Indicated resources at Tanzania gold prospect up 409% to 205 347 oz

East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer Shanta Gold has upgraded its Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant resource estimate at the Ilunga satellite deposit at the New Luika Gold... 

Old Mutual to increase agriculture, real estate investment through Nigerian partnership

Asset management group Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIG) plans to expand its commercial real estate and agriculture footprints in Africa through a partnership with wealth fund the Nigerian... 

ECSA’s framework revisions seek to improve accountability in profession

The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) has concluded its nationwide consultative process on the revisions to its governance frameworks by engaging engineering practitioners of the different... 

African cities study aims to stimulate conversation on urbanisation

Multidisciplinary engineering consultancy Arup held the first in a series of workshops on African cities at their Johannesburg offices last week. The workshop presented recently completed research... 

Italtile to expand retail footprint

With prevailing economic and sociopolitical conditions unlikely to improve in the forthcoming year, JSE-listed ceramic tiles retailer Italtile states that to sustain results at current levels,... 

Drilling at Northern Cape zinc/copper project produces ‘excellent’ results

Following a “strong start” to its maiden drilling programme at the Prieska Copper (PC) zinc/copper project in the Northern Cape, ASX-listed Orion Gold reports that the latest results from ongoing... 

Salga, National School of Government to collaborate on municipal capacity building

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) and the National School of Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which will result in collaboration regarding capacity... 

Kansanshi copper mine renews drill fleet

Amid lacklustre global commodity prices and difficult times faced by the Zambian copper mining industry, the country’s largest copper mine, Kansanshi, has opted to renew its fleet of blast hole... 

R950m Springs Mall construction progressing ahead of March 2017 opening

Construction of the R950-million Springs Mall at the Blue Crane Eco Park development, in Gauteng is well under way, with the 48 000 m² regional shopping centre on schedule and within budget to open... 

SA slides down global manufacturing competitiveness ranking

Despite being regarded as the most competitive manufacturing country in Africa, South Africa is losing momentum when compared with other countries, particularly China. South Africa dropped three... 

Francophone Africa seen as untapped market for South African firms

Despite significant opportunities across a range of sectors, the Francophone African markets remain relatively untapped from South Africa, speakers stated at the ‘Doing Business in Francophone... 

Consulting firm warns of ‘vicious cycle of defection’ from Eskom, municipalities

The rapid decline in renewables pricing, large-scale battery production and new technologies reducing the price of storage, which will make renewables feasible on a larger scale within 15 years is... 

Research identifies barriers, suggests new approach to building black industrialists

The South African economy requires a new approach to regulation, competition and industrial policy to open the economy for greater participation, particularly for black industrialists, according to... 

Gold mining now under way at Sol Plaatjies project

Mining has started at ASX-listed gold developer West Wits Mining’s Sol Plaatjies project within the Soweto Cluster prospecting right area, in Johannesburg. With prestripping completed over the past... 

Drilling reveals high-grade zinc/copper at Prieska project

ASX-listed Orion Gold has made a “strong start” to its maiden drilling programme at the Prieska Copper (PC) zinc/copper project, in the Northern Cape, with initial assays including grades of up to... 

Shanta reports ‘robust’ H1 financial performance, maintains FY guidance

Aim-listed Shanta Gold increased its gold production to 48 237 oz in the first half of this year, up from the 28 180 oz produced in first half of 2015. This enabled Shanta to maintain its... 

Northam pushing ahead with R4.8bn Booysendal projects as it anticipates continuing platinum demand growth

Despite challenging market conditions facing the South African platinum sector, scaling back on local operations, delays in various projects and a new wage negotiation season, JSE-listed mining... 

Hybrid power generation system wins energy award

The Hybrid Power Generation System (HPGS) of national security alliance North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (Nato’s) Energy Security Center of Excellence has won one of the Energy Transition... 

First secretary-general appointed for African research body

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana professor Ernest Aryeetey has been appointed as secretary-general of the African Research Universities Alliance (Arua) to drive a collaborative initiative... 

Northam pushing ahead with R4.8bn Booysendal projects as it anticipates continuing platinum demand growth

Despite challenging market conditions facing the South African platinum sector, scaling back on local operations, delays in various projects and a new wage negotiation season, JSE-listed mining... 

Skiptainer helps PE terminal increase manganese export volumes

Port operator Transnet Port Terminals’ (TPT’s) skiptainer solution has proven successful in meeting rising demand for the export of manganese, says TPT Port Elizabeth (PE) terminal manager Nelisiwe... 

Gold mining gets under way at Sol Plaatjies project

Mining has started at ASX-listed gold developer West Wits Mining’s Sol Plaatjies project within the Soweto Cluster prospecting right area, in Johannesburg. With prestripping completed over the past...