Barclays Africa plans Kenya gold ETF listing early this year

Barclays Africa Group is preparing to list its NewGold ETF on the Nairobi Securities Exchange after receiving regulatory approval to begin trading the securities. “We expect the listing to take... 

Peak Resources sees bright future for Tanzania magnet metals project

A focus on high-value rare earths and the use of a tailor-made beneficiation process bodes well for Tanzania-focused Peak Resources. The ASX-listed company is developing the Ngualla rare earths... 

Glencore's Mopani warns of possible investment cuts, job losses as VAT refunds withheld

The CEO of Zambia-focused Mopani Copper Mines has warned that the withholding of value-added tax (VAT) refunds due to copper mining companies by the Zambian government, may negatively impact the... 

Rio Tinto H1 earnings down amid softer commodity prices

Lower commodity prices in the six months to June 30 contributed to diversified mining giant Rio Tinto reporting lower earnings for the period. The group on Thursday posted a 71% drop in first-half... 

New Cesa CEO aims to strengthen measures to counter corruption

As the new CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa), Lefadi Makibinyane has made it his primary focus to ensure that the consulting engineering sector delivers quality service and that there... 

Govt’s effectiveness in stabilising mining sector questioned

Government had failed to play an effective facilitative role and to create a predictable and stable environment in the local mining industry, Webber Wentzel partner and head of Africa mining and... 

Government’s effectiveness in stabilising mining sector questioned

Government has failed to play an effective facilitative role and to create a predictable and stable environment in the local mining industry, Webber Wentzel partner and head of Africa mining and... 

Centamin to pursue further opportunities in Ethiopia

Egypt-focused gold miner Centamin, which is facing ownership challenges at its flagship Sukari mine, could diversify geographically and was considering further opportunities in Ethiopia. Aim-listed... 

Goldplat to start development on third recovery operation by year-end

With its two existing gold recovery operations in Africa performing “solidly”, Aim-listed Goldplat was planning to start development on a third such operation by the end of this year. In a... 

Botswana Diamonds granted exclusivity period extension

Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has been granted an extension to an agreement, signed in February, providing it with a three-month exclusivity period to review data on 13 licence blocks in the Gope... 

Gem Diamonds Q1 output down 38% on lower grades

LSE-listed Gem Diamonds’ output for the first quarter of 2013 fell by 38% to 18 775 ct, compared with the 30 181 ct in the fourth quarter of 2012, mainly owing to the lower quality diamonds mined... 

Harmony to report lower output for March quarter

Multi-listed Harmony Gold on Monday warned that its gold output for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, would be about 15% lower than the 291 734 oz produced in the quarter ended December 2012. The... 

Range River offer ‘inadequate, opportunistic’ – Firestone

Dual-listed Firestone Energy again on Monday advised its shareholders to reject the hostile takeover offer by ASX-listed Range River Gold. In a statement to shareholders, Firestone CEO David Knox... 

Centamin sets 320 000 oz output target for Sukari

Egypt-focused gold miner Centamin expects to produce 320 000 oz of gold, at a cash operating cost of $700/oz, at its Sukari mine this year. This would represent a 22% increase on the 262 958 oz... 

Penumbra mine on track to reach steady-state production by June

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South African thermal coal producer Continental Coal on Tuesday said its Penumbra coal mine was on track to reach steady-state production of about 63 000 t a month... 

Diamond tender earns Namakwa $970 000

A February tender of rough diamonds produced by Aim-listed Namakwa Diamonds’ South African subsidiaries earned the company about $970 000 in revenue. The company sold 1 962 ct at an average price... 

Sibanye confirms Beatrix 4 shaft production resumes

JSE- and NYSE-listed Sibanye Gold on Tuesday confirmed that partial production at its Beatrix 4 shaft had resumed on Monday, in line with expectations. Operations at the mine were suspended on... 

Partial production at Beatrix 4 shaft to resume Monday

Partial production at JSE- and NYSE-listed Sibanye Gold’s Beatrix 4 shaft would resume on February 25, with the mine expected to have lost 1 029 oz of gold during the four-day suspension.... 

Resgen starts Boikarabelo mine construction

ASX- and JSE-listed Resource Generation (Resgen) on Thursday said construction activities at its $630-million Boikarabelo coal mine, in Limpopo, had started, in line with earlier announcements.... 

Sibanye suspends Beatrix 4 shaft ops following fire

Newly listed Sibanye Gold has suspended operations at its Beatrix 4 Shaft, after a fire broke out in a raise line on 20 Level on Tuesday. Beatrix mine management and mine rescue teams have... 

Penumbra mine on track to reach steady-state production by June

South African thermal coal producer Continental Coal on Tuesday said its Penumbra coal mine was on track to reach steady-state production of about 63 000 t a month by June. The coal mining and... 

Lonmin Dec output ahead of ramp-up target

Platinum miner Lonmin on Thursday reported that its production for the quarter ended December 31, 2012, had “substantially exceeded” its planned production ramp-up following labour disruptions late... 

Transport giant sees SA rail success as integral to African aspirations

Africa is a big potential growth market given the urbanisation that was occurring on the continent and winning the tender for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s fleet renewal programme... 

Temperature sensor manufacturer to increase local production

Within the next 12 months, temperature sensor manufacturer Endress+Hauser Pyrotemp plans to locally manufacture 75% of all temperature sensors sold by Endress+Hauser in South Africa, Endress+Hauser... 

CEO of global instrumentation group sees signs of life amid gloom

Global instrumentation and automation group Endress+Hauser CEO Klaus Endress believes that, despite the continuing global economic and political turmoil, the group will continue to be successful... 

As shale gas concern rises in SA, Shell offers glimpse into N American operations

Operators in the Haynesville shale area of North America, which is located on the border of east Texas and western Louisiana, are rushing to secure leases and keep their foothold in the region.... 

As shale gas concern rises in SA, Shell offers glimpse into North American operations

Operators in the Haynesville shale area of North America, which is located on the border of east Texas and western Louisiana, are rushing to secure leases and keep their foothold in the region. 

Meeting 30 000 engineers target will require educational, workplace overhauls

The New Growth Path's target of training an additional 30 000 engineers by 2014 would require material changes to South Africa’s education system and the government would also have to ensure that... 

New body launched to coordinate artisan training programmes

South Africa will move towards implementing a simple, single approach apprenticeship-based artisan development, as opposed to the current Sector Education and Training Authority- (Seta-) driven... 

Miranda’s KZN coal mine to start production in second quarter of 2011

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Production at JSE-listed Miranda Minerals’ Sesikhona coal project, in KwaZulu-Natal, is expected to start by the second quarter of next year, with production to... 

SA faces R32bn backlog in power distribution infrastructure

South Africa would require about R32,4-billion by the end of this year to deal with the backlog in its electricity distribution infrastructure, Department of Public Enterprises chief director... 

Aveng unit awarded big Moma expansion contract

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A subsidiary of the JSE-listed Aveng Group has been appointed as the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor for a $200-million... 

Production to start at Miranda KZN coal mine in Q2

Production at JSE-listed Miranda Minerals’ Sesikhona coal project, in KwaZulu-Natal, is expected to start by the second quarter of next year, with production to ramp up to 70 000 t/m of anthracite... 

Vedanta postpones listing of Zambia copper assets to 2011

Stock market volatility has prompted India-based resources group Vedanta Resources to postpone the planned LSE-listing of its Zambian copper assets, held by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), to next... 

Beacon Hill raises £23m for Mozambique coal project

Aim-listed Beacon Hill Resources has raised £23-million, or about $35,8-million, to pay the balance of its subsidiary BHR Mining’s acquisition of the Minas Moatize coal mine, in Mozambique, and to... 

African Copper gets $7,5m loan for Botswana exploration

Botswana-focused miner African Copper has secured a $7,5-million loan from its controlling shareholder ZCI to finance exploration work at its various prospects. “We are pleased with ZCI's... 

Gold One to ramp up output to 120 000 oz next year

JSE- and ASX-listed junior miner Gold One plans to increase its gold production to 120 000 oz/y in 2011 and to 150 000 oz/y in 2012, up from the current annualised production of 90 000 oz of gold.... 

Namibian Resources widens loss, search for funding continues

Alluvial diamond-miner Namibian Resources further widened its loss to £223,7-million in the six months ended August 31, 2010, while it continues to try and raise capital to upgrade its mining... 

Transnet to spend some R15bn on port improvements 
over next five years

Transnet Port Terminals acting CEO Karl Socikwa provides details of its upcoming expansion plans. 

IFM ferrochrome sales down 48%, despite output improving

Ferrochrome producer International Ferro Metals (IFM) on Monday reported weaker-than-expected sales figures for the first quarter of the 2011 financial year, despite production having increased.