Bloodhound high-speed testing set for mid-October start

The Bloodhound supersonic car will participate in a high-speed testing programme at Hakskeenpan, in the Northern Cape, between mid-October and mid-November this year. The car is expected to reach... 

New course embraces twenty-first-century mining

Accurately characterising mining in the digital era is an interesting exercise, Wits Mining Institute (WMI) head Professor Fred Cawood notes, commenting on the array of buzz words such ‘the future... 

Eskom needs more support from coal producers, SADC – panel

Coal producers should offer State-owned utility Eskom fairer pricing, while the Southern African Development Community (SADC) States should do more to support Eskom, delegates attending the Coal... 

Prevost urges coal producers to focus on local demand

South African coal producers should focus on supplying local industries and State-owned power utility Eskom, given the changing and uncertain export environment, XMP Consulting senior coal analyst... 

Concerns remain around ‘much improved’ 2019 mine rehab financial provision regulations

There has been significant debate among stakeholders regarding the extent to which mining companies should be held accountable for mine closure, including ways of generating funds for this purpose,... 

Aveng to sell valves and pumps subsidiary to reduce debt

Infrastructure and resources group Aveng will sell Aveng Dynamic Fluid Control (DFC) to 100% black-owned investment company Copaflo for R165-million. The sale will include the DFC operations in... 

Concerns remain around ‘much improved’ 2019 mine rehab financial provision regulations

There has been significant debate among stakeholders regarding the extent to which mining companies should be held accountable for mine closure, including ways of generating funds for this purpose,... 

Zululand Anthracite Colliery appoints first black GM

Mining investment company Menar’s Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) subsidiary has appointed Siyabonga Mathonsi as its first black GM since mining operations began in 1987. His appointed is... 

Zim government prioritises RHA's tungsten project recommissioning

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority has been requested to electrify London-listed Premier African Minerals’ RHA tungsten mine, with the project now considered a priority for the Zimbabwean... 

SCA president dismisses Atha-Africa’s appeal

The judgment of the Pretoria High Court in favour of a civil society coalition defending an Mpumalanga Strategic Water Source Area has been upheld, despite mining company Atha-Africa Ventures’... 

Minerals dept issues Section 11 approval for BRPM stake transfer

The Department of Mineral Resources has granted a Section 11 approval for the transfer of Rustenburg Platinum Mine’s (RPM’s) 33% undivided interest in the mining rights attributable to the Bafokeng... 

Acacia seeks stay of intl arbitration; ordered to halt use of North Mara TSF

LSE-listed Acacia Mining’s Tanzanian operating subsidiaries, Bulyanhulu Gold Mine and Pangea Minerals, plans to seek a stay of their international arbitration with the government of Tanzania. If... 

Mahenge Liandu’s metallurgical testwork in line with expectations

Aim-listed investment group Armadale Capital on Tuesday confirmed that commercialisation plans for the Mahenge Liandu graphite project, in Tanzania, continued to advance, with initial metallurgical... 

UCT doctoral student’s research seeks to address issues around municipal zoning

University of Cape Town (UCT) PhD student, Louie van Schalkwyk, has spent the last three years investigating the zoning policy procedures of three municipalities –Umhlathuze, in KwaZulu-Natal; Sol... 

Amplats’ interim earnings receive boost from higher prices

A higher rand platinum group metals (PGMs) basket price and a R1-billion stock count adjustment gain have pushed PGMs producer Anglo American Platinum’s earnings and headline earnings for the six... 

Jubilee completes Sable Zinc refinery acquisition

Aim-listed metals processing company Jubilee Metals Group on Thursday confirmed the completion of its acquisition of the Sable Zinc Kabwe refinery, in Zambia. “I am delighted that we have... 

African govts’ mining policies perpetuating boom-and-bust cycle

After a protracted period of consolidation, cost reduction initiatives and suspended dividends, the global mining sector is today in far better shape than it was during the years that followed the... 

Lead, zinc and copper markets all in deficit during first quarter of 2019

Provisional data reported to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) indicate that global refined lead metal demand exceeded supply by 39 000 t during the first four months of 2019, the... 

African govts’ mining policies perpetuating boom-and-bust cycle

After a protracted period of consolidation, cost reduction initiatives and suspended dividends, the global mining sector is today in far better shape than it was during the years that followed the... 

Investment, central bank demand to remain robust – WGC

The World Gold Council (WGC) expects consumer demand to trend lower for the remainder of this year, but investment demand is likely to remain robust, while central banks continue their net... 

Mineral resources budget prioritises exploration, beneficiation, licensing

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe on Wednesday reiterated his belief that mining was a sunrise industry, while tabling the Department of Mineral Resources’ budget vote for... 

Deputy Minister hints at possible review of Mining Charter III

Mineral Resources and Energy Deputy Minister Bavelile Hlongwa on Wednesday said a discussion to review Mining Charter III “would be very relevant”, given the current iteration’s lack of an explicit... 

De Beers launches 3-year $315 000 partnership to develop women engineers

De Beers Group on Monday announced the launch of a three-year $315 000 partnership with WomEng to develop the next generation of highly skilled women engineers. De Beers will invest the the funds... 

Central bank gold purchases up 73% so far this year, says WGC

Net gold purchases by central banks totalled 35.8 t in May, 27% lower month-on-month, but net purchases in the year to date, at 247.3 t, are 73% higher year-on-year, the World Gold Council (WGC)... 

Commerce to restart pilot programme at Quebec rare earth project

Commerce Resources on Friday announced that, given industry interest in its wholly-owned Ashram project and its development to date, the company intends to restart the pilot plant programme at... 

Ferrexpo lifts first-half production by 5% y/y

Swiss-based Ferrexpo increased its iron-ore pellet production for the second quarter by 11% quarter-on-quarter to 2.8-million tonnes. Half-year production was up 5% year-on-year to 5.4-million... 

B2Gold prioritises local employment, gender diversity

TSX- and NYSE-listed B2Gold continues to maintain a high local employment rate, with 97% of the total workforce across all its operations being local employees. The company, which on Friday... 

Oro Verde targets 60% stake in Ugandan rare earths project

ASX-listed Oro Verde will acquire up to a 60% stake in the Makuutu rare earths project, in Uganda. The project is owned by Rwenzori Rare Metals, which is, in turn, 85%-owned by South Africa’s Rare... 

Atlatsa shareholders to meet on ‘going private’ deal on Aug 2

Shareholders of Atlatsa Resources Corporation will, on August 2, vote on a special resolution to implement a transaction that will result in the company delisting from the JSE and TSX. The... 

Alrosa earns $10m at Hong Kong auction

Russian diamond company Alrosa earned revenue of $10.3-million in its latest auction of special size rough diamonds weighing more than 10.8 ct, in Hong Kong. It sold 112 gem-quality rough diamonds... 

Zinc One to raise up to C$2.44-million in rights offer

TSX-V-listed Zinc One Resources will proceed with a rights offer to raise between C$1.22-million and C$2.44-million. The company will offer rights to holders of its common shares, as from the close... 

Spearmint embarks on Golden Triangle work programme

Canadian company Spearmint Resources has started on a work programme at its Golden Triangle gold prospects over 3 705 ha of landholding directly bordering GT Gold Corp, in the Golden Triangle of... 

Leagold’s interim production in line with guidance

Canadian gold miner Leagold Mining Corporation on Thursday reported consolidated gold production of 91 285 oz for the second quarter, bringing year-to-date production to 197 234 oz – in line with... 

Exxaro’s digital journey paying dividends

The Digital@Exxaro Show & Tell event last week, demonstrated that the digital transformation initiatives implemented by Exxaro Resources have been instrumental in the company’s achieving record... 

Policy has handicapped South Africa’s minerals industry – Baissac

South Africa's minerals policy has changed the market in inefficient ways, exacerbated the impact of external factors such as volatile commodities prices and failed to meet its primary objectives,... 

Lydian lenders agree to extend forbearance agreement

TSX-listed Lydian International has entered into a second amended and restated (A&R) forbearance agreement with its senior lenders, stream financing providers and equipment financiers. Lydian... 

Golden Predator given go-ahead to restart Brewery Creek

Canadian miner Golden Predator Mining has received formal notification from the Yukon government confirming the validity of the existing quartz mining licence and water licence, allowing for the... 

Yanfolila’s second ball mill completed ahead of schedule

The construction of the second ball mill at Hummingbird Resources’ Yanfolila gold mine, in Mali, has been completed ahead of time and within budget. Commissioning is set to begin “imminently” and... 

Mkango terminates earn-in deal, extends Thambani exploration

Aim- and TSX-V-listed Mkango Resources and metals investor Metal NRG have agreed to terminate their heads of terms agreement regarding an earn-in over Mkango’s Thambani licence, in Malawi. Thambani... 

Concerted effort needed to arrest decline in South Africa’s gold, platinum output – Dixon

Gold and platinum mines in South Africa exemplify the Albert Einstein quote on insanity, consulting engineer and industry expert Roger Dixon noted at an African Mining Network event on Thursday...