Takeovers Panel issues interim order in Firestone takeover

The Australian Takeovers Panel has issued an interim order to prevent ASX- and TSX-listed Firestone Energy and ASX-listed Waterberg Coal Company (WCC), previously Range River Gold, from further... 

Paragon Diamonds increases processing rate at Lesotho project

Aim-listed Paragon Diamonds on Monday said it had increased the plant processing rate at its Lesotho-based Lemphane kimberlite project bulk-sampling programme to over 230 t/d. The company indicated... 

Amplats names Moosa new nonexecutive chairperson

Platinum major Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Friday said it had appointed Valli Moosa as independent nonexecutive chairperson with immediate effect. Moosa’s appointment followed the... 

After 22-year interlude, IMF recognises Somali government

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday announced that it now recognised the new Federal Government of Somalia, which took office in September last year, paving the way for the resumption... 

Compact mobile maize-milling plant unveiled

Food processing plant and equipment supplier Bühler South Africa on Friday launched its 2 t/h mobile Isigayo compact mill, aimed at tackling government’s mandate of developing the small-scale... 

First of eight Zimbabwe toll plazas opens

Construction consortium Infralink has officially opened Zimbabwe’s first toll plaza at Ntabazinduna, 20 km outside Bulawayo. The plaza is the first of eight being constructed as part of the... 

DTI lauds jobs success of textiles competitiveness scheme

The Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme (CTCP) had, to date, created more than 12 000 new permanent jobs in South Africa’s clothing, textiles, leather and footwear sectors, Department... 

Bronkhorstspruit biogas project poised to move into construction in June

Construction on the Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Plant (BBP) would start in June and be completed in the first quarter of next year, the project developer Bio 2 Watt says. Founder Sean Thomas told... 

Dismissals could soar as workers opt out of unions – lawyer

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The apparent opting out of labour union membership in South Africa amid a wave of wildcat strikes, could mark a rise in employee terminations, should companies... 

Davis agrees to step down as Glencore-Xstrata merger clears last major hurdle

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Xstrata CEO Mick Davis has agreed to not take up the six-month role of CEO and executive director of the combined Glencore Xstrata group – one of the conditions... 

AMCU indicates it will reject CoM collective bargaining proposal

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Although the Chamber of Mines (CoM) was expecting to receive a formal response from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) regarding its... 

Ncondezi concludes power agreement with Mozambique government

Aim-listed Ncondezi Coal has concluded a power framework agreement with the Mozambique government in relation to its proposed 1 800 MW Ncondezi power project in the Tete province. The agreement... 

Mponeng worker dies in loco accident

The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has stopped operations on one level at South African gold major AngloGold Ashanti’s Mponeng mine, near Carletonville, after a worker was fatally injured.... 

Kibo selects Korean power company to participate in Rukwa power project

Tanzania-focused exploration and development company Kibo Mining on Wednesday said it had concluded its selection of global power producer Korea East-West Power (EWP) as the preferred strategic... 

Exxaro considers selling NCC

Diversified resources group Exxaro is calling for expressions of interest from parties to acquire its New Clydesdale Colliery (NCC) operation, near eMalahleni, in Mpumalanga. The company announced... 

Long-term fundamentals of SA’s platinum sector remain strong

The long-term fundamentals of South Africa’s platinum mining industry remained attractive, despite labour unrest, increasing electricity prices and high operating costs, research firm Frost &... 

Thani takes over management of Stratex JV projects

Aim-listed Stratex International on Tuesday said its Afar joint venture (JV) partner Thani Ashanti had assumed management of the partnership’s two copper projects in Ethiopia and the Republic of... 

Zondereinde mine strike persists, losses grow

The three-week dispute by rock drill operators (RDOs) at JSE-listed Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine has seen the company lose about 16 000 oz of metal-in-concentrate production and roughly... 

AngloGold workers return to work after brief strike

All workers who participated in a work stoppage at Africa-focused AngloGold’s Mponeng and Moab Khotsong mines on Saturday, resumed work on Sunday evening, spokesperson Alan Fine has indicated.... 

Edenville raises over £100 000 through share subscription

As part of the Equity Finance Facility (EFF) it announced in March, coal focused African energy exploration and development company Edenville Energy on Monday has raised £106 895 through a... 

Auction generates $15.2m revenue for Gemfields

Aim-listed Gemfields sold 6.3-million carats of predominantly lower quality rough emeralds and beryl extracted from its Zambia-based Kagem mine, last week, generating $15.2-million in revenue. The... 

Eastplats suspends Crocodile River funding

Canada-based platinum miner Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) on Monday said it would suspend funding for its South African Crocodile River mine (CRM) development plan, owing to the continuing negative... 

DRC copper export ban will have no real impact on operations – Tiger

Toronto- and Sydney-listed Tiger Resources on Friday said there will be no material impact on its operations or the continued sale of copper concentrate from its Kipoi copper mine, in the Katanga... 

Anglo American Q1 metallurgical coal, copper output up

Diversified miner Anglo American’s metallurgical coal production reached a record 7.2-million tons for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, with export metallurgical coal production having increased... 

Kumba Q1 output up 15%

JSE-listed Kumba Iron Ore’s output for the quarter ended March 31 was 15% higher quarter-on-quarter at 10.34-million tons, owing to improved production at its Sishen mine and good performance at... 

South Africa should look to tap power from big Moz gas finds

Gas would form a key part of South Africa’s future power generation mix, with the focus to fall on liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the short term and on shale gas in the long term, Standard Bank... 

Umgeni Water seeks contractor for 55 Mℓ/d raw water treatment works

State-owned water utility Umgeni Water has called on competent contractors to tender for the construction of the 55 Ml/d Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme (LTBWSS) adjacent to the Thukela... 

City Power to focus initially on larger power users as it launches smart-meter roll-out

Power utility City Power on Thursday said it was finalising a programme for the roll-out and installation of about 250 000 smart meters for consumers in Johannesburg over a three-year period. The... 

NamPower starts prequalification process for Kudu EPC contractor

Namibia’s power utility NamPower has kicked of the prequalification process for the provision of a turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solution for the 800 MW Kudu gas-to-power... 

Report raises concern over SA’s approach to construction tender evaluation

With the South African government earmarking R827-billion for infrastructure development over the next three years, the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has indicated its concern... 

DiamondCorp finalises funding package for Lace mine

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Southern African diamond development and exploration company DiamondCorp has finalised the £23-million finance package for the 47-level block cave development at... 

SA mining output up 7% year-on-year in February, reflecting low 2012 base

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Mining production in South Africa increased in February, growing 7% year-on-year, following the downwardly revised 6.7% growth in January, Statistics South... 

Continental Coal finalises Mashala Resources deal

ASX- and Aim-listed Continental Coal on Thursday said its 74%-owned South African subsidiary had completed the acquisition of the outstanding minority interests in coal mining junior Mashala... 

RBPlat reports higher production despite tough market conditions

Notwithstanding a challenging business environment, black-empowered platinum producer Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) reported a 4% year-on-year increase in total tonnes delivered to concentrators... 

SA miners most exposed to risk of tumbling gold prices – Fitch

South African miners had the biggest exposure to the risk of falling gold prices, owing to high production costs that were rising further at a fast pace, ratings agency Fitch said on Thursday. The... 

Fading confidence in collective bargaining could lead to job cuts, warns law firm

The apparent opting out of labour union membership in South Africa amid a wave of wildcat strikes, could mark a rise in employee terminations, should companies lose confidence in collective... 

Davis agrees to step down as Glencore-Xstrata merger clears last major hurdle

Xstrata CEO Mick Davis has agreed to not take up the six-month role of CEO and executive director of the combined Glencore Xstrata group – one of the conditions set by China’s Ministry of Commerce... 

Amcu indicates it will reject CoM collective bargaining proposal

Although the Chamber of Mines (CoM) was expecting to receive a formal response from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) regarding its proposed formation of a centralised... 

Firestone enters into talks with interested funders

ASX- and JSE-listed Firestone Energy has entered into discussions with interested parties regarding future funding. The company, which is currently the takeover target of fellow ASX-listed Range... 

Africa’s focus on ‘new’ infrastructure contributing to maintenance deficit

The emphasis on building new infrastructure in South Africa, as well as the rest of Africa, was to the detriment of the continent’s existing infrastructure, creating a maintenance deficit,...