BHP Billiton not waiting on price recovery, outlines value-add strategy

Though diversified mining major BHP Billiton remains confident in the long-term outlook for commodities, it is not waiting for prices to recover. Instead, it is looking to increase value by... 

Durban water conference to home in on shortages

With parts of KwaZulu-Natal suffering some of the worst effects of the severe drought plaguing the region, Durban will play host to this year’s Water Institute of Southern Africa Conference and... 

Survey reveals 40% of South Africans would justify unethical behaviour to meet targets

Recognising the threat that bribery and corruption pose to a financial system already under stress, an overwhelming 86% of South African executives agree that the effective prosecution of... 

In big logistical effort, turbine components begin Loeriesfontein journey

The first of 1 098 wind turbine components are en route from the deepwater Port of Ngqura, 20 km north-east of Port Elizabeth, to Loeriesfontein, in the Northern Cape, which will soon become home... 

Sylvania Q3 results benefit from basket price recovery

Owing to a 10% recovery in the platinum-group metals (PGMs) basket prices in the third quarter ended March 31, low-cost platinum-group metals (PGMs) producer Sylvania Platinum’s revenue increased... 

Nevsun, Reservoir merge to create new midtier base metals company

Dual-listed base metals miner Nevsun Resources has agreed to acquire TSX-listed Reservoir Minerals for about $365-million to create a new, diversified midtier base metals mining company. 

African Potash inks participation agreement as Windmill deal falls through

Aim-listed exploration company African Potash announced on Friday that its fertiliser trade agreement with Southern Africa-based fertiliser producer Windmill has been terminated, owing to the... 

First phase of N8 highway rehab due for completion in June

The first of two contracts that will see the rehabilitation of the N8 highway between Bloemfontein and Thaba Nchu is due for completion in June, the South African National Roads Agency Limited... 

Acacia Q1 results undercut by Tanzania tax crackdown

Despite London-listed Acacia Mining reporting a strong operational performance for the three months ended March 31, which includes the company’s best cost performance since 2010, the... 

Solidarity lists 'devastating consequences' of proposed new Mining Charter

The proposed new broad-based black economic-empowerment (BBBEE) Mining Charter could mean devastating consequences for the ailing mining industry, believes trade union Solidarity, which strongly... 

Western Cape aims to leverage new economy, tourism in quest for jobs

Leveraging the Western Cape’s reputation as the “digital gateway to Africa” and a growing platform for new entrepreneurs, provincial Economic Opportunities Minister Alan Winde recently recommitted... 

Banks obliged to ensure that clients abide by the law, says Basa

In an attempt to clarify ongoing speculation following Standard Bank and Nedbank’s move last week to sever ties with the Gupta-linked Oakbay Resources, the Banking Association of South Africa... 

Lucapa recovers more large special, pink diamonds from Lulo

ASX-listed diamond miner Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered more special and fancy-coloured diamonds from its Angola-based Lulo diamond project in Angola, including a 59 ct Type I diamond and a... 

Sentula interim CEO assumes role permanently

JSE-listed mining services provider Sentula Mining announced on Friday that its interim CEO, Jacques Badenhorst, would now assume the position permanently, retroactive from March 1. Previously a... 

Johannesburg Roads Agency appoints new MD

Following a rigorous selection process from a long list of candidates, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has appointed civil engineer Dr Sean Phillips as its new MD. Phillips, who boasted a... 

Sun City’s R1bn refurb project due for completion in 2017

JSE-listed resort hotel group Sun International’s best-known local resort, Sun City, in the North West, is currently undergoing a five-year, R1-billion upgrade that will hopefully restore the... 

Miner dies at Lonmin's JV Pandora shaft following fall-of-ground accident

A rock-drill operator has died at Lonmin's EPL 3 Joint Venture (JV) Pandora shaft following a fall-of-ground accident on Wednesday, the platinum miner confirms. Goodman Mangisa was the only... 

Responsible mining standards published ahead of global certification programme launch

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) has published the second and revised draft of its Standard for Responsible Mining, which it released on Tuesday for public comment and a... 

Eastplats in the clear as Ontario court dismisses class action lawsuit

The proposed securities class action lawsuit against JSE- and TSX-listed Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) has been dismissed by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the South Africa-focused platinum... 

Pan African completes acquisition of Uitkomst colliery

Dual-listed precious metals mining group Pan African Resources has completed the acquisition of Uitkomst colliery from investment holdings company Oakleaf Investment Holdings and minerals company... 

South African Navy awards contract for new communications system

South African defence and security company Saab Grintek Defence (SGD), the local subsidiary of Swedish aerospace and defence group Saab, has been awarded a contract by Armscor’s Institute for... 

South African, Italian research collaboration yields all-in-one laser breakthrough

A South African-Italian research team has conceptualised an all-in-one laser that produces several types of beams to serve a variety of industrial applications, including microscopy, imaging, laser... 

Commodities slump might give South Africa ‘breathing space’ to prepare for next uptick

  It has been generally acknowledged among industry stakeholders that, compared with its global counterparts, Africa’s mining industry has significantly underperformed, despite market challenges... 

Commodities slump might give South Africa 'breathing space' to prepare for next uptick

It has generally been acknowledged among industry insiders that, compared with its global counterparts, Africa’s mining industry has significantly underperformed in recent years, despite market... 

Gemfields posts strong Q2 results, ups emerald production by 41%

AIM-listed precious gems producer Gemfields enjoyed a strong second quarter in the three months to December 31, delivering positive results across all operations, including a 41% increase in... 

Stellar Diamonds exports 3 341 ct from Baoulé project

West Africa-focused diamond development company Stellar Diamonds has exported a diamond parcel worth 3 341 ct – extracted through an ongoing trial mining programme – from its Baoulé kimberlite... 

Endeavour Silver cuts silver production by more than a quarter

Owing to the dipping price of silver, dual-listed Canadian miner Endeavour Silver plans to reduce silver production this year by more than a quarter to achieve a substantially lower all-in... 

PotashCorp cuts dividend by 34% after lower-than-expected quarterly profit

TSX- and NYSE-listed potash and fertiliser producer PotashCorp, of Saskatchewan, has decided to cut its quarterly dividend by 34%, owing to the challenging market conditions and emerging market... 

Cliffs Natural Resources reports smaller net loss year-on-year

NYSE-listed iron-ore miner Cliffs Natural Resources has reported a net loss of $748-million for the full-year ended December 31, 2015 – a smaller loss compared with the $8.3-billion net loss... 

Chile’s Antofagasta hopes to boost 2016 copper output by at least 12.6%

On the back of an “undeniably difficult 2015” resulting in a 10.6% year-on-year drop in total copper production, Chilean miner Antofagasta hopes to boost its 2016 copper production by between 12.6%... 

First Quantum evaluating alternative power options for Zambia mines

Providing an update on power supply to its Zambian operations, dual-listed base metals miner First Quantum Minerals noted on Tuesday that its Kansanshi mine and smelter, as well as its Sentinel... 

Eldorado remains committed to Greek assets, despite $1.2bn preliminary impairment

TSX- and NYSE-listed low-cost gold producer Eldorado Gold Corporation, which earlier this month suspended mine construction and development at Skouries mine in northern Greece, expects to write... 

Acacia aims to up 2016 production by at least 18 000 oz

Tanzania-based gold miner Acacia Mining expects to increase production by at least 18 000 oz in 2016 to between 750 000 oz and 780 000 oz, at a significantly reduced all-in sustaining cost (AISC)... 

Competition Tribunal lifts conditions on Zimco, Atlantis merger

The Competition Tribunal has approved a request by South African industrial and base metals producer Zimco Group to lift certain conditions imposed by the Competition Commission in 2014, when it... 

NUM delivers list of grievances to De Beers

About 150 National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members on Thursday took to the streets of Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, to protest the sale of South African diamond-mining company De Beers... 

South African infrastructure assets rank 33 in global 500 ranking

The South African government has been ranked thirty-third out of this year’s top 500 global infrastructure owners, up two places from last year with a 0.55% increase in its infrastructure assets to... 

New software enables local mines to shorten survey cycles

Three Southern African mine owner-operators have upgraded their mine survey capability using software launched last year by global infrastructure software developer Bentley Systems. To increase... 

Software developer halts implementation of mine design product in SA as industry’s woes deepen

The implementation in South African mines of infrastructure software manufacturer Bentley Systems’ MineCycle Designer has been put on the back burner for now, owing to challenges currently facing... 

Software developer halts implementation of mine design product on local mines

The implementation in South African mines of infrastructure software manufacturer Bentley Systems’ MineCycle Designer has been put on the back burner for now, owing to challenges currently facing... 

New software enables local mine owners to shorten survey cycles, increase production agility

Three Southern African mine owner-operators have upgraded their mine survey capability using software launched last year by global infrastructure software developer Bentley Systems. To increase...