DMRE, SITA request bids for development of a mining licensing system

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) have issued a request for bids in respect of the design, implementation, maintenance and... 

Dealing with rail constraints remains a priority as Thungela achieves good results

Despite the impact of ongoing rail constraints, thermal coal producer and exporter Thungela Resources managed to deliver good results for the 2022 financial year, with earnings before interest,... 

Data analytics solutions are helping mines of all sizes to digitalise

Each mine and mining company, and its needs and operations, are different; however, small, simple applications that can serve a single fit-for-purpose build or a fully integrated system that... 

More work on regulation, codes, certification and standards needed for hydrogen economy

If South Africa wants to develop a hydrogen economy, it cannot have ad hoc regulations, codes and standards (RCS) and certification systems. More work is required to develop RCS that address... 

Infrastructure backlog, waning service delivery driving people to cities – TIPS

There is a massive infrastructure backlog in historic labour-sending regions, or former homelands, and the share of households with piped water inside the house has declined in the Free State,... 

Renewables grid survey launched

Industry organisations the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and the South Africa Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) have launched the 2023 South African Renewable Energy Grid... 

Just energy transition to be job-positive, but youth skills and businesses crucial

South Africa's transition from fossil fuel dependence to a renewable energy-based economy will add more jobs than will be lost in fossil fuel value chains, but the skills that young people have to... 

South Africa urged to prioritise decarbonisation as $1.5bn worth of exports to EU at risk

South Africa should prioritise its decarbonisation strategy, as it has a carbon intensity much higher than most countries, and $1.5-billion of exports to the European Union (EU) are at risk in the... 

Welding certification for ISO 3834 increasingly being sought in mining industry – SAIW

There is a move in the South African mining industry to specify that welding fabricators and associated suppliers must obtain ISO 3834 welding certification to ensure the quality and safety of the... 

Infrastructure backlog, waning service delivery driving people to cities – TIPS

There is a massive infrastructure backlog in historic labour-sending regions, or former homelands, and the share of households with piped water inside the house has declined in the Free State,... 

Local businesses help complete R40m expansion at Impala Rustenburg's 16 Shaft operation

Platinum-group metals miner Impala Rustenburg, part of JSE-listed Impala Platinum (Implats), invested more than R40-million to expand the facilities areas at its 16 Shaft operation, which was... 

Sandvik, Rajant complete autonomous mine communications validation, testing at Venetia

Mining engineering multinational Sandvik and US-based wireless mesh networks company Rajant Corporation collaborated on digital mining tests to ensure wireless communications can be used with... 

Gold mines can play a key role in establishing infrastructure for transition to renewables

Mining companies are developing and deploying strategies to reduce climate-related risks in the locations where mines are situated, and the ability for gold mines to self-generate power on a... 

AECI posts higher full-year revenue and Ebitda, declares dividend

JSE-listed industrial and mining chemicals company AECI grew its revenue for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, by 37% year-on-year to R53-billion driven by significantly improved sales in... 

Locally made, fully automated rock bolter launched for the mining industry

A new fully automatic bolter has been launched by mining services company Buraaq into the South African mining industry for use in underground and opencast operations. The Buraaq SD212i bolter is... 

40% of industrial control systems attacked with malware last year – Kaspersky

Throughout 2022, 40% of industrial control system (ICS) computers globally and 47% of ICS computers in Africa were attacked with malware, says cybersecurity company Kaspersky's Industrial Control... 

Afrimat upbeat about bulk commodities business, as construction materials business lags

JSE-listed aggregates and mining company Afrimat's executives on February 17 reported to shareholders that the company was performing well in difficult times and that there were several projects... 

Planetarium’s upgrade to ‘Digital Dome’ seeks to inspire new generation of scientists

The venerable Planetarium, on Yale road on the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) campus, in Johannesburg, is being transformed into a Digital Dome to not only provide visitors with... 

AECI appoints Holger Riemensperger as group CE

Diversified chemicals company AECI has appointed Holger Riemensperger as its Group CE and executive director, with effect from May 1. Riemensperger has held many executive and senior management... 

Gold mines can play a key role in establishing infrastructure for transition to renewables

Mining companies are developing and deploying strategies to reduce climate-related risks in the locations where mines are situated, and the ability for gold mines to self-generate power on a... 

TFR resumes limited service on North East Corridor branch lines

State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has resumed limited train services, primarily on the North East Corridor branch lines in Witbank, Belfast, Lydenburg and Steelpoort, following a massive... 

Exxaro recognised in Bloomberg Gender Equity Initiative for fourth year

Diversified miner Exxaro Resources has been recognised in the 2023 Bloomberg Gender Equity Initiative (GEI) – its fourth consecutive year of being recognised.  The group says it is a testament to... 

SAICE to showcase engineering profession

Industry association the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) will, this year, actively raise the relevance of engineering professionals, as perceived in the public sector, and... 

US to support DRC, Zambia EV battery supply chain goals

The US has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to strengthen electric vehicle (EV) battery value chains. Under the terms of the MoU,... 

Robots trusted to do noncritical manufacturing tasks

In South Africa, 86% of manufacturing employees surveyed trust robots to do cleaning and 83% trust them to deliver parcels and orders, but fewer than half of employees, or 43%, would trust robots... 

VoltVision launches power analytics centre in Johannesburg

Digitised industrial power networks company VoltVision has opened a global power analytics centre in Johannesburg that will provide expert technical interpretation of performance data from clients’... 

PlatAfrica jewellery competition winners visit India

The winners of the PlatAfrica jewellery design and manufacturing competition are on an all-expenses-paid trip to India, as part of their prize for winning the competition, to further inspire them... 

Kropz reports first bulk sale from Elandsfontein

Aim-listed phosphate producer and developer Kropz has completed its first shipment and sale of 33 000 t of phosphate concentrate from Kropz Elandsfontein, in South Africa. “After numerous... 

Ivanhoe, SES extend partnership for satellite connectivity at Kamoa-Kakula

Satellite connectivity provider SES and Africa-focused mining company Ivanhoe Mines has reached a new agreement to continue to provide the Kamoa-Kakula copper project, in the Democratic Republic of... 

Timing of new jobs, skills development a just energy transition worry – World Bank

A just energy transition to a low-carbon economy in South Africa is expected to result in the loss of about 300 000 jobs, but the creation of about 815 000 new jobs up to 2050. It is also expected... 

SRK Consulting SA appoints Andrew van Zyl MD

Independent consulting practice multinational SRK Consulting has appointed Andrew van Zyl MD of SRK Consulting (SA), which is the South African arm of the global SRK network of consulting... 

US, DRC and Zambia sign MoU to strengthen EV battery value chain

The US has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to strengthen electric vehicle (EV) battery value chains. Under the terms of the MoU,... 

Solidarity starts legal action against Nersa to remove private generation bottlenecks

Trade union Solidarity has served legal papers on the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to remove all bottlenecks standing in the way of private energy suppliers. Solidarity... 

Anglo appoints Alison Atkinson as projects, development group director

Mining multinational Anglo American has appointed Alison Atkinson projects and development group director and as a member of Anglo's group management committee, with effect from the second quarter... 

TFR calls on emerging miners to apply for export manganese rail, port capacity

State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has invited emerging miners who hold valid mining rights and have existing manganese mining operations to apply for two-million tons a year of export... 

VoltVision launches power analytics centre in Joburg

Digitised industrial power networks company VoltVision has opened a global power analytics centre in Johannesburg that will provide expert technical interpretation of performance data from clients’... 

Orion Minerals appoints Peet van Coller as CFO

JSE-listed metals exploration and development company Orion Minerals has announced that Peet van Coller has been appointed CFO, with effect from April 1, 2023. The appointment forms part of a... 

High Court orders DMRE to release records of decision to include new coal power in IRP 2019

In an early victory for CancelCoal applicants, the Pretoria High Court on December 12 ordered Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe to release records relating to the decision to... 

Study shows mines can reduce energy costs by improving secondary ventilation systems

A recent study conducted at a mine with close to 3 MW of underground auxiliary fan power determined that there were electrical inefficiencies of 25%, while the system also delivered 40% less... 

Mpumalanga renewables study highlights importance of TVETs for value chains

A co-benefits study undertaken by industrial research body the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has shown that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges...