Northam achieves record H1 operating profit, R5bn in revenue

Northam, in an operational update released on Thursday, announced that it expects to report a record operating profit of R1-billion for the six months ended December 31, 2018. Its operating profit... 

Pan African’s low-cost Elikhulu exceeding expectations

Pan African Resources’ Elikhulu operation, in Evander, Mpumalanga is achieving a better-than-expected production performance, CEO Cobus Loots noted during an investor and media tour at the... 

Natural diamond industry performing well despite less positive narrative

Based on diamond miner equities, sentiment surrounding the diamond industry is currently at a historically low level, says diamond analyst Paul Zimnisky. However, global diamond jewellery sales... 

Australia’s CSIRO investigating bioremediation of mine wastewater

Scientists from the Australian research organisation Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) are using microbes and other methods to remove valuable metals and... 

Gold gets a safe-haven boost – Refinitiv’s GFMS report

Gold has benefitted in the fourth quarter of 2018 from investors seeking safe-havens, the latest GFMS Gold Survey, which Refinitiv released on Wednesday, states. Renewed interest from professional... 

Minerals Council's Langenhoven warns of tipping point for mining if electricity tariffs increase by 15% a year

State-owned utility Eskom’s proposed tariff increases would cost some 150 000 direct mining jobs, all but eliminate the gold sector and, as a consequence, reduce Eskom’s mining client base by... 

Indaba celebrates silver anniversary, reaffirms commitment to Africa

The 2019 Investing in African Mining Indaba – to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 4 to 7 – will be the twenty-fifth iteration of the event, with the “world’s... 

Indaba celebrates silver anniversary, reaffirms commitment to Africa

The 2019 Investing in African Mining Indaba – to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 4 to 7 – will be the twenty-fifth iteration of the event, with the “world’s... 

Metso technology incorporated into Pilot Modular crushing, screening products

Crushing and screening company Pilot Crushtec International’s award-winning Pilot Modular range of semi-mobile crushing and screening products will now feature Metso crushing and screening... 

BME to focus on product improvement and organic growth

With commodity prices either stabilising or improving and several mining projects entering the last stages of development or coming online in 2019, explosives company BME aims to enhance its... 

Gold, copper prices to rebound in 2019 – Fitch Solutions

Increased economic uncertainty and declining metal stocks are expected to drive gold and copper prices this year, Fitch Solutions commodities analyst Sabrin Chowdhury stated during a webcast on... 

SA company wins international award for ventilation shaft repair and waterproofing

On the November 9, 2018, for the first time in more than two decades, a South African company won the Award of Excellence at the International Concrete Repair Institute Awards, which took place in... 

Moroccan authorities announce closure of 2 000 illegal mine shafts

Moroccan authorities closed 2 000 “abandoned and illicitly exploited shafts” last year, the AFP reported last week following an announcement by the Moroccan energy and mines ministry. The ministry... 

First Quantum achieves record copper sales, production in 2018

TSX-listed copper miner First Quantum has announced record production and sales for 2018, with copper output rising by 6% and sales by 3%. Total copper production amounted to 605 853 t, compared... 

Lundin’s strong Q4 boosts full-year production results

TSX-listed Lundin Mining has achieved, or exceeded, its yearly guidance at all of its operations, the diversified miner announced on Tuesday, releasing production results for the three and twelve... 

Policy certainty lifts sentiment, safety slips and a challenging 2019 forecast

Improved sentiment on the back of a newly appointed Minerals Resources Minister, the publication of and the subsequent consensus on Mining Charter 3 after extensive consultations, and mixed global... 

Synthetic diamonds hogged media attention in 2018

Media coverage of the diamond industry in 2018 has been dominated by the progression of laboratory-created diamond production, distribution and pricing dynamics, according to independent diamond... 

Prieska project edging closer to construction

Dual-listed base metals miner Orion Minerals will release an updated Joint Ore Reserves Committee- (Jorc-) compliant resource statement for its Prieska zinc/copper project later this month. The... 

Jon Hericourt

This week Mining Weekly features Jon Hericourt, the VP Operations of the Gold One Group, a 2 400-employee, R7-bilion gold mining company active on South Africa's East Rand. 

Policy certainty lifts sentiment, safety slips and a challenging 2019 forecast

Improved sentiment on the back of a newly appointed Minerals Resources Minister, the publication of and the subsequent consensus on Mining Charter 3 after extensive consultations, and mixed global... 

Synthetic diamonds hogged media attention in 2018

Media coverage of the diamond industry in 2018 has been dominated by the progression of laboratory-created diamond production, distribution and pricing dynamics, independent diamond expert Paul... 

New technology poised to slash metals sector’s reliance on imported metallurgical coal

A patented coking coal production process is being introduced to the South African metals sector by black woman-owned company Vardocap to reduce the sector’s reliance on metallurgical coal imports... 

Gold One launches R100m plant expansion project

ASX- and JSE-listed Gold One International on Friday celebrated the official launch of its R100-million plant expansion project at the Modder East operations in Springs. Gold One Operations VP Jon... 

Springs-based fuel cell SEZ approved

The special economic zone (SEZ) for fuel cell development, proposed for development by the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone initiative and Impala Platinum (Implats), has been approved, Implats... 

HySA strategy bears fruit with multiple projects nearing commercialisation

The Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) strategy has produced multiple inventions and pilot projects that are nearing commercialisation, Department of Science and Technology Hydrogen and Energy chief... 

DST hosts hydrogen fuel cell technology conference

Global stakeholders in the multibillion-dollar fuel cell industry will meet in Pretoria this week for the thirtieth Steering Committee Meeting of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel... 

Canadian govt introduces measures to boost mining

Measures included in the 2018 Fall Economic Statement (FES) will provide an “important boost for Canadian mining competitiveness”, industry organisation Mining Association of Canada (MAC) noted in... 

Lonmin returns to profitability ahead of Sibanye-Stillwater merger

Platinum group metals (PGMs) miner Lonmin on Thursday announced a return to profit for the 2018 financial year, with revenue up 6.3% year-on-year to $1.3-billion and an operating profit amounting... 

Platinum supply, demand expected to increase in 2019 – WPIC

Global platinum demand will marginally outpace supply in 2019 – increasing by 2.4% and 1.6%, respectively – the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) announced in its latest Platinum Quarterly... 

Gold Fields warns striking workers there will be no ‘sweetener’ deals

JSE- and NYSE-listed Gold Fields says the settlement agreement offered to striking workers will expire at 17:00 on Friday, November 30, and warns that no further “sweetener deals” will be... 

Gold One launches R100m plant expansion project

ASX- and JSE-listed Gold One International on Friday celebrated the official launch of its R100-million plant expansion project at the Modder East operations in Springs. Gold One Operations VP Jon... 

New administrations, policies spur optimism for South Africa, Brazil

The withdrawal of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act Amendment Bill, the finalisation of Mining Charter 3 and the investment drive led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has given the... 

South African infrastructure better suited to transporting precious metals than base metals

South Africa’s (SA’s) transport infrastructure was built for and remains suited to the movement of precious metals and diamonds, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) consultant Biddy Faber told attendees... 

Short-course participants learn about theoretical, practical aspects of diamond exploration

Leading diamond exploration, evaluation and mining geologists Dr Mike de Wit and Dr John Bristow – in collaboration with the University of Pretoria Geology Department and Enterprises University of... 

Artisanal gold mining in Peru causing large-scale deforestation

Small-scale gold mining has destroyed more than 68 000 ha of primary rainforest in the Peruvian Amazon in the past five years, according to a new analysis by scientists at US-based private tertiary... 

Although trending lower, lung disease incidence in SA mines still ‘alarmingly high’

With the reaffirmation of tripartite commitments at the 2018 Mine Occupational Heath and Safety Summit and the publication of the Compensation for Occupational Diseases Act (Coida) Amendment Bill,... 

Instil portable skills to assist economic development post closure – consultancy

Mining companies’ social and labour plans (SLPs) should incorporate initiatives or programmes aimed at reskilling workers and uplifting community members through the development of portable skills,... 

South Africa lacks clear policy on public transport financing

South Africa does not have clearly defined policy on the funding and financing of public transport infrastructure and operations, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi told delegates at the... 

Tony Harwood

This week Mining Weekly features Tony Harwood, the president and CEO of the TSV-listed Montero Mining, which is engaged in the exploration and development of battery metals in Africa 

Although trending lower, lung disease incidence in SA mines still ‘alarmingly high’

With the reaffirmation of tripartite commitments at the 2018 Mine Occupational Heath and Safety Summit and the publication of the Compensation for Occupational Diseases Act (Coida) Amendment Bill,...