Unions express dismay over mining sector retrenchments

Trade unions the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have expressed their dissatisfaction with the plans announced by various mining... 

Kumba weathers headwinds but 490 jobs at risk as it reconfigures business

Anglo American subsidiary Kumba Iron Ore delivered solid operational and financial results for the year ended December 31, 2023, despite macroeconomic challenges; however, about 490 jobs could be... 

UCT research aims to help stakeholders mitigate mine closure risks

Research published in the International Journal of Mining by University of Cape Town (UCT) Future Water Institute academic Dr Megan Cole has indicated that 48 of South Africa’s 230 operating mines... 

Copper 360 raises about R100m in additional funding

JSE-listed Copper 360, formerly Big Tree Copper, has raised additional funding of R99.8-million through the issue of shares for cash on certain terms and conditions, aligned to the company’s... 

Lucara signs new ten-year diamond sales agreement with HB Group

Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp has entered into a new diamond sales agreement (NDSA) with processer and trader HB Group out of Antwerp, Belgium, in respect of qualifying “special”... 

Vedanta starts provision of funding to KCM in Zambia

Global natural resources company Vedanta Resources has started providing funding to Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), in Zambia, and has disbursed its first $25-million for employee salaries, contract... 

Long stop date for Xtract’s disposal of Mozambique project extended

Aim-listed Xtract Resources says the long stop date in relation to the disposal of its entire interests in the Manica gold project, in Mozambique, has been extended from February 15 to February 23... 

First Quantum exercises option over two licences in Zambia

Canada-based First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has exercised its option over the remaining two licences in the Central Africa Copperbelt from an object agreement with London-listed African Pioneer’s... 

Geopolitical unrest to cause volatility for commodities – RMB

With geopolitical instability persisting globally, especially in the form of conflict between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East, commodities are set for a volatile year, and the risk of... 

Updated MRE for Sylvania’s Volspruit project shows improved grades

Aim-listed Sylvania Platinum has announced the completion of a mineral resource estimate (MRE) update for its Volspruit project, located on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex in South... 

Energy transition driving continued surge in metals, mining M&A activity

The ongoing surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the metals and mining sector is expected to continue into this year, driven by the global energy transition, with industry players... 

Premier to raise £2.48m for its Zulu project

Aim-listed Premier African Minerals intends to raise £2.48-million before expenses through a subscription to advance its Zulu lithium and tantalum project. “This placement assures Zulu of plant... 

Sean Wade to be appointed Katoro chairperson subject to due diligence

Aim-listed Katoro Gold has announced the proposed appointment of Sean Wade as nonexecutive chairperson of the company, conditional only on the satisfactory completion of stock market due diligence,... 

Shuka settles legacy dispute with Upendo Group over Tanzania licence

Aim-listed Shuka Minerals, previously known as Edenville Energy, has signed a definitive settlement agreement with Upendo Group, which holds a historic residual 10% interest in the Rukwa coal... 

Urgent policy reforms the only way to save the mining sector, says Old Mutual Investment Group

It is policy uncertainty that is deterring investors from investing in the country’s mining sector and structural reform is needed to allow the sector to regain competitiveness, Old Mutual... 

Philip Kotze steps down from Orion Minerals board

JSE- and ASX-listed Orion Minerals has accepted the resignation of Philip Kotze from the board, with immediate effect. During the past several months, Orion has undertaken a review of its board’s... 

First Quantum in talks with utility to improve Zambia’s grid efficiency

Stabilisation of the national power grid is a prerequisite to increasing Zambia’s copper production to three-million tonnes a year, says miner First Quantum Minerals (FQM). Ensuring that power was... 

Pan African on track to deliver full-year guidance following strong interim period

Gold miner Pan African Resources delivered an “excellent” safety, production and financial performance for the six months ended December 31, 2023, which positions the group well to deliver on its... 

SRK Consulting makes director, partner appointments in South African operations

Global consultancy SRK Consulting has appointed partner and principal geologist (geotechnical) Robert Armstrong as a director in its South African consulting practice. Armstrong has been with the... 

Mixed bag for December mining production, sales

Mining production increased by 0.6% year-on-year in December, driven by platinum group metals (PGMs) and coal, Statistics South Africa principal survey statistician Juan-Pierre Terblanche outlines.... 

Perpetua receives more government funding

TSX-listed Perpetua Resources’ wholly owned subsidiary, Perpetua Resources Idaho, has been conditionally awarded up to $34.6-million in additional funding under the existing Technology Investment... 

Arizona’s Prairie pilot plant in final phase, performing well

The direct lithium extraction (DLE) pilot plant at the Prairie project in Saskatchewan, Canada has processed more than 200 000 ℓ of brine, and has produced “exceptional” results during operations... 

Hillgrove starts producing copper at Kanmantoo

ASX-listed Hillgrove Resources has produced first concentrate from the Kanmantoo copper mine, in South Australia, following successful commissioning of the processing facility. Plant commissioning... 

Black Cat extends timing of $51m funding package

ASX-listed Black Cat Syndicate has extended the timing of its remaining A$51-million funding package from February 28, to May 31. Subject to completion, the funding package will be used to restart... 

Katoro takes steps to reinvigorate the company

Aim-listed Katoro Gold, which holds mining assets in Africa, has secured new financing and is implementing business and development changes, along with board changes, to reinvigorate the company.... 

Kore’s JSE share price rises on confirmation of receipt of EPC proposal, draft contract

Triple-listed Kore Potash’s share price on the JSE surged by more than 30% on February 9 after it confirmed that PowerChina International Group had, on February 6, delivered its engineering,... 

RMB, Clairfield International ink partnership deal

Europe-based global corporate finance partnership Clairfield International and FirstRand Bank division Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), have formally agreed to partner, marking both firms’ commitment to... 

Implats warns of more than 80% decrease in interim earnings

JSE-listed Impala Platinum (Implats) expects to report an up to 83% year-on-year decrease in headline earnings for the six months to December 31, 2023, as a result of lower revenue arising from a... 

Gold mining industry striving to build on sustainability strides

Striving for sustainability in every facet of the gold mining industry’s value chain is imperative and while considerable progress has been made in several areas, including responsible practices... 

Anglo’s fourth-quarter production in line with expectations despite rail constraints

Diversified miner Anglo American’s production for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023, was in line with expectations and in line with production in the third quarter, despite the deliberate... 

Blencowe welcomes new African investor

Aim-listed Blencowe Resources has raised $500 000 (£392 350) from a specialist Africa-based investor through the issue of 7.8-million new ordinary shares. The investor has undertaken extensive due... 

Kenmare receives commitments for new $200m credit facility

London-listed Kenmare Resources, which operates the Moma titanium minerals mine in northern Mozambique, has received commitments in respect of a new $200-million revolving credit facility (RCF).... 

Sable Mining, IPace agree additional funding for DMS beneficiation plant

JSE-listed Sable Exploration and Mining’s subsidiary Sable Platinum Holdings (SPH) and IPace on February 2 entered into a term sheet for additional funding of R1-million payable by SPH for a dense... 

West African’s 2024 production to align with long-term mining plan

ASX-listed West African Resources expects its Sanbrado mine, in Burkina Faso, to produce between 190 000 oz and 210 000 oz of gold this year, consistent with the company’s long-term mining plan.... 

Pensana’s Longonjo MRE carbonate receives product quality approval

One of London-listed Pensana’s major potential customers has approved the product qualification specifications for Longonjo’s proposed mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) product. Longonjo, in... 

Rainbow achieves group separation of REEs during ongoing test work in the US

London-listed Rainbow Rare Earths has made progress with the ongoing rare earth oxide separation work under way at the back-end pilot plant, which is located at the facilities of Rainbow’s... 

Bushveld meets full-year guidance, but cash flow challenges persist

Aim-listed Bushveld Minerals met its 2023 production guidance and was able to achieve a level of operational performance in the first half of the financial year, despite facing cash flow... 

IRH commits up to $1.1bn for 50% interest in Mopani Copper Mines

Aim-listed ZCCM-Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has confirmed that it has entered into an agreement with International Resources Holding (IRH), which will, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Delta... 

Transnet says rail volumes recovered slightly in the last quarter of 2023

Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) says it experienced an improvement in rail volumes in the last quarter of the 2023 calendar year, as the implementation of Transnet’s recovery plan got under way. The... 

Regulator celebrates centenary of Dr Merensky’s discovery of PGM deposits in South Africa

State entity the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator (SADPMR) will hold its South Africa Platinum Centenary Commemoration event in Cape Town, on February 4,  a day before the...