How 30 years of democracy has transformed South Africa’s mining industry

South Africa’s 30 years of democracy has changed the character of this country’s mining industry profoundly, Minerals Council South Africa emphasised in a report that highlights the industry’s... 

Copper 360 ships concentrate, on course to pay first dividend next year

South Africa's rapidly advancing copper producer Copper 360 has shipped copper concentrate from the Northern Cape province for the first time in 21 years, which saw its shares rise by more than 26%... 

Standout copper intercept in Northern Cape sends Orion’s shares soaring on Australian exchange

The richness of South Africa’s copper assets were emphasised on Monday when Northern Cape mine developer and explorer Orion Minerals published a standout intercept that sent its shares rocketing up... 

South Africa simply must get mineral exploration going again at pace

South Africa’s Exploration Plan, released in 2022, set an ambitious target of raising South Africa’s share of global exploration dollars  from below the 1% where it is now to 5% in as many years.... 

Hydrogen’s ‘irreplaceable’ role highlighted by platinum-linked venture capital provider

The role of hydrogen in the decarbonisation of the hardest-to-abate sectors of the global economy continues to be highlighted as “irreplaceable” by AP Ventures, the independent venture capital fund... 

South Deep wind power decision drawing closer, Q2 update likely on backfill problem

Mining company Gold Fields expects to be in a position to decide on the establishment of a wind power project at the South Deep gold mine, west of Johannesburg, in the third quarter of this year.... 

South Deep gold output well down as Gold Fields implements recovery plan

With first-quarter gold production down 34% at South Deep gold mine, Gold Fields is focusing on setting up the well-endowed long-life Gauteng operation for longevity, quality ounces and sustainable... 

Copper 360’s underground copper mine set to open three months ahead of schedule

Last month copper mining company Copper 360 surprised on the upside by producing its first copper concentrate from surface material well ahead of schedule. Now, this month, it is doing the same on... 

Platinum-based green hydrogen emerging as Winter Olympics decarbonisation pillar

Green hydrogen, which is generated with the benefit of the catalysis that platinum group metals (PGMs) provide, is being increasingly highlighted as a pillar of the global decarbonisation... 

Odds-on entry of palladium, platinum into EVs highlighted by research update

New York- and Toronto-listed Platinum Group Metals, which is emerging in South Africa’s Waterberg, on Tuesday provided an update on its new light battery technology that points to increasing... 

Joint PGM market development has paid dividends, could pay many more, Platinum Day told

The market development aspect of the platinum group metals (PGM) industry is fundamentally key, it was repeatedly stated at last week’s 2024 Resources for Africa Platinum Day. There is strong... 

South Africa well placed to benefit from huge green hydrogen outlook, attendees hear

Green hydrogen has a massive potential future and South Africa is very well positioned to produce it, attendees of the Hydrogen Economy Discussion heard on Thursday. Most of the 90-million tonnes... 

South Africa must encourage budding Northern Cape base metals richness to unfold fully

Exploration drilling in South Africa’s Northern Cape is highlighting the richness of dormant base metals precincts there. An intercept reported last week sent the shares of the company involved... 

Thungela announces passing of Thero Setiloane

Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed coal mining company Thungela Resources has announced the passing of Thero Setiloane, who served as an independent nonexecutive director of the company. “His... 

Anglo bidder BHP intends maintaining long-standing JSE listing

Diversified mining major BHP, which has made a rejected proposal to combine with Anglo American by way of a scheme of arrangement, confirmed on Thursday that it intended maintaining its... 

Discovery, development are mining’s only true value creation drivers, Barrick highlights

Discovery and development are the only true drivers of value creation in the mining industry, Barrick president and CEO Dr Mark Bristow highlighted on Wednesday, when this standout gold and copper... 

Booming Harmony ups full-year output and grades; lowers cost and capital guidance

Execution and preparatory work on key gold projects are on track in South Africa, and early works on the copper project in Australia are to commence, Harmony Gold reported on Tuesday. In South... 

Implats platinum group metals output up amid robust demand but lacklustre pricing

Platinum group metals (PGMs) mining and marketing company Implats on Tuesday reported higher production in a period characterised by robust demand but lacklustre PGM prices. “Despite continued... 

Glencore’s Rustenburg ferrochrome smelter remains idled

Pending an improved price and cost environment, Glencore said in its first-quarter 2024 production report on Tuesday that its Rustenburg ferrochrome smelter in South Africa’s North West province... 

Gold Fields CFO takes early retirement

Gold Fields long-serving CFO Paul Schmidt, who is also an executive director of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed gold mining company, is to proceed on early retirement, the company stated in... 

Shanghai Platinum Week: Hydrogen’s going to feature big, says World Platinum Investment Council

The growth in demand for platinum applications in China is extremely high, making detailed access to the China market hugely advantageous. Providing this detailed access from July 8 to 11 will be... 

On-The-Air (26/04/2024)

Every Friday, SAfm’s radio anchor Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly. Reported here is this Friday’s At the Coalface transcript:... 

Forbes article talks up potential of green hydrogen as an energy source

There's no climate solution without hydrogen. It’s the missing piece of the clean energy puzzle, says a global CEO-led initiative that brings together leading companies with a united vision. This... 

Our platinum group metals industry must be backed to the hilt by all South Africans

The potential loss of platinum group metals (PGMs) demand to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) spells dire consequences for the South African mining industry. At risk are income streams to nearly... 

How 30 years of democracy has transformed South Africa's mining industry

South Africa’s 30 years of democracy has changed the character of this country’s mining industry profoundly, Minerals Council South Africa emphasised in a report that highlights the industry’s... 

Copper 360 ships concentrate, on course to pay first dividend next year

South Africa's rapidly advancing copper producer Copper 360 has shipped copper concentrate from the Northern Cape province for the first time in 21 years, which saw its shares rise by more than 26%... 

New green hydrogen trading base uplifting platinum group metals demand outlook

The green hydrogen sector now has a digital platform on which users can buy and sell green hydrogen by the click of a button, it was announced on Tuesday.  Euronext-listed Lhyfe, the French group... 

Anglo pleased with copper's first-quarter performance

Copper production increasing by 11% as Quellaveco achieved its highest plant throughput rate in Peru, and Collahuasi and El Soldado in Chile benefitting from higher copper grades were among the... 

Anglo helping to restore Amazon-like rainforest near Brazil iron-ore mine

Diversified mining company Anglo American is taking steps to help to restore an Amazon rainforest equivalent of which less than 10% remains intact. The Mata Atlántica carbon forest is located near... 

Rich copper intercept in N Cape sends Orion’s shares soaring on Australian exchange

The richness of South Africa’s copper assets were emphasised on Monday when Northern Cape mine developer and explorer Orion Minerals published a standout intercept that sent its shares rocketing up... 

New boost for platinum group metals may arise from emerging eFuel scale-up

The emerging use of electrofuel (eFuel) as an interchangeable substitute for petrol, diesel and aviation fuel has the potential to create important new demand for Southern Africa’s platinum group... 

South Africa must take full advantage of its prematurely halted mining R&D

The disbanded South African mining industry’s research and development (R&D) arm Comro handed South Africa’s State-owned Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) the mining R&D it had... 

Current low PGM prices not reflective of supply-demand fundamentals – Nedbank CIB

Platinum group metals (PGM) prices, where they are now, do not reflect the medium to long-term supply demand fundamentals. Instead, they are driven by short-term distortions, which imply that a... 

New platinum-based hydrogen fuel cell as cheap to make as conventional car engine

The brand-new platinum-catalysed hydrogen fuel cell system that has just been released for passenger cars reveals that fuel cells can be as cheap to manufacture as internal combustion engines... 

Minerals Council South Africa setting out to boost local demand for green hydrogen

Minerals Council South Africa is focused on increasing the domestic demand for green hydrogen, which it sees as contributing to the kickstarting of the hydrogen economy in South Africa. “The... 

Exceptional blue Cullinan diamond lifts latest Petra tender prices by 22%

The sale by Southern African diamond mining company Petra Diamonds of an exceptional blue diamond in its fifth tender cycle lifted the average prices per carat received 22% higher than those of the... 

Odds-on entry of palladium, platinum into EVs highlighted by research update

New York- and Toronto-listed Platinum Group Metals, which is emerging in South Africa’s Waterberg, on Tuesday provided an update on its new light battery technology that points to increasing... 

PGM market development has paid dividends, could pay many more, Platinum Day told

The market development aspect of the platinum group metals (PGM) industry is fundamentally key, it was repeatedly stated at last week’s 2024 Resources for Africa Platinum Day. There is strong... 

Deceased metals legend David Davis will be missed

Metal markets analyst Dr David Davis, who passed away this week at the age of 77, was closely associated with the platinum, gold and uranium mining and investment for more than four decades.  Known... 

On-The-Air (12/04/2024)

Martin Creamer talks about green hydrogen and platinum group metals.