South Africa can return to being global ferroalloy hub, ARM’s Andre Joubert reiterates

South Africa has extensively tested highly convincing home-grown smelting technology that has the potential to re-establish this country as a global ferroalloys hub by enabling it to produce... 

South Africa Inc must get cracking on EU’s platinum, green hydrogen opportunity

Last month's EU-South Africa Summit in Cape Town was a real eye-opener. It showed the depth of insight that Europe has in South Africa’s platinum group metals (PGMs) endowment, the ability of our... 

Robotic rig uplifts productivity 50%, cuts water 75%, Master Drilling reports

A robotic rig deployed at a project last year increased productivity by about 50% and consumed 75% less water than the more conventional rigs working on the same contract, Master Drilling director... 

Co-products providing resilience against PGM price volatility, Anglo Platinum reports

The product basket of Anglo American Platinum contains eight more products then the five platinum group metals (PGMs) with which it is overwhelmingly associated. Moreover, growing co-product... 

Master Drilling pays nigh-R100m dividend, moves needle on South Africa’s mining front

Drilling and mechanised rock excavation technology solutions company Master Drilling, which was established in 1986 and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Limited in 2012, has declared a... 

Demerging AngloPlat has confidence in outlook for planet-friendly platinum group metals

Confidence in the outlook for platinum group metals (PGMs) was expressed at the capital markets day of Anglo American Platinum, which is on its way to becoming the demerged and standalone Valterra... 

Namibia, India, China, Europe, Australia, Scotland, Bulgaria advancing green hydrogen

Namibia has produced its first green hydrogen; India has announced subsidies worth $259-million for nine companies in its second green hydrogen auction;  China has fired the starting gun on a new... 

Harmony investing R2bn in underground gold mines, earmarking R1bn for surface gold

During this financial year, South Africa’s largest gold mining company will be investing more than R3-billion in its South African assets. “We're on an exciting growth path,” Harmony Gold CEO... 

Northam Platinum’s big solar thrust to save R700m a year, much more to come

The area south of the metallurgical complex at Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde platinum group metals (PGM) mine in Limpopo has been cleared for the construction of the first of the Johannesburg... 

Impala firmly intent on prospering on current PGM prices

The firm intention of South Africa’s Impala Platinum (Implats) is to prosper on current platinum group metals (PGM) prices. This was made clear by Implats CEO Nico Muller during the presentation of... 

Available local technology must be taken up fast to help reindustrialise South Africa

Strong public-private collaboration is needed to help South Africa to win back its top position in ferrochrome, ferromanganese, ferroalloys and even some other metals. The restart know-how is... 

PGM market adjusts to shifting supply and demand, Nedbank CIB reports

Shifting investment priorities and geopolitical uncertainty continue to shape the outlook for commodities, with platinum group metals (PGMs) facing unique pressures, Nedbank CIB markets research... 

Beneficiation: Govt, mining companies must get on with it – together, analyst urges

Globally rated metals & mining analyst and portfolio manager Shamim Mansoor is urging government and mining companies to get on with it – together – to add value through downstream beneficiation to... 

South Africa’s Rand Refinery is world-leading gold market referee, LBMA highlights

With the gold price soaring sky-high, insight into the global gold assaying and refining standards that need to be upheld was intensively communicated this week at the conference of the London... 

Exxaro bullish on renewables, foresees decade of significant green energy growth

In the next ten years, renewable energy market growth indications point to 30 GW of clean power capacity coming into play. That is the calculation of Leon Groenewald, the MD of Exxaro Energy, the... 

Action needed along entire gold value chain from ‘rock to ring’, LBMA event is told

In terms of sustainability and responsible sourcing, the 2025 focus of the independent London-based precious metals association – the LBMA – will be on mandatory disclosure, recycled gold and... 

Platinum given major boost by EU backing green hydrogen generation in South Africa

South Africa’s world-leading platinum group metals (PGM) endowment received a major boost when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen referred specifically to clean energy and green... 

On-The-Air (14/03/2025)

This Friday, SAfm’s radio anchor Jon Gericke spoke to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly. Reported here is this Friday’s At the Coalface transcript: Gericke:... 

Sibanye-Stillwater decides against proceeding with US lithium-boron project

The board of directors of the Johannesburg- and New York-listed Sibanye-Stillwater has decided not to proceed with the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron joint venture (JV) project in North America.... 

Anglo American Platinum providing further backing for green hydrogen’s global advance

JSE-listed Anglo American Platinum and South Africa-linked AP Ventures are supporting the next vital steps towards the realisation of industrial-scale green hydrogen value chains. Both companies... 

‘Exciting’ DRDGOLD projects ‘advancing well’ as 2028 Vision gets big gold price boost

Johannesburg- and New York-listed DRDGOLD’s projects under way are “advancing very well” as the gold-from-tailings company’s 2028 Vision gets a massive boost from the sky-high gold price. Mining... 

Needed now is mindfulness, alertness, watchfulness, uptake, commitment

Never has it been more important for South Africans to collaborate in very committed fashion on all things that keep businesses afloat and enable new business opportunities to materialise.... 

Exxaro boosting small business, education, post-mining economies, farming ventures

As at the end of December, the social investments of Exxaro Resources amounted to R2.1-billion amid the bettering of lives and livelihoods being declared core by this black-controlled Johannesburg... 

Seasoned campaigner Ben Magara to assume Exxaro CEO role from April 1

Mining veteran Bennetor (Ben) Magara has been appointed as the new incoming CEO of Exxaro Resources, effective from April 1. Magara, a mining engineer with more than 35 years of mining industry... 

‘Very promising’ narrow-reef boring technology nearing rollout stage, ARM reports

The rollout of new narrow-reef boring technology, which has the potential to boost platinum group metal (PGM) grades, lower unit costs, enhance safety, and streamline downstream materials handling,... 

South Africa can return to being global ferroalloy hub, ARM’s Andre Joubert reiterates

South Africa has extensively tested highly convincing home-grown smelting technology that has the potential to re-establish this country as a global ferroalloys hub by enabling it to produce... 

New ferroalloy technology pilot results ‘looking great’, Merafe presentation hears

The results of the pilot testing of a new Proudly South African smelting technology, which lowers electricity usage and has the potential to render local ferroalloy beneficiation globally... 

African Rainbow Minerals is confident platinum group metals pricing will increase

Dr Patrice Motsepe, the executive chairperson of the diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals, on Friday expressed confidence that platinum group metal (PGM) prices will increase in the... 

On-The-Air (07/03/2025)

Martin Creamer talks about Harmony Gold’s R3-billion investment in its South African assets; Northam Platinum's significant solar energy plans; and WPIC reporting that the platinum market is in a... 

African Rainbow Minerals declares R1bn-plus interim cash dividend

The board of African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) has declared an interim dividend of R4.50 a share amounting to R1 011-million for the half-year of financial year (FY) 2025, the Johannesburg Stock... 

High-flying DRDGOLD’s 18th consecutive dividend illuminated by 50%-higher payout

Johannesburg- and New York-listed DRDGOLD on Tuesday, February 18, reported soaring half-year operating profit and 28%-higher revenue for the six months to December 31. The strongly performing... 

Craig Miller excited at prospect of demerged Amplats being resurgent PGM producer

Soon-to-be renamed Anglo American Platinum is being positioned to be as competitive as possible for the long term and to deliver on its full potential for all of stakeholders, CEO Craig Miller made... 

New ultra-low iridium collaboration is promising major green hydrogen magnification

The acronyms are becoming more intense, with PTE, which stands for porous transport electrodes, the latest one, amid the already tried and trusted proton exchange membrane (PEM) popping up for... 

Let’s pull together smartly and make full use of unfolding economic opportunities

When it comes to enabling economic growth, South Africans must set aside all ideological differences and pull together smartly, particularly in the fields of energy, digitisation, and the business... 

Harmony Gold well down the track with its cost-effective renewable-energy build

South Africa’s biggest gold mining company is well down the track with its solar build amid group operating free cash flows increasing by 46% to a new half-year record of R10.4-billion in the six... 

Platinum deficit worsens beyond forecast, World Platinum Investment Council reports

The platinum market recorded a deficit of 995 000 oz for full year 2024, which is 46% higher than previously forecast, as total demand exceeded eight-million ounces for the first time since 2019... 

Harmony investing R2bn in underground gold mines, earmarking R1bn for surface gold

During this financial year, South Africa’s largest gold mining company will be investing more than R3-billion in its South African assets. “We're on an exciting growth path,” Harmony Gold CEO... 

Stellar Harmony Gold results drive record free cash, R1.4bn dividend declaration

Record interim free cash flow generation and the highest-ever interim dividend payout was declared on Tuesday by Harmony Gold Mining Company. The gold price has continued to rally since the... 

Great hydrogen economy strides in China, Europe, Northam Platinum reports

Great strides are being made in the green hydrogen economy in particularly China and Europe, journalists heard during a media conference, where Northam Platinum emphasised the “absolutely... 

Northam Platinum’s big solar thrust to save R700m a year, much more to come

The area south of the metallurgical complex at Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde platinum group metals (PGM) mine in Limpopo has been cleared for the construction of the first of the Johannesburg...