IDC expresses interest in helping to fund Joburg’s West Wits gold project

South Africa’s State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has issued a written expression of interest and indicative funding terms in connection with the financing of Qala Shallows, which... 

Official sod-turning this month at West Rand gold recovery project

The official sod-turning ceremony for the construction of the Mogale tailings retreatment project is to take place this month. The Mogale gold dumps contain a probable mineral reserve of... 

Beneficiation of waste planned by Northern Cape manganese miner

Steps being taken to add value to manganese waste placed on tailings dams may result in an announcement early in the New Year regarding the turning of that waste into a ferromanganese product,... 

On-The-Air (07/07/2023)

Martin Creamer discusses renewables, water power, pink diamond 

Hopes rise for platinum, palladium use in batteries as commercialisation trialling steps up

Hopes are rising for the commercialisation of batteries that are boosted by the inclusion of platinum and palladium following the engagement of an innovation centre to drive the next generation of... 

Apt investment in green hydrogen can provide full employment, FT Hydrogen Summit hears

Proper investment in green hydrogen generation has the potential to provide full employment and economic growth for decades to come as well as protect the planet from devastating climate change,... 

Call to produce green hydrogen in hot South Africa to add value to its iron-ore

As iron-ore mining in South Africa, West Africa, the Pilbara, and Brazil happen to be hot and windy places, it makes a lot of sense for the global south to produce green hydrogen on site to reduce,... 

We Africans must add value to our raw materials whenever it makes business sense to do so

In general, Africa has not taken advantage of its abundance of raw materials. When calculations were done in the past, it was often concluded that adding value locally to locally mined minerals was... 

Water power in underground mining has gone mainstream, says HPE

The long-standing use of water to cool underground mines is increasingly providing the opportunity to apply the free water pressure head that this offers to energise mining equipment. High-pressure... 

Limpopo coal mine decarbonising through cost-cutting solar power agreement

Financial close has been achieved for the 68 MW Lephalale solar project to supply renewable energy to the Grootegeluk coal mine in Limpopo. This was announced on Wednesday by Cennergi, the wholly... 

South African regulator not doing enough to promote junior mining – mining lawyer

The major theme of the recent Junior Indaba was the concern that the South African regulator is not doing enough to promote junior mining in South Africa. Government’s role should be to cut red... 

De Beers commits billion pula upfront to diamonds-for-development in Botswana

The De Beers Group, which concluded in principle diamond sales and mining agreements with the government of Botswana at the weekend, has committed a billion pula (R1.4-billion) upfront to fund the... 

De Beers, Botswana agree in principle on sales, mining licences

Diamond mining and marketing company De Beers and the Botswana government have reached an in principle agreement on a 25-year extension of the Debswana mining licences, through to 2054, and a new... 

Gold prospecting bid in Limpopo being underpinned by brickmaking revenue stream

The need for sand to make bricks has resulted in Limpopo entrepreneur stumbling upon a gold prospect for which a prospecting licence application has been acknowledged by the Department of Mineral... 

Clean hydrogen could be virtually zero cost, US energy diplomat tells London Indaba

The main founders of the Inflation Reduction Act envision the US legislation as a clean energy bill to lower the costs of green energy technologies for everyone around the world as well as being... 

Venetia mine rapidly becoming a flagship in advancing De Beers’ climate ambition

Combating climate change is a process. We are all in it together. We need to work together, and we need to be strategic about how we do it, how we report it, and how we talk about it. 

Wits University’s DigiMine aiming to serve as green data powerhouse for mining industry

Most mining countries have already databased their green energy minerals and critical minerals and made them public so that investors and their global partners can evaluate national production... 

I’ll somehow re-emerge in the mining sector at some point in the future, says departing Minerals Council CEO

I’ll somehow re-emerge in the mining sector at some point in the future, outgoing Minerals Council South Africa CEO Roger Baxter said on Tuesday, when spoke to Mining Weekly in a Teams interview.... 

Five-year SA diamond prospecting licence awarded

London Aim- and Botswana-listed diamond exploration company Botswana Diamonds has been granted a five-year prospecting licence on ground containing a cluster of kimberlites in South Africa.... 

Energy giants must commit to no-carbon solutions, not low-carbon stalling

People were allowed to smoke freely until smoking in public places was restricted on health grounds. This was done because inhaling of smoke was declared a human health risk. The risk created by... 

Venetia mine rapidly becoming a flagship in advancing De Beers’ climate ambition

Combating climate change is a process. We are all in it together. We need to work together, and we need to be strategic about how we do it, how we report it, and how we talk about it. 

Private sector working with government on multiple work streams to end loadshedding

The private sector is so far working with government on six of the ten energy crisis work streams, for which business raised R100-million to procure skills and expertise for donation on an arm's... 

Capital cost of South Africa’s titanium beneficiation project expected to peak at R14bn

South African ilmenite used to manufacture titanium dioxide pigment in KwaZulu-Natal is on the way to receiving a major value boost. This because heavy mineral sands production sells at around... 

Junior exploration ‘absolutely critical’, Barrick’s Bristow tells London Indaba

Junior exploration is an “absolutely critical” component of a sustainable mining industry, and “it is something that we neglect”, Barrick president and CEO Dr Mark Bristow has told the London... 

Impossible for world to go green without African resources, London Indaba hears

Without the African mineral endowment, there is no chance of an energy transition taking place. “The fate of humanity rests on the African continent,” Ivanhoe executive co-chairperson Robert... 

Junior miner recovers spectacular pink diamond from banks of Middle Orange River

A junior diamond mining company has recovered a spectacular pink diamond from the banks of the Middle Orange River. The diamond, named Protea Pink, is a fancy pink, 29.52 ct type II diamond, with... 

Outgoing and incoming CEOs jointly highlight Bushveld Minerals

The outgoing and incoming CEOs of Bushveld Minerals this week locked arms to enable London Aim-quoted vanadium mining, processing and manufacturing company to advance optimally. In a joint online... 

On-The-Air (23/06/2023)

It’s that time again on a Friday when Update At Noon presents another Update From The Coal-Face with Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly. The use of platinum in... 

Vedanta to anchor Northern Cape special economic zone

The Cabinet-approved Namakwa special economic zone (SEZ) in the Northern Cape, which is currently undergoing public comment, will be anchored by Indian zinc mining and processing company Vedanta... 

Lithium-pioneering Marula to be additionally listed on local bourse, CEO tells Junior Indaba

In conjunction with a proposed Aim listing in London, Marula Mining is going to have an additional listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Marula Mining CEO Jason Brewer told the Junior... 

Junior miner CEO is typically ‘chief cook and bottle washer’, diamond junior confirms

Outgoing Minerals Council South Africa’s Roger Baxter told the Junior Indaba's opening day that the CEO of a junior mining company is typically a chief cook and bottlewasher – and Botswana Diamonds... 

We must go all out to make South Africa a country of choice

We South Africans can do nothing about our past but we can do something about our future and among the key needs is for us is to have a sense of common purpose around the rebuilding of this... 

Green hydrogen presenting South Africa with good target point – Nedbank

Green hydrogen is presenting South Africa with a good target point at a time when the African continent is on the cusp of a massive revolution in the energy space. “For South Africa in particular,... 

Hopes rise for platinum, palladium use in batteries as commercialisation trialling steps up

Hopes are rising for the commercialisation of batteries that are boosted by the inclusion of platinum and palladium following the engagement of an innovation centre to drive the next generation of... 

Contracts advance R4.5bn titanium value-add project in KwaZulu-Natal

The continent of Africa must industrialise as quickly as it can, South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina said on Tuesday when she presided over the signing... 

Apt investment in green hydrogen can provide full employment, FT Hydrogen Summit hears

Proper investment in green hydrogen generation has the potential to provide full employment and economic growth for decades to come as well as protect the planet from devastating climate change,... 

Mkhwanazi to head Africa, Australia region as Anglo reorganises management

Diversified mining and marketing company Anglo American has announced several changes to its senior management team and organisation to lead what it describes as its “next phase of delivery”. The... 

JSE pushing hard to attract junior miners, exploration companies to list, says Mokorosi

South Africa’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is going all out to attract junior mining and exploration companies, making it easier for companies to get on to the exchange and to remain on the... 

Sibanye advances carbon neutrality with first utility-scale renewable-energy project

In its first power purchase agreement, platinum group metals, green metals and gold producer Sibanye-Stillwater has achieved financial close for an 89 MW wind energy project. Under the terms of the... 

Well done to South Africa’s private sector for showing positive climate commitment

South Africa shows some good signs in wanting to fight climate change. Some government departments take achieving carbon neutrality as seriously as it should be taken. But overall, it is the...