2026 Budget highlights

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the big themes in the 2026 Budget, delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on February 25, as well as what the Budget means for business and... 

Kali consolidates Pilbara footprint

Perth-based junior Kali Metals has consolidated its Pilbara footprint by acquiring SQM Australia's 30% interest in the DOM’s Hill and Pear Creek projects in Western Australia. The transaction will... 

OR Royalties buys additional NSR over Spring Valley

Canadian royalty group OR Royalties has agreed to acquire additional net smelter return (NSR) royalties over the construction-ready Spring Valley gold project in Nevada for $168-million in cash,... 

Frontier Lithium welcomes start of Berens bridge and road construction in Ontario

Greater Sudbury-based Frontier Lithium has welcomed the start of construction on the Berens bridge and road project in Northern Ontario, following confirmation from Ontario’s Minister of Northern... 

Barrick announces new appointments

Toronto-listed Barrick Mining has announced the appointments of James J. McGuire as chief legal and policy officer and Woo Lee as chief global affairs officer. Both executives will report to... 

Eskom publishes Medupi FGD cost-benefit analysis report for public comment

Power utility Eskom is encouraging communities, environmental groups, industry representatives, government institutions and other interested and affected parties to review, and comment on, a draft... 

Catalina sells Tasmania iron-ore project, raises capital at premium

ASX-listed Catalina Resources has agreed to divest its Nelson Bay River (NRB) iron-ore project in Tasmania and secured additional equity funding, moves it says will simplify its asset base and... 

Lindsay Ralphs appointed chairperson designate of Blu Label

JSE-listed distribution company Blu Label has appointed Lindsay Ralphs independent nonexecutive director and chairperson designate, with effect from February 24. Ralphs's appointment as chairperson... 

Opinion: Risks, rewards and realities of South Africa’s wholesale electricity market reform

n this article, EE Business Intelligence MD Chris Yelland writes that South Africa's electricity market is moving towards a competitive, rules-based, multi-market structure with transparent price... 

Redmont promoted to COO at Emerald Resources

Gold exploration company Emerald Resources has appointed Josh Redmond as COO with immediate effect. Redmond will oversee operational performance across the group’s portfolio, including the planned... 

True North Copper awarded Qld grant to assess Mt Oxide legacy materials

ASX-listed True North Copper has been awarded A$400 000 under the Queensland government’s Collaborative Development Programme (CDP) to assess legacy mine waste streams at its Mt Oxide project. The... 

Wicheeda selected for BC advanced critical minerals initiative

The Wicheeda rare earth element (REE) project, near Prince George in British Columbia, has been selected as one of only three new “promising projects” by the province’s Critical Minerals Office... 

Faraday Copper's C$100m private placement backed by Lundin trusts, BHP

Base metals developer Faraday Copper on Monday announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to C$100-million, with participation from trusts associated with the Lundin family and a wholly... 

Trilogy expands Ambler Metals leadership to advance Alaska copper projects

TSX- and NYSE American-listed Trilogy Metals has announced a series of senior management appointments at its 50:50 joint venture (JV) with South32 as the partners advance the Upper Kobuk Mineral... 

Stanmore delivers record output, lifts dividend despite softer coal prices

ASX-listed Stanmore Resources has reported record run-of-mine and saleable coal production for the 2025 financial year in what CEO Marcelo Matos describes as an expansionary 12-month period for the... 

Lefroy Exploration pours first gold from Lucky Strike

ASX-listed Lefroy Exploration has produced its first gold from the Lucky Strike gold mine, marking a key milestone for the junior explorer as its inaugural toll-milling campaign moves toward... 

Discovery Silver makes new board appointment

Precious metals company Discovery Silver on Friday announced the appointment of Lee Hodgkinson to its board of directors. Hodgkinson has more than 25 years of experience as a partner in public... 

NHI paused for now as Ramaphosa awaits ConCourt ruling

Two cases relating to the controversial National Health Insurance will be heard in the Constitutional Court in May, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to refrain from promulgating any provisions... 

Economic reforms in focus

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer talks about the recent attention being given to South Africa’s economic reforms. 

Nicolaas Jonker

This week we profile Nicolaas Jonker, CEO of Jonker Kontrakteurs, a multidisciplinary civil construction and mining-services company specialising in underground safety innovation, patented... 

Regis unveils capital management policy, posts record H1 profit

Gold miner Regis Resources has unveiled a new capital management policy as it posted record half-year earnings and cash flow, declaring a fully franked interim dividend of 15c a share. For the... 

Mantashe to visit Ekapa mine; dewatering continues in effort to find, rescue five workers

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe is planning to undertake an oversight visit to the Ekapa diamond mine, in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, on Friday, where search and rescue... 

Equinox launches dividend, share buyback after record year

Canadian gold producer Equinox Gold has declared its inaugural quarterly cash dividend and applied to implement a normal course issuer bid (NCIB), following what the company described as a... 

Minerals Council deploys senior team to support Ekapa Mining following mud rush

The Minerals Council South Africa is sending a senior management team to Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, to offer support and assistance to its member, Ekapa Mining, after the February 17 mud rush... 

Whyalla magnetite expansion under way as governments back steelworks revival

Early works have begun on Stage 1 of the Magnetite Expansion Project (MEP1) in South Australia’s Middleback Ranges, as the federal and South Australian governments move to secure long-term... 

Unemployment rate improves to 31.4%

South Africa's official unemployment rate decreased by 0.5 of a percentage point to 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with the unemployment rate of 31.9% in the third quarter,... 

Trump’s $12bn Project Vault offers short-term buffer but leaves structural gaps, says Woodmac

The Trump administration’s newly launched $12-billion Project Vault will provide a tactical buffer against critical minerals supply shocks, but it falls short of addressing deep structural... 

Forrestania's Coolgardie Hub consolidation continues with MacPhersons Reward deal

ASX-listed Forrestania Resources has entered into a binding heads of agreement with a subsidiary of Beacon Minerals to acquire 100% of MacPhersons Reward in a transaction that advances its... 

Hecla doubles exploration budget

Precious metals miner Hecla plans to nearly double its investment in exploration and predevelopment, with the goal of replacing or exceeding yearly reserve depletion. The company has earmarked... 

Steel 2025/6: Policies, Tariffs, and Survival

Creamer Media’s ‘Steel 2025/6: Policies, Tariffs, and Survival’ report finds a steel sector under pressure globally and in South Africa, with the report’s main themes being market balance, trade... 

Alkane posts record H1 profit as gold, antimony prices surge

Dual-listed Alkane Resources has delivered record operating and financial results for the six months to 31 December 2025, underpinned by strong gold and antimony prices and the expanded... 

Austral signs MoU to assess toll treatment at Rocklands

ASX-listed Austral Resources Australia has signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with Metal Bank to evaluate the potential toll treatment of ore at its Rocklands processing facility in... 

Titan Mining welcomes 160% US duties on Chinese graphite imports

NYSE American- and TSX-listed Titan Mining says newly finalised US trade duties on Chinese graphite imports mark a pivotal shift for the domestic supply chain, strengthening the economic case for... 

Agnico Eagle lifts gold reserves after strong 2025 exploration

Canadian miner Agnico Eagle Mines has reported a 2.1% increase in year-end 2025 gold mineral reserves to a record 55.4-million ounces, as exploration success at key assets bolstered both reserves... 

Fortescue starts commissioning battery electric locomotives

Australian iron-ore miner Fortescue has begun commissioning two new battery electric locomotives on its rail network, as it moves to decarbonise its Pilbara iron-ore operations. Delivered by... 

Eugene Els

This week we profile Eugene Els, MD of Afromix, a designer and manufacturer of agitators and peristaltic pumps, as well as AFX Holdings Group 

South Africa's mining output for Dec up 2.5% y/y; full-year production up only 0.1%

South Africa's mining production increased by 2.5% year-on-year in December, with iron-ore and manganese ore having made the largest positive contributions and platinum-group metals and coal having... 

Vedanta Zinc International targets rapid South African growth through partnership-led mining model

Vedanta Zinc International is pursuing rapid growth in Southern Africa, with CEO Vijay Kumar highlighting a partnership-led strategy and a custodianship approach to mineral resources. 

TAKRAF highlights partnerships, innovation to drive African mining growth

Global mining equipment supplier TAKRAF is positioning collaboration, innovation and full-flowsheet capability at the centre of its African growth strategy, TAKRAF South Africa MD Richard Späth... 

Robex achieves commercial production at Guinea gold project

Gold producer Robex Resources on Thursday reported that it had achieved commercial production at its Kiniero gold project, in Guinea. Commercial production status was achieved following the first...