Northern Star snaps up Westgold’s South Kalgoorlie operations

ASX-listed Northern Star Resources is acquiring ASX-listed Westgold Resources’ South Kalgoorlie operations (SKO) for A$80-million, comprising the project’s operating processing facility, which has... 

Basil Read to take on building of top structures

Local construction company Basil Read has received permits from the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) to start building top structures at its housing developments, such as its... 

AVZ finds offtake partner for DRC lithium project

ASX-listed AVZ Minerals has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology for potential investment in the company and offtake opportunities from the Manono... 

HGM raises $4.5m for Austrian projects

Australian exploration company High Grade Metals (HGM), which completed its relisting on the ASX this week, will use the A$4.5-million that it raised to advance nine projects in Austria. These... 

Volcanic Gold Mines looks at Côte d’Ivoire for growth

TSX-V-listed Volcanic Gold Mines has entered into a binding memorandum of understanding to acquire up to 100% of Jofema Mineral Resources, a private company registered in Côte d’Ivoire. The assets... 

Political party highlights alleged violation of BEE laws by Gupta companies

Democratic Alliance shadow Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Dean MacPherson on Tuesday laid a complaint again Gupta-linked companies, Tegeta Exploration and Resources, Optimum Coal Mine,... 

Clover not too worried about land expropriation proposals, satisfied with H1 results

Despite concerns about the recent controversial calls for land expropriation without compensation and the possible effect this could have on South Africa’s economy and food security, JSE-listed... 

Crusader updates Borborema resource

A revised ore reserve estimate at Crusader Resources' Borborema gold project, in the Seridó area of the Borborema province, in north-eastern Brazil, represents a production plan comprising... 

TNG in talks for Mt Peake finance, offtakes

Australian strategic metals developer TNG on Tuesday said it has had preliminary meetings with Germany's KfW IPEX-Bank and received a positive hearing with an expression of interest to conduct... 

Fall in Australia's greenfield minerals exploration worrying - Amec

In the December 2017 quarter, Australian mineral exploration expenditure rose by 4.4% or A$20.9-million, compared with the last quarter, to A$496.1-million in original terms, the Australian Bureau... 

Africa attracts 14% of world's 2017 exploration budget - S&P's

Africa attracted 14% of the $8.4-billion budgeted for exploration for nonferrous metals globally in 2017, Standard & Poor's (S&P's) 'Global World Exploration Trends' report highlights. Exploration... 

S&P's sees further improvement in most metal prices in year ahead

Metals prices have benefited from the improved global economy and from a recently weaker US dollar, in which most commodities are valued, with the Standard & Poor's (S&P's) GSCI reaching a two-year... 

Altus enters sixth African country with new gold project

Africa-focused exploration project generator Altus Strategies' subsidiary Aeos Gold has been granted the Prikro gold exploration licence in the Prikro and Koun-Fao departments in eastern Côte... 

Standard Bank PMI improves to 51.4 in February

For the first time in 11 months, business activity expanded in the South African private sector in February, with the Standard Bank Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) increasing from 49 in January to... 

Eastplats secures financing deal for Crocodile River Mine retreatment project

Dual-listed Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) and its subsidiary Barplats Mines have entered into an agreement with Union Goal Offshore Solution for the construction, mining and processing of the... 

Stellar trusting Newfield deal to provide Tongo-Tonguma funding

Aim-listed Stellar Diamonds has, over the past six months, continued to focus on sourcing the necessary funding to bring its Tongo-Tonguma project, in eastern Sierra Leone, into production. "The... 

Drilling programme ups resources at Namdini gold project

As a result of an additional 15 684 m of diamond drilling at dual-listed Cardinal Resources Namdini gold project, in Ghana, the company has converted its inferred category ounces into the indicated... 

New Century Resources appoints EPC contractor for zinc plant

ASX-listed New Century Resources has contracted Sedgman as its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, while selecting Ausenco as preferred bidder for the complete refurbishment... 

Lucapa sells $1.7m diamond parcel from Lulo

Angola-focused diamond miner Lucapa Diamond Company sold 2 072 ct of diamonds recovered from the Lulo mine, achieving gross proceeds of $1.7-million during its second sale for the year. This... 

Strong H1 performance motivates Universal Coal to declare a mid-year dividend

Given the solid financial performance in the six months to December 31, ASX-listed Universal Coal has taken the decision to reward shareholders, declaring an interim dividend of A$0.01 a share... 

Mondi FY17 profit rises 4% to €1bn

Packaging giant Mondi on Friday reported a 4% year-on-year increase in underlying operating profit to €1.01-billion for the year ended December 31, benefitting from good demand and higher average... 

Bacanora eyes midyear construction start at Sonora

Dual-listed lithium exploration and development company Bacanora Minerals on Friday said it was keen to start the construction of a 35 000 t/y mine and processing plant at its Sonora project, in... 

Azure exploration returns strong zinc, lead anomolies

ASX-listed Azure Minerals' regional exploration programme over the western half of the Oposura project area, near Hermosillo, Mexico, has identified areas of strong zinc and lead anomalism and... 

Mastermyne secures early contractor involvement at proposed Isaac Plains development

ASX-listed Mastermyne Group has been selected as a contract partner for an early contractor involvement (ECI) process for ASX-listed Stanmore Coal's proposed Isaac Plains underground mine. The ECI... 

Improved H2 sees Grange record stable FY17 profit

ASX-listed Grange Resources' profit after-tax reached $60.7-million for the year ended December 31, despite a combination of iron-ore market uncertainty and operational difficulties experienced in... 

Perseus still looking at merits of an LSE listing

Dual-listed Perseus Mining on Friday said it was still examining the merits of listing on the LSE, on top of its ASX and the TSX listings. In view of that, the miner has decided to extend the... 

ACCC proposes joint gas marketing in Northern Territory

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a draft determination proposing to authorise joint gas marketing arrangements between joint venture partners ASX-listed... 

Fortescue secures $500m through bond offering

Australian iron-ore miner Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) has raised $500-million through offering 5.25% senior unsecured notes, due 2025. FMG CFO Ian Wells on Friday noted that the completion of the... 

Lithium Australia secures A$18m loan

ASX-listed Lithium Australia (LIT) has secured an A$18.27-million convertible note facility from US institutional investor Arena Investors. "Lithium Australia has previously announced our intention... 

Dual carriageway conversion for Joburg road

The Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) has developed a draft design for the future upgrading of Jan Smuts avenue to a dual carriageway from Northwold drive to Bolton drive and from Eighth avenue to... 

Sasol Chemicals completes alumina expansion

Sasol Chemicals' inorganics and catalyst division has completed a 15 000 t/y expansion of alumina capacity at its  Brunsbuettel site, in Germany, enabling the company to meet growing global demand.... 

Central bank keeping abreast of fintech developments

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has established a financial technology (fintech) programme to strategically assess the emergence of fintech in a structured and organised manner, and to... 

R57bn for fee-free higher education and training

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba on Wednesday said R57-billion from the 2018 Budget would be allocated towards the fee-free higher education and training alluded to by former President Jacob Zuma in... 

RCL Foods eyes greater market share as new pet food facility opens

Fast-moving consumer goods manufacturer RCL Foods on Thursday launched its new R150-million pet food manufacturing facility, in Randfontein. Through the establishment of the 1 500 m2 facility,... 

Jubilee, BMR extend agreement deadline for Zambia project

Dual-listed Jubilee Metals Group and Aim-listed BMR Group have agreed, under their joint venture (JV) agreement for the Kabwe lead/zinc/vanadium project, in Zambia, to extend the date for the... 

Stratex welcomes geologist Livesey as CEO

Gold-focused Stratex International on Thursday welcomed CEO Tim Livesey in his new position. “I am very pleased to be joining Stratex International and am looking forward to working with the team... 

Battery Minerals completes scoping study on Balama graphite project

ASX-listed Battery Minerals has completed a $50.1-million scoping study on its Balama Central graphite project, in Mozambique, to determine the potential viability of an openpit mine and building a... 

Las Iguanas to open 200-seater restaurant in Centurion in June

The UK restaurant chain Las Iguanas will open its first restaurant in South Africa's Irene Mall, in Centurion, on June 7, franchisor Gold Brands said on Wednesday. The chain specialises in... 

South Africa hosts first UN Drought Core Group meeting

A meeting, focusing on the outlook and risks for drought and famines on the African continent in the year ahead, was held at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation's (Dirco's)... 

Bluebird makes speedy progress on Kochang reopening

Asia-focused resource development group Bluebird Merchant Ventures on Wednesday said that it had made significant progress on the Kochang gold and silver mine in South Korea, since signing its $750...