Aveng announces early bond redemption and R1.8bn rights issue

JSE-listed construction group Aveng will implement a R1.8-billion rights offer to raise the capital needed to fund the early redemption of a portion of its existing convertible bonds of R2-billion.... 

New technology being used to immortalise Mandela in centenary coins

The South African Mint, a subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank, will roll out a series of three collectable and one circulation coin depicting the life of distinguished statesman and global... 

SAA fills critical vacancies as it pursues turnaround

South African Airways (SAA) has announced key appointments to fill the critical skills gap at the airline as it forges ahead with implementing a turnaround plan. Pumla Luhabe was appointed chief... 

Nersa reappoints part-time regulator members

Energy Minister Jeff Radebe has reappointed Jacob Modise, Maleho Nkomo and Fungai Sibanda as part-time regulator members of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). Modise was... 

New technology being used to immortalise Mandela in centenary coins

The South African Mint, a subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank, will roll out a series of three collectable and one circulation coin depicting the life of distinguished statesman and global... 

Nanoclay technology being developed as possible means to treat AMD

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is developing low-cost polymer-based adsorbents for the removal of toxic pollutants such as heavy metals, anions and organics, from... 

PTM completes Maseve mine sale

Platinum Group Metals (PTM) has concluded the sale of its equity in Maseve Investments, the holding company of the Maseve mine, to Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat).  The aggregate consideration... 

Norilsk sees increase in all metals during Q1

Russian palladium and nickel mining company Norilsk Nickel, which also owns operations in Finland and South Africa, increased production of all key metals in the first quarter of the year. “The... 

HMI postpones publication of provincial findings report

The Health Market Inquiry (HMI) has postponed the publication of its provisional findings and recommendations report to May 31, to afford HMI experts sufficient time to assess and interrogate... 

Increasing debt at water trading entity unacceptable – Portfolio Committee

The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation is worried about the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Water Trading Entity’s (WTE’s) increasing debt book, despite various calls by the... 

Gem lifts Q1 production, sales

LSE-listed Gem Diamonds’ carat recoveries increased by 32% year-on-year to 33 526 ct for the three months ended March 31, compared with the 25 479 ct recovered in the first quarter of 2017. Carat... 

Lucara recovers 327 ct diamond from Karowe

Diamond producer Lucara Diamonds has recovered a 327 ct, top white gem diamond from its 100%-owned Karowe diamond mine, in Botswana.  Eight diamonds greater than 100 ct have now been recovered at... 

RBPlat CFO resigns

Martin Prinsloo has resigned as CFO and executive director of Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat), effective August 10. He has been with the company for nine years and is leaving to pursue other... 

MC Mining’s Q3 output falls on equipment availability challenges at Uitkomst

Equipment availability challenges resulted in an 18% quarter-on-quarter decrease in production at MC Mining’s Uitkomst metallurgical and thermal coal colliery to 115 750 t for the three months... 

Pests, diseases a burden on agriculture – ARC

Despite an influx of agricultural imports and an increase in pests and diseases coming into the country over the past 20 years, South Africa has not invested adequately in pest and disease control... 

Africa’s population growth could drive South Africa’s livestock exports

Africa’s population is expected to grow by 25% by 2050, creating an expanding middle class population that will require an affluent protein diet, Agricultural Research Council (ARC) research... 

Gécamines says was forced to seek dissolution of Katanga’s Kamoto

State-owned La Générale des Carrières (Gécamines) says it was forced to take legal action to dissolve TSX-listed Katanga Mining’s Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) for failure to restore shareholders’... 

Minigrid research, development fund launched for sub-Saharan Africa

Investment firm CrossBoundary, in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation, on Tuesday launched the Mini-Grid Innovation Lab, in Nairobi, Kenya. The lab is the first research and development... 

Agri SA spent R331m on transformation in 2016/17

Members of agricultural industry association Agri SA spent R331-million on transformation during the 2016/17 financial year and reached an estimated 108 307 beneficiaries, including 55 000 farmers.... 

MC Mining appoints new board members

Coal developer MC Mining has appointed CFO Brenda Berlin as an executive director to its board and also announced two nonexecutive director appointments. Berlin was named CFO in November last year... 

Anglo reports 4% increase in Q1 production

Diversified miner Anglo American on Tuesday reported a 4% year-on-year increase in total production on a copper equivalent basis in the first quarter ended March. The company had a “solid start to... 

DMR’s appeal of High Court ruling to further delay Mining Charter 3

Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe’s application for leave to appeal the Pretoria High Court’s decision on the ‘once empowered, always empowered’ principle under the Mining Charter is... 

Commissioning of automated underground mine drives growth at Randgold’s Kibali mine

The successful commissioning of the automated materials handling system at Randgold Resources’ Kibali underground operation is supporting the mine’s planned ramp-up in production, CEO Mark Bristow... 

Minas-Rio disruptions to cut Anglo’s earnings by up to $400m

Diversified miner Anglo American expects the continued disruptions at its Minas-Rio iron-ore mine, in Brazil, to result in a reduction in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and... 

Hyprop FD resigns

Laurence Cohen has resigned as JSE-listed Hyprop’s FD, effective August 1, to pursue personal interests. The appointment of a new FD will be announced in due course. 

Amplats procures energy storage system for Amandelbult

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) has contracted energy storage systems provider Primus Power to supply its Amandelbult mine, in Limpopo, with eight EnergyPod battery systems. The EnergyPods will... 

Gold tracks the dollar as investments take a back seat – WGC

A new report published by the World Gold Council (WGC) shows that the US dollar is again a strong indicator of the direction of the gold price. “Historically, gold has had a consistently negative... 

Rental income growth pressure, higher finance charges dent Octodec’s H1 results

Pressure on rental income growth, the lag effect of the let-up period at recent developments and higher finance charges, negatively impacted on JSE-listed real estate investment trust Octodec’s... 

Confidence of general builders, civil contractors flat in the first quarter

General building confidence, as measured by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) SME Business Conditions Survey, was flat at 36 index points in the first quarter of this year. Only... 

EVs not yet a market force to disrupt oil demand growth

Short-term oil demand is still growing strong and will continue to do so through the end of 2020, a trend taking place despite the market’s increasing focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and the... 

Oanda awarded EPC contract for Nigeria’s AKK pipeline

JSE-listed Oando together with Oilserv have been awarded the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) mandate for the Ajaokuta – Abuja portion of the $727-million Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK)... 

Drilling continues at Kodal’s Bougouni project

Aim-listed Kodal Minerals plans to continue reverse circulation drilling on its Mali-based Bougouni lithium project until the start of the rainy season in June/ July. "We are continuing with the... 

Letšeng mining lease to be extended – Gem

The Lesotho government has announced its intention to renew JSE-listed Gem Diamonds’ Letšeng mining lease until 2034. The mining lease may be further extended if necessary in relation to any... 

Pioneer Foods expects higher H1 headline earnings

JSE-listed Pioneer Foods expects to report a 44% year-on-year improvement in operating profit and a 32% year-on-year improvement in headline earnings for the six months ended March 31. The company... 

Firestone sees high recoveries in first quarter

Aim-listed Firestone Diamonds recovered 192 604 ct of diamonds from its Liqhobong mine, in Lesotho, in the three months to March 31. Recoveries were 6.6% higher than the previous quarter, resulting... 

Nanoclay technology being developed as possible means to treat AMD

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is developing low-cost polymer-based adsorbents for the removal of toxic pollutants such as heavy metals, anions and organics, from... 

CSIR developing water treatment, biodegradable plastic solutions

Most of the plastics used in South Africa are nonbiodegradable, especially in the packaging industry, and end up in landfills, posing environmental threats and health concerns, Council for... 

AfriForum, TKAG welcome Shell’s indication to withdraw from shale gas exploration

AfriForum and the Treasure THE Karoo Action Group (TKAG) view Shell South Africa’s indication of its intention to withdraw from shale gas exploration in the Karoo as a major victory for those who... 

ELB gets go ahead to start construction at Ngodwana biomass plant

JSE-listed ELB’s ELB Engineering subsidiary, together with its project partner, KC Cottrell, has received notice to proceed with the building of a 25 MW biomass power plant for Ngodwana Energy... 

4Sight to establish JV in China

JSE-listed 4Sight Holdings has signed an agreement with Chinese company Shenzhen Rongmei Science and Technology (RM) to establish a 50:50 joint venture (JV) in China. 4Sight said in a statement on...