On-The-Air (26/04/2024)

Every Friday, SAfm’s radio anchor Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly. Reported here is this Friday’s At the Coalface transcript:... 

Forbes article talks up potential of green hydrogen as an energy source

There's no climate solution without hydrogen. It’s the missing piece of the clean energy puzzle, says a global CEO-led initiative that brings together leading companies with a united vision. This... 

Our platinum group metals industry must be backed to the hilt by all South Africans

The potential loss of platinum group metals (PGMs) demand to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) spells dire consequences for the South African mining industry. At risk are income streams to nearly... 

How 30 years of democracy has transformed South Africa's mining industry

South Africa’s 30 years of democracy has changed the character of this country’s mining industry profoundly, Minerals Council South Africa emphasised in a report that highlights the industry’s... 

Copper 360 ships concentrate, on course to pay first dividend next year

South Africa's rapidly advancing copper producer Copper 360 has shipped copper concentrate from the Northern Cape province for the first time in 21 years, which saw its shares rise by more than 26%... 

New green hydrogen trading base uplifting platinum group metals demand outlook

The green hydrogen sector now has a digital platform on which users can buy and sell green hydrogen by the click of a button, it was announced on Tuesday.  Euronext-listed Lhyfe, the French group... 

Anglo pleased with copper's first-quarter performance

Copper production increasing by 11% as Quellaveco achieved its highest plant throughput rate in Peru, and Collahuasi and El Soldado in Chile benefitting from higher copper grades were among the... 

Anglo helping to restore Amazon-like rainforest near Brazil iron-ore mine

Diversified mining company Anglo American is taking steps to help to restore an Amazon rainforest equivalent of which less than 10% remains intact. The Mata Atlántica carbon forest is located near... 

Rich copper intercept in N Cape sends Orion’s shares soaring on Australian exchange

The richness of South Africa’s copper assets were emphasised on Monday when Northern Cape mine developer and explorer Orion Minerals published a standout intercept that sent its shares rocketing up... 

New boost for platinum group metals may arise from emerging eFuel scale-up

The emerging use of electrofuel (eFuel) as an interchangeable substitute for petrol, diesel and aviation fuel has the potential to create important new demand for Southern Africa’s platinum group... 

South Africa must take full advantage of its prematurely halted mining R&D

The disbanded South African mining industry’s research and development (R&D) arm Comro handed South Africa’s State-owned Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) the mining R&D it had... 

Current low PGM prices not reflective of supply-demand fundamentals – Nedbank CIB

Platinum group metals (PGM) prices, where they are now, do not reflect the medium to long-term supply demand fundamentals. Instead, they are driven by short-term distortions, which imply that a... 

New platinum-based hydrogen fuel cell as cheap to make as conventional car engine

The brand-new platinum-catalysed hydrogen fuel cell system that has just been released for passenger cars reveals that fuel cells can be as cheap to manufacture as internal combustion engines... 

Minerals Council South Africa setting out to boost local demand for green hydrogen

Minerals Council South Africa is focused on increasing the domestic demand for green hydrogen, which it sees as contributing to the kickstarting of the hydrogen economy in South Africa. “The... 

Exceptional blue Cullinan diamond lifts latest Petra tender prices by 22%

The sale by Southern African diamond mining company Petra Diamonds of an exceptional blue diamond in its fifth tender cycle lifted the average prices per carat received 22% higher than those of the... 

Odds-on entry of palladium, platinum into EVs highlighted by research update

New York- and Toronto-listed Platinum Group Metals, which is emerging in South Africa’s Waterberg, on Tuesday provided an update on its new light battery technology that points to increasing... 

PGM market development has paid dividends, could pay many more, Platinum Day told

The market development aspect of the platinum group metals (PGM) industry is fundamentally key, it was repeatedly stated at last week’s 2024 Resources for Africa Platinum Day. There is strong... 

Deceased metals legend David Davis will be missed

Metal markets analyst Dr David Davis, who passed away this week at the age of 77, was closely associated with the platinum, gold and uranium mining and investment for more than four decades.  Known... 

On-The-Air (12/04/2024)

Martin Creamer talks about green hydrogen and platinum group metals. 

Special ‘prescribed’ status for Harmony’s Aussie copper project

The copper mining project that Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Harmony Gold is developing in Australia has been granted special ‘prescribed project’ status in recognition of its social and... 

$10-billion Namibian green hydrogen project receives major German boost

Namibia’s first gigawatt scale green hydrogen project – the $10-billion Hyphen development scheme – this week received a major boost from Germany. The boost came in the form of the German... 

Excellent mining-linked agri opportunity on Far West Rand must now be accelerated

Gauteng’s Far West Rand mining-linked area has always had excellent agricultural potential. In fact, the area had all the makings of a colossal market garden had early mining not dewatered the... 

South Africa well placed to benefit from huge green hydrogen outlook, attendees hear

Green hydrogen has a massive potential future and South Africa is very well positioned to produce it, attendees of the Hydrogen Economy Discussion heard on Thursday. Most of the 90-million tonnes... 

Market development of full PGMs basket is essential, Industry Day hears

Representatives of the producers of 90% of the world’s climate-vital platinum group metals (PGMs) heard during Wednesday’s PGMs Industry Day that market development of the full PGMs basket – and... 

Platinum-linked green hydrogen set to be world’s ‘new oil’, Forbes article highlights

There's no climate solution without hydrogen. It’s the missing piece of the clean energy puzzle, says a global CEO-led initiative that brings together leading companies with a united vision. This... 

Artificial intelligence to be applied to Botswana Diamonds’ database

London- and Botswana-listed diamond company Botswana Diamonds is going to apply artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to its Botswana database, the company said on Tuesday, April 9. Involved are... 

Use underground mines for electricity storage, optimise mine water use – Karst Hydro

South Africa’s many underground mines can be used as batteries that store the clean electricity that the water descending for cooling can provide. At the same time, the local community could end up... 

Mines investing R46m to put an end to fall-of-ground fatalities

South Africa’s mining industry is investing R46-million in an action plan to eliminate fall-of-ground (FoG) fatalities. The FoG action plan is being implemented through Minerals Council South... 

Stage set for mining explosives centenarian to capture global top-three spot

The stage is set for proudly South African mining explosives trailblazer, AECI, to become the third biggest in its field globally by 2030, AECI Group chairperson Dr Khotso Mokhele told an... 

Copper 360 output set to quickly increase twofold on Nama Copper acquisition

Energetic Northern Cape copper mining company Copper 360 this week produced the first concentrate from the plant it has just acquired from Nama Copper, which becomes its second concentrator plant... 

RBCT, TFR show that private-public collaboration can work very well – Menar

The private-sector’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) and the State’s Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) have shown that the private sector and State-owned entities can work together very well, Menar MD... 

Southern Africa working together on green hydrogen front is right way to go

A dozen scientists from the Southern African Development Community will be travelling to Germany in May to obtain in-depth insight into green hydrogen, the clean fuel that is derived from Southern... 

New electrochemical PGMs demand on way, iridium scarcity fears eased still further

A far-reaching new drive is under way to ease iridium scarcity still further and, especially in the short term, demand for platinum group metals (PGMs) from electrochemical processes is on the way.... 

South Africa’s ARM to acquire 15% of Canada’s Surge Copper

Diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) has entered into a subscription agreement for a private placement financing with Surge Copper, a Canadian company that is advancing an... 

Current low PGM prices not reflective of supply/demand fundamentals – Nedbank CIB

Platinum group metals (PGM) prices, where they are now, do not reflect the medium to long-term supply demand fundamentals. Instead, they are driven by short-term distortions, which imply that a... 

New platinum-based hydrogen fuel cell as cheap to make as conventional car engine

The brand-new platinum-catalysed hydrogen fuel cell system that has just been released for passenger cars reveals that fuel cells can be as cheap to manufacture as internal combustion engines... 

Wind generation up, solar operational soon, Exxaro reports

Group wind power generation last year increased by 8% and the Lephalale solar power project is on its way to being operational in the first quarter of next year, Exxaro CE Dr Nombasa Tsengwa... 

South African gold producer to be publicly traded entity in combination with US group

South African gold producer Aurous, which owns and operates the Blyvoor gold mine and the Gauta tailings retreatment project on Gauteng's West Rand, has announced plans to go public through a... 

Stationary hydrogen power highlighted as major solution by Toyota fuel-cell-using developer

When Engineering News & Mining Weekly covered last month’s local launch of BMW’s first hydrogen car fleet on South Africa's roads, we discovered that BMW’s hydrogen refilling station in Midrand is... 

Mining potential must be turned into strong mining activity with public-sector help

South Africa’s minerals energy complex, which was once world renowned, needs to be fixed to ensure that this country does not miss another upward mining cycle. First it was the energy side of the...