Deterioration in manufacturing index described as ‘worrying’

The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) erased most of last month’s gain and fell to 45.4 index points in May from 47.2 points in April, which – excluding the drop to 45... 

Capital equipment exporters urged to comply with host-country legal frameworks

South African machinery and capital equipment companies must understand the legislation of countries they are operating in, or exporting to, South African Capital Equipment Export Council... 

Australia mulls fungi as potential exploration tool

Australia’s national research organisation, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is looking into fungal biogeochemical cycling as a potential method for finding... 

Strategic partnerships with midtiers, majors key to securing funding for juniors

Strategic partnerships with midtiers or majors was one of the more realistic and beneficial means for junior miners to secure funding for initial exploration, a panel of speakers at the Junior... 

Palladium, tin constraints offer upside for Ivanplats, Alphamin

Palladium and tin are both entering into periods of constrained supply, attendees of the Junior Mining Indaba – hosted at the Country Club Johannesburg in Auckland Park – were told on Wednesday. In... 

Efora reports ‘disappointing’ full-year results

A below-par performance from its key business, Afric Oil, resulted in “disappointing” financial results for JSE-listed oil and gas company Efora Energy for the year ended February 28. The company... 

Nordgold increases employee development budget

Gold producer Nordgold, which has operations in West Africa, Russia and Kazakhstan, has increased the budget for its employee development programme by 23% year-on-year to about $4.8-million for the... 

Second Lake Charles facility reaches beneficial operation

Petrochemicals company Sasol on Monday said the new ethylene oxide/ ethylene glycol (EO/EG) production facility at its Lake Charles Chemicals Project (LCCP), in Louisiana, in the US, had reached... 

Deterioration in headline PMI worrying, says Seifsa

The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) erased most of last month’s gain and fell to 45.4 index points in May from 47.2 points in April, which – excluding the drop to 45... 

Glencore’s management reshuffle continues

Diversified miner and commodities trader Glencore on Monday announced that the head of its oil business, Alex Beard, would retire from Glencore, effective June 30. The announcement of his... 

Mining Charter III provisions seen by some as too onerous for junior miners

There should be a new regulatory regime for juniors – one that adheres to the spirit of Mining Charter 3, but which introduces reasonable and achievable transformation and procurement targets... 

Institute lauds ‘improved’ Mining Charter but urges govt to ‘loosen grip’ on industry

Mining Charter 3 has to be judged, not against previous versions, but against the context of a real-world economy in which population growth has outstripped faltering economic growth for some five... 

SKA could have unintended consequences for mining, law firm cautions

While the building of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope is one of the most exciting projects in South Africa’s scientific and academic fields, it is likely to impact the use and... 

Getting It Right

In the May 17, 2019, edition, the cover article included three factual inaccuracies under the Health and Safety sub-head.  The Industry Buy and Maintain Quiet Initiative requests that companies buy... 

Mining Charter III provisions seen by some as too onerous for junior miners

There should be a new regulatory regime for juniors – one that adheres to the spirit of Mining Charter 3, but which introduces reasonable and achievable transformation and procurement targets... 

New map highlights major platinum discoveries in South Africa

The fifth edition of Barker’s Platinum Map of Southern Africa highlights recent major platinum discoveries in South Africa – including the Waterberg and Flatreef projects, notes Banzi Geotechnics... 

Minerals Council welcomes safety improvements, but warns of continuing policy concerns

The Minerals Council South Africa will, later this year, launch a new health and safety initiative called Khumbela iKhaya, council chaiperson Mxolisi Mgojo revealed on Wednesday. Addressing the... 

Mining sector facing similar ‘bullying tactics’ to that hindering construction

Similar “bullying tactics” to those that are causing significant disruption in the South African construction industry, is also affecting the mining industry, Minerals Council South Africa CEO... 

Minerals Council welcomes Merafe Resources CEO as VP

The Minerals Council South Africa has added Merafe Resources CEO Zanela Matlala as a VP. This was announced at the council’s annual general meeting, on Wednesday, during which it was confirmed that... 

Minister publishes amendments to financial provisioning regulations for mine closure

Environmental Affairs Minster Nomvula Mokonyane has gazetted additional amendments to the Financial Provisioning Regulations for the rehabilitation and remediation of environmental damage caused by... 

Saceec warns capital equipment industry to comply with legislation in foreign countries

South African machinery and capital equipment companies must understand the legislation of countries they are operating in, or exporting to, South African Capital Equipment Export Council... 

Afarak attributes €7.5m first-quarter loss to low prices, sales volumes

A higher chrome benchmark price and increased sales volumes are expected to result in an improvement in London-listed Afarak Group’s financial performance for the second quarter, after the company... 

Rebranded Minerals Council reflects the promise of the future

The Minerals Council South Africa – formerly the Chamber of Mines –  officially rebranded in May 2018, repositioning the organisation to reflect, “the promise of the future”, by amending its role... 

Modernisation process could assist economic prosperity

The industry needs to modernise, “but let’s be clear about what modernisation is not – it is not simply mechanisation, it is far more than that”, says Minerals Council South Africa modernisation... 

Stakeholder relations key to Minerals Council’s new brand

In striving to become the preeminent policy advocacy in the mining industry, maintaining positive stakeholder engagements is key for Minerals Council South Africa, says public affairs and... 

Junior-specific Charter III provisions will boost growth

The Minerals Council South Africa facilitated the inclusion of junior-specific provisions in Mining Charter 3, gazetted in September last year, says Minerals Council Junior and Emerging Miners Desk... 

Minerals Council getting closer to communities

The Minerals Council South Africa has established two pilot regional offices as part of its broader aim to enhance community relations, says Minerals Council public affairs and transformation... 

Rebranded Minerals Council reflects the promise of the future

The Minerals Council South Africa – formerly the Chamber of Mines –  officially rebranded in May 2018, repositioning the organisation to reflect, “the promise of the future”, by amending its role... 

Gemgrow focuses on noncore asset disposals ahead of proposed Arrowhead merger

JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Gemgrow Properties COO Alon Kirkel believes the company’s focus on recycling noncore assets and managing its yield profile has created a more... 

First-quarter platinum demand up 32% on surge in ETF holdings

Platinum demand increased by 32% year-on-year to 2.56-million ounces in the first quarter of this year, following a surge in investment demand, the World Platinum Investment Council noted in its... 

South African company secures Potain distributorship

Having secured Southern African distributorship for French tower- and self-erecting crane producers Potain, service provider Crane & Hoist Equipment SA expects to continue its sustainable growth... 

Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis core to Albertina Sisulu Corridor development plans

The Albertina Sisulu Corridor – which links the Johannesburg central business district, OR Tambo International Airport and Pretoria – is benefitting from the establishment of public-private... 

Mining body releases autonomous systems guideline

The Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) published the Guideline for the Implementation of Autonomous Systems in Mining last month, in an effort to assist in the implementation of these systems,... 

Saice wants urgent intervention to address construction site attacks

The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice) has joined other industry bodies in strongly condemning the recent spate of alleged “mafia-style” coordinated gang activity on project... 

Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis core to Albertina Sisulu Corridor development plans

The Albertina Sisulu Corridor – which links the Johannesburg central business district, OR Tambo International Airport and Pretoria – is benefitting from the establishment of public-private... 

Condra customised crane completes Sishen’s ore spillage recovery chain

While grabbing cranes are usually large machines with wide spans and high lifting heights, the Condra grabbing crane installed in February at the railhead serving Sishen Iron Ore Mine, near... 

Mining body releases autonomous systems guideline

The Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) published the Guideline for the Implementation of Autonomous Systems in Mining last month, in an effort to assist in the implementation of these systems,... 

Kangra Coal symbolically hands over community, employee shares

Menar CEO Vuslat Bayoglu on Thursday symbolically handed over 5% free carried shares to host communities and employees of Kangra Coal, at a ceremony which included the unveiling of the coal... 

Threat of deregistration motivated by State captured by white monopoly capital, says AMCU

The Department of Labour (DoL) registrar’s intention to deregister the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) for failing to hold a congress within the five-year period stipulated... 

Challenges persist, but mining sector has made huge strides since 1994

The local mining landscape has changed significantly in the quarter century following Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as the first democratically elected President of South Africa.