Zambia dumps copper concentrate import tariff

The Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM) has welcomed the removal of 7.5% import duty on copper concentrates following a recent statement by Finance Minister Felix Mutati. This was preceded by months of... 

Uranium prices ‘are turning the corner’ – Canadian developer

Despite the uranium prices remaining weak, Canadian mineral resources company GoviEx Uranium CEO Daniel Major believes that they are turning the corner and is optimistic about more price... 

Hefty H1 losses paint depressed picture for Implats

Platinum miner Impala Platinum (Implats) has recorded a gross loss of R318-million for the six months to December 31, a significant increase on the loss of R40-million recorded in the six months to... 

De Beers lifts FY16 underlying Ebitda by 42%

Higher revenues contributed to a 42% improvement year-on-year in diamond miner De Beers’ underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) to $1.4-billion in 2016.... 

Anglo targets further $1bn in cost, volume improvements in 2017

Diversified miner Anglo American is this year seeking an additional $1-billion in incremental net cost and volume improvements, while also aiming to return to an investment-grade credit rating and... 

Mokonyane gives thumbs-up as Eastern Basin plant treats 94 Mℓ/d of AMD

Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has lauded the successes achieved at the Eastern Basin acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment plant, in Springs, in Gauteng. The R1-billion plant, which... 

Temporary power solutions touted as cost-effective option for mines

The global mining industry is enduring a period of great uncertainty. In the face of extreme market volatility, stagnant commodity prices, weak demand for products and suppressed levels of economic... 

Streamlined, transparent system key to unlocking Africa’s mineral resources value – AU

It is vitally important that African mining industry stakeholders start initiating dialogue towards building a more well governed and progressive minerals sector that will contribute to the... 

Trump’s shadow loomed large at Mining Indaba as potential FDI positives predicted

The uncertainties surrounding geo-economic trends including Brexit, Donald Trump wining the US elections and increasing efforts by China to dominate the global economy may not bode well for global... 

Analyst bemoans beneficiation tardiness, warns South Africa could lose out

The process of beneficiation of minerals in South Africa and the dialogue around it has been taking place for years, however, platinum beneficiation has been taking place at a “snail’s pace”,... 

GM, Honda in JV to manufacture hydrogen fuel cell systems

US multinational corporation General Motors (GM) and Japanese multinational corporation Honda last week announced the establishment of the automotive industry's first manufacturing joint venture... 

A ‘lean, mean’ structure and less burdensome laws key to successful mining of Middle Orange River diamond deposits

The Middle Orange River (MOR) alluvial diamond deposits between Hopetown, Douglas and Prieska, along with deposits along the Riet and Vaal rivers, in the Northern Cape, represent three unique sinks... 

Temporary power solutions touted as cost-effective option for mines

The global mining industry is enduring a period of great uncertainty. In the face of extreme market volatility, stagnant commodity prices, weak demand and suppressed levels of economic growth in... 

Parties recommit to AMV Compact, Mbeki praises initiative’s aims

Delegates at a policy dialogue forum during the 2017 Investing in African Mining Indaba heard strong re-endorsements from public and private sector speakers for the Africa Mining Vision (AMV)... 

Collaboration, inclusiveness among key themes at 2017 Mining Indaba

There are signs of hope for recovery in some commodities, owing to recent price improvement, which has lent a more upbeat tone to this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, in Cape Town.... 

Global uncertainties to drive FDI in Africa’s mining sector

The uncertainties surrounding geo-economic trends, including Brexit, Donald Trump’s election as US President and increasing efforts by China to dominate the global economy, may not bode well for... 

Streamlined, transparent system needed to unlock Africa’s mineral resources value – AU

It is vitally important that African mining industry stakeholders start initiating dialogue towards building a more well governed and progressive minerals sector that will contribute to the... 

Satellite platform to increase bandwidth efficiency by up to 50% for mines in remote areas

Pan-African telecommunications group Liquid Telecom has deployed its first Mx-DMA satellite link to a mining company in Africa, the company announced during a presentation at the Investing in... 

Locally developed pelletising technology set for commercial roll-out

Engineering company CoalTech has successfully established a 10 000 t/m coal pelletising and curing plant, in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga. Having initially launched its pelletising technology at the 2016... 

Master Drilling readies for international roll-out of new horizontal raiseboring technology

JSE-listed drilling services provider Master Drilling announced at the Investing in African Mining Indaba on Tuesday that its horizontal raiseboring (HRB) technology is ready for international... 

Forevermark brand expanding customer base globally

The response to the Forevermark diamond brand has been “just great” in the past three years, which is, to a significant degree, attributable to the brand’s promise of authenticity, quality,... 

Technology advancement improves project efficiencies, says WorleyParsons

As engineering company WorleyParsons’ global centre of excellence for mining, WorleyParsons RSA expends a substantial amount of energy and resources on developing advanced solutions for its... 

Babcock to launch new equipment, says customers upbeat about 2017

Engineering support services company Babcock will, during the course of this year, launch new “ground-breaking construction equipment”. “Babcock is renowned and respected for delivering... 

Randgold proposes 52% dividend-payout increase as FY16 profits rise 38%

Africa-focused Randgold Resources has increased production for the sixth consecutive year in 2016, while reducing total cash cost per ounce, and remains upbeat about its future prospects despite... 

Junior coal terminal raising capacity, Transnet forges ahead with Waterberg programme

RBT-Grindrod Terminals is ramping up its coal export capacity to 3.6-million tons of coal. RBT-Grindrod, a joint venture between Grindrod and RBT Resources, offers a fully mechanised, brownfield... 

Pakistan could provide expanded coal export opportunities for South African mines

Pakistan is planning to increase its coal-fired power station fleet to alleviate electricity constraints, and is eyeing South African coal as a potential supplier to meet its growing coal... 

Domestic coal sales becoming more important than export market – Prevost

South Africa’s coal exports are dwindling to the point where it will become a minimal part of the market, says XMP Consulting senior coal analyst Xavier Prevost. Speaking at IHS Markit’s 2017 South... 

Despite subdued uranium prices, GoviEx remains upbeat about industry’s prospects

Although uranium prices remain weak, Canadian mineral resources company GoviEx Uranium CEO Daniel Major believes they are turning the corner. Speaking to Mining Weekly Online on the sidelines of... 

While coal remains important, its future is uncertain – Prevost

Although the world still needs coal, particularly for power generation, it is an unloved commodity that is facing a myriad of challenges from different forces, says XMP Consulting senior coal... 

Eskom not solely focused on short-term contracts, says exec

Eskom fuel sourcing acting GM Ayanda Nteta has rebuffed claims that the power utility’s procurement policies are centred on short-term contracts, or spot market deals. Speaking at the IHS Markit... 

Digital transformation now a top priority for mines worldwide – analyst

There is a growing recognition among mining companies globally that the adoption of new technologies will play a vital role in how their operations function in future, states research and... 

Survey reveals improved reporting by mining companies

The mining industry has continued to face significant uncertainty, volatility and pressure to contain costs over the past three years. This unpredictable business environment has given rise to a... 

Brexit to impact on UK mining sector, R&D to bear the brunt

Following a referendum held in June 2016, in which a small majority of British voters declared that they were in favour of leaving the European Union (EU), the UK government has indicated that it... 

Anglo American increases Q4 output in most segments, but copper down year-on-year

Diversified miner Anglo American achieved higher output for most of its products in the fourth quarter ended December 31, but copper production fell by 19% year-on-year. The lower copper... 

Lonmin maintaining FY17 guidance despite weaker Generation 2 shafts production

Platinum producer Lonmin is disappointed by first-quarter production figures at its Generation 2 shafts; however, with the initiative of deploying additional stoping and vamping crews and the... 

Merafe improves production, cuts debt levels

JSE-listed Merafe Resources’ attributable ferrochrome production from the Glencore Merafe Chrome Venture for the year ended December 31, increased by 4% to 107 t, compared with the 101 t produced... 

Mining Indaba remains pivotal to Africa

The mineral resources sector remains “critically important” to the African continent, which is why the Investing in African Mining Indaba has consistently been regarded as an event of “paramount... 

Junior mining sector must be supported; coal to remain key to S Africa's energy needs – DMR

Junior mining companies cannot perpetually remain as junior miners, they must be supported by the majors and other industry stakeholders to assist them in their growth journey, says Department of... 

Bank upbeat about mining sector in 2017, predicts steady commodity price uptick

Given that the global economy is expected to grow by 3.4% this year and 3.5% in 2018, the health of global macroeconomics is good, which bodes well for a resurgence in the global mining industry... 

Mining Indaba remains pivotal to Africa

The mineral resources sector remains “critically important” to the African continent, which is why the Investing in African Mining Indaba has consistently been regarded as an event of “paramount...