Research team develops plans to use old mines as power generating plants

An international team of researchers have developed a method to store kinetic energy, which can later be converted to electrical energy, using decommissioned underground mines. The Underground... 

Godongwana says Eskom, crime key disruptors to South Africa’s investment case

Ahead of South Africa’s government delegation traveling to Davos, Switzerland, to take part in the upcoming yearly World Economic Forum, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says South Africa’s... 

M&A activity impacted on several fronts in 2022 – HSF

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity was impacted negatively in the second half of 2022 as a result of several factors, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, inflation, interest rate rises and... 

Orom-Cross graphite sample export greenlighted by Uganda government

Graphite, nickel and copper developer Blencowe Resources has received approval from the Ugandan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to export materials from its Orom-Cross graphite project... 

€25m loan pledged for 44 MW Côte d’Ivoire hydroelectric plant

Infrastructure development funds, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) and Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), have announced a €25-million finance facility to Ivoire Hydro... 

Gold posts marginal gain in 2022, up 3% in December – WGC

A 3% gain in December, owing to a weaker dollar, took the value of gold to $1 814/oz, resulting in a year-on-year gain of 0.4% – something the World Gold Council (WGC) says looked unlikely to many... 

December PMI rises to 53.1, underlying factors mixed

Financial services provider Absa’s seasonally-adjusted Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose for a third month to reach 53.1 index points in December, slightly up from the 52.6 points recorded in... 

Water engineers allegedly robbed, held hostage in uMkhanyakude district

Richards Bay-based water board Mhlathuze Water says it is with “shock and regret” that it has learnt of the hijacking and robbery of an engineering consultant engaged by it to assist in the... 

Africa can produce 50Mt/y of green hydrogen at less than €2/kg by 2035, report shows

If Africa is able to exploit its solar potential and produce 50-million tonnes of green hydrogen a year by 2035, the continent will be able to create jobs, decarbonise heavy industry, enhance... 

Jupiter overcomes third-quarter challenges that dented production, sales

Several issues, including contractor drill rigs and a strike by employees of South African rail and ports operator Transnet, negatively impacted on the production of ASX-listed Jupiter Mines’... 

Ironveld’s ferrochrome furnace acquisition purchase agreements agreed, signed

Iron, vanadium and titanium miner Ironveld reports that its purchase of Rustenburg-based Ferrochrome Furnaces is progressing, with all material underlying agreements required under a debt purchase... 

Sigma starts Greentech plant commissioning on time, within budget

Sigma Lithium has started commissioning the first module of the Phase 1 production plant – the Greentech Plant – at its 100%-owned Grota do Cirilo project, in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, on... 

loneer a step closer to Rhyolite Ridge construction

Emerging lithium-boron supplier Ioneer reports that its Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Esmeralda County, Nevada, has advanced into the final stage of federal permitting with the decision... 

PIC lifts stake in Afrimat to 15.48%

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has increased its shareholding in JSE-listed industrial minerals, bulk commodities and construction materials miner Afrimat to 15.48%. The Afrimat group... 

Kazera inks deal to sell African Tantalum to Hebei Xinjian

Aim-listed investment company Kazera Global has signed a definitive agreement to sell its 100% interest in African Tantalum (Aftan) to Hebei Xinjian Construction (Xinjian) for $13-million. The sale... 

Global commodities market volatility to ease in 2023 after disruptive 2022 – ERG

As a result of short-term price drivers, such as the ongoing Covid-19 lockdowns in China, monetary policy in the US and the fallout from the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,... 

Afreximbank launches platform to promote African trade

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has operationally launched the Afreximbank TRADAR Club – a member-driven network aimed at empowering international businesses and executives to... 

AfDB approves R2.2bn loan to DBSA

Development finance institution (DFI) the African Development Bank (AfDB) group has approved a R2.2-billion line of credit to the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to expand its portfolio... 

Climate change effects weighing heavier on African citizens – EIB

An Africa edition of the '2022 Climate Survey' conducted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) has found that 88% of African respondents believe climate change is already affecting their everyday... 

Ur-Energy expands triuranium octoxide delivery to 600 000 lb/y

Uranium miner Ur-Energy has expanded the quantity of product to be delivered under a sales agreement concluded in August to 600 000 lb/y of triuranium octoxide, plus or minus a small optional flex,... 

High flow, record grade lithium found during Tolillar exploration – Alpha Lithium

Lithium developer Alpha Lithium reports it has found record-grade lithium concentrations and significant flowrates from the latest production well – WBALT15, which was recently drilled within the... 

Tirupati says will not take on external debt as a result of Suni Resources deal

Specialist graphite and graphene company Tirupati Graphite has clarified that it will not be taking on any external debt with its A$12.5-million acquisition from Battery Minerals (BM) of 100% of... 

Manono tailings amenable to low-cost, simple mining – Tantalex

Canadian junior explorer Tantalex Lithium Resources has declared a maiden mineral resource estimate of 5.46-million tonnes of lithium oxide at a grade of 0.72% in the measured and indicated... 

Metso Outotec to provide soda pressure leaching technology for Keliber refinery

Diversified metals miner Sibanye-Stillwater’s lithium mining subsidiary Keliber has partnered with technologies, services and solutions company Metso Outotec to provide its sustainable soda... 

Kropz CEO, COO agree to stay on until successors appointed

Emerging African phosphate producer and developer Kropz reports that outgoing CEO Mark Summers and COO Michelle Lawrence have agreed to remain in their positions until the company concludes a... 

Metallurgical tests point to reduced energy costs for Hallcreek rare earths project

ASX-listed explorer American Rare Earths reports that the results of recent metallurgical tests on its Halleck Creek rare earths project, in Albany County, Wyoming, in the US, indicate the... 

Ero Copper doubles credit facility to $150m

TSX- and NYSE-listed copper producer Ero Copper has amended its existing senior secured revolving credit facility from $75-million to $150-million and extended the maturity thereof from March 2025... 

Harmony finalises Eva Copper acquisition

JSE-listed gold miner Harmony Gold reports that its acquisition of the Eva Copper project from Copper Mountain Mining Corporation, has been finalised, with the R3-billion ($170-million) payment due... 

US announces $1bn investment package to accelerate African innovation

The US White House’s Prosper Africa initiative the US-Africa Business Forum’s Deal Room announced on December 14 a package of investments totalling $1-billion over the next five years, to boost... 

Partnership formed to use Boliden’s low-carbon copper in ABB’s electric motors

Engineering company ABB is partnering with Swedish mining and smelting company Boliden to use low-carbon copper in the production of its electromagnetic stirring (EMS) equipment and high-efficiency... 

AfDB, WWF launch biodiversity report

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have launched a regional report on the performance of African countries under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 –... 

AMEA Power to build 120 MW solar PV plant near Klerksdorp

Renewable energy company AMEA Power has been selected as a preferred bidder under Bid Window (BW) 6 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The company... 

Johannesburg-based high-purity manganese sulphate demo plant progressing – Giyani

Manganese project developer Giyani Metals Corporation reports that the construction of its demonstration plant in the north-west of Johannesburg, in South Africa, is progressing, with engineering... 

Half of newly announced Maatla orders completed, deliveries under way

Paramount Land Systems, a subsidiary of aerospace and defence group Paramount, reports that 50% of the newly announced Maatla 4x4 light-protected vehicle (LPV) contracts have already been completed... 

LBMA launches second version of Global Precious Metal Code

The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) has launched the second version of its Global Precious Metal Code, which sets out the minimum standards and best practice expected from market... 

Diversification of critical minerals supply chain key to sustainability of energy transition – Pensana

The UK needs to establish independent, sustainable and resilient supply chains to diversify its sourcing of critical minerals and reduce dependence on such minerals being sourced from China, said... 

Caracal’s Kilimapesa secures $3m financing

East Africa-focused gold producer Caracal Gold’s 100%-owned Kenyan operating subsidiary Kilimapesa Gold has secured non-dilutive financing of $3-million through a prepaid gold purchase agreement... 

Oriole defines maiden Bakassi Zone 1 resource estimate of 305 000 oz at 2.19 g/t

West Africa-focussed gold explorer Oriole Resources reports that its Cameroon-based 90%-owned Bibemi orogenic gold project’s Bakassi Zone 1 has been delineated with a maiden Joint Ore Reserves... 

Initial drilling at Ziatoyah provides Hamak Gold with encouraging results

Liberia-focused gold explorer Hamak Gold reports “encouraging” results from its maiden three-hole diamond drilling programme at the Ziatoyah prospect at the company’s 100%-held Nimba permit, in... 

Walkabout’s Lindi Jumbo project passes independent environmental audit

Walkabout Resources’ Tanzania-based Lindi Jumbo graphite mine has passed an independent environmental audit by a registered environmental firm NAK – the first to take place since the commencement...