Clover not overly concerned about land expropriation debate

Despite concerns about the recent controversial calls for land expropriation without compensation and the possible effect this could have on South Africa’s economy and food security, JSE-listed... 

Standard Bank PMI improves to 51.4 in February

For the first time in 11 months, business activity expanded in the South African private sector in February, with the Standard Bank Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) increasing from 49 in January to... 

RCL Foods eyes greater market share as new pet food facility opens

Fast-moving consumer goods manufacturer RCL Foods on Thursday launched its new R150-million pet food manufacturing facility, in Randfontein. Through the establishment of the 1 500 m2 facility,... 

Eastplats secures financing deal for Crocodile River Mine retreatment project

Dual-listed Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) and its subsidiary Barplats Mines have entered into an agreement with Union Goal Offshore Solution for the construction, mining and processing of the... 

Tsodilo says DMS plant delivering results

TSX-V-listed Tsodilo Resources has processed 724.7 t through the dense media separation (DMS) plant at its BK16 kimberlite project in Botswana, since commissioning the plant on January 18. This... 

Vedanta dividend payout hits record

LSE-listed Vedanta Resources’ subsidiary Vedanta Limited on Tuesday declared a record interim equity dividend of $1.2-billion. Vedanta Resources would receive $600-million of this dividend, the... 

Anglo Asian set to start $6m, three-year exploration programme

Aim-listed gold, copper and silver producer Anglo Asian Mining on Tuesday said that it would shortly embark on a $6-million three-year rolling exploration programme of near mine, brownfield and... 

New Congolese mining code rattling mining companies

Beyond raising costs for domestic miners, a new mining code signed into law by Congolese President Joseph Kabila last week, poses downside risks to the investment outlook of the country’s mining... 

Savca launches industry awards

The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (Savca) is launching the inaugural Savca Industry Awards, aimed at recognising portfolio companies that have thrived from private... 

Jarana defends SAA’s poor performance, lack of turnaround

State-owned South African Airways (SAA) on Tuesday said it was again taking “urgent steps” to address issues raised by the Auditor-General’s (AG’s) office in its 2016/17 audit report, which was... 

Durban on track to open public transport network

The City of Durban is on track to start its GO!Durban integrated public transport network from Pinetown’s central business district (CBD) to KwaMashu’s Bridge City in the latter part of this year.... 

Gem sells 910 ct Lesotho Legend for $40m

The “exceptional quality” 910 ct D-colour Type IIa diamond recovered from LSE-listed Gem Diamonds’ Letšeng mine, in Lesotho, in January, achieved a price of $40-million on tender in Antwerp, on... 

PwC puts great store in Ramaphosa Presidency

Financial institution PwC believes that President Cyril Ramaphosa holds the key to unlocking economic growth and investment in South Africa, which it says is set to rebound following several years... 

Growthpoint lists first local green bonds

JSE-listed real estate investment trust Growthpoint Properties has issued a Green Bond on the JSE, the first local company to do so. The Growthpoint Green Bonds will be available in terms of five,... 

New energy, environment partnership to further continental economy

A new Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP) trust fund, covering Southern and East Africa was launched on Monday, with a combined commitment of €25-million from Finland and the Nordic... 

Scientists call for greater action on climate change

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has joined the global science community in calling on the Commonwealth Heads of Government to use the best available science to guide action on... 

Confidence in agriculture ticks up, but land expropriation yet to weigh in

The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index for the first quarter painted an encouraging picture of the South African agricultural sector, as it improved by nine points to 58, after declining to... 

Stellar Diamonds agrees to acquisition by Australia’s NWF

Australian exploration company Newfield Resources (NWF) and Africa-focused miner Stellar Diamonds have reached an agreement regarding NWF’s proposed acquisition of Stellar’s entire issued and to be... 

NUM calls for removal of Optimum business rescue practitioners

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called for the removal of business rescue practitioners (BRPs) at the Optimum coal mine, as it claims that their appointment was unlawful. The NUM has... 

South Africa commits to new continental trade agreement

The African Ministers of Trade (Amot) last week considered and approved – for submission to the extraordinary summit of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government – an agreement... 

Continental Gold intensifies focus on Buriticá advancement

TSX-listed Continental Gold will focus on completing detail engineering and finalising major mill and infrastructure procurement in the year ahead, to advance its Buriticá project, in Colombia, to... 

Katoro remains focused on Imweru amid Tanzanian mining legislation changes

Tanzania-focused gold exploration and development company Katoro Gold has completed all the technical aspects of the prefeasibility study and is now assessing the economic feasibility of the Imweru... 

Bakwena upgrading N1N4 at a cost of R1bn

Road construction and maintenance company Bakwena on Friday said it was investing R1-billion to maintain and upgrade road infrastructure along the 385 km of the N1N4 it manages as part of its... 

Bauba swings into the black in H1

JSE-listed chrome miner Bauba reported a profit before tax of R46.7-million for the six months ended December 31, against a loss of R6.8-million in the six months to December 31, 2016. Profit... 

Vast extends completion date for Mercuria agreement

Aim-listed copper and zinc miner Vast Resources said on Friday that, while it continued to make good progress with Mercuria Energy Group to finalise a $9.5-million prepayment offtake agreement for... 

Tanzania grants Magnis approval to operate graphite processing plant

Tanzania has granted Australia’s Magnis Resources approval for a graphite processing plant in a designated special economic zone (SEZ) to process graphite mined from the Nachu mine. The SEZ is... 

Oracle receives Sichuan backing for coal-to-power project

The Sichuan Provincial Investment Group (SCIG) has formally approved to proceed with UK energy developer Oracle Power’s combined lignite coal mine and mine-mouth power plant project, located in... 

BCI appoints drilling contractor for Buckland’s Kumina tenements

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed BCI Minerals has contracted Core Drilling Services for an upcoming major drilling programme at its Kumina tenements, a component of the Buckland... 

Native title laws cause uncertainty in mining circles – MCA

Australian minerals companies have called for urgent amendments to native title laws to remove uncertainty created by court decisions which cast doubt over the status of mining leases and... 

New power line to keep OZ Minerals connected

Copper/gold miner OZ Minerals on Friday unveiled its power strategy, which includes a new high voltage power transmission line to secure electricity for the Prominent Hill and Carrapateena mines,... 

Drilling programmes at Ramelius projects encouraging

Recent resource development and exploration drilling programmes at ASX-listed Ramelius Resources’ Edna May and Mt Magnet gold operations, in Western Australia, have delivered encouraging results.... 

Peel spin-out Saturn Metals starts trading on ASX

West Australian gold explorer Saturn Metals started trading on the ASX on Friday, following an oversubscribed A$7-million initial public offering (IPO). The miner is a successful spin-out of... 

Thor zones in on three projects

Dual-listed Thor Mining on Friday said it would intensify its focus on its Pilot Mountain tungsten/silver/copper project, in the US; as well as the Kapunda copper project and the Molyhill tungsten... 

Hulamin sees possible upside to proposed US tariff increases

The proposed aluminium import tariffs that are currently being considered by US President Donald Trump's administration could have a positive impact on South African aluminium products manufacturer... 

Green shoots seen in construction industry, despite tight conditions

The South African construction sector is still facing "very tough and difficult" conditions, with the 2.5% inflation rate creating an even tighter environment, Econometrix chief economist Dr Azar... 

Afrox optimistic about recent regional economic developments

JSE-listed African Oxygen (Afrox) on Thursday reported yet another year of strong results, with revenue for the 12 months to December 31 up 6% to R5.69-billion. Headline earnings a share rose by... 

AECI to focus on integrating acquisitions in 2018

Explosives and specialty chemicals group AECI on Tuesday reported its highest recorded headline earnings per share (HEPS) to date, at 959c, for the financial year ended December 31. HEPS were up... 

Study elevates importance of Orion’s Jacomynspan deposit

A geological reevaluation of the ultramafic intrusive hosted Jacomynspan nickel/copper/cobalt deposit, undertaken on behalf of dual-listed Orion Minerals, has highlighted important findings that... 

Resgen making slower-than-expected progress in securing Boikarabelo funding

Dual-listed Resource Generation (Resgen) on Thursday said it continued to make progress on its funding plans for the Boikarabelo coal mine, in the Waterberg, but conceded that this was taking... 

Anglo American renews shipping contract with Vuka Marine

Global miner Anglo American has renewed its various full-time ocean freight contracts with local maritime company Vuka Marine. Under these freight contracts, Anglo American will transport bulk...