Mining Weekly

Black-owned coal mining company Seriti Resources' advance into wind energy through Seriti Green may be further advanced by an entry into solar power, Tuesday’s Coal & Energy Transition Day 2024 was told. Moreover, it was also made clear by chairperson and mining luminary Bernard Swanepoel and reiterated by facilitator and EY partner Thabi Malatji that next year’s event would have transitioned to something like 'energy transition day', with the word 'coal' being removed from the title, and added conversation on clean, green energy. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

With coal consumption having increased by 11% since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015 and the commodity being a mainstay for many countries’ energy mixes, including Australia and India, experts gathered at the Coal & Energy Transition Day on July 23 are confident that there is still an immediate, intermediate and long-term future for coal. Minerals Council South Africa environment, health and legacies senior executive Nikisi Lesufi said the development of South Africa was at stake, hence the importance of discussing coal’s role as a fundamental requirement for economic growth.

Eskom will replace its declining coal capacity with clean-energy options in line with country policy and the Just Energy Transition, Eskom GM for primary energy Dan Mashigo told participants at a conference on coal and the energy transition. Speaking on behalf of Eskom CEO Dan Marokane, Mashigo reported that the State-owned company had a 20 GW-plus generation project pipeline, including 6 GW of solar PV, 4 GW of hybrid wind-PV-battery projects, 4 GW of gas-to-power, 3 GW of nuclear and 3.5 GW of hydro, wind and battery storage.

The commitment of South Africa’s new multi-party government to continued reform of this country’s iron-ore logistics was hailed on Tuesday by Kumba Iron Ore. Speaking during the presentation of half-year results covered by Mining Weekly, Kumba CEO Mpumi Zikalala spoke of the current public-private partnership model having the potential to create powerful logistics reform. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have welcomed the signing into law of the Climate Change Bill. The Presidency has announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Climate Change Bill, which sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa’s fair contribution to the global climate change response.

Southern African exploration company Askari Metals has secured an A$850 000 funding package, comprised of redeemable notes with professional and sophisticated investors, to "aggressively pursue" its Tanzanian uranium investment strategy. This follows the company's recent acquisition of the Matemanga project, in Tanzania.

Gold exploration and mining company Akobo Minerals has announced that its Segele processing plant, in Ethiopia, is now operational. The commissioning process has successfully activated the majority of the Segele plant, enabling the company to process a substantial amount of ore.

ASX-listed uranium project developer Deep Yellow has appointed experienced mining finance executive Craig Barnes to succeed Mark Pitts as CFO, with effect from August 1. Barnes is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years’ experience in senior finance and financial management roles within the mining industry both in Africa and Australia, including direct exposure to uranium development and production in Namibia.

Diamond miner De Beers’ new rough diamond sorting, valuation and sales building Sky Park, in Johannesburg, has received a five-star interior green rating and two four-star green building ratings from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). The ratings were awarded for the sustainable design elements proposed and approved by the GBCSA, as well as the ‘As-Build’ rating that evaluates the use of green and sustainable materials during the construction phase. The waste, water, and power management strategies implemented during construction were also recognised as part of these awards.

Diversified miner South32’s South African manganese operations produced 2.18-million tonnes of manganese in the 2024 financial year, ended June 30, higher than the 2.11-million tonnes produced in the 2023 financial year, and above the two-million tonnes the group had expected to produce. Group subsidiary Samancor Manganese in June entered entered into a binding agreement for the sale of the Metalloys manganese alloy smelter, in Gauteng, to Khwelamet, an entity jointly owned by Menar and Ntiso Investing Holdings.

Despite the current low-price cycle, the critical role that platinum group metals (PGMs) play in helping to form a foundation for cleaner greener world remains indisputable, Anglo American Platinum CEO Craig Miller highlighted at the company’s presentation of solid half-year results on its journey towards demerging from the Anglo American group. “Our market development efforts help ensure that our products have a sustainable and positive impact on the world. We're leveraging capabilities through these activities and capturing value from the adjacent value chains while diversifying sources of future PGM demand,” added Miller, who expects Anglo Platinum to be a separate primarily Johannesburg-listed mining and marketing company by the end of next year. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

In unpacking production and export figures for chrome and ferrochrome in 2023 and the first quarter of this year, the International Chromium Development Association (ICDA) has confirmed that China and South Africa continue to drive the chromium market. ICDA senior market research analyst Tanya Atalay says these markets have shown resilience amid the global economic slowdown.

ASX- and JSE-listed Orion Minerals has reminded shareholders based in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, the Netherlands, Jersey, the UK, Mauritius and Singapore to buy shares under a share purchase plan (SPP) before the offer closes on July 23. Eligible shareholders include those that held Orion shares as of June 28.

After three months of negotiations, labour union Solidarity has reached a five-year wage agreement for members employed by Assmang. This agreement was concluded in collaboration with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

London-listed gemstone miner URA Holdings will hold its first trial emerald sale for gemstones recovered from its Gravelotte mine, in South Africa, later this year. The company reports in an update to shareholders that it has achieved early production targets at the mine, which started phased production on April 29.

Platinum group metals  (PGM) mining and marketing company, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange primary-listed Anglo American Platinum, highlighted on Monday that it is working to deliver a responsible and orderly separation from the secondarily-listed Anglo American by the end of next year. “Our management team and independent board is already working alongside a dedicated team with Anglo American to achieve this,” Anglo Platinum CEO Craig Miller outlined.

Energy demand growth is forecast to be among the highest levels this year and next, compared with the last two decades, the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes in its ‘Electricity Mid-Year Update’ report. Solar PV technology alone is expected to account for half of the demand growth increases globally.

South Africa’s National Treasury plans to lay out its proposals for how to regulate carbon markets in the country in the next few months. The government department said it plans to publish a consultation paper on the industry around the time it presents its Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in October.

Marula Mining on Friday announced an agreement to acquire a lithium, tungsten and tantalum asset in the Northern Cape, through its wholly-owned Southern African Lithium and Tantalum Mining subsidiary. The agreement involves the acquisition of 100% of Northern Cape Lithium and Tungsten.

The governor of Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province has ordered the suspension all mining activities in the restive region, giving all companies and operators 72 hours to leave mining sites, a statement said on Friday. Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, said in the statement that the suspension until further notice, was due to "disorder caused by the mining operators."