Mining Weekly

Mining explosives and chemicals group AECI is preparing to invest between R700-million and R900-million to modernise its historic Modderfontein facility, in Gauteng, which the group views as key to its ongoing competitiveness in southern and central Africa. CEO Alan Dickson, who took up the position on July 1, tells Engineering News & Mining Weekly that the company has already made some initial investments at the facility in a bid to improve efficiencies and raise utilisation levels.

US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior US State Department officials held a private briefing outlining the administration’s support for establishing independent US supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals. Its stated objective is to secure reliable, non-Chinese supply of the rare earth elements underpinning defence systems, electrification, robotics and automation

Diamond miner Lucara Diamond Corp’s revenue for the second quarter ended June 30 decreased by 6% year-on-year to $41-million, largely owing to lower carat sales through tender and a lower average dollar-per-carat price from diamonds weighing less than 10.8 c. The period’s revenue included the sale of the 2 488 ct Motswedi, while the prior comparable quarter’s revenue included the sale of the 1 094 ct Seriti.

TSX- and NYSE-listed Barrick Mining Corporation has appointed Sebastiaan Bock as CEO of "Rest of World" operations effective immediately. Bock will lead Barrick's gold and copper operations outside of North America and will report to Barrick CEO and president Mark Hill.

JSE-listed Merafe Resources achieved a profit of R512-million for the six months ended June 30, compared with a profit of R233-million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, on the back of significantly higher chrome ore sales volumes and an improvement in commodity prices. Ferrochrome production decreased by 75% to 28 000 t from 112 000 t.

Johannesburg- and Australia-listed Southern Palladium's share price on the JSE jumped by nearly 28% on August 11 after the company confirmed that South Africa's Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) had granted the mining right for the company's flagship Bengwneyama platinum group metals project, in Limpopo. The granting of the mining right marks the completion of a comprehensive regulatory engagement process between Southern Palladium and the DMPR following the lodgement and acceptance of the mining right application in October 2023.

World Gold Council (WGC) and TSX-listed artisanal gold ore processor Dynacor have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on efforts to formalise the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector. The partners aim to expand opportunities for responsibly produced gold to enter formal supply chains worldwide.

RUSTENBURG - At least 14 suspected illegal miners were killed and eight injured when a mine dump collapsed in South Africa's North West province on Monday night, police said. Search and rescue operations were under way for an unknown number of people who may still be trapped at the site near Rustenburg, provincial police commissioner Arthur Peter Adams said.

Africa must seize the global critical minerals opportunity to accelerate industrialisation, create jobs and deepen regional economic integration rather than continue exporting raw materials, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola argues. Speaking at the Ambassadorial Breakfast on Africa's Growth Through Critical Minerals event, hosted by Absa in partnership with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, in Johannesburg, on August 7, he said Africa's vast critical mineral endowment positioned the continent at the centre of the global energy transition.

Gold mining company Aurous Resources, which has been ticking away quietly off the radar with its revived Blyvooruitzicht and Doornfontein gold mines, is looking to adding 1 000 more employment opportunities in the near term. Both the Blyvooruitzicht mine, which was established in 1937, and the Doornfontein mine, established in 1947, are located 70 km to 80 km west of Johannesburg, near Carletonville.

Thermal coal producer Thungela Resources says it expects its earnings per share (EPS) for the six months to June 30 to be between 457% and 475% higher year-on-year at between R10.75 and 11.10. That compares with the EPS of R1.93 reported for the six months ended June 30, 2025. Headline earnings per share (HEPS), meanwhile, are expected to increase by between 140% and 158% year-on-year to between R4.60 and R4.95. That compares with the HEPS of R1.92 reported for the prior comparable period.

Guinea picked Glencore as offtaker to buy bauxite produced by State-owned Nimba Mining Co, as the West African nation looks to manage more closely export flows of the aluminum feedstock. Glencore was chosen through an international tender, Minister of Mines and Geology Bouna Sylla said in an interview in the capital, Conakry.

Toronto- and Johannesburg-listed Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) has appointed chairperson Changyu Liu as interim president and CEO, with effect from August 13, to succeed Wanjin Yang, who is stepping down. The platinum group metal and chrome miner, with assets in South Africa, notes that Yang's resignation is not related to the company's operations or financial reporting. It also thanks him for his contributions, dedication and support to Eastplats during his tenure.

London-, Toronto- and New York-listed precious metals streaming company Wheaton Precious Metals has reported record year-to-date net earnings of $1.1-billion and record operating cashflow of $1.4-billion. The company generated a record $929-million of revenue, net earnings of $543-million and operating cashflow of $650-million in the second quarter alone.

TSX- and NYSE-listed IAMGOLD Corporation has appointed Catherine McLeod-Seltzer director, effective September 1. She is a highly accomplished leader in the Canadian mining industry, offering a combination of executive, board and capital markets experience, says IAMGOLD chairperson David Smith.

London-listed Ariana Resources ARNR.L expects to start producing gold from its greenfield project in Zimbabwe in 2028, the company's managing director Kerim Sener said on Thursday. Ariana's Dokwe project, about 110 km north-west of Zimbabwe's second-largest city Bulawayo, is the first large-scale greenfield project in the country in decades.

Guinea bauxite miner Nimba Mining Company (NMC) reports that the signing of its mining convention has been concluded, establishing a clear and stable legal framework for the company to conduct activities across the value chain, from the extraction of bauxite at the Tinguilinta mine to its export from the Port of Kamsar. The mining convention, granted by decree, sets out the reciprocal rights and obligations of the Guinean State and the company for the full duration of operations. It secures the applicable regime to NMC's activities in fiscal, customs, environmental and social matters and gives the company the required visibility to commit to its long-term investments, starting with the ramp-up of the Tinguilinta site and the studies on local bauxite processing.

Radiant World is under growing pressure after two of its key banks froze its funds and major miners moved to cut ties with the iron ore trading house. Deutsche Bank and KBC Group have frozen some of the company’s Singapore bank accounts, while some other banks have suspended credit lines, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the subject. The moves came after Bloomberg reported last week that some of the largest commodity-trading firms had stopped dealing with Radiant World amid concerns it provided banks with falsified documents about iron ore trades, citing people familiar with the matter.

Northern Cape-focused Copper 360 has appointed Neal Froneman as chairperson, following the retirement of Rupert Smith, with effect from August 6. Smith resigned in order to reduce his professional commitments. The Copper 360 board expressed its appreciation to Smith for his service, dedication and stewardship.

Donor network and platform Trust, Accountability and Inclusion Collaborative (TAI) has published a report that challenges the assumption that deregulation will accelerate critical minerals development. As governments race to secure the minerals needed for renewable energy, electric vehicles and other emerging technologies, TAI is of the view that procedural fairness, effective regulation, environmental stewardship and meaningful community participation are among the most important drivers of public trust in mining.