Mining Weekly

ASX-listed Lotus Resources is refining its leadership structure as it advances toward the planned restart of its Kayelekera uranium project in Malawi by the third quarter of 2025. Greg Bittar, who has served as CEO, has been appointed MD effective immediately. The company views this move as recognition of Bittar’s contributions since taking the helm, particularly his role in guiding Lotus through key milestones, including securing funding for the Kayelekera restart and achieving progress on operational goals.

Australia’s Syrah Resources has declared a force majeure event at its Balama graphite mine amid post-election civil unrest in Mozambique. Contested election results, announced following the October general election, have caused widespread disruptions throughout Mozambique, including at several mining operations.

The arrest of mining executives in Mali, threats by Burkina Faso's junta to strip permits and the seizure of a French-run uranium site in Niger have unsettled Western miners operating in West Africa and could limit further investments. Day-to-day production in Mali and Burkina Faso has so far been largely unaffected.

A most fundamental human need is to breathe fresh air. Yet, for millions of people working in underground mines across the globe, this is not a given. Now, members of the international ICMM mining organisation have committed to implementing further measures to protect people working in underground mines against exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM).

London-listed Gem Resources has successfully completed the refurbishment and upgrades to the processing plant at its Gravelotte emerald mine, in South Africa. The improvements included the installation of a double-deck vibrating washing and sizing screen and other enhancements aimed at optimising throughput and minimising downtime.

London- and Toronto-listed Endeavour Mining Corporation has completed a positive prefeasibility study (PFS) for the Assafou-Dibibango project on the Tanda-Iguela property, in Côte d’Ivoire. The company says the PFS results meet Endeavour’s strategic targets and confirm Assafou’s potential to be a Tier 1 asset, which justifies advancing the project to the definitive feasibility study (DFS) stage.

Zimbabwe is planning to hold 26% of new mining projects on a free carry basis, and will also negotiate with existing operators to acquire a similar stake. “We need to move to a level where we reach 26% shareholding in most of the big projects,” Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Mines Pfungwa Kunaka told Bloomberg in an interview. “A lot of these things would take negotiations with the investors that are on the ground.”

The trends that helped propel gold to record levels this year look set to continue in 2025, according to the ‘Precious Metals Forecast 2025’ published by German precious metals trader Heraeus Precious Metals. The report authors expect central banks to continue buying gold, although perhaps not at the very high levels seen over the last few years.

Guinea plans to use some of its income from mining the world’s largest iron-ore reserve to create a sovereign wealth fund. The facility will fund key development projects in the government’s so-called Simandou 2040 Program, Planning and International Cooperation Minister Ismael Nabe said in parliament on Monday.