Mining Weekly

Diversified mining major BHP, which has made a rejected proposal to combine with Anglo American by way of a scheme of arrangement, confirmed on Thursday that it intended maintaining its multi-decade listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). BHPalso emphasised that, under its Anglo proposal, South Africa would continue to benefit from Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore operating as independently listed South African companies investing in local operations, communities, and jobs.

BHP Group has deployed a team of senior executives to South Africa as the world’s largest miner ramps up efforts to win over government officials, regulators and local shareholders, all of whom could yet determine the outcome of its proposed tie-up with rival Anglo American. The executives have already begun conversations with key stakeholders, focusing on explaining the detail of the existing $39-billion proposal – currently back on the drawing board after it was rapidly rejected by its target – and its benefits, according to people familiar with the matter.

Discovery and development are the only true drivers of value creation in the mining industry, Barrick president and CEO Dr Mark Bristow highlighted on Wednesday, when this standout gold and copper mining company once again declared a dividend in reporting its first quarter results that position the company well to meet its full year targets. The year-on-year net earnings per share of the New York- and Toronto-listed company headed by South African-born Bristow increased by 143% for the quarter, while adjusted first-quarter net earnings per share grew by 36%. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

In this article, Webber Wentzel partner Bruce Dickinson writes that the implications of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) on investment dynamics in South Africa have come under scrutiny.

Mining veteran Rick Menell has joined the board of Africa-focused gold producer Perseus Mining as a nonexecutive, independent director. "I am extremely pleased to welcome Rick Menell to the board of our company. Rick is a very high calibre individual whose diverse work and life experiences will bring new perspectives that will be invaluable in helping Perseus reach its full potential. "His deep understanding of the people and the mining industry on the African continent is perfectly suited to joining the leadership team of a growing, Africa-focused company like Perseus, that has ambitions to become a leader of the gold mining industry on the continent," says Perseus chairperson and CEO Jeff Quartermaine.

Anglo American’s copper assets are valued at about $35-billion and, if BHP aims to clinch these prized operations, the miner must substantially enhance its offer for its competitor. This is according to a report by CreditSight analysts Wen Li and Michael O’Brien, who estimate Anglo’s enterprise value at $63-billion.

Barrick Gold's CEO says the gold miner will continue to host virtual-only annual general meetings despite calls for public companies to return to an in-person format. After Barrick hosted its latest virtual-only AGM on Tuesday, CEO Mark Bristow said he “can’t see any reason” to return to in-person sessions. Back when the company was holding in-person annual meetings, they were routinely attended by activists and non-governmental organizations, such as MiningWatch Canada, that have accused Barrick of human rights abuses in Africa.

Anglo American's chair will meet its top 30 shareholders to hear views on BHP's $39-billion bid for the miner, he told an annual general meeting on Tuesday, where he was restricted from discussing the spurned offer by takeover regulations. Anglo rejected the offer on Friday, saying it was opportunistic, significantly undervaluing the company and its future prospects.

Sub-Saharan Africa holds an estimated 30% of the world’s volume of proven critical mineral reserves and managing their use properly as part of the global transition to clean energy has the potential to transform the region, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) states in its ‘Regional Economic Outlook’ report. The global transition to clean energy is set to further heighten demand for critical minerals. Between 2022 and 2050, demand for nickel will double, cobalt triple and lithium rise ten-fold, according to the International Energy Agency.

Execution and preparatory work on key gold projects are on track in South Africa, and early works on the copper project in Australia are to commence, Harmony Gold reported on Tuesday. In South Africa, the Moab Khotsong gold mine extension and the Mine Waste Solutions development are on track, along with preparatory work being under way at Mponeng; in Australia, early works are ready to commence at the Eva copper project.

A takeover of Anglo American would need to be pitched at more than £30 ($37.6) a share, a higher price than BHP Group offered last week, according to analysts and traders surveyed by Bloomberg. Anglo American shares are trading above the value of BHP’s rebuffed $39-billion takeover proposal, a sign traders are also expecting a higher bid. The premium has increased since Bloomberg News reported over the weekend that BHP is considering making an improved proposal.

Continued exchange-traded fund (ETF) outflows drove gold demand, excluding over-the-counter (OTC) purchases, down by 5% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year to 1 102 t. However, including sizeable OTC purchases by investors, total gold demand increased by 3% year-on-year to 1 238 t, which the World Gold Council (WGC) says is the strongest first quarter for gold demand since 2016.

With skills having been identified as a key cross-cutting requirement for the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan (JET-IP), the National Business Initiative (NBI), together with the Presidency’s JET project management unit (JET PMU) and Boston Consulting Group, have launched the JET Skilling for Employment Programme (JET SEP). South Africa has an opportunity to unlock 20% more of its current gross domestic product through green initiatives, which will need between 150 000 and 200 000 direct jobs by 2025, and between 350 000 and 400 000 jobs by 2050, related to solar photovoltaic, wind and battery storage technology installations, NBI CEO and JET SEP steering committee member Shameela Soobramoney pointed out during an April 29 briefing.

BHP Group can't cherry pick Anglo American assets without paying a hefty premium, Anglo investors told Reuters, concerned that they stand to lose heavily by holding shares in South African subsidiaries. The world's No. 1 miner is weighing up its next move after its initial $39-billion takeover proposal for smaller rival Anglo was rejected last week. The proposed premium was 31% on Anglo's implied value.

Platinum group metals (PGMs) mining and marketing company Implats on Tuesday reported higher production in a period characterised by robust demand but lacklustre PGM prices. “Despite continued macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, demand from our contractual customers remains robust, with elevated additional volumes requested via spot sales during the third quarter.

More than 70% of critical minerals needed for the transition to net zero emissions will be at risk from climate disruption by 2050, professional services firm PwC says. The firm's latest report, titled ‘Climate Risks to Nine Key Commodities Report’, shows that the production of copper, cobalt and lithium minerals crucial for the clean energy transition could face significant or higher drought risk by 2050 under a high-emissions scenario. Currently, these critical minerals are only at a 10% risk.

Pending an improved price and cost environment, Glencore said in its first-quarter 2024 production report on Tuesday that its Rustenburg ferrochrome smelter in South Africa’s North West province would remain idled. The London- and Johannesburg-listed diversified mining and marketing company reported 26% lower attributable first quarter ferrochrome production of 297 000 t amid the European benchmark ferrochrome price for the second quarter of this year settled at $1.52/lb, 5.6% up on the first three months of 2024.

Gold Fields long-serving CFO Paul Schmidt, who is also an executive director of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed gold mining company, is to proceed on early retirement, the company stated in a stock exchange announcement on Tuesday. Although his stepdown is effective from April 30, Schmidt will, remain in Gold Fields’ employ until June 30.

Vedanta Resources has approached trading houses as it seeks to raise capital to revive the Konkola copper mining and smelting complex in Zambia. Billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta has discussed tolling and prepayment facilities with commodity traders, including Mercuria Energy Group, for output from Konkola Copper Mines, according to people familiar with the matter. It’s also examining the sale of a minority stake in KCM as it explores ways to pay off creditors and invest in the mines that entered provisional liquidation in 2019, the people said, asking not to be identified because the talks are private.

As part of its commitment to education, precious metals refiner Rand Refinery has donated R2-million to seven primary and secondary schools in Gauteng. The company says this donation will be allocated towards refurbishments at, and procurement of modern educational tools by, the selected schools.