Mining Weekly

A collective effort was apparent on Friday when Minerals Council South Africa, the Council for Geoscience and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) spoke on the same platform to promote a return to growth in the shrinking South African mining industry. Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane, Council for Geoscience CEO Mosa Mabuza, Junior Exploration & Mining Leadership Forum chairperson Errol Smart, who is also the CEO of Orion Minerals, IDC junior mining fund’s Siyabonga Mahlangu and many others showed common thought and vision on what must be done. (Attached also watch Creamer Media video.)

Global diversified miner Glencore’s emissions and energy use increased in 2023, but the group continues to make strides in managing its operations sustainably and according to ever-evolving standards. Glencore’s total energy use last year was 202 PJ, compared with 194 PJ in 2022. Renewable energy sources delivered 5.4% of Glencore’s total energy needs in 2023, compared with 7.6% in 2022.

Aim-listed Hummingbird Resources has reported the remobilisation of mining services provider Corica Mining Services at the Kouroussa gold mine, in Guinea. Corica in March suspended work at the mine following a dispute with Hummingbird about certain payments, which it believed it was due.

Independent diamond miner Petra Diamonds’ sixth tender cycle for the 2024 financial year yielded $44-million from the sale of 371 000 ct.   CEO Richard Duffy says like-for-like prices were marginally down through this seasonally quiet period, being 2.6% lower than for Tender 5, with demand slightly muted owing to Indian holidays and the continued slow recovery in the Chinese market.  

HP Group would need to boost its latest offer around 30% to reflect fair value for Anglo American and its key copper assets, JPMorgan analysts said in a note. They raised their price target for London-listed Anglo to £27.75 a share after reexamining the value of its copper assets, and said the discount for the shares to the implied value of BHP's offer was at its greatest level, implying the market sees a deal as unlikely.

In the new world of digitised and automated mining that is headed towards increased dependence on AI to solve problems and facilitate complex processes, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) School of Mining Engineering Professor Fred Cawood has warned against an overreliance on such technologies without human checks and balances in place. “If you find yourself in a space where you can't perform a certain activity, you will have to get the experts to help you because we can get it seriously wrong with automation if we do not understand the risks involved. So, thou shalt not automate that which thou cannot do thyself,” he said at the Mind Shift conference hosted by Mine Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa, in Sandton, on May 16.

A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report describes the sharp decline in critical mineral prices over the past year as a double-edged sword, cautioning that, while it has been a boon for clean energy deployment and affordability, it is a bane for critical mineral investment and diversification. The ‘Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2024’ highlights that, following two years of dramatic increases, the prices of critical minerals fell steeply in 2023, returning to levels last seen before the pandemic.

Amid the challenges of loadshedding, logistical constraints and volatile commodity prices, South Africa’s mining-focused manufacturers and equipment suppliers view ongoing innovation, including embracing digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), as increasingly central to their survival and future growth. Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (Memsa) CEO Lehlohonolo Molloyi describes local manufacturers in the sector as “resilient” and responsive to the needs of the sector, highlighting in particular how innovation has played a central role in improving the domestic mining sector’s once-dismal safety record.

ASX-listed Jupiter Mines continues to advance environment, social and governance (ESG) initiatives at its 49.9%-owned Tshipi manganese mine, in South Africa, alongside its partner Ntsimbintle Mining. Jupiter CEO and MD Brad Rogers says ESG for the company is about real sustainability, genuine actions and continuing in a credible way the great work that is already occurring at the Tshipi mine.

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has approved the Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Bill, which has far-reaching implications for the future structure and operation of an electricity supply industry that has hitherto been dominated by Eskom. The Bill received support from all provinces besides the Free State, which lacked a mandate to vote, and the Western Cape, which argued that there had been insufficient time for provinces to consult their residents on the contents of the Bill.

During its financial year to February 29, midtier mining and materials company Afrimat invested considerably in projects that are expected to yield fruitful returns and further strengthen diversity and competitive advantage, group CEO Andries van Heerden said. One such project was the Nkomati anthracite mine, which he said delivered a healthy return.

The latest Fraser Institute Survey of Mining Companies has found that various African countries, including Niger, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Senegal, have ranked among the lowest for investment attractiveness for mining exploration. Africa is unfortunately ranked as the region with the most jurisdictions towards the bottom of the overall Investment Attractiveness Index.

The production of green hydrogen, which is most effectively generated when catalysed by platinum group metals (PGMs), has profound economic and social implications, including job creation, skills development, and the fostering of new industries along a multifaceted mining, manufacturing and agricultural value chain. Encouragingly, the South African government representatives at this week’s Green Hydrogen Roundtable at the Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) head office in Sandton, were able to report that Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has identified the skills needed for the hydrogen economy and is taking all-embracing steps to accelerate green hydrogen know-how.

In a ward where South Africa's governing African National Congress won handily in local elections three years ago, party campaign worker Poppy Vilakazi has been getting a decidedly frosty reception lately. "Mostly they are angry," she told Reuters, speaking in Komati, a village in the shadow of a shuttered power plant in Mpumalanga province, an ANC stronghold in the country's coal belt. "They feel the ANC let them down by allowing this power station to close." South Africa's creaky power sector and the economic fallout from State utility Eskom's struggle to keep the lights on are top issues in a May 29 election that polls predict could see the ANC lose its 30-year parliamentary majority. But as President Cyril Ramaphosa seeks to balance the need to boost energy output against dwindling funding for coal - which generates 80% of the country's power - and global demands that South Africa decarbonise, the issue is dividing his party. Nowhere is that more evident than in Komati, where the conversion of a 60-year-old, 1 000-megawatt coal power plant has triggered a local and national backlash.

Anglo American has suspended hiring globally, it said on Thursday, as it gets plans under way to simplify itself and build value – and avert a $43-billion takeover bid by Australia's BHP. Anglo laid out plans on Tuesday to refocus its company on energy transition metal copper while spinning out or selling its less profitable coal, nickel, diamond and platinum businesses, as it moves to fend off the world's biggest miner.

“We’re very excited to announce that we’ll be establishing the first centre of specialisation of green hydrogen skills,” South Africa’s Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) CEO, Yershen Pillay, made public this week. CHIETA is working on this with South Africa’s mining and transport sector education and training authority units, Pillay highlighted at this week’s Green Hydrogen Roundtable, hosted by Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB).

Shareholders in BHP Group and takeover target Anglo American expect the world’s largest miner to come back with a third and improved proposal before a regulatory deadline next week, even after the smaller company laid out a bold restructuring plan of its own on Tuesday. Anglo has twice rejected all-share approaches from BHP that would require it to spin off listed South African businesses, arguing the proposal created “significant uncertainty” for shareholders. Instead, to counter the latest $43-billion move, it has said it will itself exit diamonds, platinum and coal, turning into a miner focused on copper and iron ore — crown jewels for the group.

Mining major Anglo American has accelerated its portfolio planning in the wake of rejecting fellow mining major BHP’s second bid proposal of $42.2-billion (£34-billion), or £27.70 a share, in a move that new research by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac) shows will take it from being the most diversified to the most concentrated major miner in the world. The report titled ‘Anglo American to rationalise all but copper and iron-ore production’ states that the company’s decision to take a strategic focus on the highest return commodities of copper and iron-ore mirrors similar moves by BHP and diversified miner Rio Tinto in looking to future-proof the business.  

Aim-, ASX- and Ghana Stock Exchange-listed Atlantic Lithium has appointed Edward Koranteng as nonexecutive director to the board effective immediately. As a lawyer and experienced corporate investment banker with experience in Ghana, he can support the company’s objectives of delivering the country’s first lithium mine.

Australia-listed Lucapa Diamonds on Wednesday announced the planned divestment of its 70% interest in the Mothae mine, in Lesotho. This follows a review of the asset portfolio by the company’s newly structured board of directors.