Mining Weekly

Coal miner Liberty Coal’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Liberty Coal Terminal, has completed the acquisition of Optimum Coal Terminal’s (OCT’s) entire shareholding interest in the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT). OCT is a subsidiary of Optimum Coal Mine (OCM). Liberty Coal acquired the business, assets and compromised liabilities of OCM, which was in business rescue, in February.

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE’s) review of mining regulations, which started a year ago, provides the chance to relook and unlock the true potential of South Africa’s mineral wealth for the good of all citizens, says Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane. In an opinion piece published on December 13, he points out that the review of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) presents a rare opportunity to create a well-considered and shared vision of a thriving mining industry that can benefit future generations.

ASX-listed Aura Energy has undertaken an assessment of the opportunities for future capacity expansion at the flagship Tiris uranium project, in Mauritania, demonstrating the significant internal growth opportunity at the project through a future expansion of the project from Stage 1 cash flows, improving confidence in the inferred mineral resources and regarding further exploration success, MD and CEO Andrew Grove says. The assessment used inputs from the September production target update and the recently expanded 91.3-million-pound triuranium octoxide (U3O8) mineral resource.

With Mpumalanga having been selected to host the Group of 20 (G20) energy session in September next year, diversified energy company Seriti Green says the event will propel the province onto the global stage, setting the standard for future power supply with international standards and protocols. G20 Ministers will convene in Mpumalanga from September 23 to 26 to discuss the energy mix, lower carbon-emitting technologies and other aspects of the Just Energy Transition (JET).

Aim-listed Kazera Global subsidiary Whale Head Minerals (WHM) has signed a sales and offtake agreement for its heavy mineral sands production with Fujax South Africa – a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujax Group. Kazera says it remains committed to advancing its high-grade heavy mineral sands project in South Africa.

Africa-focused battery metals investment and exploration company Marula Mining has decided to withdraw from its planned exploration and project acquisition activities in Zimbabwe. The company, through its 80%-owned Zimbabwean operating subsidiary Muchai Mining, started a programme of securing near-term and advanced lithium and copper mining and development opportunities in the second half of 2023.

Exxaro Resources has held talks with the owner of one of South Africa’s largest manganese mines about buying the asset, as the coal producer seeks to diversify its business, according to people familiar with the matter. Johannesburg-based Exxaro has discussed the potential acquisition of the Tshipi Borwa mine, said the people who asked not to be named as the information is private. The operation belongs to Tshipi e Ntle Manganese Mining, a joint venture between Australia-listed Jupiter Mines Ltd. and closely held Ntsimbintle Mining.

ASX- and LSE-listed Resolute Mining has announced that CEO Terry Holohan will take a leave of absence from December 13, 2024, until January 31, 2025, following his recent detention in Mali alongside two colleagues. The trio, detained on November 8 during discussions with Malian mining and tax authorities, were released on November 21 after the company agreed to a $247-million settlement with the Malian junta.

Globally diversified mining and metals company South32 expects to obtain approval for its Worsley Alumina mine development project – a mine life extension project – from the Western Australia state later this month and federal approval early in 2025. This follows the positive outcome of an appeal of an earlier decision by the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which recommended that the project be approved, but subject to conditions that South32 said went beyond reasonable measures for managing environmental risks and would create significant operating challenges.

The gold price has increased by more than 28% year-to-date in dollars, trading 22% higher on average this year than during 2023, the World Gold Council reported on Thursday, December 12. Gold’s performance across currencies was equally strong and reached 40 new record highs and total third-quarter gold demand surpassed $100-billion for the first time.

A feasibility study on the Soweto Cluster gold recovery project, which like the highly successful Mogale Tailings Retreatment (MTR) is also on Gauteng’s West Rand, will be completed by September, midtier gold mining company Pan African reported on Thursday, December 12. "The performance of our MTR operation has exceeded expectations,” Pan African CEO Cobus Loots stated in the stock exchange news service announcement, in which he also expressed excitement at the prospect of further expanding the Johannesburg- and London-listed company’s surface business in the short term for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Gemstone miner Gemfields recorded revenues of $46.2-million from its latest auction of mixed-quality rough ruby recovered at the Montepuez ruby mine, in Mozambique. Of the 102 lots on offer, 97 were sold.

Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has analysed and evaluated nearly 400 000 km of airborne geophysical and other exploration data using AI techniques and powerful computing, which would otherwise have been too big for timely analysis by humans. In particular, the company has identified seven significant kimberlite targets on existing licences that have not been reported before.

The selection of Pele Green Energy (PGE) to supply renewable energy to the South African ferrochrome smelters operated by the Glencore Merafe Venture represents an important milestone in the steady yet uneven evolution of South Africa’s electricity industry. Its significance is not immediately apparent, largely because the novelty of such multidecade power purchase agreements (PPAs) between electricity-intensive private firms and independent power producers (IPPs) has worn off somewhat three-and-a-half years after President Cyril Ramaphosa successfully twisted a reluctant Gwede Mantashe’s arm to enable such deals at scale.

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.