Mining Weekly

Transnet Port Terminals' (TPT's) Eastern Cape Terminals has introduced a mandatory truck appointment system in a move to improve coordination and streamline processes across different commodities. The initiative is expected to improve truck scheduling, especially during peak seasons and peak times, thus encouraging fluidity on terminal roads and in the operating environment.

On the face of it, South Africa could do a lot more to speed up critical minerals mining development in South Africa. An example of doing so that catches the eye is the extra mile the government of Malawi is going to assist with permitting.

African phosphate developer and producer Kropz Group recorded revenue of $14.1-million for the six months ended June 30. The interim period also saw it record the first sales from the trial production phase.

International resource exploration company Tsodilo Resources says the High Court of Botswana has rendered an order that interdicts and restrains the Mines and Energy Minister – through the Department of Mines or any other department – from receiving, considering or assessing the renewal applications in relation to prospecting licences (PLs) 021 to 024/2018 This is pending the delivery of a judgment in Tsodilo’s review application with respect to PL 021/2018.

As South Africa progresses its hydrogen strategies and plans as a means to mitigate climate change and to bolster security of energy supply, the country needs to look internally before embarking on global outflows. Speaking at the Hydrogen Africa conference, held in Johannesburg from September 27 to 29, Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone Company COO Muze Shange said that amid the conversations surrounding hydrogen developments and exports there was a need for focus around South Africa’s own needs and its own demands.

BHP CEO Mike Henry has called for a “small set of common standards” covering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) to underpin the access to capital required to unlock investment in the critical minerals needed for the transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy generation. Speaking at the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) inaugural critical minerals summit in Paris, France, Henry argued that there were currently too many standards for the same ESG dimensions.

Midtier mining and materials company Afrimat expects to report earnings per share (EPS) of between 252.4c and 265c and headline earnings per share (HEPS) of between 257.2c and 269.8c for the six months ended August 31. That represents a 0% to 5% increase on the EPS of 252.4c and a 2% to 7% increase on the HEPS of 252.2c reported for the six months ended August 31, 2022.

Canadian diamond miner Lucara Diamond has terminated the sales agreement with HB Trading, following a “material breach of financial commitments” by HB. Lucara says it will continue to use its established mechanisms to sell Karowe's rough diamond production, namely through its Clara diamond sales platform, traditional tenders and other value-added mechanisms for stones. 

Glencore and Seriti Resources are in talks to cut hundreds of jobs in South Africa as their ability to export coal is stymied by inefficiencies at the state-run freight company. Transnet, which transports the fuel from mines in Mpumalanga province to Richards Bay Coal Terminal, has been hobbled by sabotage, cable theft and aging equipment. While it has taken steps to improve security and ease procurement rules to lower costs, performance has declined.

Technology and service supplier FLSmidth is transforming from an engineering company to a technology partner through its current Core’26 strategy. This is already realising benefits for clients, such as helping them meet sustainability targets, the company noted during a media visit to FLSmidth’s Stormill service centre in Roodepoort, South Africa, on September 27.

Close to half a century of local manganese mastery by Manganese Metal Company of Mpumalanga is placing South Africa – a manganese mining and refining country – in pole position, amid a flurry of global high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate projects, to meet upcoming battery demand. With industrialisation of manganese-rich battery materials technology having already commenced, manganese cathode active material will be a low-cost recyclable critical energy transition material.

Industry body the Minerals Council South Africa has launched a dedicated website for women in mining, as part of efforts to ensure the local mining industry transforms to become a place where women lead and thrive. The council has ramped up its efforts to assist women in the industry, including those in communities, through vital after care services to survivors of gender-based violence.

Eskom is aiming to limit loadshedding to Stage 4 during the summer months to the end of March by restricting unplanned breakdowns to 14 500 MW during what is also its high-maintenance season, when planned outages of about 7 000 MW will be implemented. Interim CEO Calib Cassim indicated on Wednesday that the addition of 2 880 MW from the Kusile power stations would be critical for narrowing the prevailing supply/demand gap in the coming months and providing the space required for maintenance.

State-owned rail company Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has announced that it is experiencing significant disruptions to rail services on some parts of the Cape Corridor as a result of severe weather conditions in the region over the long weekend.   TFR noted on September 27 that the Caledon branch line and the Cape Main line in both the Western Cape and Eastern Cape had been severely affected by adverse weather conditions.  

Government has committed to finalise a Freight Logistics Roadmap, outlining a sequenced set of actions to fundamentally reform the logistics system, by the end of October. The commitment was made at a meeting of Cabinet members and senior business leaders held at Discovery Place in Sandton on September 26, and chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

London-listed Rainbow Rare Earths has conditionally agreed to issue 30-million new ordinary shares in the company, each with no par value, at a price of 15p an ordinary share. This issuance is expected to raise gross proceeds of £4.5-million.  The placing price of 15p an ordinary share represents a 3.2% discount to the closing mid-market share price of 15.5p an ordinary share on September 26. 

The Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal (IOT) will begin its 28-day yearly maintenance shutdown on September 28. During this period, the terminal will perform maintenance on its major equipment across mechanical, electrical and structural works.

Vanadium and energy storage solutions company Bushveld Minerals reported on Tuesday that it had received the R150-million ($8.1-million) in interim working capital from investment fund Southern Point Resources (SPR). The interim facility will provide the group with additional working capital to fund the ongoing expansion of production at the Vanchem vanadium plant, while the completion of the SPR transactions is under way.

Although Glencore’s earnings contributions from recycling activities are not material at this stage, the growth potential to the diversified mining and marketing company from circular economic activity is seen by Morgan Stanley analysts as being “very significant”. This follows Glencore’s hosting of equity analysts at its recycling operations in the US and Canada.

Despite moving its primary listing to New York, AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) has affirmed significance of South Africa as a capital market and source of liquidity for the gold mining major. Following the completion of its corporate restructuring, AGA retains a secondary listing on the JSE, having listed on the bourse 80 years ago.