Mining Weekly

Diamond miner De Beers's rough diamond production increased by 17% year-on-year to 7.1-million carats for the quarter ended March 31, with the increase primarily driven by planned ore release from the joint venture Gahcho Kué mine, in Canada, and higher volumes from the Venetia underground mine, in South Africa. The group's production was also 88% higher quarter-on-quarter, despite the challenging trading conditions amid ongoing industry, geopolitical and tariff headwinds.

Energy and chemicals group Sasol, which recently secured product-sustainability certification for jet fuel and diesel produced from used cooking oil and vegetable oils at its Natref refinery, says any potential ramp-up to 200-million litres, or beyond, will now depend on market demand. Business building, strategy and technology executive VP Sarushen Pillay tells Engineering News that an onsite audit by TÜV SÜD confirmed that Natref is able to produce products classifiable as a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel in line with International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, or ISCC+.

The embedding of sustainability remains integral to the strategy and long-term value creation of JSE-listed Sibanye-Stillwater, which records progress across energy, water and social outcomes in its 'Report Suite 2025', just out. The suite of reports and supplements, which provide detailed insight into various operational, financial and strategic initiatives, are designed to keep stakeholders informed and engaged with progress and future plans.

Envusa Energy – a joint venture between diversified miner Anglo American and EDF power solutions – has inaugurated its flagship 520 MW Koruson 2 (K2) cluster of renewable energy projects in the Eastern Cape. Electricity and Energy Minister Kgotsientsho Ramokgopa told attendees at the official inauguration ceremony on April 24 that this reflected government's goal of growing private sector investment in the country.

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) will launch its debt and equity fund-raising push for a new rail line in Zambia in the third quarter of this year, a senior official said on Friday, seeking financial close in the fourth quarter of 2027. The high-profile railway line - part of the US-backed Lobito Corridor connecting copper and cobalt mines to the Atlantic coast - is part of Washington's global push to secure access to strategic metals and minerals and a bid to counter Chinese influence in Africa.

A presentation by University of South Africa (Unisa) Centre of Excellence: Adaptation and Resilience postdoctoral research fellow Dr Kennedy Manduna has challenged dominant narratives around illegal mining, arguing that so called “zama zamas” occupy a dual position as both victims and perpetrators of violence within South Africa’s illicit mining economy. On April 23, Manduna delivered a presentation, titled “Zama zamas as both victims and perpetrators of violence in mining communities” at the Wits Mining Institute, in Johannesburg.

Research firm BMI – a Fitch Solutions Company – is revising up its average lithium price forecast for this year to $17 000/t for Mainland Chinese lithium carbonate 99.5% and $16 700/t for Mainland Chinese lithium hydroxide monohydrate 56.5%. This follows an earlier out-of-cycle upward revision this year, as prices headed into the year on a firmer footing amid tightening supply expectations, although early-year levels appeared to move beyond what fundamentals alone would justify, given mixed short-term demand signals.

Despite elevated global geopolitical tensions, robust demand for platinum group metals (PGMs) has been accompanied by sustained beneficial pricing support in the three months ending March 31, Implats CEO Nico Muller reported on April 24. The third-quarter production results reflect strong operating momentum at several key mining assets and processing assets delivering well to reduce excess inventory.

Specialised mining equipment manufacturer Atlantis Group of Companies (AGC) has shipped its latest raise bore machine to industrial and mining services company Laxyo, in India. This marks the manufacturer's second international order. The RM12 raise bore machine can drill holes up to 6 m in diameter, has 500 kNm of torque, 5 800 kN of thrust and a 380 kW direct current drive.

The Glencore Merafe Chrome Venture has expressed support for Eskom’s public call for an expedited regulatory process in respect of the proposed electricity tariff relief for the South African ferrochrome industry. “Timely regulatory consideration is critical for the stabilisation of the sector and supporting its long-term sustainability,” the venture stated in a media release to Mining Weekly.

As South African mining companies face environmental and legacy issues brought about by the country’s long and complex mining history, it is becoming increasingly important to adopt responsible tailings management and effective land rehabilitation systems. This was underscored by panellists during Creamer Media’s ‘Tailings’ webinar, held earlier this month, which brought together industry experts to discuss the evolution of tailings in the country and explore themes such as regulatory, financial, technical and social barriers that may be slowing rehabilitation efforts.

The global refined copper market is expected to shift to a surplus of 96 000 metric tons in 2026, reversing a previously forecast deficit of 150 000 tons, due to slower demand growth and increased secondary production, the International Copper Study Group said on Thursday. The organization projected a surplus of 377 000 metric tons in 2027 but cautioned that geopolitical risks, including the war in the Middle East, and changes in trade flows could impact market balances.

Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines has celebrated the achievement of three major development milestones at its Platreef platinum/palladium/nickel/rhodium/gold/copper mine in Limpopo, South Africa. The milestones include the completion of construction of the four-million-tonne-a-year Shaft #3; the breaking of ground for the Phase 2 concentrator site; and the start of widening of Shaft #2.

The refined platinum group metal (PGM) production of South Africa’s Valterra Platinum increased by 78% to 778 500 oz in the first three months of 2026 compared with the first quarter of 2025. PGM sales volumes were also at a 60%-higher 791 400 oz.

ASX- and TSX-listed Perseus Mining has reported a strong operational performance for the quarter ended March 31, which resulted in a cash and bullion balance of $817-million. Perseus reports that production for the third quarter of the company’s 2026 financial year totalled 107 144 oz – 21% more than the 88 888 oz achieved in the second quarter of the financial year.

Eskom board member Clive Le Roux says the State-owned company will be in a better position financially by selling electricity to the ferrochrome smelters at 62c/kWh than if that demand was lost through smelter closures. “The reason for that is as the demand comes down, so the marginal cost of supplying energy into a lower-demand economy comes at a lower marginal price.

Electrolytic hydrogen enables long-term energy storage way beyond what batteries can provide, which is exemplified by a 200 MW hydrogen plant in the United States having larger storage capacity than all the batteries currently linked to the electricity grid in the United States, including the batteries from Tesla. “That’s the big thing about hydrogen,” Nel ASA president and CEO Håkon Volldal emphasised during question time, following the Norway-based company’s presentation of first-quarter results in Oslo on Wednesday, April 22.

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that government is finalising an electricity reform policy paper in a bid to offer a “single-window overview of the sector's reform agenda”. Speaking at the release of Eskom’s 2026 winter outlook for the system, which indicates that there should be no loadshedding over the period, the Minister described the paper as long overdue and revealed it had already been drafted by his department.

Metso has expanded its global bulk-materials handling network with the opening of a new regional hub in Cape Town. The Finnish group supplies technologies, solutions and services to the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries worldwide.

Diversified miner South32 lowered its full‑year forecast on April 22 for its Australia Manganese unit after wet-season rainfall and Tropical Cyclone Narelle disrupted operations. The company also warned of rising costs from the Middle East conflict.