Mining Weekly

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its 2026 growth projection for the South African economy to only 1% from a January projection of 1.4%, as it warned that the outbreak of war in the Middle East threatened to throw the global economy off course and exact a high economic toll on many oil-importing countries. The IMF has also reduced the growth outlook for sub-Saharan Africa to 4.3% from 4.6%.

A green hydrogen breakthrough in Namibia is opening the way for decarbonised steel using iron-ore of considerably lower grade. In an electrically powered hydrogen rotary kiln, 80 t of Australian iron-ore has been converted in climate‑neutral fashion into direct‑reduced iron (DRI) using ore with an iron content of around 56%, which is well below the typical 70% – and without the usual energy-intensive pelletising.

JSE-, LSE- and A2X-listed Tharisa produced 34 300 oz of platinum group metal (PGM) for the quarter ended March 31 – the second quarter of its 2026 financial year, with PGM recoveries stable at 77.5%. Output was lower than the 38 800 oz produced in the first quarter of the financial year, but higher than the 32 500 oz produced in the second quarter of the 2025 financial year.

Aim- and TSX-V-listed rare earth elements and associated minerals company Mkango Resources’ subsidiaries HyProMag and Mkango Rare Earths UK have been named as collaborative project winners of the Driving Research & Investment in Vehicle Electrification (DRIVE35) research and development (R&D) competition – an initiative of the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to support the UK automotive industry through £4-billion of capital and R&D funding. HyProMag is leading the three-year £6.5-million Rare Earth Automotive Circular Technologies for the UK (REACT UK) project to establish and deliver a full circular UK supply chain comprising recovery, recycling and remanufacturing of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets from end-of-life hybrid and electric vehicles.

China is probably growing in importance to the gold market the same way it is growing in importance to the global economy. By contrast, the hegemonic dominance of the US is continuing to deteriorate amid the Middle East war having a very negative consequence for its global role. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

Aim- and ASX-listed Ariana Resources has appointed Michael Atkins nonexecutive chairperson, effective immediately. Current chairperson Michael de Villiers will step down from his role and take on the role of deputy chairperson, and also continue his duties as company secretary.

Aim-listed Kodal Minerals has produced 26 981 t of spodumene concentrate, grading 5.28% lithium oxide, from its joint-owned Bougouni lithium project, in Mali, for the three months ended March 31. March production exceeded 10 900 t at 5.28% lithium oxide and is the highest monthly production recorded to date at the project.

Germany has agreed to give South Africa a new €200-million ($234-million) concessional climate loan, and the two countries will deepen cooperation in other areas like critical minerals, South Africa's foreign minister said on Monday. The loan will support investment in South Africa's power grid and renewable energy capacity, Minister Ronald Lamola said after talks with German counterpart Johann Wadephul in Berlin.

TSX-listed Ivanhoe Mines has produced 71 417 t of copper in blister and anode from its Kamoa-Kakula copper smelter, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for the first quarter of this year. The company notes that the total consisted of 63 671 t of copper in anode produced by Kamoa-Kakula’s on-site, direct-to-blister copper smelter and 7 746 t of copper in blister produced by the Lualaba Copper Smelter (LCS), in Kolwezi.

South Africa’s Presidency has been advised to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels as current events may alter the economics of alternative fuel sources such as green hydrogen and green ammonia, for the production of which South Africa enjoys competitive advantages, Business Day reported on Monday, April 13. Forming part of a summary of priority decisions is that there must be less reliance placed on imported fuels and great emphasis placed on energy independence.

Namibia-focused Andrada Mining has reported positive tungsten, copper and tin test results at the Brandberg West project, demonstrating a strong grade uplift, high metal recoveries and significant mass reduction, thereby highlighting the potential for a lower-cost and more efficient route to production. The initial testwork forms part of a multiphase assessment programme at Brandberg West that includes evaluating the tailings and waste material from the historical mine and an exploration drilling programme.

Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly has launched a new daily email newsletter and related webpage to consolidate its global resources coverage under the Mining Weekly International banner. Each weekday, these new platforms will provide a comprehensive roundup of the most significant news and developments in the world of mining.  The Mining Weekly International newsletter will be sent out to readers each Monday to Friday at 15:00 Central European Time and Central Africa Time (CAT), or 09:00 Eastern Standard Time in the United States and 21:00 Australian Western Standard Time.

A railway through Angola's Lobito corridor - a vital source of critical minerals like copper and cobalt - was forced to suspend operations on Sunday after nearby rivers burst their banks, causing flooding. The Lobito Atlantic Railway said heavy rains flooded bridges over the Halo River, between Cubal and Caimbambo stations, as well as a bridge over the Cavaco River, near Benguela.

Management consulting firm Kearney's ‘2026 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index’ reflects a global investment environment shaped by intensifying geopolitical tensions, expanding industrial policy and accelerating technological competition. The survey shows that companies are committed to international investment despite mounting uncertainty, with 88% of respondents saying they plan to increase FDI over the next three years, which signals sustained confidence in long-term global opportunities.

Africa‑based mining chemicals importer Kemcore is planning to build its own processing plants in Botswana and Angola, aiming for reduced exposure to geopolitical risk attached to imports from China and the Middle East. Africa is a pivotal supplier of critical minerals and a battleground for the United States and China as Washington races to clip Beijing's dominance in the sector by securing supply chains. Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia anchor Africa's copper production, while Congo dominates global cobalt output, placing the central African copperbelt at the heart of the energy‑transition minerals contest.

Integrated aerial security company Sky Robots is positioning integrated drone systems as a core layer of operational security for mines and other high-value assets. The company, on April 10, held a presentation and demonstration at its offices in Centurion, Gauteng, to highlight advances in sensors, automation, training and in-house research and development (R&D) to improve aerial surveillance, rapid response and operational continuity.

The Competition Commission has given its approval for the proposed acquisition by GHN Resources of the Goedehoop North Colliery, in Mpumalanga, from Thungela Resources subsidiary Thungela Operations. GHN Resources mines and markets coal produced at the Black Wattle opencast thermal coal mine, in Mpumalanga, and processed at its Sisonke Coal coal handling and processing facility.

Amid the expectation of Eskom publishing its winter outlook later this month, the State-owned power utility has meanwhile expressed confidence that it will be able to meet electricity demand as South Africa heads into the winter season, Minerals Council South Africa indicates in an electricity update. The Minerals Council’s update notes, however, that Eskom’s energy availability factor (EAF) declined in March, when it averaged 66.8% compared with the higher 68.3% the month before.

ASX-listed gold producers Predictive Discovery and Robex Resources have published a detailed merger implementation timetable following confirmation earlier in the week that their merger will be effective from April 15. The companies announced on April 8 that all conditions precedent were satisfied or waived in respect of the merger, paving the way for the unconditional transaction.

Electricity utility Eskom has announced the conclusion of a much-anticipated 62c/kWh electricity tariff deal with ferrochrome producers Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture and Samancor Chrome. The State-owned company also reiterated that the concluded agreements remained subject to approval by the National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).