Mining Weekly

Independent power producer Pele Green Energy (PGE) has reached financial close of the 100 MW Sonvanger solar PV power plant that will provide clean, reliable and sustainable for the Glencore Merafe Venture’s ferrochrome smelters in the Free State province. PGE is the lead sponsor of the Sonvanger plant, which is is located 4 km southwest of Theunissen in the Masilonyana local municipality.

South African National Energy Development Institute CEO Dr Titus Mathe has confirmed that a report containing a remodelled Integrated Resource Plan for 2024 (IRP2024) and incorporating stakeholder comments will be released into the public domain before it is sent to Cabinet for its approval by end-March. Mathe is chairing a committee set up to oversee a review of the much-criticised draft IRP2023.

Having incurred investment spend of R755-million in the ten months ended October 31, explosives and mining chemicals group AECI is on track to achieve its strategic ambition and unlock value across the group. The company has been focused on implementing a new operating model, establishing a new executive leadership team, optimising its portfolio, stabilising ammonia supply, increasing investment in maintenance and expanding sales volumes globally.

Developing gold mining company West Wits Mining, which is reinvigorating the gold mining prospects west of Johannesburg with its Witwatersrand Basin project (WBP), on Thursday, November 28 announced the appointment of West Wits Mining COO Rudi Deysel as the CEO to lead the execution of what is a timely phase for West Wits to deliver Qala Shallows as the first-stage flagship project. WBP, which involves the development of the Main, Kimberley and Bird reefs, has a declared resource of 4.28-million ounces of gold, presenting a good revenue opportunity over the 27-year life-of-mine (LoM).

JSE-listed Murray & Roberts (M&R) says chairperson Suresh Kana and director Jesmane Boggenpoel have resigned from the board with effect from November 30 and November 15, respectively. Clifford Raphiri has been appointed interim chairperson, with effect from December 1 and until a permanent appointment is made.

Motor and large-drive systems supplier Innomotics (formerly Siemens Large Drives and Low Voltage Motors) on November 28 launched its new Geared Motors assembly factory in Midrand. The factory is expected to improve efficiency and quality in Innomotics’ production process. Speaking to Engineering News on the sidelines of the launch, Innomotics portfolio consulting manager and facility operational manager Gregory van Niekerk said the new factory was an improvement on the old facility in Isando.

Precious metals consultancy Metals Focus finds in its latest ‘Platinum Group Metals (PGM) Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Focus’ report that producers are increasingly strapped for cash to invest in these initiatives amid a lower PGM price environment and tighter margins. The report contains comparisons of key ESG metrics across five major PGM producers, which account for about 85% of global PGM supply.

London- and Johannesburg-listed chrome and platinum group metals (PGM) miner Tharisa has reported improvements in its production for the financial year ended September 30, which culminated in a higher operating profit. The group produced 145 100 oz of PGMs for the 2024 financial year, compared with the 144 700 oz produced in the prior year, while chrome concentrate production had increased to 1.7-million tonnes, from 1.5-million tonnes in the prior year.

Speakers participating in the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection’s (Mistra’s) ninth yearly platinum group metals (PGM) roundtable, on November 27, agreed that South Africa has potential to become a leading player in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. By developing capacities, the country can become an indispensable part of the whole hydrogen value chain from mining of minerals and beneficiation, to manufacturing and services, said Mistra executive director Joel Netshitenzhe.

TSX- and NYSE American-listed Platinum Group Metals (PTM), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabian company Ajlan & Bros Company and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) as part of plans to build a platinum group metals (PGM) smelter and base metal refinery in the Middle Eastern country. Under the terms of the MoU, the MISA will offer strategic guidance and study potential financial support to the proposed PGM smelter and base metals refinery to be located in Saudi Arabia, as well as for the Waterberg PGM project under development by PTM and its partners in South Africa.

Private investment company Menar, which is awaiting Competition Commission approval following its bid for the large Metalloys ferromanganese facility in Meyerton, is looking to restart at least two of the four furnaces on the site of what was once the world’s largest ferromanganese production facility before being shut in 2020. Bringing two furnaces back online would provide the base for the production of 500 000 t/y of ferromanganese and require a feed of one-million tonnes of manganese ore from South African mines.

South Africa’s largest sources of foreign investment, including the US, the UK and Germany, are entering 2025 with mixed fortunes. With great uncertainty about the US economy in 2025, the economic outlook for Group of Seven (G7) developed economies in 2025 shows modest growth across key territories.

Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has received environmental authorisation from the Botswana Department of Environmental Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to drill its two targets in the Kalahari.     The proposed drilling programme will focus on two gravity anomalies of 12 ha and 6 ha close to the company’s KX36 discovery, which are of particular interest to Botswana Diamonds. The new kimberlite targets have the potential to upgrade the existing resources in the area, including at the Ghaghoo mine, which is currently under care and maintenance and located about 60 km from the KX36 diamond discovery.

Anglo American South Africa, a wholly-owned subsidiary of diviersified miner Anglo American, has sold 17.5-million shares in platinum group metals (PGM) miner Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) at R548 a share for gross proceeds of R9.6-billion, or about $527-million. The sold shares represent about 6.6% of Amplats' shares in issue.

Australia’s Leo Lithium has completed its exit from the Mali joint venture (JV) with Chinese group Ganfeng, with the company having crossed the final hurdles in its sale of the remaining 40% stake in Mali Lithium BV (MLBV), and therefore the Goulamina project. With the sale now wrapped up, investors are expected to see returns in just over a month. Leo on confirmed the completion of the MLBV sale on November 26. As part of the transaction, the company has received the net cash consideration for Tranche 1, amounting to $116.3-million, which has been converted into Australian dollars.

Four employees of Canada's Barrick Gold have been charged and detained pending trial in Mali, the company said on Tuesday, as the military-led government strives to raise more money from mining companies. Mali is one of Africa's top gold producers and briefly arrested four senior local employees of Barrick in September. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the same employees had been arrested again.

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has reiterated its aim of securing Cabinet approval for a new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity by the end of March after releasing a remodelled draft plan on Tuesday. Dubbed IRP2024, the updated plan includes a reference case and scenarios that differ materially from those contained in the draft IRP2023 released in January, leading to some calls for more time for consultations.

Mining group Managem has appointed excavation equipment provider Epiroc to enhance safety and productivity at the Tizert copper project, in Morocco. Epiroc will provide Managem with the necessary digital tools to modernise the operation and ensure efficiency and safety at the site.

Aim-listed Ariana Resources has identified several opportunities in the course of exploration being undertaken across the company’s 100% held Dokwe gold project, in Zimbabwe, focusing on areas for which resources have not yet been defined. Several opportunities have been identified to date. Soil sampling and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis at Dokwe South have led to the discovery of a quartz vein breccia.

The Tshiamiso Trust has urged all former gold mineworkers and their families to check if they are eligible to lodge a claim to be compensated for permanent lung damage from silicosis or work-related tuberculosis (TB). The Eastern Cape province holds the highest concentration of Tshiamiso Trust claim lodgements and payments in South Africa, with a total of R516-million already paid to 5 443 eligible beneficiaries from the province and many more set to potentially benefit.