Energy efficient drill in the final stages of development

Local drill equipment provider Schwalbe is in the process of developing a new electric drill for the mining industry and expects the next prototype to be completed and tested in June.

Explosives company to display local expertise

Explosives company BME’s has high expectations for Mining Indaba 2011, the company reports. Marketing and international business manager Charles Hurly says: “We expect another great Mining Indaba, where industry leaders will share experiences...

New thinking needed on Eskom electricity tariff – Harmony

South Africa needed to apply its mind to solving the electricity price issue to avoid widespread knock-on effects that would seriously stunt economic growth and spark a new round of wage demands, Harmony Gold CEO Graham Briggs said on Friday. The...

Merafe’s 40-MW cogen plant to be operational by end ‘09

JSE-listed Merafe Resources, which has a ferrochrome joint venture (JV) with Xstrata, has pulled the trigger on projects to cogenerate up to 40 MW of power by the end of 2009, it said on Wednesday. “We should be up-and-running by the end of...

Tailings treatment plant (TTP) project and electricity strategy, South Africa.

The project will entail the construction of a TTP that will extend the life of Richard's Bay Minerals' (RBM's) KwaZulu-Natal operations by five years.

Daily podcast – June 17, 2008

In today's podcast: Tito Mboweni says a s6% rise in electricity tariffs would be reasonable, it is expected that the contracts for the upgrading and widening of the R21 highway will be awarded in August, and, Rio Tinto will invest...

More than half of SA’s mines yet to lodge additional power requests - Eskom

State-owned power utility Eskom, currently grappling with a national electricity shortage, wants to reveal exactly where the extra 5% power it is allocating to the mining industry is going, but it is up to the customers, a spokesperson said....

Govt studying ways to fully restore power to mines

South Africa's Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), along with other shareholders in the mining industry, has completed an assessment of how it could mitigate job losses stemming from the power crisis, and possibly allow the...

Surge in electricity consumption for mines in Botswana

A survey done by the Botswana Power Corporation (BCP) on electricity demand shows that the mining company Tati Nickel could surpass Bamangwato Concessions (BCL) copper and nickel mine on electricity consumption in the next five years.

Podcast - February 20, 2008

In this podcast: Simmer & Jack Mines express concern over the power situation in South Africa; Petra Diamonds receives approval for the purchase of Cullinan mine; and ARM says that operating at 90% power will have little impact on output.

Simmers says won't cancel new projects over power crisis

JSE-listed gold producer Simmer & Jack Mines (Simmers), which cut its December quarter pretax loss of R22-million by 59% compared with the figure for the September quarter, said that it expected its gold operations to be cash positive by...

Motor supplier expands to support customers

Specialised electric motor supplier Zest Electric Motors will open a new branch between Middleburg and Witbank, in Mpumalanga, to increase the level of support in this region, and to cater for the coal industry in the eastern limb area.