Fuel cell makes loco debut, better than asteroid mining, big demand change needed

A platinum-using fuel cell is driving a locomotive in a South African platinum mine; a platinum miner quips about asteroid mining; and current weak platinum demand is seen as hugely problematic.

Growth experienced after 2009 workload shedding

After shedding 90% of its workload in 2009, owing to the economic downturn, mining services company Trollope Mining Services has experienced a 92% growth rate with the promise of a further 27% growth by the end of June 2012.

Mining, biodiversity planning, Zim platinum miners coalesce, Congolese to manage Kibali

South Africa is to launch a new national mining and biodiversity guideline; Zimbabwe’s three beleaguered platinum miners have formed an association; already, more than half of the new Kibali gold project's management team are Congolese.

Anglo puts State back into steel, competitive bid for Ezulwini, CoAL beating odds at Vele

Diversified miner Anglo American has put the South African State back into steel making;TSX- and JSE-listed gold-and-uranium miner First Uranium is about to face minority shareholder resistance over its recent disposals; and Coal of Africa Limited...

Canada softens enviro rules, Australia eases miner listings, India finds platinum elements

Canada has unveiled a plan to streamline the environmental approval process; The Australian Security Exchange (ASX) is taking steps to making listing easier; and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) reports that it has discovered platinum group...

Gold catalyst advance, mining output falls, rare earths reach far

After years of research, South Africa’s Project AuTEK is able to supply gold catalysts for use in a range of applications; South Africa’s mining output is down again; rare earths continue to attract attention

Court halts tungsten dig, new call for chrome tax, platinum mining right

The Cape High Court has granted an interim interdict to stop tungsten prospecting; South African ferrochrome aspirant Ruukki has added its voice to the debate on the export of raw chrome; and Canada’s Platinum Group Metals has been granted...

IDC invests big in revamped Platmin, Wits plans major mine research thrust, Rio moves mine automation to India

South Africa’s State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has made its biggest single investment in five years - R3.24-billion - in Platmin’s comeback as an integrated mining and beneficiation Newco; Wits University is resuscitating...

ArcelorMittal’s iron-ore investments, Australian gold exploration in W Africa, S Africa in low mining destination rung

Steelmaker ArcelorMittal is investing more in iron-ore in South America and Africa; Australian junior Middle Island is pushing exploration hard in West Africa, and South Africa a low 20th on mining investment destination ladder.

DMR duty-bound to give info on mineral rights, end disturbing reports

Mining Weekly today formally calls on the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to issue a media release each time it grants a mineral right or permit. This publication does so against the background of the DMR's reported refusal to provide such...

Strike punishing platinum, value sharing proposal, junior miner incentive

The plight of South Africa’s platinum-mining industry is far more crucial than most South Africans seem to acknowledge;Anglo American Platinum's Vishnu Pillay puts forward a proposal of value sharing;Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan keeps support...

Southern African platinum miners on the wrack as perfect storm hits

Southern African platinum mining companies find themselves on the wrack, not only because of their dependence on a faltering Europe, but hit by a confluence of events that are drastically aggravating the situation. It is the perfect storm of South...