Global furnace group boasts numerous projects

Local furnace supplier Tenova Pyromet is undertaking the design and supply of components for two ferrochrome furnaces for use at the Xstrata-Merafe Lion ferrochrome complex, in Limpopo.

Two-million LTI-free hours achieved by firm

Smelter engineering firm Metix has passed a safety milestone by achieving its highest number of loss-time-injury- (LTI-) free hours on a number of projects undertaken between November 2008 and March 2012, says Metix project director Wynand Moolman.

Implats' Rustenburg workers return to shifts

Workers at Impala Platinum's Rustenburg mine have returned to work, the company said on Thursday, after a two-day stoppage that cost it at least 6,000 ounces in lost output. "Yes, we are back at work," Chief Executive David Brown told Reuters....

Rustenburg labour unrest cuts Implats output

Impala Platinum, the world's second-largest platinum producer, said it was losing 3,000 ounces a day as most workers were not reporting for duty at its Rustenburg mine on Tuesday because of fresh unrest between rival unions. The latest flare-up...

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.

FUTURE FUEL

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) is surface testing the first of five fuel cell-powered locomotive prototypes over the next few months at its Khomanani mine, in Rustenburg. The company aimed to establish the viability of commercialising the...

Prototype fuel cell locomotive being tested at Rustenburg mine

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) last week launched the first of five fuel cell-powered locomotive prototypes to be tested at its mining operations in South Africa. The first locomotive would be surface tested over the next few months at the...

Anglo's struggle over platinum showcases sector woes

Miner Anglo American has made a priority of its struggling platinum business, admitting earlier this year that the world's largest primary producer is underperforming in the face of soaring costs, imposed safety stoppages and weak demand. But...

Resources Watch

This week: Amplats tests a fuel cell-powered locomotive at its Rustenburg mine. AngloGold Ashanti says policies are on the way to support a robust South African mining industry. And, Caterpillar’s boss is upbeat about Africa’s future.

Sea change in labour dynamics as AMCU emerges – Lonmin

Labour dynamics are going through a sea change with the emergence of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) to rival the dominance of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), says Lonmin CEO Ian Farmer. Farmer, who heads South...

Amplats testing fuel cell-powered loco at Rustenburg mine

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Wednesday launched the first of five fuel cell-powered locomotive prototypes to be tested at its mining operations in South Africa. The first locomotive would be surface tested over the next few months at the...

PTM's Waterberg discovery 'more down to earth' than asteroid mining

Digging platinum from asteroids? Toronto- and New York-listed junior Platinum Group Metals (PTM) said on Tuesday its discovery of a new deposit in South Africa is “more down to earth" than the recent suggestions of mining on asteroids for...