Short-term solutions to energy challenges lie with private sector and incentives

It will take about three years to improve the energy availability factor of State-owned power utility Eskom's coal-fired power stations to an acceptable level of about 65%, as generator units must... 

Séguéla becomes Fortuna’s fifth operating mine

NYSE- and TSX-listed precious metals miner Fortuna Silver Mines has announced that the first gold pour at its Séguéla mine, in Côte d'Ivoire. “Séguéla has produced its first gold, becoming... 

Premier African says first spodumene shipments from Zulu lithium project delayed

Multi-commodity mining and natural resource development company Premier African Minerals has fully commissioned the processing plant at its Zulu lithium and tantalum project, in Zimbabwe, but first... 

De Beers says progress made on its four sustainability pillars

Diamond mining multinational De Beers achieved advances across all four core sustainability pillars and all 12 goals, which included reductions in water use and energy intensity, innovations in... 

Hummingbird Resources starts hot commissioning at Guinea mine

Aim-listed gold mining multinational Hummingbird Resources has announced the start of the hot commissioning phase at the Kouroussa gold mine, in Guinea, with the next step being first gold pour,... 

Johnson Matthey to supply Hystar with membrane electrode assemblies for hydrogen production ramp-up

UK specialist chemicals and sustainable technologies company Johnson Matthey has signed a three-year strategic supply agreement with Norwegian hydrogen company Hystar to supply membrane electrode... 

Eastgate shopping centre to get additional 5.74 MW solar plant

Construction contractor Concor is working on a project to build a 5.74 MW solar photovoltaic power plant in the Eastgate shopping centre's upper parking area, adding to the centre's existing 1 MW... 

Carbon border adjustment scheme raises anxiety among SA exporters

Companies in countries that are carbon-intensive, such as South Africa, may face carbon border adjustment tariffs that are also linked to Scope 3, or indirect, emissions as the European Union (EU)... 

ABGM's partnership with Tata Steel to unlock mining opportunities in India, South Africa

Mining engineering services provider and consultancy A&B Global Mining (ABGM) has signed a cooperation agreement with major steelmaker Tata Steel to identify and pursue opportunities in the mining... 

Emerging miners highlight impact of energy, logistics constraints on economic growth

The South African economy is limited to 1.5% potential growth a year because there is no productivity growth. National productivity has declined for five years consecutively, highlighting the... 

Lack of energy, logistics challenges eroding emerging miners' profitability, viability

The significant electricity shortages in South Africa and the significant logistics constraints, especially for bulk commodities, are eroding junior and emerging miners' profitability, with some... 

Aveng disposes of Trident Steel for R1.2bn, eliminates South African debt

Infrastructure and resources company Aveng has completed the disposal of steel solutions company Trident Steel for R1.22-billion. "Post the closing of the sale of Trident, Aveng’s South African... 

Sasol issues $1bn in senior notes

Energy and chemicals multinational Sasol has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Sasol Financing USA (the issuer) has priced an offering of $1-billion of dollar-denominated notes due 2029.... 

Demand driving hydrogen projects pipeline, but few have started construction

A growing demand for more sustainably produced hydrogen is driving the development of low-carbon hydrogen projects, but challenges in terms of cost competitiveness, transport, offtakers and... 

XIF licence renewal legal judgment in Botswana expected in August, says Tsodilo

International diamond and metals exploration company Tsodilo Resources, following oral argument in the High Court in Maun, Botswana, with respect to the Ministry of Minerals and Energy's (MME's)... 

SRK Global, RGC announce passing of founder Dr Andy Robertson

Mining industry geotechnical and environmental engineering services company Robertson GeoConsultants (RGC) and engineering consultancy SRK Global have announced the passing of the companies'... 

Advanced technologies enhance mining safety protocols

The mining industry has significantly enhanced its safety protocols and advanced technologies are available with customised safety measures, data and analytics company GlobalData said in its... 

Green hydrogen economy in South Africa growing from small projects

While South Africa and the world are in the nascent stages of using sustainably produced, or green, hydrogen as an energy carrier, there are many projects across the emerging value chain... 

Steel industry inquiry to probe restrictions on competition in sector

The Competition Commission of South Africa has gazetted the draft terms of reference for a new market inquiry into the South African steel industry, which will examine whether or not there are any... 

Kumba builds, donates Postmasburg hospital surgical theatre

Iron-ore miner Kumba Iron Ore has donated a newly upgraded surgical theatre at the Postmasburg hospital to the Northern Cape Department of Health for the Tsantsabane community, thereby providing a... 

Sulphide-hosted gold remains in Witwatersrand tailings

Stellenbosch University Department of Earth Sciences geometallurgy PhD student Steve Chingwaru has shown that, as historical mining of the Witwatersrand region focused almost uniquely on the free... 

Massmart, RCS offer customers solar funding solutions

Mass retailer Massmart, in partnership with consumer finance company Retail Credit Solutions (RCS), has introduced a solar energy funding solution in the form of a loan of up to R250 000 for... 

Multotec celebrates 50 years of successes

Metallurgy and process engineering company Multotec, established in 1973, employs close to 2 000 people and has a yearly turnover of about R3-billion and, in 2022, it exported about 60% of the... 

Cape Main line freight rail operations halted after heavy rains damage infrastructure

State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) says the Cape Corridor has suspended all train operations on the Cape Main line owing to washaways caused by heavy rains on the evening of March 24. The rail... 

TFR says will act swiftly if unscheduled ghost train allegations are true

State-owned rail network operator Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) says it has referred allegations that trains that are not formally scheduled by it are operating on its lines for independent... 

M&R to dispose of Insig Technologies to AvidSys Group

JSE-listed engineering and mining services group Murray & Roberts' (M&R's) subsidiary M&R UK has entered into a share sale agreement with Perth-based AvidSys Group, in terms of which it will... 

DMRE, SITA request bids for development of a mining licensing system

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) have issued a request for bids in respect of the design, implementation, maintenance and... 

Dealing with rail constraints remains a priority as Thungela achieves good results

Despite the impact of ongoing rail constraints, thermal coal producer and exporter Thungela Resources managed to deliver good results for the 2022 financial year, with earnings before interest,... 

Data analytics solutions are helping mines of all sizes to digitalise

Each mine and mining company, and its needs and operations, are different; however, small, simple applications that can serve a single fit-for-purpose build or a fully integrated system that... 

More work on regulation, codes, certification and standards needed for hydrogen economy

If South Africa wants to develop a hydrogen economy, it cannot have ad hoc regulations, codes and standards (RCS) and certification systems. More work is required to develop RCS that address... 

Infrastructure backlog, waning service delivery driving people to cities – TIPS

There is a massive infrastructure backlog in historic labour-sending regions, or former homelands, and the share of households with piped water inside the house has declined in the Free State,... 

Renewables grid survey launched

Industry organisations the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and the South Africa Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) have launched the 2023 South African Renewable Energy Grid... 

Just energy transition to be job-positive, but youth skills and businesses crucial

South Africa's transition from fossil fuel dependence to a renewable energy-based economy will add more jobs than will be lost in fossil fuel value chains, but the skills that young people have to... 

South Africa urged to prioritise decarbonisation as $1.5bn worth of exports to EU at risk

South Africa should prioritise its decarbonisation strategy, as it has a carbon intensity much higher than most countries, and $1.5-billion of exports to the European Union (EU) are at risk in the... 

Welding certification for ISO 3834 increasingly being sought in mining industry – SAIW

There is a move in the South African mining industry to specify that welding fabricators and associated suppliers must obtain ISO 3834 welding certification to ensure the quality and safety of the... 

Infrastructure backlog, waning service delivery driving people to cities – TIPS

There is a massive infrastructure backlog in historic labour-sending regions, or former homelands, and the share of households with piped water inside the house has declined in the Free State,... 

Local businesses help complete R40m expansion at Impala Rustenburg's 16 Shaft operation

Platinum-group metals miner Impala Rustenburg, part of JSE-listed Impala Platinum (Implats), invested more than R40-million to expand the facilities areas at its 16 Shaft operation, which was... 

Sandvik, Rajant complete autonomous mine communications validation, testing at Venetia

Mining engineering multinational Sandvik and US-based wireless mesh networks company Rajant Corporation collaborated on digital mining tests to ensure wireless communications can be used with... 

Gold mines can play a key role in establishing infrastructure for transition to renewables

Mining companies are developing and deploying strategies to reduce climate-related risks in the locations where mines are situated, and the ability for gold mines to self-generate power on a... 

AECI posts higher full-year revenue and Ebitda, declares dividend

JSE-listed industrial and mining chemicals company AECI grew its revenue for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, by 37% year-on-year to R53-billion driven by significantly improved sales in...