Power aggregators seen as key accelerators of South African mining’s energy transition

Many energy projects selling to one buyer, who in turn sells to many mines – this procurement model is seen as a key financial tool to accelerate the energy transition of South Africa’s mining... 

2024 defining year for world’s first woman-owned phosphate mine, looking at IPO

Adelaide Ruiters has been slogging away for ten years to get the world’s first woman-owned phosphate mine up and running. Now, 2024 looks like the year she'll likely do it. Ribbon-cutting for... 

Permanent aerial mesh support, exoskeletons under scrutiny to make mining safer

Minerals Council South Africa is looking at the possibility of promoting permanent aerial mesh support throughout the mining industry as part of its fall-of-ground action plan. The Minerals Council... 

On-The-Air (09/02/2024)

Martin Creamer discusses water, railway lines and stopping noise-induced hearing loss.  

New public-private rail corridor pact already boding well – RBCT

The three-month-old mutual cooperation agreement that the private-sector-owned Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) signed with State rail enterprise Transnet in November is already boding well, RBCT... 

Vanadium junior has expansive plans for long-life operation, mulling JSE listing

Keep an eye on Vanadium Resources (VR8). It’s a motivated ASX-listed, JSE-mulling junior that is thinking expansively in line with the potentially very long-life mine that it is setting out to... 

Yet another promising forward nudge for N Cape copper revival

South Africa’s prospective Northern Cape province on Tuesday received yet another promising forward nudge along the road to copper-revival in the form of development obstacles being moved out of... 

It’s critical that we get into critical minerals

By entering the critical minerals sector holistically and achieving a net-zero future at home, South Africans can meet the objectives of creating employment, reducing inequality and lessening... 

Crucial to combine agricultural development with mining, Indaba hears

Africa is going to have a huge amount to do to help solve the world’s climate change problems, Toronto-listed Ivanhoe Mines executive chairperson Robert Friedland emphasised in his far-reaching... 

Angola’s diamond sparkle brightened by new De Beers deal

Diamond mining and marketing company De Beers is to collaborate with Angola on opportunities to increase diamond production, support alluvial mining sector and enhance social development for the... 

Noise-induced hearing loss now highest priority mining health condition, Indaba hears

Noise-induced hearing loss has displaced tuberculosis (TB) and silicosis as the top priority health threat in the South African mining industry. “I’m emphasising noise-induced hearing loss because... 

South Africa’s mining industry now 39% black-owned, Mining Indaba hears

In 2004, the year South Africa’s far-reaching Mining Charter was first introduced, black ownership in South Africa’s globally recognised mining industry stood at a negligible 2%. This has now leapt... 

Coal line criminals identified, must be jailed – Transnet

The criminal syndicates that regularly bring South Africa’s coal export line to a halt have been identified through the intelligence operations that are conducted by Transnet Freight Rail (TFR).... 

On-The-Air (02/02/2024)

Martin Creamer discusses clean energy and a new electronic mining and exploration licensing system. 

New platinum group metals recycling facility opens in China

A new platinum group metals (PGM) recycling facility has opened in China, where the autocatalyst recycling market is expected to grow at the rate of 18% a year. Recycled PGMs are calculated to... 

Smart wristwatches to uplift mineworker wellbeing at Copper 360

Computer programmes that use artificial intelligence (AI) to model orebodies and plan mines optimally have already been introduced by Copper 360, says the JSE AltX-listed Northern Cape copper... 

Global mining commits to nature-positive future

Global mining and metals companies have committed at Davos to take urgent action to support a nature-positive future by 2030 that promotes the health, diversity and resilience of species,... 

More openness around bewildering IDC manganese decision would be most welcome

The decision of South Africa’s State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to financially back a Canada-owned Botswana-based battery manganese facility rather than a highly accomplished... 

Coal miner Ndalamo pursuing renewable energy, other minerals

Coal mining company Ndalamo Resources is actively exploring opportunities in renewable energy and other minerals, paving the way for a diversified and resilient future. Ndalamo CEO Shammy Luvhengo... 

DRC’s green and automated Kibali gold operation highlighted as mining role model

Kibali, the largest gold mine in Africa, is now also one of Africa's greenest and most impressively automated operations, which continues to stimulate local economic development and even provides... 

Decline in coal line security incidents is improving performance – Transnet

Security incidents that disrupt trains transporting coal to South Africa’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) for export to the world are in definite decline and that has certainly helped to improve... 

Anglo launches battery raw materials research project with large China recycler

South Africa-founded and Johannesburg- and London-listed Anglo American on Friday announced the launch of a research and development project in collaboration with one of China’s largest battery and... 

On-The-Air (26/01/2024)

Martin Creamer discusses vanadium, copper mining and a manganese project in Botswana. 

SRK celebrating 50 years of consulting to natural resource sector

The 50 years of experience that SRK Consulting has accumulated since coming into existence in 1974 has placed it in an excellent position to outline how mining’s approach to environmental... 

JSE presents chance for critical mineral miners to access capital

Critical mineral demand is growing significantly at a time when South Africa has a pressing need to reawaken its public markets – two crucial needs that can be fulfilled in one go by companies... 

Hydrogen economy poised as key booster for platinum group metals – Heraeus

The hydrogen economy is an important new growth area for platinum group metals (PGMs) and, in turn, PGMs are pivotal for hydrogen production and application across a broad front. Accentuating this... 

Substantial rise in platinum price predicted

Overwhelming demand and declining South African mining supply are poised to result in a very substantial rise in the price of platinum, Dr David Davis forecasts. Davis has been associated with the... 

Govt and business must work together to revive South African mining

The mining industry’s contribution to the South African economy has declined mainly through poor government administration. The private and public sectors have worked together very constructively... 

New public-private rail corridor agreement already boding well – RBCT

The three-month-old mutual cooperation agreement that the private-sector-owned Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) signed with State rail enterprise Transnet in November is already boding well, RBCT... 

Vanadium junior has expansive plans for long-life operation, mulling JSE listing

Keep an eye on Vanadium Resources (VR8). It’s a motivated ASX-listed, JSE-mulling junior that is thinking expansively in line with the potentially very long-life mine that it is setting out to... 

Northern Cape copper revival receives yet another promising forward nudge

South Africa’s prospective Northern Cape province on Tuesday received yet another promising forward nudge along the road to copper-revival in the form of development obstacles being moved out of... 

Strong showing by South Africa’s Hillside helps to lift South32 to record aluminium output

Ongoing strong performance by South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium operation in KwaZulu-Natal has helped diversified mining company South32 achieve record half-year aluminium production. Moreover,... 

On-The-Air (19/01/2024)

Martin Creamer discusses global mining, critical minerals and the benefit of smartwatches for mineworkers. 

New platinum group metals recycling facility opens in China

A new platinum group metals (PGM) recycling facility has opened in China, where the autocatalyst recycling market is expected to grow at the rate of 18% a year. Recycled PGMs are calculated to... 

South Africa more advanced than global peers on community engagement, manganese AGM hears

The South African mining industry is years ahead of its international peers when it comes to local and community engagement, Australia-listed Jupiter Mines, which owns 49.9% of the Tshipi manganese... 

SA’s permanent magnet rare earths attracting keen interest

South Africa is recognised as having the potential to play a significant role in the establishment of a more diversified supply chain of critical rare earths for the green energy transition.... 

Hive Hydrogen project will demonstrate how just energy transition is possible, says Gcabashe

Through its green ammonia export project in the Eastern Cape, the leadership of Hive Hydrogen South Africa intends to show how a just energy transition is possible, Hive Hydrogen chairperson... 

Public and private sectors must work together to grow the economy

The only way to grow the South African economy is for the public and private sectors to work hand-in-glove. A public-private partnership approach to energy and transport constraints will open the... 

Cadastre imminent, 2024 to be used as year to clear backlogs, says Minerals Minister

The introduction of an electronic cadastral system to record and enable online access to mining data is imminent, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe emphasised in an interview... 

Global mining commits to nature-positive future

Global mining and metals companies have committed at Davos to take urgent action to support a nature-positive future by 2030 that promotes the health, diversity and resilience of species,...