Cutifani says he’ll initially focus on value creation

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner Anglo American’s new CEO Mark Cutifani has indicated that his initial focus would be to find ways to improve value creation within the company.... 

Third licence added to Botswana Diamonds/Morminas agreement

Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds on Thursday said a third license block would now be evaluated on the Save river, in Mozambique, as part of its recently signed option agreement with a Mozambican... 

SA mining output up 7% y/y in February, reflecting low 2012 base

Mining production in South Africa increased in February, growing 7% year-on-year, following the downwardly revised 6.7% growth in January, Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA’s) preliminary... 

Sable Platinum buys 4% stake in Global Initiatives for $4m

Platinum exploration company Sable Platinum on Thursday said it had entered into an agreement to acquire a 4% equity interest in Botswana-based mining company Global Initiatives for $4-million. In... 

Zondereinde strike persists despite interdict

Striking rock drill operators at JSE-listed Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine have still not returned to work, despite being served with an interdict issued by the Labour Court, which ruled that... 

DiamondCorp finalises funding package for Lace mine

Southern African diamond development and exploration company DiamondCorp has finalised the £23-million finance package for the 47-level block cave development at its Lace mine, in the Free State.... 

Zondereide strike continues

JSE-listed platinum producer Northam Platinum confirmed on Monday afternoon that the roughly 500 rock drill operators at its Zondereinde mine, who downed tools on April 4 in demand of a 38%... 

Scharrighuisen, trusts to pay R40m to settle claims

As per a settlement agreement that was concluded on April 4, the Marinvia Trust, the CIMS Trust, Sylco, Clasina Scharrighuisen and Marcel Scharrighuisen have agreed to, jointly and seperately, be... 

Sierra Rutile markedly improves production in Q1

Aim-listed mineral sands producer Sierra Rutile recorded improved production during the first quarter of 2013, with rutile output growing by 21% to 25 087 t and ilmenite production increasing by... 

Northam loses R46.2m in Zondereinde strike

JSE-listed platinum producer Northam Platinum on Friday said it had lost about R46.2-million in revenue since rock drill operators at its Zondereinde mine have refused to go underground since April... 

Africa’s inability to meet energy demand is costing jobs and growth

It is estimated that at least $40-billion a year is required to meet future demand in the African power sector, compared with current yearly investment of less than one-quarter this amount, New... 

Growthpoint launches R150m Gauteng industrial expansion

Property development firm Growthpoint Properties has launched a R150-million client-driven industrial property development and redevelopment programme in Gauteng. In Meadowbrook, Germiston,... 

Partnerships needed to overcome construction corruption, Nxesi avers

To overcome corruption in the South African and African construction sectors, governments must work closely with key roleplayers to ensure there is adequate capacity in the public sector to manage... 

Telkom Mobile to target data-hungry consumers

Embattled telecommunications group Telkom has launched its new mobile service, Telkom Mobile, as part of the group’s restructuring process to return it to financial stability. At the launch, in... 

Master Drilling awarded R1bn Kolomela contract

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – JSE-listed drilling services provider Master Drilling has been awarded a contract worth in excess of R1-billion to provide Kumba Iron Ore with a ‘one-stop shop’... 

Cutifani says to initially focus on value creation

Diversified miner Anglo American’s new CEO Mark Cutifani has indicated that his initial focus would be to find ways to improve value creation within the company. “I will look to start with the... 

Firestone says restated investment agreement terminated

ASX- and JSE-listed Firestone Energy has indicated that its restated investment agreement with Ariona, BBY Nominees and Jaguar Funds Management had been terminated after negotiations to resolve a... 

ECDC approves R46.7m for disbursement through jobs fund

The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has, to date, through the Job Stimulus Fund approved R46.7-million in incentives for 64 companies, which were expected to create, save and retain 4... 

‘End in sight’ for Afgri, Senwes retail merger

The merger between the retail businesses of agricultural services companies Afgri and Senwes would become effective on June 1, subject to approval by the Competition Tribunal, Afgri CEO Chris... 

Gold Fields names new managing executive

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Johannesburg- and New York-listed Gold Fields on Monday said it has named Kgabo Moabelo its managing executive for South Africa, with effect March 1. Moabelo was... 

Stellar Diamonds increases Jorc-compliant resources

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – In the six months ended December 2012, London-listed Stellar Diamonds increased the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (Jorc)-compliant inferred resources for its Tongo... 

Bokoni strike contributes to Atlatsa’s $18.7m 2012 operating loss

Toronto- and New York-listed Atlatsa Resources Corporation recorded an operating loss attributable to shareholders of $18.7-million, translating into a basic and diluted loss of 4c a share, for the... 

Randgold ‘rapidly advancing’ growth projects – Bristow

Africa-focused miner Randgold Resources is rapidly advancing its further growth projects and examining new joint-venture opportunities, CE Mark Bristow said on Thursday. At the release of the... 

African Potash records profit after Patagonia acquisition

Aim-listed African investment company African Potash has incurred a pre-tax profit attributable to equity holders of $1.2-million for the six months ended December 31, compared with a loss of about... 

Beacon Hill readies for start of Minas Moatize coking coal production

Aim- and ASX-listed Beacon Hill Resources produced 194 343 t of run-of-mine (RoM) thermal coal and 54 432 t of saleable coal in 2012. The company stated that mining and processing operations were... 

Wesizwe posts R9.7m profit despite challenging market conditions

Notwithstanding difficult global and regional market conditions, platinum-group-metals company Wesizwe Platinum recorded a consolidated profit of R9.7-million for 2012, a marked improvement from a... 

Edenville Energy upgrades Tanzania project resource to 173Mt

A drilling programme at Aim-listed resource exploration and development company Edenville Energy’s Rukwa coalfield project, in Tanzania, has upgraded the project’s total estimated resource to... 

Master Drilling awarded R1bn Kolomela contract

JSE-listed drilling services provider Master Drilling has been awarded a contract worth in excess of R1-billion to provide Kumba Iron Ore with a ‘one-stop shop’ solution at its Kolomela mine, in... 

Wits Gold Free State DFS to be concluded by Q3

JSE- and TSX-listed Witwatersrand Consolidated Gold Resources (Wits Gold) has commissioned Royal Haskoning DHV and MDM Technical Africa to complete a definitive feasibility study at its Southern... 

Process to select Gibela’s black equity partner to be finalised soon

Transport Minister Ben Martins on Thursday said the process of selecting a black equity partner for Gibela Rail Transportation – a consortium comprising French multinational Alstom and local... 

Speeding up State infrastructure spending a key challenge, Patel says

Speeding up spending on State infrastructure was one of the central challenges to progressing infrastructure development and job creation in South Africa, going forward, and to evaluate this, the... 

Business Council to be launched at Brics Summit

Members of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) group of countries will launch the Brics Business Council at the fifth Brics Summit, in Durban, from March 26 to 27. Each Brics... 

Need to align public works scheme with NDP’s youth-employment thrust

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) had created 639 139 work opportunities as at December 31, 2012, Social Development Deputy Minister Maria Ntuli reported at the ninth yearly EPWP Social... 

DMR approves Trans Hex’s acquisition of Namaqualand Mines

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has approved the R166-million acquisition of De Beers Consolidated Mines’ (DBCM’s) Namaqualand Mines, in South Africa, by... 

DMR grants new-order mining right at Pandora JV

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Platinum producer Lonmin on Monday said its application for the conversion of an old-order mining right to a new-order mining right at its Pandora joint venture... 

Botswana advised to turn focus on power generation, not exports

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - Given Botswana’s vast coal reserves, which were estimated at 200-billion tons, the country’s coal mining industry should seek to encourage investment and drive... 

Stellar Diamonds increases Jorc-compliant resources

In the six months ended December 2012, London-listed Stellar Diamonds increased the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (Jorc)-compliant inferred resources for its Tongo and Droujba projects to... 

DMR approves Bushveld subsidiary’s prospecting right expansion

Aim-listed junior iron-ore and tin explorer Bushveld Minerals on Tuesday said its 64%-owned Pamish Investments 39 subsidiary had received Ministerial consent from South Africa’s Department of... 

Gold Fields appoints new managing executive

Johannesburg- and New York-listed Gold Fields on Monday said it had named Kgabo Moabelo its managing executive for South Africa, with effect March 1. Moabelo was previously the executive VP for... 

Beacon Hill announces new additions to executive management team

Aim- and ASX-listed Beacon Hill Resources has appointed John Daly as its COO and Mac van der Merwe as its rail operations manager with effect March 1. Daly has been the mining and technical...