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Chemicals News
South African mining scientist wins Wadsworth Award
By: Donna Slater 3rd March 2021 One of the top global awards in extractive metallurgy – the Wadsworth Award from The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) – has been presented to Dr Frank Crundwell of CM Solutions/Crundwell Metallurgy. Presented on March 3, during mining conference MineXchange in Denver, in the... →
South Africa urged to play to strengths as its plots role in lithium-ion battery value chain 
By: Terence Creamer 3rd March 2021 A newly released study of the potential for developing a lithium-ion battery value chain in South Africa concludes that the country should prioritise minerals beneficiation and mining, as well as battery manufacturing as it seeks to carve out a niche for itself in what is a fast-growing, highly... →
AECI’s diversification strategy helped to deliver solid 2020 performance amid challenging year
By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th February 2021 JSE-listed chemicals group AECI has declared a final cash dividend of 470c apiece for the year ended December 31, 2020, despite a 55% year-on-year decrease in profit from operations to R917-million. The total ordinary dividend for 2020 was 570c apiece, unchanged from the total dividend for 2019. →
AECI CEO Mark Dytor
Greenpeace calls on Creecy to revise weakening minimum emission standards
By: Simone Liedtke 17th February 2021 Nongovernmental organisation Greenpeace Africa has called on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy to revise the weakening of the minimum emission standards (MES) to avoid further air pollution. The organisation has also requested the Department of Environment, Forestry and... →
Albemarle CEO signs diversity, inclusion pledge
By: Creamer Media Reporter 16th February 2021 US-based Albemarle CEO Kent Masters has signed the CEO action for diversity and inclusion pledge, committing him to promote collective action to drive inclusive behaviour strategically and deliberately. "We are committed to a culture where our values are clear, all are welcome to collaborate and... →
Energy multinational outlines South Africa’s $100bn green hydrogen export opportunity 
By: Terence Creamer 2nd February 2021 French energy multinational Engie says that South Africa is ideally positioned, by virtue of its solar and wind endowments, to emerge as a global leader in the production of green hydrogen and derivative carbon-neutral fuels and chemicals, which could generate domestic and export revenues worth... →
Eskom, Sasol rebuffed, Creecy says as she fights pollution suit
By: Bloomberg 2nd February 2021 Environmental Affairs Minister Barbara Creec said she rejected pleas for leniency from senior executives at the country’s two biggest air polluters as she responded to a lawsuit that says her office has breached constitutional rights to clean air. In a 260-page answering affidavit to a lawsuit... →
‘We need exploration to grow our industry’ – Minerals Council 
By: Martin Creamer 1st February 2021 “We need exploration to grow our industry,” Minerals Council South Africa president Mxolisi Mgojo said on Monday during a virtual State of the Mining Nation media briefing in which he described exploration as one of the low-hanging fruits that could change South Africa’s economic trajectory in... →
South African stocks resume climb as Anglo leads miners higher
By: Bloomberg 13th January 2021 South Africa’s main stock index gained 0.5% as of 9:49 a.m. in Johannesburg, heading for a fresh record close, as mining stocks benefited from optimism over US stimulus spending that could spur an economic rebound and boost demand for metals. The FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index resumed its... →
Divestment of Sasol's interest in Gemini JV finalised
By: Marleny Arnoldi 4th January 2021 JSE-listed petrochemicals giant Sasol says the divestment of its 50% interest in the Gemini high-density polyethylene (HDPE) joint venture to Ineos Olefins and Polymers US successfully closed on December 31, making Ineos the 100% owner of the asset. Gemini is a toll manufacturer of bimodal HDPE... →
Sasol's JV with LyondellBasell now established
By: Reuters 2nd December 2020 South Africa's Sasol said on Wednesday its Louisiana Integrated Polyethylene joint venture (JV) with chemical company LyondellBasell Industries had been established, following closure of the deal on Dec. 1. LyondellBasell agreed in October to acquire a 50% stake in Sasol's base chemicals business... →
Hydrogen investment by PGMs-linked fund bodes well for South Africa
By: Martin Creamer 1st December 2020 A new investment in hydrogen, made by the sustainability-focused AP Ventures, bodes well for South Africa. AP Ventures, an independent venture capital fund that invests in early-stage companies that use platinum group metals (PGMs), has invested €5-million equity in HPNow, which has introduced a... →
Mining can retake investor darling status by going green – Frandsen
By: Martin Creamer 30th November 2020 The taking of clear sustainability steps can make mining the darling of the investor community once again. Mining cannot participate in anything that leaves the world a worse place and needs to be cognisant of what it takes to have a licence to operate. Mining must have a smaller carbon... →
New chrome mine owner plans to grow in ‘very sustainable manner’
By: Martin Creamer 27th November 2020 The new owner of a chrome mine in North West province that was placed on care and maintenance following the Covid-19 lockdown, plans to grow production in a phased, sustainable manner that will ultimately lead to the creation of more than 1 000 jobs, Mining Weekly can today report. The... →
Highly experienced Clover Alloys CEO Philip Kotze
African green hydrogen can provide important economic impetus – BMBF
By: Martin Creamer 24th November 2020 The establishment of an African hydrogen economy based on renewable energy can provide important impetus in the Southern African region and offer new perspectives, especially to young people. That is the view of German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Energy and Green Hydrogen... →
Omnia firmly in ‘fix and renew’ phase following September interim period
By: Simone Liedtke 24th November 2020 JSE-listed diversified chemicals group Omnia Holdings is now firmly in the "fix and renew" phase of its turnaround strategy, where implementation of the new operating model during the six months, ended September 30, was “substantially completed” and has already resulted in improved production... →
Coal mine on point of turning acid mine drainage into potable water at no cost
By: Martin Creamer 23rd November 2020 An Mpumalanga coal mine is on the point of entering into an agreement before year-end to have its acid mine drainage water curse turned into potable water at no cost, Mining Weekly can today report. Recovered potassium nitrate, which retails at about R15 000/t and which is marketed at about R11... →
Sasol shareholders back JV with LyondellBasell for US project
By: Reuters 20th November 2020 South Africa's Sasol said on Friday shareholders have approved a proposed agreement to form a joint venture with chemical company LyondellBasell Industries at its US Lake Charles Chemicals Project in a bid to pay down debt. LyondellBasell agreed last month to acquire a 50% stake of Sasol's base... →
NGOs call on global investor climate initiative to intervene in Sasol shareholder issue
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th November 2020 Nongovernmental organisation Just Share, supported by shareholder activist organisations ShareAction (UK), Majority Action (USA), Follow This (Netherlands) and the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), has written to Climate Action 100+ (CA100+) − the world’s largest investor... →
Platinum-linked green hydrogen economy right for Africa, says project manager
By: Martin Creamer 10th November 2020 The long value chain of green hydrogen economy has the potential to create a multiplicity of jobs and open up the market for investment possibilities for the Southern African region into what is expected to become a multi-trillion-dollar global decarbonisation market. Forschungszentrum Jülich... →
Decision soon on platinum process that can save power
By: Martin Creamer 26th October 2020 The definitive feasibility study for the installation of a revolutionary new electricity-slashing processing plant at Pilanesberg Platinum Mine in the North West will be completed next month, in time for an investment decision from the shareholders in KellTechnology South Africa, which are... →
South Africa is well positioned to export green hydrogen – PwC
By: Martin Creamer 19th October 2020 South Africa is in an extraordinary position to revolutionise its own economy and supply green hydrogen to the world, PwC said on Monday. “The energy transition is and will be biggest global theme this decade,” PwC associate director James Mackay told journalists at a virtual event covered by... →
Exxaro continues its role in ensuring food security, nutrition in communities
By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th October 2020 JSE-listed miner Exxaro Resources’ executive head of sustainability Mongezi Vetti has reiterated the company’s commitment to transferring its rehabilitated land to communities toward establishing agro-economies. This follows after President Cyril Ramaphosa on October 5 spoke about government’s... →
Omnia intends to sell Oro Agri business
By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th October 2020 JSE-listed chemicals group Omnia Holdings has reached an agreement to sell its Oro Agri business to Rovensa – a European-based business that procures and distributes biocontrol, bionutrition and crop protection solutions. Omnia in June received a nonbinding offer for the business, which... →
Grande Côte operation achieves ‘excellent’ results
9th October 2020 Multinational mining and metallurgy company Eramet 2020 half-year results, released on July 29, noted that its Grande Côte Operation (GCO) built on the “excellent operating performance” of 2019, producing 371 000 t of mineral sands over the period. Notably, GCO is the largest single dredge... →
Study paves way for engaging artisanal miners
By: Halima Frost 9th October 2020 Environmental consulting firm Digby Wells Environmental Mali country manager Mamadou Dembele says a dearth of opportunities drives the artisanal mining sector in Mali, and in West Africa. He tells Mining Weekly that a study conducted in June 2019 in the region by Digby Wells Environmental, which... →
K+S sells Americas salt business for $3.2bn
By: Mariaan Webb 7th October 2020 German minerals company K+S Aktiengesellschaft has agreed to sell its Americas salt business to industrial holding company Stone Canyon Industries, Mark Demetree and affiliates for $3.2-billion. The Americas operating unit mainly comprises K+S Chile, formerly known as the Chilean company,... →
Butler retires as Omnia director
By: Donna Slater 21st September 2020 Frank Butler will retire as director of chemicals company Omnia at the company’s annual general meeting on September 23. He has served on the board since September 2002 and is chairperson of the board's social, ethics and risk committee. →
Global trading platform key to unlocking competitiveness of green hydrogen
By: Terence Creamer 9th September 2020 International cooperation will be key to unlocking the competitive production of green hydrogen as global trade will be required to link those countries, such as South Africa, that are best suited to producing the energy carrier, using a combination of low-cost renewable energy, water and... →
Sasol gives insight into its automation, digital journey
By: Simone Liedtke 9th September 2020 Implementing a digital transformation strategy is a “must”, rather than an option, and is driven by both external and internal forces, petrochemicals company Sasol Chemicals digital lead Oratile Sematle said on September 8. Speaking during an automation-themed webinar as part of this year’s... →
Company patents extraction method
4th September 2020 Canadian-listed rare earth clean technologies developer Geomega Resources’ patent application US15/578,498 titled, ‘A system and a method for metallurgical extraction of rare earth elements (REE) and niobium’, was approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in June. →
New reagent increases recovery of phosphate
By: Theresa Bhowan 4th September 2020 Chemical reagents supplier and distributor Axis House has launched an extension to its phosphate range to include defoamer and decadmiation products in addition to the existing Rinkalore collector range for phosphate flotation. →
Albemarle selected for lithium research projects
By: Creamer Media Reporter 3rd September 2020 NYSE-listed Albemarle has been selected by the US Department of Energy (DoE) as a partner for two lithium research projects over three years through a Battery Manufacturing Lab Call. Albemarle will work in conjunction with two DoE labs on the company's approved projects. →
Sasol shuts troubled Lake Charles plant as hurricane approaches
By: Bloomberg 27th August 2020 Sasol, the fuel and chemicals maker, will shut its $13-billion Lake Charles Chemicals Project due to Hurricane Laura making landfall on the US Gulf Coast. “Given Hurricane Laura’s forecast path,” Sasol will temporarily close down its facilities at Lake Charles, Louisiana, as well as Greens Bayou... →
Trevisiol to lead First Cobalt refinery project
By: Creamer Media Reporter 17th August 2020 TSX-V-listed First Cobalt has appointed Mark Trevisiol as VP, project development as the company prepares for the construction and commissioning of its refinery in Ontario, Canada. Trevisiol, who spent more than 20 years with Glencore predecessor companies Falconbridge and Xstrata Nickel, will... →
Sasol’s new-look strategy will seek to ‘reset’ group for low-carbon world
By: Terence Creamer 17th August 2020 Embattled chemicals and energy group Sasol aims to officially unveil its new-look strategy, dubbed Future Sasol, later this year. It has already indicated, however, that the plan will seek to reposition the 70-year-old company, built around a highly carbon-intensive technology that converts coal... →
Sasol will execute rights issue in 2021 calendar year as it refines ‘ticket size’
By: Terence Creamer 17th August 2020 Debt-laden chemicals and energy group Sasol confirmed on Monday that it was preparing to execute a rights issue during the second half of its 2021 financial year, despite reporting that it was on track to deliver disposals of greater than $2-billion and exceeding its initial cash conservation... →
Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobler
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