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Canada tightens takeover rules for critical minerals
By: Reuters 25th March 2021 Canada has tightened foreign investment rules to protect the security of critical mineral supply chains, a government spokesperson said on Thursday, ahead of an expected surge in demand for metals used to make electric vehicles. The move comes as the US government works with Canada to boost... →
Africa hosts considerable potential for green hydrogen
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th March 2021 While there may be many challenges, Africa has the potential to leapfrog in terms of decarbonisation and to capitalise on opportunities presented by green hydrogen, African Hydrogen Partnership secretary general Vincent Oldenbroek has said. Speaking on the second day of a two-day green hydrogen... →
South Africa playing key role in hydrogen economy – Minister 
By: Martin Creamer 24th March 2021 South Africa is playing an important role in the ‘hydrogen economy’ as the country targets clean and reliable alternative energy sources, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said on Wednesday. In his opening keynote address to the Platinum Group Metals Industry Day chaired by... →
Master Drilling advancing mechanisation for two top-tier local clients
By: Martin Creamer 23rd March 2021 Mine mechanisation is being advanced for two top-tier local clients of Master Drilling, the CEO of the JSE-listed company, Danie Pretorius, said on Tuesday. Speaking to Mining Weekly in a Zoom interview after reporting 72.7%-higher 2020 net cash generation of $25.5-million, 18%-lower debt to... →
Remote-operation drilling footprint providing sizeable benefit – Master Drilling
By: Martin Creamer 23rd March 2021 An increased remote-operation drilling footprint is providing considerable benefit for Master Drilling, the JSE-listed drilling services company said on Tuesday, when it reported 72.7%-higher 2020 net cash generation of $25.5-million, 18%-lower debt to $42.1-million, and a halved gearing ratio to... →
Master Drilling in muted but resilient 2020 performance
By: Martin Creamer 23rd March 2021 Drilling services company Master Drilling, which operates in 23 countries and which is continuing to grow its presence in new global markets, on Tuesday reported a “muted but resilient performance” for the full year ended December 31, thanks to what it described as a “flexible business model and... →
Master Drilling CEO Danie Pretorius.
Northam pays most tax as growth strategy heads for 8 500 jobs boost
By: Martin Creamer 23rd March 2021 “We’ve made the single-largest tax payment in the history of the company,” Northam Platinum CEO Paul Dunne said during last week’s presentation of 74%-higher headline half-year earnings. The JSE-listed platinum group metals (PGMs) mining company’s half-year contribution to the fiscus topped... →
Northam Platinum building 10 MW solar power plant at Zondereinde smelter
By: Martin Creamer 19th March 2021 Platinum group metals (PGMs) mining company Northam Platinum said on Friday that it was designing and building a 10 MW solar energy plant for the company’s smelter at its Zondereinde mine, in Limpopo province. Located on the northern end of the western limb of the Bushveld Complex, near the town... →
Northam earnings soar, operational performance pumps cash
By: Martin Creamer 19th March 2021 The earnings of platinum group metals (PGMs) mining company Northam Platinum soared in the six months to the end of December when 54% more cash was generated. Operational growth projects, initiated in a period of lacklustre metal prices, are now coming on track, and delivering valuable... →
Northam Platinum CEO Paul Dunne
Eastplats renews agreements with subsidiary, funder
By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th March 2021 JSE-listed Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) has executed updated retreatment project agreements, building on original agreements signed between its subsidiary Barplats Mines and Union Goal Offshore Solution in 2018. The updated retreatment project agreements include a revised framework agreement,... →
Just clearing exploration backlog would be huge leap forward – Miller
By: Martin Creamer 12th March 2021 Ahead of tackling policy issues, incremental ongoing effort must be prioritised to clear South Africa’s huge mineral exploration and mining rights backlog, says AmaranthCX director Paul Miller. The backlog currently stands at more than 5 000 unprocessed exploration applications and 235... →
Canada targets 31 critical minerals for domestic production
By: Mariaan Webb 12th March 2021 Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan has announced the release of a Canadian critical minerals list, signalling to investors where the country’s focus will be in the global race to shore up supply of minerals that will drive the transition towards a low-carbon future. The list, announced... →
Merafe loss decreases, electricity risk remains, logistics challenge intensifies
By: Martin Creamer 8th March 2021 Although the loss suffered by ferrochrome company Merafe Resources decreased in 2020, its electricity risk remains and its logistics challenges are intensifying. Merafe’s revenue and operating income is primarily generated from the Glencore Merafe Chrome Venture, which has a total capacity of... →
Electricity supply constraints, costs a challenge for South Africa's ferrochrome industry
By: Simone Liedtke 8th March 2021 Some industry stakeholders have suggested that a special electricity tariff would be a “better way” to support the embattled ferrochrome ore industry, rather than government’s recently approved export tax on exported chrome. Although the tax percentage and further details are still to be... →
Mines anywhere, everywhere can go green – Hydrogen Optimized
By: Martin Creamer 8th March 2021 Owing to the ubiquity of the world’s sun and the wind, all mines have the opportunity to generate their own green electricity no matter where they are located in the world, Hydrogen Optimized CEO Andrew T Stuart emphasised during last week’s Fasken online panel discussion on hydrogen. In this... →
Fasken panel that discussed hydrogen.
Steps being taken to improve manganese export logistics – ARM
By: Martin Creamer 4th March 2021 Steps involving the use of two ports rather than one, longer trains and increased rail wagon payload are being studied to improve the logistics surrounding the export from South Africa of manganese ore. State-owned rail enterprise Transnet has put on hold the capital expansion plan centred on the... →
The control room at African Rainbow Minerals' Black Rock manganese ore mine in the Northern Cape.
Glencore Ferroalloys launches enterprise and supplier development hub
By: Donna Slater 4th March 2021 Glencore Ferroalloys is helping to redress South Africa’s historical socioeconomic inequalities by supporting local small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) through the recent launch of its first Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Hub, in Rustenburg. Glencore opened the ESD hub,... →
ARM board approves R5.7-billion Merensky project at Two Rivers mine
By: Martin Creamer 3rd March 2021 The board of diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) has approved the Merensky reef project at the Two Rivers platinum group metals (PGMs) mine, ARM CEO Mike Schmidt said on Wednesday after the company reported record financial results. The ARM-managed Two Rivers is a joint... →
The major challenge of the mining industry is the imperative of growth – Dr Motsepe
By: Martin Creamer 3rd March 2021 The major challenge of the mining industry is the imperative of growth, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) executive chairperson Dr Patrice Motsepe said on Wednesday, when the 25 000-employee ARM reported record financial results. “You’ve got to replace the orebody that you’re mining with an equally... →
Eastplats nears million-tonne chrome concentrate output, advances PGM study
By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd March 2021 JSE-listed Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) produced 987 003 t of chrome concentrate in 2020 from its retreatment project at Barplats Mines, at the Crocodile River Mine property, in North West. The company produced 588 006 t of chrome concentrate in 2019. →
Merafe to report narrowed loss for 2020
By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th February 2021 JSE-listed ferrochrome producer Merafe Resources expects to report a basic loss a share of between 34.6c and 45.4c apiece for the year ended December 31, 2020. This compares with a basic loss a share of 54.2c apiece reported for the prior year. →
Test mine study under way for Fourth Industrial Revolution try-outs
By: Martin Creamer 24th February 2021 A feasibility study is under way on a mine selected for the testing of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies ahead of their implementation, Minerals Council South Africa senior executive modernisation and safety Sietse van der Woude said on Wednesday. Van der Woude was answering... →
Glencore ferrochrome business evaluating clean energy projects
By: Martin Creamer 17th February 2021 The ferrochrome business of diversified mining and marketing company Glencore, which uses a substantial amount of electricity, is evaluating various clean energy projects, Glencore ferroalloys head Japie Fullard said during this week’s Glencore a media conference. The media conference followed... →
Nagle expresses firm belief in Glencore’s coal-depleting climate change strategy
By: Martin Creamer 16th February 2021 Firm belief in the climate change strategy being embarked upon by diversified mining and marketing company Glencore was expressed on Tuesday by incoming Glencore CEO Gary Nagle, Outgoing Glencore CEO Ivan Glasenberg announced in December that he would be handing over the reins of the global... →
Eastplats continuing expansion of its PGM operations
By: Simone Liedtke 11th February 2021 Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) has approved a revised 2021 capital budget following the closing of a rights offering, which raised gross proceeds of C$11.8-million. The company’s subsidiary, Barplats Mines, has now reserved an additional C$6.3-million (or R73-million) in capital funding for... →
Tharisa declares final dividend of $0.035
By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th February 2021 LSE- and JSE-listed Tharisa has declared a final dividend of $0.035 apiece for the financial year ended September 30, 2020. Executive chairperson Phoevos Pouroulis said in a statement on February 11 that the company had taken tough decisions over the last year, which has started to bear fruit... →
‘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... →
Consultants selected for road connecting to Ring of Fire
By: Creamer Media Reporter 1st February 2021 Consultants SNC Lavalin and Dillon Consulting have been selected to conduct the environmental assessment (EA) for the northern road link project – a proposed all-season road that will link remote First Nations and connect to emerging mining sites in the Ring of Fire. Marten Falls First Nation... →
Eastplats raises C$11.7m to complete projects, grow revenue potential
By: Simone Liedtke 25th January 2021 Dual-listed Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) has issued 36.8-million common shares to raise about C$11.7-million. Net proceeds from the rights offering will be used to complete various projects and grow Eastplats’ revenue potential. →
Chrome market could change with new export tax regime, dissuading Chinese offtake 
By: Donna Slater 20th January 2021 A “delicate” balancing act between chrome ore mining and stainless steel production may be under threat as South Africa changes its export tax regime to boost the commodity’s “welfare benefits” and to favour local chrome buyers instead of foreign buyers, Simon le Roux, a student at Rhodes... →
Tharisa extends option to acquire shareholding in Salene Chrome Zimbabwe
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 20th January 2021 Aim-listed Tharisa has extended the option to acquire a 90% shareholding in Salene Chrome Zimbabwe to March 31. Tharisa in May 2018 advised that it had acquired an option to acquire a 90% shareholding in Salene from Leto Settlement. →
Jubilee secures new investment
By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th January 2021 Aim- and AltX-listed Jubilee Metals has secured investment from two blue chip institutions, including one new to its share register. The company on January 15 announced a placing of new and existing ordinary shares representing 4.96% of the enlarged issued share capital of the company to meet... →
Merafe production decreases 29% in 2020 thanks to Covid
By: Simone Liedtke 13th January 2021 JSE-listed Merafe Resources’ attributable ferrochrome production from the Glencore Merafe chrome venture for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2020, decreased by about 8% and 29%, respectively. Attributable ferrochome production in the fourth quarter was 97 000 t, bringing the... →
Tharisa starts new financial year with strong production
By: Donna Slater 12th January 2021 JSE-listed platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome miner Tharisa achieved strong production in the quarter ended December 31, 2020 − the first quarter of the company's 2021 financial year − with PGM production up 14.2% year-on-year on a six element basis to 39 300 oz. PGM production was in line... →
New ‘green’ platinum project leaps out of starting blocks, will use 82% less electricity
By: Martin Creamer 11th January 2021 The innovative new platinum group metals mining and processing project that slashes 82% off electricity use and elevates platinum to a new high level of greenness, leapt out of its starting blocks in North West province on Monday. “We’ve commenced. The tanks are rolling,” Pallinghurst managing... →
First application made for power-tariff relief under new DMRE frameworks
By: Terence Creamer 11th January 2021 The first application for tariff relief provided for under the Negotiated Pricing Agreement (NPA) frameworks published late last year by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has been submitted to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for authorisation. Nersa tells... →
First-quarter European benchmark ferrochrome price settled at $1.17/lb
By: Creamer Media Reporter 18th December 2020 The European benchmark ferrochrome price for the first quarter of 2021 has been settled at $1.17/lb, JSE-listed Merafe reports. It notes that this is a 3.1% increase on the price of $1.14/lb that had been set for the fourth quarter of this year. →
Legal tug-of-war shutters one of SA's richest chrome mines
By: News24Wire 18th December 2020 A chrome mine in Limpopo, potentially one of the richest in South Africa, has sat idle while a series of arcane court battles ensue between local and Chinese business interests. A development agency tasked with bringing employment to the area has lost its stake in the mine, and some 1 200... →
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