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Diversified Miners News

Abandoned mines can be used for energy storage

By: Halima Frost 18th March 2022 Sweden-based sustainable power transition enabler Mine Storage co-founder and CEO Thomas Johansson notes that the company’s concept of using abandoned underground mines – or those under care and maintenance – as energy storage facilities has progressed to the prefeasibility phase. He explains... →

Anglo, Minerals Council ponder human rights implications of wearables, drones

By: Nadine James 17th March 2022 The growing use of surveillance technologies, drones and wearables has serious implications for employees’ and individual's rights – to privacy, for one – which civil society and the private sector have yet to fully explore, diversified major Anglo American international, government and... →

Now’s the time for full energy freedom, says green hydrogen stalwart Andrew Forrest

By: Martin Creamer 17th March 2022 Let’s give energy sovereignty to the world. Renewable energy is everywhere. Every country can produce it. Now is the time to capture it, and have full energy freedom, enthused Fortescue Metals Group nonexecutive chairperson Andrew Forrest, while being interviewed by CNN anchor Christiane... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Fortescue Metals Group nonexecutive chairperson Andrew Forrest (right), being interviewed by CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour.

Glencore says world has to adapt to shift in commodity trade flows

By: Marleny Arnoldi 16th March 2022 Global commodity trade flows will have to adapt to some, or all, of Russia and Ukraine’s supply being unavailable, whether owing to infrastructure damage, sanctions or ethical concerns, says global diversified miner Glencore. Unpacking the main risks to its business in its 2021 annual report,... →

Markets must adapt to lack of Russian, Ukrainian commodities, Glencore says

By: Reuters 16th March 2022 Global commodity markets will need to adapt to a lack of supply from Russia and Ukraine, global miner and commodities trader Glencore said in its annual report on Wednesday. "Over time, global commodity trade flows will need to adapt to some or all of Russian/Ukrainian supply being unavailable,... →

Resources Watch

16th March 2022 This week: South Africa must move very rapidly towards green energy, climate webinar hears; Royal Bafokeng Platinum’s 30 MW solar power study close to completion; and, Platinum surplus forecast to reduce significantly →

Resources Watch

Sipho Nkosi’s red tape cutting role crucial to encourage investment – Menar

By: Martin Creamer 15th March 2022 The appointment of mining stalwart Sipho Nkosi to cut red tape is crucial to encourage new investment and expand existing investment in South Africa, says Menar MD Vuslat Bayoglu, whose private investment company has about R1.5-billion worth of investment being delayed by regulatory processes.... →

Menar MD Vuslat Bayoglu interviewed by Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer. Video: Darlene Creamer.

Rio welcomes Aboriginal Heritage discussion paper

By: Esmarie Iannucci 15th March 2022 Diversified miner Rio Tinto has welcomed the release of a discussion paper by a joint Commonwealth government and First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance, which is aimed at strengthening cultural heritage protection. The discussion paper was part of the first stage of a national engagement... →

Equivalent of a Koeberg arising in solar projects – AmaranthCX

By: Martin Creamer 14th March 2022 The equivalent of a Koeberg power station is arising in the form of new largely mine-linked private-sector solar power photovoltaic projects across Southern Africa, according to AmaranthCX director and founder Paul Miller, whose company is working on the second edition of its electronic map of... →

AmaranthCX director Paul Miller interviewed by Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer. Video: Darlene Creamer.

Rio makes $2.7bn offer for Turquoise Hill

By: Esmarie Iannucci 14th March 2022 Mining major Rio Tinto has made a non-binding proposal to acquire the remaining 49% interest in Turquoise Hill Resources for $2.7-billion. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Turquoise Hill minority shareholders would receive C$34 in cash per Turquoise Hill share, representing a premium... →

Image shows the Oyu Tolgoi openpit operation

BHP funds Ukranian relief efforts

By: Esmarie Iannucci 14th March 2022 Diversified miner BHP has pledged $5-million in funding to support the humanitarian needs of Ukrainians remaining in Ukraine, as well as those seeking refuge in neighboring countries, amid Russia’s invasion. The BHP Foundation will donate $2-million to the United Nations High Commission for... →

NUM demands immediate removal of Froneman as Sibanye CEO

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th March 2022 Trade union the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is calling on precious metals miner Sibanye-Stillwater’s shareholders to remove Neal Froneman as the company’s CEO with immediate effect. The organisation says Froneman consistently refuses to meet with trade union leaders in South Africa. →

South32 upgrades Rearata Primary School to the tune of R20m

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th March 2022 Diversified miner South32 and its subsidiary Hotazel Manganese Mines has handed over a newly built primary school called Rearata to the Northern Cape Department of Basic Education. The R20-million school is part of South32’s social and labour plan (SLP) commitments and will enrich the Vergenoeg... →

BLSA, Minerals Council pay tribute to Michael Spicer

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th March 2022 Business organisation Business Leadership South Africa’s (BLSA’s) former CEO Michael Spicer has passed away, the organisation says, adding that he was instrumental to BLSA, where he was CEO from 2005 to 2011. Born in 1953, Spicer passed away on March 10. →

Mining opportunities, RBPlats energy study, Eskom's battery storage make headlines

11th March 2022 Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer unpacks the need for mining to seize the many obvious lucrative opportunities that are available; Royal Bafokeng Platinum’s renewable energy study on an embedded 30MW solar plant that is close to completion; and Eskom's battery storage system. →

Martin Creamer unpacks mining opportunities, RBPlats energy study & Eskom's battery storage (Camera & editing: Nicholas Boyd)

Resource firms join CERT pilot

By: Esmarie Iannucci 11th March 2022 Resources firms Woodside, Santos, Fortescue and South32 were only a few of the companies that have signed up to the new Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency (CERT) report pilot. The 25 signatories to CERT account for almost 26% of Australia’s Scope 1 annual greenhouse gas emissions... →

Considerable potential for Northern Cape’s mining sector if challenges can be addressed

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th March 2022 The Northern Cape’s mining sector is growing and can contribute positively to the country, but challenges such as aged infrastructure, poverty, high unemployment, inequality and illegal mining must be addressed, while exploration needs to be scaled up. This was said by Mineral Resources and... →

Mining production increases slightly year-on-year in January

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th March 2022 Mining production increased by 0.1% year-on-year in January, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) says. The largest positive contributors were manganese ore (19.6% and contributing 1.9 percentage points); gold (7.0% and contributing 0.8 of a percentage point); and diamonds (16.3% and contributing... →

Rio to halt shipments to Russian-owned alumina plant in Ireland

By: Bloomberg 10th March 2022 Rio Tinto Group plans to stop supplying bauxite and sourcing alumina from a United Co. Rusal International refinery in Ireland that’s a key supplier to Europe’s aluminum industry as the world’s second-biggest miner moves to sever ties with Russian companies. Rio has an agreement to supply... →

Solidarity seeks urgent interdict against Sibanye to block ‘immoral’ lock-out

By: Darren Parker 9th March 2022 Trade union Solidarity said on March 9 that it would approach the Labour Court on an urgent basis to obtain an interdict against the lock-out of its members at diversified miner Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African gold mines. This comes after Solidarity members received a notice informing them... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Sibanye investor relations senior VP James Wellsted

Minerals Council celebrates women in mining, speaks out about persistent issues

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th March 2022 The Minerals Council South Africa has chosen the forty-fifth International Women’s Day on March 8 to host its own celebration of women in mining, or rather the “unsung heroes of the industry”. Since being allowed to work in underground mining since 1996, women have come to represent 14% of the... →

Minerals Council president Nolitha Fakude

Resources Watch

8th March 2022 This week: Implats allays fears that Russia/Ukraine conflict may impact PGMs supply; ESG slowing down as energy transition highlights mining as indispensable; and, Decarbonisation creating greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime →

Resources Watch

Sibanye stands resolute as AMCU, NUM submit strike notice

By: Darren Parker 8th March 2022 Ahead of the planned start of strike action by many employees of Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African gold mines at the evening shift on March 9, Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman has remained steadfast, stating that the offer made on February 4 in an attempt to reach agreement on wages was “final”. “Wage... →

Landowner consent requirement withdrawn for mining-related enviro applications

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 8th March 2022 The “contentious” landowner consent requirement for mining-related environmental authorisation (EA) or waste management licence (WML) applications has been withdrawn, law firm Webber Wentzel senior associate Tendai Bonga and partner Garyn Rapson report. With effect from March 3, consent is no... →

Nickel surge may have Vale reworking its base metal calculations

By: Bloomberg 8th March 2022 There’s one simple reason why Vale SAwas one of the few shining lights among major Brazilian shares Monday -- nickel. While Vale gets most of its earnings from iron-ore, it’s also one of the world’s biggest producers of nickel. The metal that helps makes steel stainless and is used in... →

Nominations for the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining open

By: Nadine James 8th March 2022 Industry organisation Women in Mining (WIM) UK on March 8 announced that the nominations for the fifth edition of its 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining (WIM100) would open from 10:00 GMT. “We thank our confirmed sponsors, BMO Capital Markets, Heidrick & Struggles and BCG, for their... →

An image of five women miners standing underground at the Royal Bafokeng Platinum North shaft

WIM100 WOMEN? Nominees should be trailblazers, who persevere in the face of adversity and who advocate for and empower others.

Miners fund flood relief

By: Esmarie Iannucci 8th March 2022 Diversified miners BHP, Rio Tinto and Glencore have all donated to flood recovery efforts in Queensland and New South Wales. BHP has announced that it would donate A$2-million to the Australian Red Cross to to support emergency relief efforts for those impacted by the floods, which to date have... →

UP to launch research centre for mechanised mining systems

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 7th March 2022 The University of Pretoria (UP) is set to host the South African Mining Extraction, Research, Development and Innovation (SAMERDI) Research Centre for Mechanised Mining Systems in its Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology. →

An image showing mining engineering students at the University of Pretoria

Mining engineering students at UP

Commitment to green economy is crucial, says ARM’s Patrice Motsepe

By: Martin Creamer 7th March 2022 Diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) has reiterated its commitment to transitioning from coal to renewable energy, with its executive chairperson Patrice Motsepe describing the global commitment to the green economy as being not only important but crucial. Motsepe was... →

Photo by Creamer Media
African Rainbow Minerals executive chairperson Patrice Motsepe.

Decarbonisation standing out as key metals/mining value driver – Wood Mackenzie

By: Martin Creamer 4th March 2022 As pressure mounts for the world to align meaningfully with the 1.5 °C global temperature rise scenario, decarbonisation is standing out as a key driver of metals and mining value. “This has strengthened our view that the mining industry now has a clear pathway towards long-term transformative... →

Creamer Media screenshot taken during webinar.

Wood Mackenzie future facing mined commodities forum covered by Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer. Video: Darlene Creamer.

Decarbonisation, Zimplats, PGM supply make headlines

4th March 2022 This week, Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses decarbonisation; Zimplat’s 185 MW solar approval; and whether the supply of platinum group metals could be impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? →

Decarbonization, Zimplats, PGM supply make headlines

Filter press installation nearing completion

By: Halima Frost 4th March 2022 Local anthracite producer Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) is installing a filter press at its coal washing plant, in Emakhalathini, KwaZulu-Natal. The filter press will remove slurry from the water used in the coal washing process and prevent incidents such as the 1 500 m3 coal slurry spill,... →

Three slurry dams next to each other at the Zululand Anthracite Colliery owned by Menar that shows an embankment and berm which were constructed hours after a wall failure

DAMAGE CONTROL The spill area at the Zululand Anthracite Colliery was sealed off with an earth embankment and a berm

Kimberlite research could help reverse emissions

By: Halima Frost 4th March 2022 Global diamond corporation Alrosa Group is working with Russia’s leading research centres to study the carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption capabilities of kimberlite to determine whether it could eventually be used to completely offset the company’s greenhouse-gas emissions. The results from the... →

A pile of kimberlite stones which are the general ore from which diamonds are mined

ABSORBING RESEARCH Alrosa's Research has shown that kimberlite ore absorbs emissions when subject to standard mining operations which use water in the processes

Designs evolving to meet new outcomes

4th March 2022 Owing to the latest tailings dam standards demanding a longer-term view of design, construction and closure outcomes, a growing interest in design philosophies that incorporate shapes and processes as they exist in nature has been experienced, says SRK Consulting principal civil engineer in mine... →

SRK Consulting principal civil engineer in mine closure Justin Walls in portrait image

JUSTIN WALLS Engineers are increasingly looking to learn from natural analogues, so that they can better emulate these more sustainable designs and structures

Solar plant to be commissioned by May

By: Halima Frost 4th March 2022 The first photovoltaic (PV) solar plant to be completed and commissioned by a mining company in South Africa is on track to produce 100% steady-state power generation by May, says midtier gold producer Pan African Resources investor relations head Hethen Hira. The PV plant is being built by Pan... →

A large solar plant at the Evander mine, which should be extended even further, subject to regulatory approval

GAINING GROUND One of the first solar plants to be commissioned by a mining house will be expanded to produce more renewable energy

ESG slowing down as energy transition highlights mining as indispensable – RMF

By: Martin Creamer 2nd March 2022 The energy transition is highlighting mining as an indispensable industry, said Responsible Mining Foundation (RMF) CEO Hélène Piaget in opening a webinar on 'Responsible Mining Index (RMI) Report 2022', which reports a slowdown in economic, environmental, social and governance (ESG). “Yet there... →

Responsible Mining Foundation report covered by Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer. Video: Darlene Creamer.

Resources Watch

2nd March 2022 This week: Platinum group metals may also play role in batteries; Kumba CEO gives firm thumbs up to continued exploration in prospective Northern Cape; and, De Beers Group posts stunning financial results →

Resources Watch

ICMM publishes new tools to manage social performance

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st March 2022 The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) has published a set of practical tools to strengthen approaches to managing social performance within mining companies. These tools have been designed to support companies to strengthen these capabilities and to build and maintain positive... →

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