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Martin Creamer
Martin Creamer is Creamer Media Publishing Editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly.
Tel: +2711 622 3744
First Word
Boardroom bargaining tops rest, platinum sales ‘normal’ in strike, 60 000 ex-miners claim R5bn
By: Martin Creamer 25th July 2014 The National Union of Mineworkers and JSE-listed Royal Bafokeng Platinum have struck top wage and housing deal; platinum sales continued “at normal levels” during the five-month strike; and 60 000 former mineworkers have now come forward to claim R5-billion in unpaid benefits. →
Gold fix transparency demanded, automation in diamond mine, shift to more advanced blasting
By: Martin Creamer 18th July 2014 The gold fix in London is expected to become more transparent; automation is being introduced at the Venetia diamond mine; and the mining industry is migrating to more advanced blasting techniques. →
New Minerals Minister reaffirms mining’s crucial economic importance, urges accelerated effort to meet NDP requirement
By: Martin Creamer 11th July 2014 New Minerals Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi used the eightieth anniversary celebration of Mintek to reaffirm mining’s centrality as a driver of crucial economic growth and to emphasise that it is a requirement of the National Development Plan to accelerate efforts to ensure that mining can continue... →
Projected population supports mining, new diamond mine under construction, reports of platinum mines auction plan
By: Martin Creamer 4th July 2014 The projected growth of the population of the world favours mining deeloment; funding obtained for new diamond mine; London says Anglo American has appointed a bank to auction its stressed platinum assets. →
Let’s have access to the full platinum pricing story
By: Martin Creamer 27th June 2014 Futures markets play a significant role in platinum pricing, but calls are being made for price determination to be done in a far more transparent manner. Private fund manager and equity trader Dr Fraser Lee Murrell of Melbourne, Australia, has questioned the fairness of futures markets against... →
Saddling the mining industry with more pathfinder work
By: Martin Creamer 20th June 2014 There are many who want South Africa's mining industry to do much more in the years ahead. →
Costs overtaking prices threatening mining jobs, communities, governments
By: Martin Creamer 13th June 2014 Tough industry conditions over the past year have driven the profits of the top 40 global mining companies to their lowest level in ten years. Miners are being forced to realign with harsh reality, professional services firm PwC says. Yet demands on those meagre profits are unrelenting. The fact... →
Full transparency needed in gold, platinum price determinations in wake of UK manipulation disclosure
By: Martin Creamer 30th May 2014 Full transparency is needed in the determination of the gold price and platinum price following the worrying manipulation finding of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the case of gold. To restore credibility, a bright searchlight needs to be kept on both pricing systems, which impact... →
Chamber condemns platinum murders, mining urged to mimic oil, gas methods, Botswana ropes in Dutch for gas plan
By: Martin Creamer 23rd May 2014 Chamber condemns brutal platinum murders, mining sector urged to mimic oil and gas geological modelling, and Botswana retains Netherlands consulting firm to develop coal gas roadmap. →
More manganese to China, stable law regime essential, zealous compliance pays off
By: Martin Creamer 16th May 2014 First Kalagadi sinter for China; stable mining-law regime wanted; black economic-empowerment compliance paying off for Harmony Gold. →
Glencore dubbed ‘mining model’, private DRC infrastructure push, South Africa base for Africa thrust
By: Martin Creamer 9th May 2014 GlencoreXstrata seen by minign veteran Peter Munk as current global mining model; mine-boosting infrastructure projects on the way in DRC; Jindel takes next step in Africa; Exxaro takes steps to improve quality of education. →
Opencast colliery rehab in a jiff, ‘exceptional’ Limpopo pig iron, emissions mission’s carrot not stick
By: Martin Creamer 2nd May 2014 A new technology speeds up the rehabilitation of old collieries; exceptional iron quality is emerging at a Limpopo project site; and reward not punishment is the Australian government's new approach to greenhouse emission reduction. →
Underground coal gasification boost, diesel mechanisation and health, simulation upping safety, productivity
By: Martin Creamer 25th April 2014 Underground coal gasification given a regulatory boost; the move to mining mechanisation is raising the issue of potential diesel-linked health risk; simulation technology is helping to prepare trainee operators for the real thing. →
Zimbabwe to settle gold debts, Malawi shows off its minerals, permanent mining show opens
By: Martin Creamer 18th April 2014 Zimbabwe moves to pay what it owes to gold miners; Malawi want sto attract mining through State exploration; and a permanent mining show opens in Joburg. →
Mozambique coal train attack, R200m Evander gold project, dump retreat, closure vision
By: Martin Creamer 11th April 2014 Concern over Vale Mozambique coal train attack; R200-million project to recover gold from dumps; vision for profitable rehab of dumps for postmining economy. →
Does South Africa have too little influence on the platinum price as near monopoly supplier?
By: Martin Creamer 4th April 2014 South Africa appears to be exerting far too little influence on the price of platinum, despite having the lion’s share of world platinum resources and production. A close watcher of the system, who has once again been in email contact with Mining Weekly Online, believes South Africa is now... →
Iron project in northern Bushveld, platinum mine builder cuts risk, diamond mine coming on stream
By: Martin Creamer 28th March 2014 Ironveld to produce pilor-plant pig iron on the northern limb of the Bushveld Complex from mid-2014; Wesizwe Platinum cutting coat according to cloth; and Gem Diamonds gearing for commercial production from Ghaghoo in Botswana in the second half of this year. →
Concerted effort needed to turn Congo-Cameroon-Gabon iron-ore belt into African Pilbara
By: Martin Creamer 21st March 2014 A concerted effort is needed to turn the Congo-Cameroon-Gabon region, often likened to Australia’s iron-ore-rich Pilbara, to positive account. →
Implats embarks on mechanisation strategy, Transnet boosts Exxaro’s coal railing, automation of low-seam mining under way
By: Martin Creamer 14th March 2014 Platinum mining company Implats has embarked on a strategy to mechanise; State rail enterprise Transnet is helping JSE-listed Exxaro to double its coal exports; a new system to automate low-seam coal-mining is on offer. →
Mining innovation never more needed, Malawi airborne survey baits investors, Chinese back Zim ferrochrome smelting
By: Martin Creamer 7th March 2014 Mining innovation is needed to cut costs; Malawi is using its new geological survey to bait mining investors; the Chinese are investing in ferrochrome in Zimbabwe →
Aussies help out with mechanised mining, Russia helps Botswana to find diamonds, union unhappy with new CEO appointment
By: Martin Creamer 28th February 2014 Two South African mines have called in Australians to help with mechanised mining; Russian help is being brought into Botswana; and the National Union of Mineworkers may strike because of its unhappiness with the appointment of a new CEO at Northam Platinum. →
Deteriorating outlook for mined exports putting vital foreign exchange earnings at risk
By: Martin Creamer 21st February 2014 The time is now ripe to break and remake the expired business plan of South Africa's strike-hit hard-rock, narrow-reef precious metals mines that are under the cosh. →
Emissions laws best platinum ‘beneficiation’, still serious problems with Minerals Bill, Chinese importing South African crushers
By: Martin Creamer 14th February 2014 Emission laws fantastic local beneficiation route for platinum metals; serious problems linger with mining Bill; China orders crusher from South Africa →
Disclosure of payments to govts, Australia, Southern Africa ties, tin tagging returns to North Kivu
By: Martin Creamer 7th February 2014 Growing willingness to implement full disclosure on all payments to governments; move to strengthen bilateral relations between Australia and Southern Africa; and tin tagging returning to normalising North Kivu. →
Virtual reality mine design centre backed, coal research needs blue-sky approach, ideas on breaking junior funding deadlock
By: Martin Creamer 31st January 2014 Kumba Iron Ore is sponsoring a virtual reality mine design centre; a university professor believes blue-sky coal research is needed to attract more research students; and a project house mulls ways of breaking the funding deadlock facing junior miners. →
Underground coal gasification agreement, TSX grants financial hardship exemption, platinum assets in play in race to pay debt
By: Martin Creamer 24th January 2014 A new underground coal gasifiction advance; Forbes Coal fixing its finances; platinum assets may have to be sold to pay off debt →
Laudable ferrochrome energy cut, Congo iron-ore advance expected, private cash available for M&A
By: Martin Creamer 17th January 2014 A ferrochrome smelting complex has reduced its power use by 21.3%; three companies are building iron-ore mines in the Republic of Congo; and financial stress in the resources sector is creating opportunities for private-equity investment. →
Global coal demand growth calls for intensified search for clean coal solution
By: Martin Creamer 13th December 2013 This year 75 000 MW of new coal-fired power generation came on stream and in the next five years another 450 000 MW of new coal-fired power generation is scheduled to come on stream. →
President, Minerals Minister more hawkish than ever on mining reform
By: Martin Creamer 6th December 2013 President Jacob Zuma and Minerals Minister Susan Shabangu - who both spoke from the same podium at last Friday's function to mark the launch of Kalagadi Manganese’s integrated mine, sinter plant and planned smelter - were more hawkish than ever on mining reform. Shabangu said bluntly that there... →
Bright spotlight needs to be shone on how the platinum price is determined
By: Martin Creamer 29th November 2013 Despite the major under supply of platinum and strong upcoming demand, platinum prices remain at levels that leave many South African mines under water. Exactly how the price of platinum is determined – particularly in futures markets – needs to come under scrutiny. A futures market record sent... →
Platinum ‘even worse than it looks’, lagging even in replacement capex, no growth to meet strong demand
By: Martin Creamer 22nd November 2013 Platinum situation is even worse than it looks, investment has not even keeping pace with replacement requirements and now growth is insufficient to keep pace with strong upcoming demand. →
Govt, business, labour report progress towards a better mining industry
By: Martin Creamer 15th November 2013 Government, business and labour on Friday reported more progress towards making South African mining a better business in order to fulfil the requirements of the framework agreement stuck in July. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who commands huge respect in industry circles, is leading the... →
South Africans need to reverse self-inflicted slippages in gold, ferrochrome and platinum
By: Martin Creamer 8th November 2013 South Africans threw away their leadership in gold mining, lost their top position in ferrochrome, and are now in the throes of throwing away their platinum crown as well. Gold production is down to 1905 levels, at 167 t a year; South Africa’s long-standing top global position in ferrochrome has... →
Mediation needed to resolve Richards Bay Coal Terminal spat
By: Martin Creamer 1st November 2013 A top mediator needs to intervene to resolve the differences between State rail authority Transnet and the private-sector-owned Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT). The South African economy will lose important export revenues if this spat is not resolved. →
M&A drop imperils explorer aspirations, cadastre systems could make difference, merits of dedicated mining permit teams
By: Martin Creamer 25th October 2013 Mining acquisitions have slumped to an eight-year low; mining cadastres that can make a difference; merits of dedicated mining permit teams →
Gold mining needs more tender loving care, AngloGold builds science lab for community, Aussies invest in South African mine safety facility
By: Martin Creamer 18th October 2013 Gold mining needs more tender loving care from governments; Gold miner builds science laboratory for community; Australian company invests in South African mine safety facility →
Zimbabwe platinum refinery study complete, Gold Fields’ Barrick deal permitted, Kenya eyes coal as geothermal is too high
By: Martin Creamer 11th October 2013 Zimbabwe platinum refinery study complete; Securities and Exchange Commission fails to stop Gold Fields acquiring Barrick Gold’s Yilgarn South;Kenya turns its back on expensive geothermal power and opts for coal →
Mining pays double its GDP share in tax, earns half of SA’s foreign exchange, spends billions locally
By: Martin Creamer 4th October 2013 South Africa's mining sector is a substantial contributor to the government and society in the form of its tax contribution, it earns more than any other local industry in foreign exchange, and 80% of its expenditure goes into the local economy. In 2012, mining paid R21.4-billion or 14.1% of... →
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