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Ilan Solomons

Ilan Solomons

Ilan Solomons is a Creamer Media Contributing Editor for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Email: newsdesk@engineeringnews.co.za

By Ilan Solomons

BURIED TREASURES? There is a need to asses the seabed mineral deposits known to occur in the world’s oceans beyond the boundaries of national jurisdictions

Operation Phakisa pushes for improved capability in subsurface research

2nd June 2017

Operation Phakisa’s oil and gas group has identified the need to develop localised capability in this sphere and consequently tasked the D2 working group with initiatives aimed at developing South... 


LOST OPPORTUNITY For the most part, African governments have not taken advantage of the last decade’s growth spurt to move toward diversification

Africa’s overreliance on extractive industries hampering sustainable development

2nd June 2017

Economic history has shown that without diversification into manufacturing and services and away from simple resource extraction, the long term development prospects of countries are always bleak.... 


GOOD VIBRATIONS Encouraging results from Montepuez include the early stage work by Mustang to date which has resulted in the recovery of about 73 000 ct of reportedly high-quality rubies

Research firm sees Montepuez ruby field becoming consistent, stable source of rubies

2nd June 2017

Australian and US investment research firm Independent Investment Research (IIR) has completed a valuation for ASX-listed junior miner Mustang Resources resulting in a base case 12-month price... 


DAVID LINSLEY
The proceeds of the sale of the Botswana assets to Global Exploration Technologies will be used to fund normal working capital

Pembridge sells Botswana copper assets for £150 000

2nd June 2017

Aim-listed natural resource exploration and development company Pembridge Resources – which was known as China Africa Resources up to April 10 – has announced that a share purchase agreement has... 


STEADY IMPROVEMENTS 2017 has already seen some welcome recovery in commodity prices, but the sustainability of recovery is uncertain

Junior miners seek to regain investor confidence in efforts to relive glory days

2nd June 2017

Junior mining companies have certainly been through a tough time of late. Some of the pain has been self-inflicted, some has been a long time coming and some of it has been pure bad luck, says... 


Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown

Scopa welcomes SIU investigation into Eskom coal deals

30th May 2017

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has welcomed the decision by Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown to refer Eskom’s procurement contracts, including those signed with the Gupta... 


FREDRIK REINFELDT The EITI is pleased that another three countries have made meaningful progress and committed its continued support to others in their efforts to meet the standard

Ghana, Mauritania and Sao Tome make ‘meaningful progress’, Malawi publishes first EITI report

26th May 2017

At a recent meeting in Bogotá, Colombia, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) board agreed to assess the performance of its 51 implementing countries against the EITI standard... 


Digital fixed gas monitoring system launched

26th May 2017

Australian mining-refuge chamber manufacturer MineArc Systems has released its new Aura-FX digital fixed gas monitoring system, which it says provides a “more convenient” solution to internal... 


MODERATE IMPROVEMENT PREDICTED Silver prices are not anticipated to increase to ‘phenomenal levels’ once more, but it is predicted that there will be some price improvements

Silver prices seen improving steadily in coming years amid renewed investor demand

26th May 2017

Silver prices are likely to continue to rise in 2017 and to do so over the next several years. This is according to New York-based research and consulting firm CPM Group’s recently released ‘2017... 


TREASURES OF THE DEEP Future possibilities in offshore mining include polymetallic manganese nodules and crusts, glauconite, phosphates and building aggregates

Council for Geoscience launches near-shore mapping programme

26th May 2017

Mineral resources are important to the economy and capacity building of South Africa and are being extensively exploited on land and there will likely be a shift towards the offshore environment,... 


COMPONENT FACTOR Automotive demand for 2016 and 2017 was revised upward by 45 000 oz, reflecting the revisions owing higher-than-expected global vehicle sales

Platinum market expected to be ‘broadly balanced’ this year

26th May 2017

The platinum market is expected to be broadly balanced over the year with a deficit of 65 000 oz forecast for this year. Above ground stocks are expected to end the year at 1.89-million ounces,... 


KZN coal mine supplying communities’ water needs and more, mulls output expansion

KZN coal mine supplying communities’ water needs and more, mulls output expansion

19th May 2017

The Zululand region of KwaZulu-Natal was afflicted by what the Department of Water and Sanitation described as the “worst drought in a century” in 2016 and is still one of the water-scarce areas of... 


UNCERTAIN FUTURE Molybdenum mine production and industrial demand are likely to change directions over the course of the next ten years that could impact its price in years to come

Molybdenum demand to be subdued until at least 2025?

19th May 2017

In the forecast period between 2016 and 2025 molybdenum demand growth is projected to be slower than the compound annual demand growth recorded from 2009 through 2015. This is according to New... 


RAISING THEIR VOICES AMCU will “intensifying the struggle” for the betterment of the working conditions of mineworkers in South Africa

AMCU to continue pressuring mining houses to pay ‘living wages’

19th May 2017

Workers Day is a time when South African workers come together in solidarity with workers worldwide to celebrate the gains made, while also calling for more improvements to the livelihoods and... 


VAMETCO MINE, NORTH WEST Vametco is a high-quality, low-cost mine that has a plant with a patented vanadium product and a global vanadium customer base

Bushveld completes Vametco acquisition, progresses towards integrated vanadium platform

19th May 2017

Diversified mineral development company Bushveld Minerals has completed the acquisition of a 78.8% shareholding in Strategic Minerals Corporation (SMC), the ultimate holding company of Vametco... 


INFORMATION AT FINGER-TIPS The Atlas provides a living database of research and policy debates on legal and regulatory issues, while promoting the development of African legal expertise on mining laws

Online platform developed to provide easy access to African countries’ mining laws

19th May 2017

The African Mining Legislation Atlas (AMLA) – a free, online platform and project developed by the World Bank – will be handed over to the African Development Bank’s (AfDB’s) African Legal Support... 


GIVING GUIDANCE The guidance report provides direction on how to ensure effective, inclusive strategy development and implementation, as well as effective governance of ASM

New toolkit to help govts manage small-scale mining sector

19th May 2017

Governments struggling to manage the complex and sometimes chaotic artisanal and small-scale mining sector have a new toolkit, which was developed by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining,... 


WATER WIZARD The Zululand anthracite colliery is supplying more than 42-million litres of clean, potable water a year to the neighbouring communities from its water purification plant

KZN coal mine supplying communities’ water needs and more, mulls output expansion

19th May 2017

The Zululand region of KwaZulu-Natal was afflicted by what the Department of Water and Sanitation described as the “worst drought in a century” in 2016 and is still a water scarce area of the... 


Evenly balanced year for platinum in 2017, supply deficits to continue

Evenly balanced year for platinum in 2017, supply deficits to continue

15th May 2017

The platinum market is expected to be broadly balanced over the year with a deficit of 65 000 oz forecast for this year. Above ground stocks are expected to end the year at 1.89-million ounces,... 


EMERGING MINER Assen iron-ore mine will initially target production of 60 000 t/m of saleable ore for delivery exclusively to ArcelorMittal South Africa

South Africa’s newest iron-ore mine comes on stream

12th May 2017

Junior iron-ore miner Manngwe Mining plans to expand its asset base and increase production at its existing operation over the next five years to provide integrated steel and mining company... 


DRAWING THE CROWDS A crowd of around 8 000 supporters gathered during at the Griffons Rugby Stadium, in Welkom, in the Free State for AMCU’S May Day celebration rally

AMCU calls for greater local mineral beneficiation, nationalisation of mines

12th May 2017

The African National Congress- (ANC-) led government has failed to deliver meaningful economic empowerment for the oppressed working class majority and has instead given away South Africa’s... 


MZWANDILE ANTHONY MAKI Mzwandile, who started working life as a petrol attendant, in 1987, has subsequently achieved his MBA at North-West University

Former petrol attendant to probe perceptions of Mining Charter in PhD thesis

12th May 2017

Gold mining company Pan African Resources Evander Gold Mines human resources manager Mzwandile Anthony Maki outlined the early stage development of his PhD thesis entitled ‘Testing the Perceptions... 


Productivity South Africa value chain competitiveness executive manager Sello Mosai

DTI determined to support manufacturing sector

9th May 2017

To enhance industrial capabilities and ensure job creation in South Africa, government aims to adopt a strategy to leverage the scrap metals produced by and belonging to the State and State-owned... 


Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Performance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration Jeff Radebe

Manufacturing sector success key to achieving NDP goals, says Radebe

9th May 2017

There is an "urgent" need for government, labour and industry to revive South Africa's flagging economy and the manufacturing sector can play a key role in achieving that goal, said Minister in the... 


GRAPHENE INGENUITY Three-dimensional printed gyroid models were used to test the strength and mechanical properties of the new lightweight graphene material

Ten-times-stronger-than-steel lightweight graphene material developed

5th May 2017

A team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the US, says it has designed one of the “strongest lightweight materials” ever known, by compressing and fusing flakes... 


HIGH-END ROCK CRYSTAL Suricate will soon undertake a feasibility study for the commissioning of high-purity quartz deposits containing up to 99.99% in silicon

Suricate Minerals seeks to unlock Mauritania’s untapped minerals potential

5th May 2017

Privately owned Mauritanian mining exploration company Suricate Minerals is making good progress on the exploration development of its quartz, barite, iron-ore and gold projects, in Mauritania,... 


STEVE CURTIS Caledonia remains committed to distributing cash to shareholders, while simultaneously retaining a robust balance sheet

Caledonia declares dividend, increases gold output 18% year-on-year

5th May 2017

Caledonia Mining Corporation, in line with its dividend policy, has declared a dividend of  $0.01375 on each of the company’s common shares. Caledonia CEO Steve Curtis points out that... 


NEW VIEWS REQUIRED The practice of rock mechanics has stagnated for the past 30 to 40 years within a reduced 2D view of what is very much ‘at the least’ a 3D problem

Ex-prof says new rock mechanics book will deal with ‘incompleteness’ of existing texts

5th May 2017

The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) has published a new rock mechanics textbook, which is entitled ‘Theoretical Rock Mechanics for Professional Practice’. Speaking at an... 


SUMSAR INDUSTRIAL AREA, KYRGYZSTAN The former Sumsar mining and ore processing area is located in an ecologically sensitive environment and is exposing residents to chemical contaminants

Mission urges ‘imminent action’ to curb contamination from old Kyrgyzstan mine

5th May 2017

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on a former lead and zinc mine in the Sumsar industrial area, in Kyrgyzstan, which was undertaken jointly by international nongovernmental mine... 


ARGUMENT FOR EXPLOSIVES Steady technological advances in the mining industry were reducing mining costs, improving blasting efficiencies and driving explosives sales

Master Blaster CEO takes issue with Frost & Sullivan findings on explosives

5th May 2017

The findings of a recent report by market research company Frost & Sullivan entitled ‘The Mining Explosives Market in South Africa for Coal, Iron Ore, Gold and PGMs, Forecast to 2020’ are... 


AMCU May Day celebration rally at the Griffons Rugby Stadium, in Welkom, Free State

AMCU celebrates Workers Day, sends signal to rivals saying politics not unions’ business

2nd May 2017

Workers Day is a time when South African workers come together in solidarity with workers worldwide to celebrate the gains made, while also calling for more improvements to the livelihoods and... 


AMCU May Day celebration rally

AMCU decries government’s ‘failures’, calls for South Africa First approach

2nd May 2017

The African National Congress- (ANC-) led government has failed to deliver meaningful economic empowerment for the oppressed working class majority and has instead given away South Africa’s... 


Analysts paint sparkling picture of coloured gemstone market

Analysts paint sparkling picture of coloured gemstone market

28th April 2017

The shift from small-scale artisanal mining to larger mechanised mining, owing to the increasing involvement of larger mining companies and greater formalisation of the sector, is expected to... 


PROVIDING EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS Advisian draws on WorleyParsons’ ‘deep domain expertise’ and experience in the mining sector to advise clients and then can partner with them to implement that advice

Consultancy offering miners ‘optimisation tools’

28th April 2017

In the current climate of constrained capital, clients in the mining sector are seeking ways to maximise returns while minimising exposure to risk, particularly those companies which need to make... 


MX CRUSHER The Metso MX cone crusher is based on the company’s patented Multi-Action crushing technology, combining the piston and rotating bowl into a single crusher

Metso’s new crusher reduces costs, improves uptime by 10%

28th April 2017

Diversified engineering group Metso launched its new rock crushing technology at the Conexpo-Con/Agg 2017 industry event in Las Vegas, in the US last month. The Metso MX cone crusher is based on... 


TSCHUDI MINE, NAMIBIA
The mine’s openpits have progressed deeper with the proportion of mixed oxide and sulphide ore mined having increased as expected

Heavy rainfall hits production at Namibia’s Tschudi copper mine

28th April 2017

Copper mining company Weatherly International (WTI) CEO Craig Thomas has provided an update for copper cathode production in the March quarter for the company’s Tschudi openpit copper mine, in... 


VIS REDDY
SRK Consulting South Africa is owned and managed by its staff and invests significantly in ‘fostering talent in a culture of excellence’

SRK rated among SA’s top five consulting engineering firms

28th April 2017

Independent engineering and scientific consultancy SRK Consulting South Africa has been rated a top five company in South Africa’s consulting engineering, mining and infrastructure segment in the... 


RUSSELL SHOR The gem market is bifurcating in that it is growing at the lowest and highest ends, while generally remaining stable in the middle

Analysts paint sparkling picture of coloured gemstone market

28th April 2017

The shift from small-scale artisanal mining to larger mechanised mining owing to the increasing involvement of larger mining companies and greater formalisation of the sector is expected to... 


Wim de Klerk, Mathatha Tsedu and Matodzi Nesongozwi at official opening of Manngwe plant

Junior iron-ore miner outlines ambitious aims, supports local steel production

26th April 2017

Junior iron-ore miner Manngwe Mining plans to expand its asset base and increase production at its existing operation over the next five years to provide integrated steel and mining company... 


MACUSANI PLATEAU EXPLORATIONS About C$50-million has been spent on historical exploration workings on the project to date

Peru uranium/lithium mine to come on stream in 2020 – developer

21st April 2017

Project developer Plateau Uranium aimed to have its Macusani Plateau uranium and lithium project, in Peru, in production by 2020 to be prepared to take advantage of analysts’ forecasts of a uranium... 


AUTOMATION PITFALLS The automation of mines will result in less local employment and personal income tax revenue for States and the reduction in employment-related local procurement

Report highlights jobs and revenue impact of automation in mining

21st April 2017

Local communities and governments will lose jobs and tax revenues as mines become increasingly automated through the adoption of emerging technologies, such as self-driving trucks. This is... 


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