Mozambique is expected to have its new mineral regulations in place before year-end. Read on page 18 of this edition of Mining Weekly of Mineral Resources Ministry permanent secretary Alfredo Nampete remarking in Maputo on the imminent completion of the process. The Ministry has been drawing up mining and petroleum ordinances in liaison with the private sector and civil society. This follows approval by the Mozambique Paliament of a broad legal framework in August and September. Against that background, some listed companies have already been able to raise equity capital for projects in Mozambique.

Also in Mozambique, Aim-listed Gemfields, a Pallinghurst-group company specialising in coloured gemstones, has found a 40.23 ct rough ruby at Montepuez, which is said to be the world’s largest ruby mining concession in private hands. Read on page 21 of this edition of Mining Weekly of the rough ruby just found being set to attract attention at the upcoming ruby auction in Singapore, following Switzerland’s Gübelin Gem Laboratory remarking on its transparency and colour and jewellery historian Joanna Hardy on its size and quality. Gemfields, which owns Fabergé, generated $33.5-million at its first ruby auction earlier this year.

As a result of the recent postal strike disrupting a portion of our circulation in recent weeks, we have had to make changes to our distribution platforms to ensure that we continue to deliver Mining Weekly and its associate publication in a timely and efficient manner. We have contracted with two alternative distributors to hand-deliver our magazines and are in the process of converting all our subscribers to this new system. In addition to contracting with these distributors, we will continue to distribute our magazines through retail outlets, including CNA and Exclusive Books stores, and will continue to issue bulk deliveries to large corporations, who are also paid-for subscribers. In addition, all our subscribers also receive an email every Friday, providing them with a link to a PDF e-magazine version of the week’s magazines.

Further, both Mining Weekly and Engineering News are being distributed at OR Tambo International Airport, Lanseria International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport, as well as at five-star hotels in Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town. Our airport and hotel distribution is carefully controlled, with specified quantities of magazines distributed through all major airport lounges and other locations throughout the airports and hotels. We are also providing copies to South African Airways (SAA), which are available on board regional SAA flights.