Rainbow says positive milestones reached with rare earth processing pilots

London-listed Rainbow Rare Earths has announced progress with its Phalaborwa pilot plant, with rare earth oxide (REO) separation now under way at the facilities of Rainbow’s technical partner,... 

Lucara recovers 166 ct diamond from Karowe mine

Canadian miner Lucara Diamond Corporation has recovered a 166 ct diamond from the Karowe diamond mine, in Botswana. The Type IIa diamond was recovered in the Coarse X-Ray Transmission unit at... 

EU invests $30m in African digital technology aid fund

Luxembourg-headquartered lending institution of the European Union (EU), European Investment Bank (EIB) Global has announced a $30-million equity investment in Seedstars Africa Ventures’ Fund I,... 

TNPA to appoint panel to bridge ‘operational gaps’ at eight seaports

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is looking to appoint a panel of qualified service providers as terminal operators to step in and assist in closing “operational gaps” at its eight... 

Reward announces capital raise to advance Beyondie SoP project

After gaining shareholder approval for the acquisition of the Beyondie sulphate of potash (SOP) project, in Western Australia, ASX-listed Reward Minerals is seeking to raise about A$22.8-million... 

FQM denies Zambian copper sale rumours

Zambia-focused First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has clarified that it does not intend to sell a stake in its copper mines in the country. FQM owns 80% of the Kansanshi copper mine and smelter in... 

Seifsa hopes for more PPPs this year

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) will continue to advocate for more private sector participation in public infrastructure this year, with CEO Lucio... 

SSR appoints Malchuck to board

TSX- and ASX-listed SSR Mining has appointed Daniel Malchuck to its board effective January 8. He will also serve on the board’s technical, safety and sustainability committee.  

Release by Scatec secures $100m loan, guarantee from the IFC

Modular solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage offering Release by Scatec has signed a $100-million loan agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), as part of a larger... 

EnerGeo says seismic surveying does not irreparably damage marine life

Geoscience and energy exploration industry body EnerGeo Alliance has said there is no evidence to suggest that seismic surveys are irreparably damaging to marine life. Rather, it argued, seismic... 

Thungela expects volume boost from Aus mine, while rail impacts South African volumes

JSE-listed Thungela Resources expects to report 2.9-million tonnes of saleable production from the Ensham operation, in Australia, for the 2023 financial year, which is above the company’s... 

Sacci BCI rises, but meaningful momentum lags

The Business Confidence Index (BCI) published by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) has nudged up by 2.9 index points to 111.5 in November, from 108.6 in October. The BCI... 

PE Bulk Terminal completes yearly maintenance

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has successfully concluded the yearly ten-day maintenance shutdown of the Port Elizabeth Bulk Terminal to ensure the seamless handling of manganese for the next 12... 

Sibanye announces R84m community upliftment investment

JSE- and NYSE-listed Sibanye-Stillwater has announced an R84-million investment through its Sibanye Rustenburg Mine Community Development Trust (SRMCDT) for development programmes to empower... 

Deep Yellow confirms higher-value, lower capital cost in Tumas DFS review

After reviewing a definitive feasibility study (DFS) on the Tumas uranium project, in Namibia, ASX-listed Deep Yellow has made positive reassessments of capital expenditure and the value of the... 

Firering appoints contractor to start drilling in Côte d'Ivoire

Critical minerals explorer Firering Strategic Minerals has appointed Canada-headquartered FTE Drilling to conduct a 3 000 m reverse circulation (RC) drill programme on its lithium and tantalum... 

Marula starts extensive community engagement for two Tanzanian projects

London-listed Marula Mining has started with a community engagement process at the Nyorinyori and NyoriGreen graphite projects, in Tanzania, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Marula Mining... 

World Bank makes $100m in financing available for African climate research

The World Bank will make $100-million available to the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) through the bank’s International Development Association (IDA) as part of... 

Nersa grants three electricity distribution licences in the Free State

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has granted three licences to Klipfontein Solar Facility, Lieliehoek Solar Facility and Sonoblomo Solar Facility for the operation of... 

M&R Cementation, PMC reach one-million fatality-free hours on expansion project

Underground mining contractor Murray & Roberts (M&R) Cementation has reached one-million fatality-free hours at its vent shaft contract on the Palabora Mining Company (PMC) Lift II expansion... 

ACI dips to levels last seen at start of Covid-19 as industry buckles under challenges

The Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz)/Industrial Development Corporation Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) deteriorated by ten points to 40 in the fourth quarter of the year. Notably, Agbiz... 

Sunward expands presence in South Africa with new distribution, service centre

Drilling, earthmoving and construction equipment supplier Sunward South Africa has unveiled its dedicated distribution facility in Jet Park, Boksburg, to serve the Southern African mining and... 

PepsiCo fund invests in agri-tech platform

Multinational food and beverage group PepsiCo has announced an investment by its independent fund Kgodiso Development Fund into agri-tech company Khula! To support sustainable finance and market... 

Australian Mines diversifies battery metals portfolio

ASX-listed Australian Mines (AUZ) has acquired two highly prospective exploration projects in Brazil for $1.1-million – the Jequie rare earths and Resende lithium projects. The projects are... 

Sanlam buys in on Sappi, Alien Fuel Group biomass-to-energy project

Asset manager Sanlam Investments will invest R46-million in a joint venture (JV) biomass-to-energy project between energy company Alien Fuel Group and pulp, paper and packaging manufacturer Sappi... 

Bakubung employees undertake illegal sit-in in latest blow to Wesizwe

JSE-listed Wesizwe Platinum says employees have embarked on an illegal sit-in at the Bakubung platinum mine, in North West, since the morning of December 6. Employees chose not to return to... 

Power Minerals nears offtake, funding agreement with Xiamen on Argentina project

Australia-listed Power Minerals is on the cusp of signing a binding offtake, funding and logistics agreement with Shanghai-listed Xiamen Xiangya New Energy for the Salta Lithium project, in... 

McEwen increases stake in Goliath to 5%

Prominent mining company owner Rob McEwen will increase his stake in TSX-V-listed Goliath Resources by completing a private placement for 1.42-million shares, resulting in him owning 5% of the... 

Newmont pours 8 000th gold doré bar

Colorado-based Newmont Corporation’s Musselwhite mine, in Ontario, has reached the milestone of pouring its 8 000th gold doré bar since the mine started with commercial production in 1997. The... 

Australian science agency launches green hydrogen production facility

Australia’s national science agency Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has launched a $2.5-million green hydrogen refuelling station at CSIRO’s Clayton site, in... 

Gold Royalty invests $31m in Brazilian gold project

Precious metals royalty and streamlining company Gold Royalty has announced it will provide $31-million in project financing to Canadian miner Aura Minerals for the Borborema gold project, in... 

Bushveld raises $18.4m

Aim-listed Bushveld Minerals has raised $18.4-million, or £14.6-million, through a placing and direct subscriptions with the company by Southern Point Resources (SPR), Acacia Resources, Orange... 

Greater govt support for multimodal efficiencies needed, experts agree

The cost of logistics in South Africa has increased significantly in the last eight years to about R800-billion a year at present and accounting for half of all products’ inherent costs. This... 

Agbiz optimistic about market expansion with addition of new Brics members

With more countries to become members of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) grouping, the South African agricultural industry will seek to deepen trade with these countries,... 

First Quantum, Mimosa to fast-track Zambia project

Mining and metals company First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and Mimosa Resources (Mimosa) have signed a revised Kashime Development Agreement, which is a joint commitment to fast-track the development... 

BMI unpacks key mining, metal trends forecast for 2024

Research agency BMI expects only a slight improvement to mineral and metals prices next year owing to continued weak demand in mainland China and overall global growth deceleration. Global growth... 

Edison upgrades valuation forecast for Pan African Resources

Financial advisory Edison Group has upgraded its confidence in Pan African Resources after the company posted higher production expectations for the 2024 financial year and as a result of it having... 

Sappi gains verification for high social, labour initiatives at Saiccor Mill

JSE-listed paper and packaging manufacturer Sappi has completed a verification of the Higg Facility Social and Labour Module (FSLM) at its Saiccor Mill in South Africa, achieving a final score of... 

BLSA says SOE audits remain cause for concern this year

While national and provincial government has made strides in improving financial management, there is also a concerning increase in entities that simply do not complete audits, says Business... 

Miners aiming for more than mere adherence to regulations as pressure to improve ESG practices mounts

There is increasing pressure from stakeholders in all sectors for companies to improve their environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, but the mining industry, in particular, has to...