Europe risks missing out on gallium boom
EUROPE could miss out on a critical high-tech metal even though it is set to produce enough to meet its own needs, said the Financial Times citing London-listed energy company…
Metals of war: why US Govt has weaponised mining
Eighteen mining companies went public in the past 12 months with one aim in common: an ambition to supply the US government’s defence industry. Assisted by US President Donald…
Froneman named chair of struggling Copper 360
FORMER Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman has been appointed chair of Copper 360, bringing one of South Africa’s best-known mining executives into the junior copper producer as…
Congo to claw back unused cobalt quotas
COBALT producers in the Democratic Republic of Congo must forfeit export quotas left unused from the first half of this year, said Bloomberg News citing the country’s regulator…
Sibanye’s R18bn Finland expansion is tip of the iceberg
SOUTH African miners’ appetite for offshore production has manifested in a spate of deals for mothballed mines and even producing ones. Some have legacy challenges. Many are in…
Congo deepens China mining ties amid US rivalry
THE Democratic Republic of Congo has signed an agreement with China to deepen cooperation in its mining sector, as Beijing moves to consolidate its already dominant position in…
African export curbs hurt China’s best laid plans
AFRICAN export restrictions on critical battery metals are dealing a blow to Chinese companies that have spent billions of dollars developing mines on the continent, driving up…
Congo gold trader targets new artisanal haul
THE Democratic Republic of Congo’s state-owned gold trading company is targeting sales of 15 tons this year from the country’s artisanal mining sector, with the central bank…
EU pauses investigation of Anglo, MMG nickel deal
EUROPEAN Union competition regulators have paused their investigation into China firm MMG’s proposed purchase of Anglo American’s Brazilian nickel operations after the parties…
Carmakers abandon battery metal deals after price slump
MORE than half of supply agreements between western carmakers and miners for battery metals have been delayed, amended or scrapped following a sharp fall in lithium prices, said…
Angola to inaugurate first major copper mine
ANGOLA will shortly commence production at its inaugural large-scale copper mine as the oil-dependent nation seeks to diversify into clean energy minerals, said Reuters on…
No regrets for high-riding Froneman
SIBANYE-Stillwater, created in 2013 as a spin-off of Gold Fields’ South African assets, has always been defined by its founding CEO, Neal Froneman, a larger-than-life figure who…
Sibanye-Stillwater’s Stewart eyes return to dividend
AS incoming Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Richard Stewart steps into the massive mining boots of Neal Froneman, dividends are on his mind – and no doubt those of the company’s…
Exxaro targets “first” manganese deal this year
EXXARO Resources said on Thursday it hoped to convert “interesting conversations” with South African manganese miners into an investment during this year. “We have been engaging…
New Exxaro boss Ben Magara commits to battery metals
EXXARO Resources said on Thursday it had appointed the former Lonmin boss Ben Magara as its new CEO, effective April 1. Magara, currently a non-executive director at Exxaro,…
Rio to raise $9bn in US bonds for lithium
The world’s biggest iron ore producer Rio Tinto will raise $9bn in US investment-grade bonds as it seeks to fund its recently-closed buyout of Arcadium Lithium, said Reuters on…
Sibanye-Stillwater pulls plug on US lithium project
SIBANYE-Stillwater has pulled out of US lithium/boron project Rhyolite Ridge which would have committed it to spending just under $500m for a 50% stake. The…
Sibanye-Stillwater plans chrome deal as nears end of restructure
SIBANYE-Stillwater is working on a chrome financing transaction which it will use to further strengthen the balance sheet. A financing deal in chrome, possibly a prepayment, will…
Big year for Ivanhoe as prepares to open SA platinum mine
MARNA Cloete is accustomed to the doubters. When Ivanhoe Mines, of which she is president (“CEO in South African terms,” she explains), was first searching for copper in the…
Rossouw to make NextSource ‘Xstrata of battery metals’
CHINA dominates huge portions of the mining supply chain for electric batteries. In copper, for instance, a key element for all electric vehicles (EVs), it controls less than 10%…