Is this a new era for platinum? Its miners think so
SINCE the decline of gold production in the 1990s, platinum has become South Africa’s most valuable strategic metal, and among its most important economically. Of critical raw…
Why SA rebranded thermal coal a critical mineral
IS coal a critical mineral? The question has risen to prominence since South Africa designated coal as a “highly critical” mineral in its Critical Minerals Strategy released last…
Pope to discuss mining ethics with industry leaders
POPE Leo XIV will host senior mining and energy executives at the Vatican on Saturday (January 31) for discussions on ethical approaches to the resources sector, including BHP…
Why Future Coal thinks it can win back the banks
COAL is enjoying a resurgence in reputation. Last month the 300-year-old Lloyd’s of London abandoned one of its climate commitments by allowing its insurers to go back to the…
Nuclear revival threatens uranium supply shortage
A RESURGENCE in nuclear power could trigger a critical uranium shortage as global demand soars while mine production plummets, said the Financial Times citing warnings by…
Thungela, the coal mining success no-one expected
STRICTLY speaking, Thungela Resources CEO July Ndlovu is retiring a year earlier than at the firm’s mandatory age of 60. In a twist of fate his papers were destroyed during…
AngloGold Ashanti’s takes critical step on decarbonisation journey
ANGLOGOLD Ashanti has announced the successful completion of a major renewables project to create the largest hybrid power system in Australia’s mining sector.
Blair backs Africa to develop fossil fuels
FORMER UK prime minister Tony Blair said on Monday it was critical Africa be allowed to focus on fossil fuels in order to grow while the primary responsibility for renewable…
Will BHP return for Anglo? Definitely, maybe
WILL BHP take a second shot at Anglo American when the UK’s six-month “put up or shut up” takeover rule lapses? ‘Definitely, maybe’, to quote Oasis, the UK rock band that is…
Saudi’s rise in mining is breathtaking, and problematic
L ong the world’s largest producer of oil, Saudi Arabia now seeks to unlock a treasure trove of minerals beneath its sands while using the endowment generated by decades of…
Coal’s evergreen allure hard for investors to ignore
The pendulum has swung back to coal. Look no further than Glencore which is reconsidering retaining its coal production instead of demerging and separately listing the business,…
Zambia lays ground work for minerals trading company
ZAMBIA this week approved the creation of a special purpose vehicle that will invest and trade in the country’s mineral resources, said Bloomberg News. It follows comments made…
Bill Gates’ KoBold may spend $2.3bn building Zambia copper mine
A MINING exploration company in which Bill Gates has a stake could spend $2.3bn building a new major copper mine in Zambia, said Bloomberg News. KoBold Metals aims to produce…
Glencore may consider switching UK listing for US
GLENCORE may consider switching its primary listing from London to New York, said Bloomberg News citing a report by analysts at Deutsche Bank. If borne out, the delisting of…
Coal exports surpass billion ton mark, registering all-time record
WORLDWIDE electricity generation from coal hit record highs in 2023, while thermal coal exports surpassed 1 billion tons for the first time as coal’s use in power systems…
Ghana approves first lithium mine in deal with Atlantic Lithium
GHANA’S government has approved its first lithium mine run by a subsidiary of Australia-based Atlantic Lithium, said Reuters citing a statement by the West African country on…
Copper 360’s Nelson hopes to double share price in 12 months
COPPER 360 CEO Jan Nelson plans to double investors’ money in 2024. The next six months will show if he can do it. In that time, he plans to start generating positive cash flow,…
Mantashe sets new deadline for SA’s long-delayed cadastre
THE winning bidder to provide South Africa with a long-awaited mining cadastral system will be announced before the end of October – if all goes according to plan, said Gwede…
From community relations to dust control, AI is set to transform mining
THE intelligence may be artificial, but the effects will be real. AI is set to take the mining sector by storm, with huge gains for safety, productivity, and innovation seen on…
How hydrogen can breathe new life into SA’s faltering PGM sector
A HYDROGEN-powered aircraft completed three hours of flight testing earlier this month, boosting plans by manufacturers Airbus and Rolls-Royce to launch carbon-free aircraft of…