Burkina Faso joins Africa’s gold refining drive
BURKINA Faso has opened its first gold refinery as it seeks to process more of its mineral wealth at home, Bloomberg reported. State-controlled Raffinor BF, built for $19m, can…
Barrick reaches deal with Mali unions, averts strike
BARRICK Mining has reached a new labour agreement with unions at its Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine in Mali, easing the threat of strike action, Reuters reported. The Canadian miner…
Mali unions threaten strikes at Barrick mine
UNIONS at Barrick Mining’s Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex in Mali have lodged a series of strike notices, threatening to disrupt operations at one of the country’s biggest gold…
What resource nationalism means for Africa’s miners
Governments across Africa are seeking to assert greater control over their mineral wealth by rewriting mining codes, demanding larger equity stakes or greater local…
Resolute, Nimba launch Guinea gold venture
Resolute Mining and Guinea’s state-backed Nimba Mining Gold have formed a joint venture to explore and develop gold projects in Guinea, expanding a partnership first announced…
Barrick’s growth plan for non-IPO mines has its risks
BARRICK Mining’s business outside North America offers growth from assets including Lumwana and Kibali, but Reko Diq remains the main source of doubt in the group’s growth plans.…
B2Gold gets Mali permit for Fekola growth plan
MALI has granted B2Gold a crucial mining permit, paving the way for a large boost in gold output from its Fekola complex. The Menankoto permit was issued on Friday, 7 August,…
Allied Gold flags upside to 2027 Kurmuk guidance
ALLIED Gold has raised the prospect that it could exceed full-year production guidance for 2027 from its Ethiopian project, Kurmuk, which is due to ramp up in the third quarter…
China may be pulling back from mining M&A
CHINA’S largest metals groups have spent nearly two decades as some of the mining industry’s most aggressive dealmakers, ploughing billions of dollars into assets from the…
Mali plans infrastructure projects from $800m mining fund
MALI could leverage revenues from its overhauled mining sector to raise up to 500 billion CFA francs ($883.1 million) for energy, water and transport projects, said Reuters…
Endeavour CEO surprised by Barrick talk amid Mali exit
ENDEAVOUR Mining CEO Ian Cockerill said speculation in June linking his company with Barrick Mining made no sense because he would only be likely to back mergers and acquisitions…
Zijin ditches Allied Gold takeover for $295m stake instead
CHINA’S Zijin Gold International has abandoned its proposed takeover of Allied Gold, opting instead to take a $295m stake in the Canadian miner. A combination of political…
Mali gold output to stay below 60 tons
MALI’S industrial gold production will remain under 60 tons a year through 2029, according to a mines ministry plan reviewed by Reuters, prolonging a downturn linked to a…
Islamist militants widen reach in Sahel mining zones
ISLAMIST militant groups are extending their footprint across central West Africa’s mining belt, contesting territory with governments and stoking fears over the safety of mining…
Fortuna nears final Senegal gold permit
FORTUNA Mining expects to secure the final construction permit for its Diamba Sud gold project in Senegal within weeks in a development that will diversify the country’s mining,…
Sibanye-Stillwater will look to Africa for new gold output
SIBANYE-Stillwater has raised the prospect of weighing new gold acquisitions in Africa when returns to dealmaking in the future. “I can speculate on where I see our gold future…
Guinea eyes regional gold refining hub
GUINEA is positioning itself to become a gold refining centre for West Africa, according to mines minister Bouna Sylla, as the region’s producers increasingly look to process…
Like Froneman, Sibanye’s Richard Stewart won’t take BS. Good
SIBANYE-Stillwater’s CEO Richard Stewart has rung in the changes in his short tenure at the group, pivoting the group’s focus firmly towards existing portfolio potential,…
SA miners fear the worst in mineral cadastre rollout
IN May 2024, then Orion Minerals CEO Errol Smart gushed: “I’m coming off an all-time high on hearing this news.” A day earlier, the South African government had signed an…
Zijin’s $4bn bid for Allied Gold in jeopardy amid Mali concerns
REGULATORS in China could derail Zijin Gold International’s proposed $4bn takeover of Allied Gold, casting doubt on the Hong Kong-listed firm’s first major deal since its IPO…