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MiningWeekly.com provides real time news reportage through originated written & video material. Now you can listen to the top three articles on Mining Weekly at the end of each day.

  1. 1 HR AGO

    Martin Creamer talks about Prieska, climate goals and green ammonia

    Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses Glencore's plans to provide financing and an offtake term sheet for Orion Minerals' Prieska copper mine, in the Northern Cape; South Africa receiving a mention by the UN climate organisation; South Africa's R105-billion Coega Green Am

    5 min

  2. 20 HRS AGO

    Fruitful outcomes needed quickly from crucial Minerals Council, Mintek agreement

    This audio is brought to you by Astec Industries, a Global Leader in manufacturing equipment for infrastructure, including asphalt production, construction, and material processing, driving innovation and sustainability. The South African economy requires fruitful outcomes to emerge quickly from the crucial memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will be signed tomorrow by Minerals Council South Africa and South Africa's Council for Mineral Technology (Mintek). The signing of the MoU between Minerals Council CEO Mzila Mthenjane and Mintek CEO Dr Molefi Motuku takes place at a time when the private and public sectors are duty bound to ensure that as much domestic value is added to South Africa's metals and minerals at a time of worrying global disruption. It must also be demanded that the collaboration promised by this latest agreement between the private-sector's Minerals Council and the public sector's Mintek be taken to the next level transparently so that all can witness greater efficiency in the processes used to add value to South Africa's mineral endowment, the property of the South African people. South Africa's active patent development, strong extraction and processing skillsets, and the emerging adoption of advanced processing technologies across different minerals has got to be taken much further for all to see. There is no reason why South Africa cannot become a global contender of note in the field of decarbonisation at the same time. Expansion into clean-energy metals can drive sector growth and attract investment, with profit margins and export value increased by downstream beneficiation and value-addition strategies. There for the taking is the establishment of a clean new minerals energy complex with electricity provided by the sun and the wind. Even if South Africa had to quadruple the generation of renewable electricity, it is unlikely that all of it would likely be taken up - and it comes at a lower price. Moreover, the green energy provided would allow South Africa's exports to quality for premium prices and avoid the penalties envisaged for non-green products. The MoU must make South Africa smarter by ensuring that this country's mineral wealth taken to level that is higher than ever before - and this needs to be done with the utmost urgency. The modern technology that is available to use has reached a new peak and collaborative use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced digital solutions is what can be offered by this MoU so that big and small companies benefit economically. The Boston Consulting Group this week reported how companies using AI to advance decarbonisation across the value chain are benefiting. The group also presented insight into the extent to which climate change continues to increase, causing significant financial losses through the uptick in the greater frequency at which floods, droughts and wildfires are occurring. OPPORTUNITY 'RIGHT NOW' As has already been pointed out by the Minerals Council, South Africa has an opportunity "right now" to grow its mining sector for the benefit of South Africa's people amid Improved resource custodianship being able to increase mineral reserve sizes and extend he lives of mining operations. In addition, solar and wind energy can reduce operational costs and improve environmental, social and governance ratings, which can in turn attract responsible investment and enhance security of supply. Moreover, the adoption of AI, automation and digitisation can improve mining efficiencies. Collaborative research and development through the MoU as well as through the simultaneous help of universities and original equipment manufacturers can position South Africa in mining innovation. ADVANCES ALREADY MADE An exceptionally pure rare earth product has been delivered by Rainbow Rare Earths, which recovered the elements for this from phosphogypsum stacks, waste product from phosphoric acid production. Phosphogypsum availability comes about through the...

    5 min

  3. 1 DAY AGO

    Prieska copper project uplifted by Glencore's financing and offtake term sheet

    This audio is brought to you by Astec Industries, a Global Leader in manufacturing equipment for infrastructure, including asphalt production, construction, and material processing, driving innovation and sustainability. Orion Minerals' Prieska copper/zinc mine, in South Africa's well-endowed Northern Cape, has received a prospective financing and offtake uplift through the signing of a non-binding term sheet with a wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore involving financing of $200-million to $250-million and concentrate offtake for the promising Prieska asset. Prieska is the centrepiece of Orion's future-facing metals portfolio. Historically mined between the 1970s and 1990s, Prieska is one of the world's volcanogenic massive sulphide base metal deposits, with a recorded past production of 430 000 t of copper and one-million tonnes of zinc from 46.8-million tonnes of sulphide ore milled. The mine financing will be made available in two tranches, the first $40-million of which will be for the construction and startup of Prieska's Uppers, and the second $160-million to $210-million for the construction and startup of Prieska's Deeps. Moreover, up to $50-million of the second tranche may be drawn early to commence early works on the Deeps. The arrangement with the subsidiary of the global diversified London- and Johannesburg-listed Glencore, a miner and marketer of more than 60 commodities, was announced by the Sydney- and Johannesburg-listed Orion in a Stock Exchange News Service announcement on Wednesday, 17 September. Conditions precedent to funding under the facilities include Glencore completing an already commenced due diligence. Drawdown will be based on milestones for each tranche to be agreed during the due diligence process, with first drawdown targeted for November. Key offtake terms include the offtake of 100% of bulk concentrates from the Uppers for five years, 100% of copper concentrates from the Deeps for ten years, and 100% of zinc concentrates from the Deeps for ten years. The proposed Glencore funding will enable Orion to transition to producer status with a binding agreement expected over the next four to six weeks. The first tranche enables Orion to move swiftly into first production and first cash flow from mining of the Uppers at Prieska and the early drawdown of the second tranche allows Orion to commence early works on the Deeps in accordance with the Prieska definitive feasibility study (DFS), Orion CEO Tony Lennox explained in a media release to Mining Weekly. "This will allow for smooth and continuous operations as we move from the Uppers towards full-scale operations from the Deeps. In parallel with the due diligence process with Glencore, we will continue discussions with our current funding partners." The project progress at Prieska has been followed by Glencore for some time and Glencore copper marketing's Toby Spittle expressed commitment to completing the due diligence expeditiously "and seeing Prieska recommence production as soon as possible". As an early funder of the Prieska mine, South Africa's State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), expressed excitement about the prospects of advancing the project to implementation through its acting divisional executive of industrial projects and property development Rian Coetzee. "The early support provided by IDC in developing the project is key to our mandate and implementation of the project will bring significant job creation in the Northern Cape and add to the socioeconomic development of the region," said Coetzee, who added that IDC would maintain its support for the project and be part of its successful implementation. In an interview with Mining Weekly earlier this year, Lennox emphasised the closeness of Orion from transitioning to producer status. "We'll do so in a considered and detailed manner, but rest assured, we'll be producing concentrate by the end of next year," he forecast. The permitted Prieska, which last operated in 199...

    4 min

  4. 2 DAYS AGO

    Provided power costs are fixed, Chrome SA ready to be part of ferrochrome solution

    This audio is brought to you by Astec Industries, a Global Leader in manufacturing equipment for infrastructure, including asphalt production, construction, and material processing, driving innovation and sustainability. South Africa needs both a competitive mining sector and a strong manufacturing base but supporting one sector by undermining another is an unsustainable strategy, Chrome SA cautions in a comprehensive media release in which it emphasises its willingness to work with government to create a policy environment where mining and manufacturing can thrive but that this has to take place within framework of competitive electricity pricing, reliable electricity supply, and globally competitive investment conditions. Viewed by Chrome SA as an unsustainable strategy are the proposed chrome export taxes and quotas to encourage the sale of chrome ore locally and thereby revive South Africa's struggling ferrochrome smelting industry, which uses chrome ore to produce ferrochrome, a key ingredient in the manufacture of stainless steel. The members of Chrome SA are Assore, Sibanye-Stillwater, Tharisa, Valterra Platinum, Northam Platinum, Siyanda Resources, ChromTech, Pelagic Resources, Impala Platinum and Jubilee Metals. The organisation makes it clear that the chrome ore mining industry is ready to be part of a solution but only with the introduction of: competitive power tariffs that allow energy-intensive industries to compete globally;reliable power supply, underpinned by investment in Eskom's recovery and diversified new generation;regulatory certainty for self-generation and renewable projects by mines and smelters, enabling them to take charge of their own energy future; anda coherent industrial strategy that fosters both upstream mining and downstream beneficiation, without sacrificing one for the other. The decline of South Africa's ferrochrome sector, it says, is not the result of expensive chrome ore but rather the up-to-three-times-more that South Africa's ferrochrome producers are having to pay for electricity than their global competitors. "No amount of tweaking ore prices or imposing export restrictions will change the fact that uncompetitive power costs have crippled the sector. Unless electricity pricing is addressed, local smelters will remain unviable - regardless of what happens to ore exports," Chrome SA accentuates. Export restrictions, quotas or taxes would, it adds, cut into already thin margins for chrome ore mining companies, which employ more than 25 000 people, while sustaining thousands more jobs in surrounding communities through procurement, services and household spending. In 2024, chrome ore exports generated more than R84-billion in foreign exchange earnings for South Africa and curtailing exports would directly reduce foreign currency inflows as well as tax revenues, at a time when the fiscus can least afford it. Against that background, Chrome SA emphasises its willingness to work with government to create a policy environment where mining and manufacturing can thrive but only within a framework of competitive electricity pricing, reliable electricity supply, and globally competitive investment conditions.

    3 min

  5. 2 DAYS AGO

    Anglo frees ‘at least’ $5bn as it locks arms with next-door-neighbour copper mine

    Anglo frees 'at least' $5bn as it locks arms with next-door-neighbour copper mine This audio is brought to you by Astec Industries, a Global Leader in manufacturing equipment for infrastructure, including asphalt production, construction, and material processing, driving innovation and sustainability. At least $5-bilion has been liberated by Johannesburg-listed Anglo American carrying out a joint mine plan with an adjacent copper operator in South America. Becoming one are Anglo American Sur's Los Bronces mine and Codelco's Andina mine in Chile. Los Bronces is an opencast copper mine with a 30-year-plus mine life and Andina is one of Chile's oldest mines. Once relevant permits are in place in 2030, the joint mine plan will add 2.7-million tonnes of extra copper potential over 21 years. The additional 120 000 t/y of copper will come at a 15% lower unit cost relative to standalone operations, as well as minimal incremental capital expenditure. Anglo American Sur and the State-owned Codelco share the minimum $5-billion pre-tax net present value uplift equally. Interestingly, the combined 2024 outputs of Los Bronces-Andina put the amalgamated entity into the global top ten with the incremental 120 000 t/y expected under the joint mine plan elevating the merged entity into the global top five. The step change is made possible by the coordination of existing plant capacity and infrastructure. Anglo CEO Duncan Wanblad put copper at the forefront of his diversified mining company's growth ambitions through a Stock Exchange News Service (SENS) announcement, in which he described the transaction as one which is "ushering in a new chapter". "Together, we're demonstrating what's possible when two leading copper mining companies work together with a shared purpose," added Wanblad, while pointing out that without the support of Anglo American Sur's partners Mitsubishi and Mitsui copper advance would not have been possible. Codelco chairperson Máximo Pacheco placed value on the transaction being inclusive of "the voices of workers, as well as the intense effort, remarkable capabilities, and outstanding professionalism of our teams, who succeeded in reaching an agreement that had been in waiting for years". "We can now maximise the potential of the Andina-Los Bronces mining district without major investments and with significantly greater returns. This collaboration for sustainable mining will also help meet the urgent need for more critical minerals for the energy transition, in a world where copper production has so far remained stagnant," he pointed out in the SENS announcement sourced by Mining Weekly. The new jointly owned and jointly controlled operating company, the statement said, would now coordinate execution of the joint mine plan and optimise processing capacity across Los Bronces and Andina. Each party would retain ownership of respective assets, taking in mining concessions, plants and ancillary infrastructure, and each would continue to mine concessions separately. Moreover, the implementation of the joint mine plan would be guided by sustainability principles to safeguard social and environmental commitments.

    3 min

  6. 3 DAYS AGO

    South Africa's coal-to-clean funding support highlighted in UN Climate Change release

    This audio is brought to you by Astec Industries, a Global Leader in manufacturing equipment for infrastructure, including asphalt production, construction, and material processing, driving innovation and sustainability. South Africa's just transition that protects workers and communities while scaling-up renewables to strengthen energy security is being held up as an example of climate mitigation advance by the UN ahead of Paris Agreement deadlines. "International partnerships are signalling momentum, bringing together governments, public financiers, and private investors to support South Africa's shift from coal to clean energy - growing from $8.5-billion to $11.6-billion," the UN climate organisation stated in a media release to Mining Weekly on Monday, 15 September As deadlines approach for Paris Agreement countries, African governments are being encouraged to present their new national climate plans as opportunities to supercharge economies and boost living standards across the continent. "Strong new national climate plans are blueprints for stronger economies, more jobs and rising living standards, across all African nations, UN Climate Change executive secretary Simon Stiell stated in the release. "Strong plans open the door to new industries, large-scale investment, more affordable clean energy accessible to all, and more resilient infrastructure, as climate disasters hit African nations harder each year. "Africa is not just on the frontlines of climate impacts; it is also at the forefront of solutions. Right across the continent, we are already seeing massive potential and innovations which cut planet-heating pollution and build more climate-resilient economies. "Strong new national climate plans are the key to converting that potential into real-economy outcomes at scale, including the millions of new jobs they create," added Stiell, who held the portfolio of Minister for Climate Resilience and the Environment of Grenada for five years. The UN is calling on all countries to submit their new plans, formally called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, as soon as possible ahead of key milestones, including the UN Secretary General's September Climate Summit and November COP30 in Brazil. While September will be an important milestone, submissions will continue in the run-up to COP30, with each plan helping to limit global heating to 1.5 0C above preindustrial levels and protect all people, while also unlocking jobs, growth, and economic benefits. "While particular responsibility rests with the largest economies, whose choices determine the global trajectory of emissions, it is essential that every nation puts forward its most ambitious plan, both to strengthen humanity's collective response and to drive each nation's own prosperity and security," the release added. AFRICA'S EXAMPLES South Africa was positioned at the top of three Africa examples as a country with an NDC that shields working communities, amid solar and wind scaleup to assure continuous energy flow. Nigeria, cited as the second Africa example, was described as advancing a whole-of-government and society approach, linking climate action to job creation, poverty reduction, and improved energy access. More than 85-million Nigerians still lack electricity, making decentralised renewables critical. In the West African country, large-scale solar is expected to generate 33 905 direct green jobs by 2030. The micro-solar sector is already employing youth as energy officers and the Great Green Wall has restored more than five-million hectares. Interestingly, extensive mangroves also provide carbon storage and flood protection. With a population projected to surpass 400-million by 2050 and GDP already over $470-billion, Nigeria has distinctive potential to be a powerful leader in Africa's green transition. Its upcoming climate plan is being designed as a national investment strategy to generate millions of green jobs by 2035 and secure a strong share of t...

    5 min

  7. 4 DAYS AGO

    Martin Creamer talks about: Pan African, ARM, energy-saving smelting tech

    Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer notes Pan African Resources has had an excellent financial year, and is now eyeing a promising Soweto gold project; African Rainbow Minerals’s game-changing narrow-reef-cutting mining solution; and South African smelting technology that is savi

    5 min

  8. 6 DAYS AGO

    South Africa's R105bn hydrogen project advances to front-end engineering design stage

    This audio is brought to you by Astec Industries, a Global Leader in manufacturing equipment for infrastructure, including asphalt production, construction, and material processing, driving innovation and sustainability. Following go-ahead for the required renewable energy generation, South Africa's R105-billion Coega Green Ammonia project in Nelson Mandela Bay has now advanced to front-end engineering design (FEED) stage, so that construction can potentially begin in early 2027 and commissioning in December 2029. Environmental impact assessment work on all of Hive Hydrogen's 3 300 MW of renewable energy assets is now concluded, following the securing of environmental authorisation for the 1 000 MW Carissa wind energy facility, near Beaufort West, in South Africa's Western Cape province. "We're delighted," is the comment of Hive Hydrogen South Africa chairperson Thulani Gcabashe, a former Eskom CEO, whose Built Africa Group focuses on developing renewable energy projects in South Africa under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme. With 154 wind turbines, Carissa will clean energise seawater into hydrogen, the key ingredient of the green ammonia that is earmarked for export to Asia and Europe. The Eastern Cape project is now on track to begin FEED in November and conclude final investment decisions by July 2026. Requests for proposals were invited in July for a plant with a production capacity of one-million-tons plus of green ammonia a year; provision for seawater abstraction, desalination and demineralisation; storage facilities that have two 7 km pipelines for 70 000 t of green ammonia piping; a 1 430 MW solar photovoltaic cluster of nine solar farms; and 1 879 MW of wind power in two clusters of five wind farms. FEED completion, ammonia plant construction, and renewable energy generation infrastructure are focal points of the proposals requested. Hive Hydrogen backed by Hive Energy and Built Africa has been working since September 2019 on establishing a large-scale green ammonia plant in South Africa powered by renewable energy to produce one million tonnes a year. The permitting of the Carissa wind energy facility is the work of a partnership made up of Hive Hydrogen, the Coega Green Ammonia project sponsor, which is the committed offtaker, project developer AMDA Developments, and Blue Crane Environmental, the independent environmental assessment practitioner responsible for leading the environmental impact assessment process. Coega is one of Hive's three green hydrogen schemes, the other two being Albamed in Spain and Gente Grande in Chile. Meanwhile, on the global front, Hydrogen Council's McKinsey-authored global hydrogen compass reports that the hydrogen industry worldwide has committed investments totalling $110-billion for 500-plus projects that are past final investment decision, in construction or already operational. Total committed capacity now exceeds six-million tonnes a year, including an annual one million tonnes already in operation, with China leading the world in total committed investments of $33-billion and 50% of global renewable capacity. "We're seeing tangible proof of progress," McKinsey quotes Hyundai Motor Group and Hydrogen Council co-chairperson Jaehoon Chang as saying. In the US, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association member Air Products last month announced that it had successfully completed the first fill of the world's largest hydrogen sphere at the Kennedy Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in Florida. Air Products reportedly delivered more than 730 000 gallons of liquid hydrogen, more than 50 trailer loads, to fill the 90-foot sphere. The hydrogen will be combined with liquid oxygen to fuel NASA's Artemis missions. The eleventh Hydrogen Day is scheduled to be hosted by the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association on October 8 - 10/08 in recognition of hydrogen's 1.008 atomic weight. Taking part will be former US Department of...

    13 min
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MiningWeekly.com provides real time news reportage through originated written & video material. Now you can listen to the top three articles on Mining Weekly at the end of each day.

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