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  1. 9 HR AGO

    South Africa's Rand Refinery enters strategic partnership with Ghana's Gold Coast Refinery

    This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. In a major advance that enables local refining of artisanal and small-scale (ASM) gold and elevates West Africa's responsible sourcing standards to a new high, South Africa's Rand Refinery, as Africa's leading London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) good delivery accredited refiner, has entered a strategic partnership with Ghana's Gold Coast Refinery to provide technical, operational and commercial supervision. As an LBMA-accredited refinery, Rand Refinery enforces strict, audited compliance to eliminate conflict gold, combat money laundering, and ensure environmental and social responsibility throughout its supply chain. In a media release to Mining Weekly, Rand Refinery CEO Dean Subramanian hailed the signing of the agreement as a momentous occasion and declared that Rand Refinery, as the leading LBMA good delivery accredited refiner on the continent, stood ready to support the aspirations of the Ghana government for local refining, through the partnership with the Accra-based Gold Coast Refinery, which has a refining capacity of more than 80 t of gold a year and scope to grow. Gold Coast Refinery, which was established in 2016, has signed an agreement with the government-owned Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to meet responsibly mined and sourcing standards while refining up to 1 000 kg of ASM gold dore a week. The GoldBod is the sole entity authorised to buy, sell, and export gold from small-scale miners in Ghana. Subramanian expressed strong commitment to working with Gold Coast Refinery and Goldbod to implement the necessary framework and to ensure that the material sourced meets international responsible sourcing requirements. Interestingly, the Rand Refinery, which turns 106 later this year, prioritises sustainability through its "People, Planet, Product and Provenance" framework, which goes all out to ensure Africa's gold benefits local communities and reduces environmental impact. Through these strategic partnerships, South Africa's illustrious Rand Refinery will further strengthen the footprint that it has on the African continent, as the preferred refining partner that supports and enables local ASM refining while ensuring ethical sourcing and transparency. "We're committed to supporting and developing Africa's ASM sector as a key enabler of country economic growth," Subramanian emphasised in the release dated Tuesday, January 20, the day the LBMA reported at all-time high gold price of $4 747.80/oz.

    2 min

  2. 15 HR AGO

    Sasol, Valterra Platinum on board Hydrogen Council as next delivery phase takes off

    This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. In an announcement to Mining Weekly from Brussels on Tuesday January 20, South Africa's Simon Baloyi, the CEO of Sasol, and South Africa's Craig Miller, the CEO of Valterra Platinum, featured prominently as board members of the Hydrogen Council, which is one of the world's biggest CEOs-only alliances and which is now strongly emphasising the take off of its next big delivery phase. In the words of Hydrogen Council co-chair Jaehoon Chang, who is also vice-chair of Hyundai Motor Group, "we stand at a pivotal moment for the scale-up of the hydrogen industry" and second co-chair François Jackow, who is also CEO of Air Liquide, declared the words "lead, build, and deliver" as the council's new mandate, As the newest board member, Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli hailed hydrogen as "a versatile, clean energy vector that we firmly believe has the potential to drive meaningful industrial outcomes, from fostering economic growth to reducing emissions and transforming power generation", while Hydrogen Council CEO Ivana Jemelkova let it be known that "strong projects are moving forward", with this month's alone including: Kawaski Heavy Industries signing an agreement with Japan Suiso Energy to build the world's largest liquefied hydrogen carrier, with a capacity of 40 000 m3. The vessel is designed to significantly increase liquefied hydrogen transport capacity and marks an important step toward scaling international hydrogen shipping infrastructure.Uniper signing a long-term binding offtake agreement with AM Green Group for up to 500 000 t/y of renewable ammonia from India, with first deliveries expected from 2028. The agreement helps anchor one of the first large-scale supply corridors between India and Europe and supports decarbonisation across chemicals, refining, and fertiliser value chains. Partial production starting at Egypt's 100 MW renewable hydrogen and ammonia project in Ain Sokhna. This project, which is being commissioned by Scatec ASA and backed by the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, Orascom Construction plc, and Fertiglobe, is designed to supply renewable hydrogen into ammonia production for export to Europe under long-term contracts supported by Germany's H2Global mechanism.SK Innovation announcing a $300-million investment alongside the Sylvan group to scale hydrogen mobility in South Korea through the SK Hyverse platform. The initiative plans to deploy 29 liquefied hydrogen refuelling hubs and support more than 6 000 hydrogen-powered buses by 2029, targeting high-utilisation public transport applications. Meanwhile, the Hydrogen Council is focused on unlocking demand through policy action, putting in place pragmatic regulations, building out infrastructure, aligning on global standards, and fostering strong public-private partnerships, with its announcement out of Brussels following closely on the heels of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where South African President Cyril Ramaphosa positioned green hydrogen at the centre of Africa's big energy opportunity and he did so during a top-level, on-stage interface with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It also follows Miller's B20 and G20 drive around Johannesburg in a platinum-based fuel cell electric Toyota Mirai, which was fuelled by hydrogen from Sasol, dispensed by Air Products. In addition, South Africa's women-led Bambili Energy provided locally manufactured membrane electrode assemblies needed in the fuel cells that German giant Bosch provided. With BMW, these companies are all collaborating partners within a key mine-to-market green mobiity ecosystem. Interestingly, Toyota Motor Corporation is also Hydrogen Council board member, along with an alliance of 140 big-name companies that have a collective market capitalisati...

    5 min

  3. 1 DAY AGO

    Ferrochrome venture's 2025 output 63% lower, Merafe reports

    This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Ferrochrome output from the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture was 63% lower in 2025 than in 2024, Merafe Resources reported on Tuesday, January 20. Attributable production fell from 301 000 t in 2024 to 112 000 t in 2025. Contributing significantly to this major production decrease for the year ended December 31 was the venture's very low 147 t output in the last three months of 2025, which took place against the backdrop of smelter production being suspended owing to adverse market conditions. On the chrome-ore front, Merafe's attributable fourth-quarter chrome-ore production from the venture was a mere 2% lower at 222 000 t, a decrease resulting mainly from temporary equipment breakdown. Total chrome-ore production for 2025 was 932 000 t compared with 948 000 t in 2024. Meanwhile, Merafe's attributable fourth-quarter platinum group metals (PGMs) concentrate production from the venture was a 5%-higher 4 000 oz and PGMs for the year also 1 000 oz higher at 15 000 oz. The main focus of Merafe, which listed in the general mining sector on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Johannesburg's A2X, is on its 20.5% participation in the Glencore-Merafe Venture, in which Glencore has a 79.5% participation. The wholly owned Merafe Ferrochrome and Mining participates in the earnings before taxes, depreciation and amortisation of the venture. What is important to note is that South Africa's private-sector ferrochrome industry is continuing to struggle because of high public-sector electricity tariffs, which has prompted an electricity tariff proposal by South Africa's State-owned power utility Eskom to support operation at the venture's flagship lower-energy Lion ferrochrome smelter in Limpopo province. But unfortunately work is still underway to bring about economic sustainability for the venture's Wonderkop and Boshoek ferrochrome smelters in the North West province. Although beneficiation of chrome ore into the five-times higher valued ferrochrome is a job-creation cornerstone, and the closure of smelters is not good for South Africa, arriving at economically viable solutions has become a long drawn out battle in a low ferrochrome price environment. While for decades much more was made from mining the chrome ore and beneficiating it into ferrochrome product, it is now being found that more can be made from exporting chrome ore in unbeneficiated form. As reported by Engineering News in December, Eskom has signed a memorandum of understanding with the venture as well as with Samancor Chrome in a bid to finalise an electricity tariff solution that prevents the closure of additional smelting capacity, and averts the threat of widespread job cuts in the sector. What is being sought now is electricity that is cheap enough for South African ferrochrome smelting to be competitive, as well as smelter inclusion into special economic zones, and the elimination of illegal mining of chrome ore, which accounts for about 10% of exports. Taking 10% of the chrome units out of the market by stopping chrome crime would benefit the industry, which is well aware of the benefit of beneficiation. More South African beneficiation means more revenue, more jobs and less logistical pressure. Also, capital investment in the new lower-energy SmeltDirect technology that slashes power needs by 70% will be taken up if there is more industry certainty. Trade union Solidarity has expressed the belief that a win-win agreement is possible and that decisions can be made that will be beneficial to all parties.

    3 min

  4. 2 DAYS AGO

    South Africa's illustrious Cullinan diamond mine doing it again with big blue

    This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. The illustrious Cullinan diamond mine, flagship of London-listed Petra Diamonds, is not only famous for hosting the largest gem diamond but a flurry of reports is now affording sky-high status to the latest big blue diamond find at the mine. Located about 100 km north-east of Johannesburg 25 km from Pretoria, Cullinan is owned by the London Stock Exchange-listed Petra Diamonds. "The latest blue diamond recovered at the famous Cullinan diamond mine, discovered in 1902, is another rare and exceptional Type-2b stone," diamond mining luminary Dr John Bristow pointed out in response to Mining Weekly's request for insight. "The mine is famous for these stones and rare large Type-2a white stones, as for example the 3 106 ct Cullinan diamond found in 1903. "This latest exceptional blue diamond will hopefully achieve a top dollar price for Petra, who like all kimberlite diamond producers have been under considerable financial stress given depressed natural diamond prices over the past three years. "This latest stone could potentially provide much needed uplift for Petra's balance sheet if the dollar per carat value realised is in line with previous blue diamonds mined and sold from Cullinan," added Bristow, who is himself renowned for developing a unique micromineral (perovskite) age-dating technique at the Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES), Australian National University, Canberra, with Hugh Allsopp (Bernard Price Institute, University of the Witwatersrand) and Bill Compston (RSES) in the 1980s, courtesy of De Beers. Forbes reported on January 16 that experts believe that Cullinan's latest 41.82 ct blue diamond could be one of the most significant ever recovered. Highlighted by Rapaport on January 14 was the big blue diamond's significance for Petra, which has been facing challenges owing to lower demand for diamonds in the past few years. The average October price Petra received for rough, Rapaport pointed out, fell 13% to $110/ct in the first fiscal quarter that ended September 30, amid the company having drawn its $102-million revolving credit facility as of September 30. The Diamond Fields Advertiser estimated in a separate report that the big blue diamond could fetch R655-million once polished and Instagram quoted Johannesburg's third-generation diamond dealer and manufacturer of important fancy coloured diamonds Gregory Katz as saying that the discovery could be exceptional if early reports prove accurate. "As remarkable as the diamond itself may be, its impact extends far beyond the global luxury market, Only Natural Diamonds Jewelry & Watch editor Grant Mobley explained in a widely circulated January 14 newsletter. "On average, around 80% of the value generated by responsibly recovered diamonds remains within the local economies. That revenue will support jobs, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and essential social programmes. "At Cullinan, responsible production is at the centre of their operations. Petra reports that 100% of procurement spend at its South African operations goes to local suppliers, further supporting the economy. Petra also prioritises training, education, and skills development for people in the community, enabling long-term economic impact and job creation," added Mobley. In a media release, Petra described the big blue diamond as seemingly being of exceptional quality in terms of both its colour and clarity and that the company was ascertaining the preferred sales method. On the general diamond front, meanwhile, the first of De Beers' ten 2026 sales schedules is under way, with nine more to follow. Against the backdrop of ongoing diamond industry uncertainty, Rapaport's website states that the De Beers sales will take place in South Africa, Botswana and Namibi...

    4 min

  5. 5 DAYS AGO

    Martin Creamer talks about: Hydrogen breakthroughs, precious metals demand, Africa’s value chain moment

    Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses the significant new platinum-linked green hydrogen advances in the UAE and US; the demand for precious metals as fiat currency alternatives; and Africa’s fragmented mineral belts that must be turned into coherent regional value chains

    7 min

  6. 5 DAYS AGO

    2025 to 2035 decisive for Africa's new mineral wealth opportunity, say Boston execs

    This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Africa's mineral wealth has become a focal point for the clean energy transition and advanced manufacturing and coordinated action by Africa can convert the continent's mineral wealth into GDP growth, job creation, infrastructure development and greater global influence – all the things that Africa needs. But to maximise this potential, relationships with traditional and emerging trading partners must be enhanced. "Those that achieve this balance will reap the rewards," Boston Consulting Group MD and partner Tycho Möncks and Boston Consulting Group partner and associate director Mikhail Nikomarov promise in an editorial to Mining Weekly that outlines practical steps for governments to build regional value chains and global alliances to enable ongoing wealth creation. Marking an important moment for global critical mineral governance was, Möncks and Nikomarov point out, the 2025 South African presidency of the G20, when the Johannesburg Leaders' Declaration introduced the voluntary G20 Critical Minerals Framework, which encourages mineral-rich nations to move beyond raw exports to local value-addition and inclusive local industrialisation. To release maximum value at source, the framework emphasises the need for transparency, resilient supply chains, sustainable mining practices and technology partnerships. Importantly, the framework also recognises Africa's strategic role in the clean energy transition and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and commits to aligning mineral development with just energy transitions and climate resilience. "South Africa positioned itself as a bridge-builder, advocating for concessional finance, skills transfer, and regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area, while cautioning against repeating extractive models that leave producer nations trapped in "pit-to-port" dynamics that sidestep local beneficiation opportunities. "Africa Unleashed: Harnessing Africa's Critical Mineral Opportunity", the Boston Consulting Group's recently released research report, calls on Africa to streamline regulations, accelerate permitting, standardise incentive, build regional value chains, and catalyse crucial ecosystem development. Möncks and Nikomarov emphasise that forming strategic alliances with offtaker countries can secure long-term demand and gain access to concessional financing, technology and expertise. "As the world sees a seismic shift in energy and technology solutions, there is a race to secure critical minerals which form a vital backbone for economies. This has brought Africa, with its vast natural resources, squarely into focus. "Our first recommendation is not to adopt an 'either/or' approach when it comes to engagement with the major trading partners. It is easy to get drawn into a perception of a bi-polar world, but rather we need to view trade through a multipolar lens with specific strategies embracing traditional developed market participants as well as the emerging market heavyweights. "Secondly, believe that African governments need to recognise that they are in a position to shape mutually beneficial long-term relationships, balancing short-term interests with long-term sustainable transformation. Two particular areas where they can focus attention are infrastructure and skills transfer. "These are legacy issues, as in the past we have seen countries invest in infrastructure and then leave without any formal handover, limiting true transformative impact and skills upliftment. "The goal should be a long-term, sustainable partnership which catalyses a positive lasting economic and social impact on the country and its infrastructure," say the pair while drawing attention to a shift from extractive mining to beneficiation being key when neg...

    4 min

  7. 6 DAYS AGO

    Significant new platinum-linked green hydrogen advances sweeping across UAE and US

    This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week on Tuesday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa positioned green hydrogen at the centre of Africa's big energy opportunity – and then on Wednesday in the US, speakers at the Washington-based Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association webinar heralded expanded tax-benefit business structures through America's' Master Limited Partnerships as the harbingers of new sought-after US hydrogen expansion opportunity. In discussion with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the sustainability event, Ramaphosa emphasised the extent to which Africa's superior sunshine, strong wind corridors, powerful river systems, and critical minerals place the continent in a distinctive position to lead the world in green hydrogen production. In the UAE, the headlines were 'Ramaphosa touts green hydrogen as cornerstone of Africa's energy, growth future' and 'Africa is where green hydrogen can be utilised to a highly significant extent'. Meanwhile, at a solar site in US State of Florida, the New York Stock Exchange-listed Duke Energy last week demonstrated the production, storage and use of green hydrogen. That followed the Nasdaq-listed hydrogen fuel cell company Plug Power's signing a letter of intent to install a 5 MW platinum-based proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser at Sunrhyse, Hy2gen's hydrogen production project in Signes, France. Plug Power will also support the transport and distribution of hydrogen produced at Sunrhyse and continue to expand its turnkey hydrogen forklift solutions for logistics bases across the region. Interestingly, Plug Power last year installed the same megawattage PEM electrolyser for Cleanergy Solutions of Namibia to support hydrogen-powered trucks, small ships and vehicles converted on site for dual-fuel operation using hydrogen and conventional fuels. Toyota Motor North America has announced a strategic investment in First Element Fuel, which is the largest retail hydrogen fuelling infrastructure provider in California. First Element Fuel has 92 retail fuelling positions across 38 locations. Toyota and First Element Fuel aim to strengthen infrastructure for fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) drivers and bolster the hydrogen fuelling network for current and future generations of FCEVs. Fuel cell power systems company PowerCell has signed an agreement with a US data centre provider to supply two PowerCell fuel cell power systems for field validation in a data-centre application. The systems will be part of six-month to 12-month lease arrangements. In India, a hydrogen-powered train is undergoing final trials to transport tourists between Jiind and Sonipat. Powered by platinum-based fuel cells, the hydrogen-powered train will travel at a speed of up to 150 km/h. "Hydrogen will play a crucial role in India's energy transition," Indian Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi forecast after driving a hydrogen fuel cell Toyota Mirai car through central New Delhi as part of a public demonstration of Indian government commitment to green hydrogen transport. In Germany, a traditional railway line north of Berlin is pioneering a new zero-emission passenger train, powered by Ballard hydrogen fuel cells. A new hydrogen facility will be built by Enertrag in Wensickendorf to enable regional production of green hydrogen from wind and solar energy. The on-site facility has the capacity to produce up to 380 t of green hydrogen a year, with 230 t of that reserved for supplying the Heidekrautbahn railway line between Barnim and Berlin. In Austria, energy company OMV has secured funding from federal development bank Austria Wirtschaftsservice to support a 140 MW green hydrogen electrolyser plant at Bruck an der Leitha as part of a project ...

    7 min

  8. 14 JAN

    Platinum research head notes demand for precious metals as fiat currency alternatives

    This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. The Trump administration's policies and repeated attacks on the independence of the Federal Reserve are bringing into question the role of the US dollar as the global reserve currency and driving demand for precious metals as fiat currency alternatives. "Whilst gold is the primary focus as a monetary asset, demand is so strong that there is significant spillover into the other precious metals, supporting broad-based price increases. This trend looks unlikely to abate through 2026 "For platinum specifically, three years of substantial deficits have eroded above ground stocks to unsustainably low levels," states World Platinum Investment Council research director Edward Sterck. "This, in combination with robust three-way geographic competition for metal between the US, Europe and China, has resulted in a significant shortage of metal availability in international markets. "This is evidenced by elevated lease rates and strong over-the-counter (OTC) London forward curve backwardation. "Platinum's strong underlying fundamentals offer further support for the price in addition to the broader precious metals trend under way," Sterck adds in a media release dated January 13, which prompted these questions. Mining Weekly: Why should repeated attacks on the independence of the Federal Reserve bring into question the role of the US dollar? Sterck: The independence of the Federal Reserve is crucial for controlling inflation and maintaining economic stability, allowing the Fed to make unpopular but necessary interest rate decisions free from political pressure. The apolitical independence of the Fed is critical to supporting global confidence in the dollar as a safe reserve currency. Signifying the importance of central bank independence, the UK granted the Bank of England operational independence for setting interest rates in May 1997 to remove short-term political influence. Countries that have eliminated the independence of their central banks include Argentina, Russia, Turkey Venezuela and Zimbabwe, with politically forced interest rate cuts then typically resulting in periods of significant inflation and currency devaluation. To what extent is government-issued money under threat? Government issued money isn't under threat, but some are questioning the suitability of the US dollar to continue as the reserve currency of choice and the currency for around 60% of global trade. One thing in the US dollar's favour in this regard is the lack of a strong alternative. Where does platinum rank as a fiat currency alternative in your view? Being physical assets, precious metals are alternatives to fiat/paper currencies. Platinum would rank 2nd/3rd after gold. Why do you expect demand for precious metals as fiat currency alternatives to likely continue through 2026? We're only two weeks into 2026, but events to date suggest the trend will continue given US international posturing, the upcoming S232 investigation results, the USITC Russian palladium anti-dumping investigation and the US mid-term elections. And what's the big takeaway? We have a highly supportive macropolitical environment for the whole of the precious metals complex, but platinum specifically has the added benefit of strong underlying fundaments. Platinum supply and demand are relatively price inelastic, and three years of significant deficits have depleted above ground stocks to unsustainably low levels. The shortage of metal availability is illustrated by historically elevated lease rates and strong forward curve backwardation in the London OTC market. PLATINUM GROUP METAL ONSHORING The US is reportedly net short platinum group metals (PGMs) and tariff fears have led to US onshoring of PGMs beyond users and speculators amid platinum's m

    4 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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