MiningWeekly.com Audio Articles

Creamer Media's Mining Weekly
  • 0.0 (0)
  • DAILY NEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY

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. 10 HR AGO

    ‘Extremely robust’ platinum investment demand expected

    'Extremely robust' platinum investment demand expected Investment demand for platinum is expected to be "extremely robust" in 2026. 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. "We've not only got the attractiveness in terms of platinum's underlying supply demand fundamentals, but we also have a very uncertain macro-political environment, and that's creating strong demand for all of the precious metals as a store of value," World Platinum Investment Council research director Edward Sterck emphasised to Mining Weekly on Zoom interview, following the release on Wednesday, March 4, of the latest Platinum Quarterly and full year 2025, with a revised forecast for 2026. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video). Bar and coin demand is set to reach a six-year high in 2026 at a time when above-ground platinum stocks have depleted to just over four months' worth of global demand. Persisting tight market conditions are pointing to considerable value volatility and price action. "I think that platinum as an investment is a very good place to be positioned right now," Sterck highlighted. Mining Weekly: What are the key factors attributing to the platinum market deficit of more than one million ounces in 2025 and the fourth consecutive deficit for the end of 2026. Why has the forecast gone from balance to deficit since your November market update? Sterck: The key change between our November update and today is really investment. So, fundamentally, for 2025 we've moved from a deficit of a little over 650 000 oz to a deficit of over a million ounces. That's primarily due to higher exchange traded fund (ETF) demand and due to the exchange stocks in the US remaining at elevated levels and not seeing the outflows that we were anticipating previously. Looking through into 2026, many of the themes that occurred last year are continuing. Again, it's stronger or more robust ETF investment demand. We're not, at the moment, projecting higher ETF demand, but we're just anticipating that we'll see less in the way of profit taking than we'd forecast before and we're also expecting those exchange stock holdings to remain stickier in the US on a continuation of trade tensions. So, effectively, the quarter of million ounce deficit we're expecting for 2026 versus what the balance market we were anticipating previously, that's mainly just reflecting on that sort of stronger and more robust investment demand environment. What is the outlook for mine supply in 2026 and what is fuelling the growth in recycling supply? Broadly speaking, we're expecting mining supplies to remain effectively flat. We've got much higher prices. The basket prices is substantially elevated from where we started 2025 but these are deep-level underground mines for the most part, and so inherently inflexible. Whilst, I'm sure the miners may wish in an ideal environment to be able to flex output to capitalise upon that improved profitability, you just can't do it that quickly. It's just a function of geology and geotechnics, and so output will remain broadly flat, and is likely to remain that way for a number of years to come. In terms of recycling supply, that's more price elastic. Effectively, if you think about the catalytic converters you find on an average vehicle, it's usually two to three with any within any exhaust system. Yet the PGM metals are not evenly distributed amongst those catalytic converters. One of them is typically more highly loaded than the others, and so those other ones, in times of low prices, are not necessarily economic to recycle and recover the metals from. With higher prices, however, they are economic, and so we're expecting more of those that supply to come through the system. What are the key areas of demand forecast for 2026? Well, it's a small change on our previ...

    14 min

  2. 23 HR AGO

    Africa's envisaged hydrogen mobility build-out detailed

    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. Last year, South Africa witnessed hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) mobility in Johannesburg when B20 and G20 top-brass were chauffeured around in Toyota FCEVs courtesy of Valterra, which provides the platinum group metals (PGM) used by FCEVs to convert hydrogen into electricity. Last month, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa held public discussions at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where he emphasised the massive energy opportunity that green hydrogen represents for an Africa with superior sun, prime wind corridors, fast-moving water and a great PGM endowment. Last week, Northam Platinum stated unequivocally that current world hydrogen developments are being under-estimated given the "incredible" hydrogen developments that Northam witnessed first-hand on a recent visit to China. This week, hydrogen compression specialist PDC Machines made a point of reminding South Africa that it was PDC compressors that enabled the world's largest hydrogen-powered ultra-heavy mining haul truck to do its rounds at Valterra Platinum's Mogalakwena PGM mine in Limpopo province in full view of Mining Weekly and the world. This reminder popped up during Engineering News & Mining Weekly's Zoom interview with Mike Ciotti, the head of product at PDC Machines, and also Dr Sakib Khan, the GM for Africa of PDC Machines. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.) It was during this interview that Africa's envisaged hydrogen mobility build-out potential began to be sketched in further detail, with PDC positioning its high-pressure diaphragm compression as a backbone of the hydrogen mobility step-up. Ciotti noted that while hydrogen is currently enjoying a policy and investment surge, PDC's involvement dates back several decades. The company, founded in 1978, initially focused on high-pressure applications for toxic gases and nitrogen. By the 1990s, as industrial gas companies began demonstrating fuel cell mobility concepts, compression requirements shifted sharply upward. Applications moved from typical 150 bar to 200 bar systems to 350 bar, and ultimately 700 bar fuelling pressures, driven by the need to increase hydrogen storage density in vehicles. Engineering News & Mining Weekly: Why do you believe that diaphragm compression is so well positioned for hydrogen applications? Ciotti: The diaphragm compressor is just naturally mated to hydrogen, because it's able to contain the hydrogen with its static seals, and it's able to attain high pressures. Some of the pressures that we see today are 700 bar fuelling stations that require up to 1 000 bar hydrogen storage, and hydrogen, being the smallest molecule, is very susceptible to leaks, so the diaphragm compressor is able to contain that well within its static seals and achieve very high pressures. FROM PILOT STATIONS TO SCALABLE HUBS According to Ciotti, hydrogen refuelling station deployment typically follows a staged approach. Early projects are small-scale demonstrations serving one or two vehicles consuming between four and ten kilograms of hydrogen a day. For this segment, PDC developed integrated systems combining electrolysis, diaphragm compression, storage and dispensing under its SimpleFuel platform. As fleets expand, compression capacity and hydrogen supply strategy evolve. In many early deployments, hydrogen is trucked in via tube trailers at pressures ranging from 180 bar to 500 bar, depending on geography. Larger compressors are then used to boost pressure to storage and dispensing levels. Scaling further introduces wide variability in hydrogen demand. Passenger vehicles typically require four to six kilogrammes per fill, buses between 20 kg and 30 kg, while heavy-duty trucks or mining v...

    8 min

  3. 2 DAYS AGO

    China's 'encouraging' hydrogen progress witnessed first-hand by Northam Platinum

    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 'encouraging' recent developments of the hydrogen economy in China have been witnessed first-hand by South Africa's platinum group metals (PGM) miner and marketer Northam Platinum. This was highlighted by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed company during last week's presentation of record production and record sales volumes for the six months to December 31. Hydrogen is now firmly embedded in the plans of the central government of China for the next 15 years, Northam CEO Paul Dunne reported at the event, where a 60% revenue upsurge to R23.3-billion was reported. "I believe the world has moved from over-estimating hydrogen to now under-estimating current development," said Dunne, who spoke of the need for more extensive China travel to further witness the emergence of the hydrogen economy, which creates valuable demand for PGMs in the form of platinum and iridium in the electrolysers that generate green hydrogen, and of platinum and ruthenium for the fuel cells that convert the green hydrogen into clean electricity that can be used to drive fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) or stationary power platforms. Regarding Dunne's observation of the need for more extensive China travel to further witness the implementation of the hydrogen economy in the Asian country, Mining Weekly put this question to the Northam CEO during the media roundtable that followed the presentation of results. Mining Weekly: What will more travel reveal when it comes to the development of the hydrogen economy in China? Dunne: You'll see something very interesting. We actually picked this up first in Japan from our customer, Mitsubishi, against the background of the many historic trade relationships between Japan and China. There are lots of these relationships so when we visited Japan, we were introduced to a Chinese company operating in north China and the company raised the topic of hydrogen. We then asked if we could pay a visit and received a very positive response. As a result, we had a hydrogen-dedicated follow-up visit and what we found was really quite incredible. It's a coking coal producing area, and the Chinese government has in recent times issued a directive that if you mine coal, you must make chemical building blocks out of the coal, similar to what Sasol does in South Africa. The process releases lots and lots of grey hydrogen for free and the north China company is using up only 1% or 2% of the grey hydrogen that it captures to run literally hundreds and hundreds of trucks on fuel cells. Very interesting, by the way, is that the fuel cells are Toyota fuel cells, and the north China company has literally created a fuel cell micro-economy in and around the grey hydrogen. We then went back to Beijing to meet the head of China's big hydrogen drive, an amazingly well-educated lady with a proper, solid PhD, who assured our new business analyst Hurbey Geldenhuys in no uncertain terms that while it was only grey hydrogen being seen now, green hydrogen is very much part of the near-term plan. Interestingly enough, Northam's seeing strong demand for iridium and that iridium demand can only really come from electrolysers that are used to split water to make green hydrogen, and that iridium demand is coming from China. Mining Weekly: Interesting, too, is that South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa last month held public discussions at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where he emphasised the massive energy opportunity that green hydrogen presents for an African continent that has superior sunlight, prime wind, fast-moving river water and a great PGM endowment. Can't PGM mining companies like Northam, which already have renewable-energy capacity, make use ...

    6 min

  4. 5 DAYS AGO

    Consensus is broadening that robust platinum pricing will continue, Northam 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. The broadening market consensus is that supply and demand fundamentals will continue to support robust pricing for platinum, and this, together with Northam Platinum's growth profile, places the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed platinum group metals (PGM) group in a strategically strong position, Northam CEO Paul Dunne highlighted during his presentation of record dividend interim financial results on Friday, February 27. Following the display of platinum gauze used to produce cardiac stents has an indication of the widespread use of this very special metal, Dunne reported that all three of Northam's mines had performed well in the six months to December 31. "Once again we've published record production and record sales volumes and significant appreciation in price for all of our metals led to a 60% increase in revenue to R23.3-billion rand," Dunne reported. Royalty charges grew by 257% on the back of higher revenue and improved profitability. Northam has continued to progress its project pipeline, in particular the development of the Eland mine, 3 Shaft project at the Zondereinde mine, further upgrades to metallurgical facilities, the expansion of the Booysendal South tailings facility, and a meaningful carbon footprint reduction. If all goes to plan, 3 Shaft will be operational in April, and displayed was the picture of a raise bore rig which has begun to ream 4 Shaft, the next component in realising full value from Zondereinde's western extension. "Incidentally, this is the largest machine of its kind in the world, and 4 Shaft will be a record-breaking raise bore undertaking," said Dunne at the event covered by Mining Weekly. "We will accelerate all of our projects as far as we are able. The world needs PGMs and primary supply continues to fall. "The benefit of our counter cyclical investment strategy is becoming very evident, and the board has declared a record interim dividend of R7 per share, indicating confidence in the market and the future of our company," Dunne pointed out, while displaying a picture of the expanded chrome recovery circuit at Eland, which was commissioned in December. This will improve chrome yields from underground ore to at least 25% and considerably more Eland chrome output is expected. Northam CFO Alet Coetzee reported that continuing investment in organic growth had led to R2.6-billion. "The benefits of the full mine-to-market value chain for chrome is clear, as is that of the historically termed minor metals, iridium and ruthenium. These together contributed 18.2% or R4.2 billion rand to our revenue," Coetzee reported. Sales revenue increased by 60% while cost of sales increased by 29.4% This led to a significant rise in our operating profit to R5.8-billion at an operating margin of 25.1%. Movements and the individual elements making up cost of sales include mining operating costs increasing by 11%. This is attributable to an 8.9% increase in square meters mined, together with an average wage increase of approximately 6.5%. Smelting and base metal removal plant costs increased by 19.8% owing to increases in both tons smelting as well as a 15.5% Eskom tariff hike. Share based payments increased from a low base to over R1.2-billion as a result of share price appreciation, while contributions to the employee empowerment trust and profit share schemes benefited from growth in profits. The total cost of purchase concentrates and recycling material increased by 130% to R3.5-billion due to metal price appreciation on higher volumes purchased. Refining cost increased by 28.1% to R267.1million on the back of higher refined six-element volumes.

    4 min

  5. 5 DAYS AGO

    Martin Creamer talks about: Gold and platinum developments

    Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses the investment decision expected on the Burnstone gold project; the Sandsloot project potentially being a significant strategic catalyst for Valterra Platinum; and gold and platinum prices consolidating in high ranges.

    4 min

  6. 6 DAYS AGO

    Turning wealth in ground into wealth for South Africa's people is a must, says analyst

    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. South Africa is at a pivotal juncture. It can choose to remain a supplier of raw commodities that enrich other countries or become a global leader in mineral-based industries, says globally rated metals and mining analyst and portfolio manager, Shamim Mansoor, who spoke to Mining Weekly in a Zoom interview. By focusing on mineral-based beneficiation, South Africa can transform its economy and solve this country's financial problems, Mansoor, who has her own consultancy business specialising in metals and mining, asserts. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video). "Beneficiation is not just an economic strategy – it's a national imperative to turn the wealth in the ground into wealth for our population," she says. The value addition envisaged includes turning platinum into hydrogen fuel cells, manganese into battery materials, iron-ore into steel, coal into chemicals, and chrome into stainless steel. But such value addition can only be realised with the support of reliable logistics, affordable and reliable energy, and efficient licensing. "These are critical to us monetising our mineral endowment and unlocking value for the people of South Africa, who continue to struggle. "We need both government and business to step up and collaborate on the optimal solution," says Mansoor while noting that mining has always been the bedrock of the South African economy, contributing to the country's GDP, and driving industrialisation, socioeconomic growth and job creation. Data published by Minerals Council South Africa for the nine months to 30 September 2025 highlights, she points out, that: Mining contributed 5.8% of total nominal GDP, estimated at R439-billion.Mineral ores and related exports contributed approximately 52% of the value of overall South African exports.Mining contributed more than R100-billion to the national fiscus in the form of corporate taxes, royalties, VAT payments, and through personal income tax payments by mining sector employees.The mining sector provided direct employment to an average of 469 765 people. This represented about 4.5% of total formal sector employment. But while mining is economically crucial, its competitiveness is constrained by rapidly increasing power tariffs, underperforming rail and ports services and bottlenecks in the licensing system. Mansoor recalls that at this month's Investing in African Mining Indaba, Eskom CEO Dan Marokane stated that Eskom now has over 98% coverage in terms of supply and demand but the exorbitant electricity cost (over 900% increase since 2008) has led to more than a dozen smelters shutting down in recent years leading to significant job losses. "In January, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa approved a 35% reduction in electricity tariffs for 12 months for Samancor and Glencore Merafe smelters. But mining by nature is electricity intensive and I believe this reduction in tariffs needs to be approved for all smelting and refining processes across the industry as ferrochrome is not the only affected process. But it begs the question how these cuts will be funded and is this sustainable. "Michelle Phillips, Transnet CEO, highlighted at the Mining Indaba that Transnet continues to face issues with asset reliability and funding. It has applied for government funding and has engaged in public-private partnerships but in her words, Transnet still has a long way to go. "In my view, whether we look at Eskom or Transnet, the issue boils down to funding. Can government step in or does there need to be public-private partnerships? I believe these two options are not mutually exclusive. We need both government and business to step up and collaborate on the optimal solution." MINERAL EXPLORATION Another significant challenge, Mansoor...

    6 min

  7. 25 FEB

    Sandsloot project has potential to 'truly move needle', excited Valterra Platinum 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. "No doubt, you're all keen for an update on the Sandsloot underground project, not only because it's genuinely exciting, but because it has the potential to truly move the needle, and here's why this project has the potential to be a significant strategic catalyst for Valterra Platinum." That was how Valterra Platinum CEO Craig Miller introduced his update on the planned new underground platinum group metals (PGM) mine in South Africa's Limpopo province. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.) The market capitalisation of South Africa's Valterra Platinum has soared to R450-billion from R300-billion at year-end with a gross final 2025 dividend of R11.5-billion being declared. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation in 2025 increased by 68%, to R33.4-billion, supported by a 22% increase in the rand basket price and R5-billion of additional cost reductions, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed PGMs miner reported on Wednesday, February 25. Net cash at financial year-end was R11.5-billion, a substantial recovery from the R4.9-billion net debt position at 30 June 2025, reflecting strong free cash flow generation, boosted by a strong second-half operational performance and increased PGM prices. Liquidity headroom of R43-billion is reflective of the strong balance sheet. Valterra is developing a high-grade underground PGM project beneath the Sandsloot pit at its Mogalakwena PGM flagship mine. This project aims to offset declining surface ore grades, with potential full production expected after 2030, pending a 2027 investment decision. Returning to the Sandsloot project, Miller went on: "Our declines begin at the base of the Sandsloot openpit, providing close access to the reef. "This substantially reduces project lead time and lowers capital intensity compared with other projects in the industry. "Unlike other Bushveld Complex reefs, its height is between 40 m and 120 m, with a 45o dip on average, characteristics well suited for bulk, underground mechanised mining. "At 4 g/t to 6 g/t, the reef is materially richer than other mechanised mines in the PGM industry. "Growth uplift is driven by higher grades, rather than increasing volumes, enabling us to leverage the existing concentrator and tailings facilities. "This approach will save us billions in upfront capex and costs", Miller emphasised at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed PGM company's dividend-rich presentation, covered by Mining Weekly. Valterra plans to commence trial mining this year, which will provide critical input to its comprehensive feasibility study now under way. Valterra CFO Sayurie Naidoo reported that discretionary capital of R4.5-billion rand was directed to Sandsloot underground development and drilling, as well as surface infrastructure and development at De Brochen. The conclusion of the prefeasibility study has reinforced our confidence in the 10% to 50% uplift in Mogalakwena PGM volumes and a 10% to 20% reduction in costs, numbers that it believes will truly move that needle. "With the scale of the opportunity in mind, over the past year, we've made great progress in bringing this closer to reality. The team has completed a further 30 km of exploration drilling, which has informed the total upgrade of 13-million ounces to measured and indicated mineral resources, which is available for future conversion to ore reserve. The underground development has advanced a further 3.2 km, while the team also successfully completed the pass for the ventilation shaft 1. Trial processing of the bulk ore stockpile is underway, which had accumulated to about 80 000 t by year-end. "We've invested about R1.4-billion rand in capex to advance the project. "I really hope that you're as excited about this as we a...

    8 min

  8. 24 FEB

    Thailand tin refiner adds to offtake agreement with Namibia tin miner Uis

    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 wholly owned Namibia subsidiary of London Aim-listed Andrada Mining, Uis Tin Mining, has added to its offtake agreement with integrated tin producer Thailand Smelting & Refining (Thaisarco). "This agreement is a result of the long-standing partnership we have built with Thaisarco, the strong operating performance we continue to deliver at Uis, and the growing demand for tin," Andrada CEO Anthony Viljoen explained in a media release to Mining Weekly. In return for exclusivity over all tin concentrate produced by Uis Tin Mining during the period of the agreement, Thaisarco will advance $3-million to Uis, which is expected to be received later this week to provide financial flexibility as Uis' operations continue to scale up. Uis has three repayment options and except in events of default, repayment is at its discretion. No interest accrues on the unsecured advance amount, and a small marketing discount is applied to future sales. The extension in the current commodity market is described by Viljoen as providing greater flexibility for Uis to capitalise on market demand as well as a demonstration of confidence in the Andrada team to achieve scale across the asset. The opencast Uis mine is located in Namibia's Erongo region. Modern applications of tin include its use in solders for joining pipes and electric circuits, food packaging cans owing to its low toxicity, window glass production, components in some lithium-ion batteries, and dental care products containing tin compounds. Earlier this month, Uis entered into a cooperation agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to accelerate the feasibility study for its lithium expansion project. Under the terms of the agreement, Andrada says, the project will benefit from technical and project development assistance through a facility funded by the EU. The scope of work is designed to advance the project to bankable feasibility level and to support Andrada's pathway to becoming a long-term supplier of lithium into global green-energy supply chains. The EIB partnership is seen as providing technical and institutional support for the lithium development strategy at Uis, which mines a polymetallic pegmatite-hosted deposit containing tin, tantalum and lithium mineralisation. Lithium mineralisation predominantly occurs as petalite and during the initial phase, petalite concentrate will be produced for the technical lithium market. In January, Andrada received up to $51-million in funding as part of an agreement with an affiliate company of investment firm ACAM to accelerate exploration and development of the Brandberg West project, also in Namibia. The agreement comprises a conditional, staged earn-in agreement whereby ACAM's affiliate, BWCAM, can earn up to 49% ownership of Brandberg West, which is currently owned by Grace Timon Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Andrada's Mauritius-based subsidiary Andrada Investments. Brandberg West is an historical tungsten-, copper- and tin-producing mine, with the investment proceeds aimed at investigating tailings recovery potential and wider exploration studies over the licence area.

    3 min
See All (52)

About

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.

Information