Gold Remains a Safe-Haven Investment – Heraeus
Gold’s safe‑haven status faced volatility in early 2026 as prices dropped following the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict, breaking key moving averages before rebounding after a cease‑fire announcement. Heraeus’ Precious Appraisal highlights an 11% increase in gold exploration spending to $6.15 bn, while noting a shift toward brownfield projects over riskier grassroots exploration. The report also details a surge in Indian silver imports—up 42% to $12.05 bn—and strong South African platinum‑group metal output despite rising diesel and electricity costs. Additionally, green‑ammonia initiatives are gaining momentum, exemplified by a 275 MW PEM electrolyser project in Québec.
PGM Price Underpin by Investment, Speculation Expected to Persist – Sibanye-Stillwater
Sibanye‑Stillwater warned that investment and speculation will continue to underpin platinum‑group‑metal (PGM) prices as macro‑level uncertainty persists. The company projects primary platinum output to fall from 6.2 million ounces in 2019 to 4.7 million ounces by 2034, with palladium supply slipping to...
Breakthrough Positions Chrome as Key Revenue Driver for Southern Palladium
Southern Palladium announced that metallurgical test work at its Bengwenyama UG2 deposit has lifted chrome recoveries to 65%, more than double the 30% assumed in its earlier prefeasibility study. The higher recovery translates to roughly 350,000 tonnes of chrome concentrate...
Heraeus, Sibanye-Stillwater Partner on Palladium-Based Glass Fibre Tech
Heraeus Precious Metals and Sibanye‑Stillwater have launched a two‑year joint R&D program to create palladium‑based glass‑fibre bushings using Heraeus’ dispersion‑hardening (DPH) technology. The effort aims to replace costly platinum bushings with cost‑efficient palladium alloys for E‑glass fibres used in reinforced...
PGMs, China’s Stockpiling Spur Mining Production Leap, Minerals Council Reports
South Africa’s mining sector posted a 9.7% year‑on‑year production rise in February 2026, propelled by a 52.3% surge in platinum‑group metals (PGMs) and Chinese stockpiling of chrome and manganese. Total mineral sales jumped 58.3% YoY to R78.6 billion (≈$4.1 billion), led by...
China's Gold Market Importance Probably Growing, Says Precious Metals Analyst
Precious‑metals analyst Jeffrey Christian says China’s role in the gold market is expanding, mirroring its broader economic rise. Record gold prices are driven by a surge in investment demand, with investors buying roughly 55 million ounces in 2025, while central banks...
PTM Mulling Partnerships with Furnace Operators to Process Waterberg Concentrate
Platinum Group Metals (PTM) is evaluating collaborations with smaller South African furnace operators to process concentrate from its Waterberg project in the Bushveld Complex. The company may stage smelting capacity, beginning with T‑Zone mining before expanding to the larger F‑Central...
Investors Increasingly Influenced by Industrial Policy and Technology Prowess, Amid ...
Management consultancy Kearney’s 2026 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index shows that despite heightened geopolitical tension, 88% of surveyed firms intend to raise FDI over the next three years. Industrial policy now ranks as a decisive factor, with 84% of investors...
Eskom Confident of Meeting Winter Demand, Minerals Council South Africa Indicates
Eskom says it can meet South Africa’s winter electricity demand, even though its energy‑availability factor slipped to 66.8% in March, below the 68% target. The utility still holds over 4,000 MW of dispatchable reserve and has reduced unplanned outages to 9,201 MW...
KwaZulu-Natal Mineral Sands Mine Powered by New Limpopo Solar Plant
A 148 MW Bolobedu Solar Farm, built by Voltia and local empowerment partners, has begun feeding green electricity into South Africa’s grid to power Rio Tinto’s Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) in KwaZulu‑Natal. The plant will slash RBM’s baseline emissions by at...
Panellists Emphasise Importance of Policy Implementation for Effective Tailings Management, ...
South Africa’s mining sector convened a Creamer Media webinar on 8 April to address gaps between robust tailings regulations and their on‑ground implementation. Panelists highlighted the urgent need for closure certificates and faster authorisation processes, noting that the Department of Mineral...
More Renewable Power for South Africa’s Platinum, Iron-Ore, Diamond Mines
Anglo American and EDF, through their Envusa joint venture, have brought 380 MW of renewable capacity online in South Africa with the Umsobomvu wind farm and Mooi Plaats solar project, and a third 140 MW wind farm, Hartebeesthoek, is slated for June...
BRICS Plus Countries Increase Gold Reserves to More than 6 000 T
BRICS Plus nations now hold over 6,000 t of gold, representing roughly 17.4% of global central‑bank reserves, up from 11.2% in 2019. Russia (2,336 t) and China (2,298 t) together account for about 74% of the bloc’s holdings, while India adds 880 t. In the...
Future of Matla Mine, Power Station Secured as Exxaro, Eskom Ink CSA to 2043
Exxaro Resources and state utility Eskom have signed a new coal supply agreement that extends the delivery of Matla mine coal to the Matla power station through November 2043, renewing a partnership that began in 1983. The contract is a...
South Africa’s State-Owned IDC to Convert Orion Loan Into Equity
South Africa’s state‑owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has converted its convertible loan into equity, taking a 23.8% stake in Orion Minerals’ PCZM HoldCo and retaining a roughly $14 million shareholder loan. The move gives IDC an effective 16.7% interest in the...