CSIR, Eskom, SANEDI, Coaltech Launch HELE CFB Localisation Programme
South Africa’s CSIR, Eskom, SANEDI and Coaltech have launched Phase 1 of a High‑Efficiency Low‑Emission (HELE) circulating fluidised bed (CFB) localisation programme, aligning with the Integrated Resource Plan 2025. The initiative will assess feasibility, design engineering and regulatory pathways for a pilot‑scale HELE CFB test facility. It aims to generate scientific and economic data to inform national decisions on cleaner coal technologies. Long‑term, the programme seeks to build local expertise, supply‑chain capability and skills for advanced coal power solutions.
Guinea’s Simandou to Become Largest Driver of Seaborne Iron-Ore Supply Growth – WoodMac
Wood Mackenzie projects Guinea’s Simandou mine to become the leading driver of seaborne iron‑ore supply growth, targeting about 16 million tonnes of exports in 2026 with a phased ramp‑up thereafter. After two decades of delay, the project entered execution following Guinea’s...
Kamoa-Kakula Output Guidance for 2026, 2027 Lowered; Output to Reach Above 500 000 T From 2028
Ivanhoe Mines has revised its Kamoa‑Kakula copper output guidance, lowering 2026 production to 290,000‑330,000 tonnes and 2027 to 380,000‑420,000 tonnes of copper anodes. The downgrade reflects a more conservative mine design and the impact of 2025 seismic flooding that delayed...
Proudly South African Drill Rigs without Human Intervention on Way
South Africa’s Master Drilling reported a record $292 million revenue and a near‑billion‑dollar 2026 order book, driven by its raise‑boring business which accounts for over 80% of sales. The company announced the development of fully autonomous raise‑boring rigs, targeting deployment before...
Hydrogen Set to Be Broad Demand, Strong Growth Sector, Valterra Platinum Highlights
South Africa’s Valterra Platinum says platinum‑group metals are critical catalysts for the expanding hydrogen economy, which is seeing strong global growth despite short‑term challenges. The company highlighted the role of PGMs in fuel‑cell trucks, electrolyzers and green‑hydrogen projects, while noting...
Ferroglobe May Halt Operations if Not Afforded Reduced Electricity Tariffs
Ferroglobe South Africa warned it could shut all smelters if reduced electricity tariffs are not secured by 1 April. Electricity costs have surged more than 900% since 2007, now exceeding 50% of production expenses and eroding profitability. CEO Marco Levi said...
Minerals Council CEO Reiterates Need for Coordinated Cross-Govt Policy Environment
Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane urged a coordinated cross‑government policy framework and a revival of exploration confidence to meet soaring global demand for energy metals. He highlighted South Africa’s declining mining output—11 % lower than in 1994 and a...
Global Rollout of Hydrogen Buses Advancing, World Platinum Reports
The World Platinum Investment Council reports accelerating global rollout of platinum‑based hydrogen fuel‑cell buses. New Flyer has secured 500 fuel‑cell engines (50 MW) for its Xcelsior CHARGE FC buses, while Portugal’s CaetanoBus is delivering 12 buses and building green‑hydrogen production and...
Middle East Crisis Underlining Relevance of Supply Strength of South Africa’s Omnia
Omnia, a Johannesburg‑listed group, is leveraging its extensive ammonia‑based emulsion, explosives and fertilizer capabilities to shield South African mines and farms from the current Middle‑East supply‑chain shock. The company runs 200 dedicated rail tankers and large storage assets, giving it...
Panel Mulls Solutions to Better Coordinate Gas Development in South Africa
A panel of South African gas experts warned that the country’s gas development process is fragmented, jeopardizing the transition to reliable baseload power as renewable capacity expands. They highlighted the imminent "gas cliff" for industrial users and stressed the need...
Mintek’s Drive to Clean, Recover and Reuse Every Drop of Water
South Africa’s research agency Mintek has made water treatment a strategic priority, launching advanced technologies to tackle acid‑mine drainage and contaminated wastewater from the mining sector. Pilot projects such as the SAVMIN process in Randfontein, the cloSURE biological system in...
Glencore Merafe Confirms Counter Proposal to Eskom’s ‘Unworkable’ 62c/kWh Conditions
Glencore Merafe has lodged a final counter‑proposal to Eskom over the utility’s 62 c/kWh (≈ $0.03/kWh) tariff, labeling the attached conditions as commercially unworkable. The venture highlighted that the proposed five‑year contract, dividend restrictions, and take‑or‑pay clauses would jeopardise the viability of...
More Steps Being Taken to Advance Promising South African Uranium/Gold Endowment
Neo Energy Metals announced negotiations with Sibanye‑Stillwater to obtain unrestricted access to the New Beisa Complex, a combined uranium‑gold site in South Africa’s Free State and Northern Cape. The company aims to restart mining at the former Beatrix 4 shaft and target...
Platinum Group Metals and Chrome Mining Company Enhances Trade Finance Facilities
Tharisa, a dual‑listed mining and metals group, has secured new trade‑finance facilities totaling $60 million from HSBC and Absa. The revolving facilities, including a $15 million accordion, replace more restrictive financing and cover both pre‑ and post‑shipment needs. The funding enhances working‑capital...
Business Entities Outline Risks Middle East Conflict Poses for South Africa
The escalation of the Middle East conflict is expected to ripple through the global economy, pressuring South Africa’s fuel costs, inflation and exchange rates. Business Leadership South Africa’s CEO Busi Mavuso warns that higher diesel prices will strain the mining...
Mkango Remains Confident of Songwe, Puławy Assets’ Positive Economic, Social Impact
Mkango Resources released an updated definitive feasibility study for its Songwe Hill rare‑earth mine in Malawi and a prefeasibility study for a rare‑earth separation plant in Puławy, Poland. The Songwe project forecasts 5,954 t/y of total rare‑earth oxides over an 18‑year...
Ghana’s Parliament Ratifies Atlantic Lithium’s Ewoyaa Mining Lease
Ghana’s Parliament has formally ratified Atlantic Lithium’s Ewoyaa mining lease, granting the company exclusive rights to develop a lithium mine and processing plant. The 15‑year lease, renewable under Ghanaian law, incorporates the new 2025 royalty regulations, aligning fiscal terms with...
Canada’s Manganese Demo Plant in Joburg Gets Extra Funding From South Africa’s IDC
Giyani Metals received an additional R29.9 million from South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), raising its loan facility to R264.3 million and total possible financing to R329.9 million. The funding supports the high‑purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) demonstration plant in Johannesburg, now extended...
More Gold Mining Approvals Have Been Secured by West Wits
West Wits Mining announced that additional gold‑mining permits have been granted for its Qala Shallows project near Johannesburg, reinforcing a 17‑year, $1.15 billion contribution to South Africa’s economy. The company highlighted a clear growth plan, targeting 70,000 ounces of gold per...
Northern Cape Sun Providing 240 MW of Power to Platinum, Diamond, Iron-Ore Mines
South Africa’s Mooi Plaats solar photovoltaic project has entered commercial operation, delivering 240 MW of renewable electricity to Anglo‑American‑owned platinum, diamond and iron‑ore mines. The venture is part of Envusa Energy, a joint Anglo American‑EDF partnership, and marks the first of...
Botswana Minerals Reports Significant Exploration Progress
Botswana Minerals announced major exploration progress, securing eight copper‑focused prospecting licences covering about 7,000 km² in north‑west Botswana. The licences result from the company’s AI‑driven analysis of its extensive 95,000 km² geoscientific dataset, which includes over 375,000 line‑km of airborne and ground...
Harena Signs Exclusivity Agreement to Acquire US Rare Earth, Uranium Permits
Harena Rare Earths has signed an exclusivity agreement to evaluate buying 100% of Paradigm Critical Minerals, which holds heavy‑rare‑earth and uranium exploration permits in San Bernardino County, California. The assets boast historic drilling that returned up to 2 % total rare‑earth oxide...
Mintek Spearheading Rare Earth Elements Recovery From Discard Coal, Fly Ash
South Africa’s state‑owned Mintek is leading a research programme to extract rare‑earth elements and other critical metals from discard coal and coal‑fly‑ash waste. By redesigning its hydrometallurgy process, the team sidesteps the silica‑dissolution issue that previously halted REE recovery. Funding...
Renewables-Battery Scenario Proposed for Saving Ferrochrome While Sustaining Eskom and Reform ...
A joint analysis warns that South Africa’s ferrochrome sector faces collapse as Eskom’s 62 c/kWh tariff threatens profitability. The paper proposes a 8 GW solar PV plus 2 GW/24 GWh battery storage solution, requiring R157 billion in capital, with a R77 billion government subsidy to achieve...
Glencore Raises Hope of Reviving Rio Tinto Deal as Coal Prices Turn
Glencore CEO Gary Nagle sees the recent 26% jump in coal prices as a catalyst to revive talks with Rio Tinto on a $240 billion mega‑merger that previously stalled over valuation disputes. The surge has boosted Glencore’s share weight in a potential...
Creamer Media Marks 45 Years of Independent Engineering and Mining Journalism
Creamer Media celebrates its 45th anniversary, marking four and a half decades of independent engineering and mining journalism. Founded in 1981 by Martin and Veronica Creamer, the Johannesburg‑based publisher has grown to about 48 employees and a global specialist audience....
TRIM Invites Private Firms to Bid to Operate Three Rail Sidings for Ten Years
South Africa's Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has issued requests for proposals to privately operate and invest in three rail sidings—Klaserie, Krugersdorp and Ngagane—for ten‑year terms. The RFPs require bidders to fund refurbishments, loading facilities, security and access upgrades while...
Brazil Project a ‘Major Opportunity’ to Replicate Rainbow’s South African Successes
Rainbow Rare Earths announced an economic assessment for its Uberaba project in Brazil, partnering with US fertilizer giant Mosaic to extract rare‑earth elements from phosphogypsum waste. The study projects a post‑tax NPV of $916 million, a 45% IRR, $217 million annual EBITDA...
Merafe Reports Big Drop in Revenue, HEPS on Idled Smelters
Merafe Resources posted a 31% revenue decline to R5.84 billion and a 72% drop in headline earnings per share, down to 12.2 c, for the year ended 31 December 2025. The downturn was driven by a complete shutdown of its ferrochrome smelters in Q2 2025,...
Minerals Council Suggests Tariff Methodology, Costs as Next Focus for Eskom
The Minerals Council South Africa praised Eskom for achieving a 68.5% energy availability factor, above the 68% target, but warned that the utility’s tariff methodology, legacy diesel contracts, and rising wage costs could push electricity prices beyond inflation. The council...
MQA Celebrates Its Thirtieth Anniversary
South Africa’s Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) marked its 30th anniversary, highlighting three decades of coordinating training and learnership programmes for the mining sector. Between 2003/4 and 2024/25, the MQA delivered nearly 460,000 beneficiary completions and allocated roughly R12 billion in discretionary...
JSE Censures Mantengu for Not Disclosing 2023 Confidential Information Leak
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has issued a public censure against mining investment firm Mantengu for failing to publish a cautionary announcement after a price‑sensitive acquisition offer was leaked in 2023. The breach stems from WhatsApp messages that revealed the...
Miners Urged to Improve Balance Between Being a ‘Great’ Company and an Attractive ...
Boston Consulting Group’s new report argues miners must balance being a strong operator with delivering attractive shareholder returns. Over the past decade, mining firms have doubled free‑cash‑flow to $80‑90 billion, cut net‑debt to 9 % and shifted capital from capex to dividends....
Lucara Posts Lower 2025 Revenue, Says Additional Funding Required
Lucara Diamond reported a 22% drop in 2025 revenue to C$159.7 million and net income falling to C$26.1 million as it advanced the Karowe underground expansion in Botswana. The company completed the 776 m production and 729 m ventilation shafts, but the updated feasibility...
Construction at Longonjo on Track for First Production in 2027
Pensana reports that construction at its Longonjo rare‑earth project in Angola is on schedule, targeting first production in 2027. The initial phase will deliver 2,400 t of light‑magnet NdPr and 73 t of heavy‑magnet DyTb annually, with plans to double output after...
Air Liquide Invests R100m in Wits – South Africa Hydrogen Localisation Initiative
Air Liquide South Africa is committing R100 million to launch the Wits‑South Africa Hydrogen Localisation Initiative (Wits‑SAHLI), a modular pilot hydrogen plant on the University of the Witwatersrand campus. The facility will feature a 110 kW electrolyser, 200 kg hydrogen storage and a...
Jupiter Delivers Good Interim Results as Exxaro Transaction Advances
Jupiter Mines posted a half‑year profit after tax of $16.19 million, driven by strong cash‑flow generation at its Tshipi manganese mine, which produced 1.7 million tonnes of ore, including 1.4 million tonnes of high‑grade material. Production costs fell to $2.25 per dry metric...
AECI Grows Ebitda, Ebitda Margin; to Invest in Plants and Equipment in 2026
AECI reported a record R3.4 billion EBITDA and an 11% margin despite a 4% drop in revenue to R32.1 billion. The company completed most non‑core asset disposals, generating R2.2 billion and cutting net debt to R465 million from R3.74 billion. Earnings per share turned positive,...
Aluminium Poised to Support Low-Carbon Future, Support Energy Transition
South32 COO Noel Pillay highlighted aluminium as a cornerstone of the low‑carbon transition, emphasizing its lightweight, durable and fully recyclable nature. The South African government has classified the sector as strategic, granting Hillside Aluminium a preferential electricity tariff through Eskom...
Sylvania Posts Healthy Financials on the Back of Higher Production, Prices
Sylvania Platinum posted a 110% year‑on‑year jump in net revenue to $99.8 million for the six months to 31 December, driven by a 25% rise in 4E PGM production and a 55% increase in basket prices. Adjusted EBITDA surged 414% to $51 million...
Illegal Mining Remains a Nationally Coordinated Organised Crime Threat, SAPS Tells ...
South African Police Service warned that illegal mining has resurged, becoming a coordinated organized‑crime threat across Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, Northern Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal. Syndicates are re‑occupying abandoned shafts, using heavy equipment and engaging in armed clashes while expanding chrome...
Sasol to Begin Reducing External Coal Purchases as Destoning Plant Raises Quality
Sasol’s newly operational destoning plant at Twistdraai has reduced coal impurity to about 12% sinks, enabling the company to shift from external purchases toward higher‑quality internal supply. The firm aims to lift internal coal output to 28‑30 million tonnes in FY2026...
Both Gold, Platinum Prices Consolidating in High Ranges
Gold prices have entered a consolidation phase, closing the week of Feb 20 at $5,067 per ounce, while a stronger dollar presents short‑term pressure. Ghana’s gold output rose to 187 t in 2023, positioning it as Africa’s top producer and potentially the...
Gemfields Earns $53m From February Ruby Auction
Gemfields generated $53 million from its mixed‑quality rough ruby auction held 9‑20 February, selling 121 of 135 lots (90%) and 189,620 carats of the 214,509 offered (88%). The auction achieved an average price of $279 per carat, underscoring strong demand for fine‑quality...
AngloGold’s Earnings Benefit From Strong Production Growth
AngloGold Ashanti reported record free cash flow of $2.9 billion for 2025, driven by a 16% rise in gold production to 3.1 million ounces and a 45% increase in average gold price to $3,468 per ounce. The company declared an interim dividend...
DRDGOLD Capitalises on Gold Price Despite Lower Production
DRDGOLD reported a 33% revenue increase to R5.05 billion for the six months ended 31 December 2025, driven by higher gold prices. The company sold 2,388 kg of gold, with the average price per kilogram jumping 43% to R2.11 million. Strong cash generation enabled disciplined...
South African Govt ‘Very Supportive, Great to Work with’, Glencore Highlights
Glencore reported 2025 earnings of $13.5 billion, driven by strong copper and zinc markets. CEO Gary Nagle praised the South African government as "very supportive" and "great to work with," extending beyond ferrochrome negotiations. The mining giant highlighted that the collaborative...
Report Labels Unbundling of Eskom as ‘Most Important Economic Reform Since 1994'
A South African Energy Traders Association (SAETA) report declares the unbundling of Eskom Holdings the most consequential economic reform since the end of apartheid in 1994. The study, titled “Policy to power: 10 actions to deliver green, accessible and secure electricity,”...
Iron-Ore Output Growth on the Horizon for BHP in Australia, Brazil
BHP, the world’s lowest‑cost major iron‑ore producer, logged 134 million tonnes in the first half of 2025, a modest 2% year‑on‑year rise. The increase reflects steady output from its flagship operations in Australia and Brazil, reinforcing iron‑ore’s role as a earnings...
Copper Becomes BHP’s Biggest Earnings Driver
BHP has lifted its 2026 copper production guidance to 1.9‑2.0 million tonnes, reflecting robust output at its flagship Escondida mine and solid contributions from Chilean and South Australian assets. The upgrade positions the mining giant to capture upside from rising copper...