Mining Focus Africa

23/09/2024

Dominic Barton speaks to a Vancouver audience. Image: Vancouver Board of Trade The world needs more mines to cope with rising demand for key energy-transition metals like copper, as mergers and acquisitions will not plug a looming supply gap, Rio Tinto group chairman Dominic Barton said. “As an industry, we’re not going to inorganic our way out of this challenge,” Barton said in a Bloomberg TV interview, referring to growth through deals....

Dominic Barton speaks to a Vancouver audience. Image: Vancouver Board of Trade The world needs more mines to cope with rising demand for key energy-transition metals like copper, as mergers […]

23/09/2024

Back in black. Stock image A new report by McKinsey’s energy and materials practice outlines a global mining and metals industry emerging from a few years of boom and bust and price fluctuations the consulting firm calls unprecedented in scale. Nevertheless, says McKinsey, the industry is in healthier financial shape compared to historical averages. From 2000 to 2023, metals and mining revenues grew by $1.7 trillion, a jump of roughly 75% and affording the industry a 70% slice of the overall materials business which also includes plastics, pulp, and building materials....

Back in black. Stock image A new report by McKinsey’s energy and materials practice outlines a global mining and metals industry emerging from a few years of boom and bust and price […]

23/09/2024

The Kazhiba Target is an advanced exploration site. Credit: Jan W. from Pixabay. Midnight Sun Mining has commenced an exploration programme at the Kazhiba Target within the Solwezi Property in Zambia. This initiative is part of a Cooperative Exploration Plan with First Quantum Minerals aimed at identifying oxide copper resources near the surface. The programme includes 3,000m of reverse circulation drilling, partial ionic leach sampling and an induced polarisation (IP) survey....

The Kazhiba Target is an advanced exploration site. Credit: Jan W. from Pixabay. Midnight Sun Mining has commenced an exploration programme at the Kazhiba Target within the Solwezi Property in […]

23/09/2024

Lusaka skyline, Zambia. Stock image. Zambian mining companies met with the government to resolve differences over a proposed legal change that would potentially give the state a bigger share of its mineral resources. Draft legislation under consideration in the southern African country’s parliament would enable Zambia to “acquire mining rights for investment by government.” The state would be able to buy a stake in an area before an exploration license was granted, and retain it after a discovery was made and the site developed....

Lusaka skyline, Zambia. Stock image. Zambian mining companies met with the government to resolve differences over a proposed legal change that would potentially give the state a bigger share of […]

20/09/2024

In a momentous move poised to redefine Africa's economic landscape, Prime Group of Companies, under the visionary leadership of CEO Karim Bouhout, is proud to announce the establishment of a $60 billion investment fund. This transformative initiative is strategically directed towards oil exploration, mining, and agriculture, sectors central to unlocking Africa's unparalleled potential. With this bold venture, PGC seeks to channel the continent's vast resources into fostering sustainable growth, responsible development, and empowerment of local economies....

In a momentous move poised to redefine Africa’s economic landscape, Prime Group of Companies, under the visionary leadership of CEO Karim Bouhout, is proud to announce the establishment of a $60 […]

20/09/2024

In line with its continuous innovation of blasting solutions, BME has developed Innovex™ 300D – a high-strength bulk emulsion explosive for challenging surface mining conditions including dynamic water. According to Dr Rakhi Pathak, BME’s Global Manager – Strategic Partnerships, dynamic water is a common issue for surface mines, and leads to various operational and environmental challenges. “When there is excessive water flow in and around blast holes, emulsion ‘run-off’ often occurs due to cracks or fissures in fractured geology,” Dr Pathak explained....

In line with its continuous innovation of blasting solutions, BME has developed Innovex™ 300D – a high-strength bulk emulsion explosive for challenging surface mining conditions including dynamic water. According to […]

20/09/2024

Our new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive with electric drivetrain combines power and innovation The new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive is the first of Epiroc’s large-capacity mine trucks to feature the latest generation electric drivetrain. Along with an upgraded and powerful diesel-engine, the hauler combines the cost-effectiveness of a traditional mine truck with the productivity of an electric one – without requiring change to a mine’s infrastructure....

Our new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive with electric drivetrain combines power and innovation The new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive is the first of Epiroc’s large-capacity mine trucks to feature the […]

19/09/2024

Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema PROPOSED ownership reforms in Zambia’s mining sector posed an “unprecedented threat” to investors’ rights, said the country’s Chamber of Mines. The Chamber was commenting in an article by Bloomberg News on recently announced government plans to establish a state-owned firm. The new firm would control at least 30% of future mines’ production of critical minerals including copper....

Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema PROPOSED ownership reforms in Zambia’s mining sector posed an “unprecedented threat” to investors’ rights, said the country’s Chamber of Mines. The Chamber was commenting in an […]

18/09/2024

Juba and Khartoum have agreed to resume oil production and export, signalling cooperation over a key pillar of their economies that had been halted after war erupted in Sudan. The details emerged after bilateral discussions between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Monday. The talks, officials said, centred on the resumption of South Sudan’s oil exports through Sudan....

Juba and Khartoum have agreed to resume oil production and export, signalling cooperation over a key pillar of their economies that had been halted after war erupted in Sudan. The […]

18/09/2024

The Linderos project is largely underexplored, with the Copper Ridge Porphyry and Meseta Gold prospects being the most advanced. Credit: Titan Minerals Ltd. Australia’s Titan Minerals on Wednesday announced plans to sell up to 80% stake in its Linderos copper project in Ecuador to a unit of billionaire Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting for up to $120 million. Under the deal, Hanrine Ecuadorian Exploration and Mining will initially earn a 5% interest in the project after a $2 million payout, Titan Minerals said....

The Linderos project is largely underexplored, with the Copper Ridge Porphyry and Meseta Gold prospects being the most advanced. Credit: Titan Minerals Ltd. Australia’s Titan Minerals on Wednesday announced plans […]

18/09/2024

Sadovnikova Olga / Shutterstock The cobalt market is facing high demand, but analysts advise that production is also on the rise. One of the metal’s main catalysts is excitement about electric vehicles. The lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles require lithium, graphite and cobalt, among other raw materials, and demand for these important commodities is expected to keep rising as the shift toward clean technologies continues at a global scale....

Sadovnikova Olga / Shutterstock The cobalt market is facing high demand, but analysts advise that production is also on the rise. One of the metal’s main catalysts is excitement about […]

18/09/2024

www.123rf.com Illegal mining is no longer just a distant issue confined to closed-off, abandoned, and operating mines; it’s creeping into our neighbourhoods, threatening both South Africa’s economy and the safety of our communities. A recent, shocking incident brought this reality to light: authorities arrested a 65-year-old man from the North West for allegedly allowing illegal miners to use a bedroom in his house as an entrance to a mine shaft at the nearby Khuseleka mine....

https://miningfocusafrica.com/2024/09/18/illegal-mining-threatens-south-africas-economy/

www.123rf.com Illegal mining is no longer just a distant issue confined to closed-off, abandoned, and operating mines; it’s creeping into our neighbourhoods, threatening both South Africa’s economy and the safety […]

18/09/2024

The latest scramble for Africa is driven by securing access to rare minerals used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for vehicles and stationary applications. The most strategic is China. According to Desmond Egyin of the Wilson Center, China currently owns 72% of the cobalt and copper mines in the Zambian and Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Copperbelt. A study by the Georgetown University Center for Security Studies found that China’s mining operations in the Copperbelt and lithium mining in Zimbabwe give the country a significant lead in semiconductor and battery production....

The latest scramble for Africa is driven by securing access to rare minerals used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for vehicles and stationary applications. The most strategic is China. […]

18/09/2024

New report on Just Energy Transition (JET) captures over 10 000 perspectives from mining communities across South Africa South Africa – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) South Africa, together with its implementing partner, Seriti Institute, is proud to announce the release of the groundbreaking report “The Just Energy Transition: From the Perspectives of South African Mining Communities”. This significant study comes at a pivotal moment as South Africa faces the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change, particularly within communities that have long supported the country’s economic growth through coal mining....

New report on Just Energy Transition (JET) captures over 10 000 perspectives from mining communities across South Africa South Africa – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) South Africa, together […]

16/09/2024

Wacker Neuson breaks new ground in South Africa with the introduction of next-generation 4-stroke rammers: BS62-4 and BS68-4 Wacker Neuson, a global leader in light- and compact equipment, is proud to announce the launch into the South African market of its latest generation 4-stroke rammers. These new BS62-4 and BS68-4 models represent a significant leap forward in rammer technology, continuing the company’s long-standing tradition of innovation....

Wacker Neuson breaks new ground in South Africa with the introduction of next-generation 4-stroke rammers: BS62-4 and BS68-4 Wacker Neuson, a global leader in light- and compact equipment, is proud […]

16/09/2024

The latest scramble for Africa is driven by securing access to rare minerals used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for vehicles and stationary applications. According to Desmond Egyin of the Wilson Center, China currently owns 72% of the cobalt and copper mines in the Zambian and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Copperbelt. A study by the Georgetown University Center for Security Studies found that China’s mining operations in the Copperbelt and lithium mining in Zimbabwe give the country a significant lead in semiconductor and battery production....

The latest scramble for Africa is driven by securing access to rare minerals used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for vehicles and stationary applications. According to Desmond Egyin of […]

16/09/2024

Ghana is one of the world’s gold hotspots. It is Africa’s largest producer of gold, and it ranks sixth globally. In 2023, 4 million ounces were produced. It is essential to Ghana’s economy, contributing around 7% of gross domestic product. However, a form of mining known as artisanal, illegal or small-scale mining has become the most popular. Though it is recognised by law as a legitimate livelihood source, evidence shows that more than 85% of small-scale mining operations still occur in the informal and illegal sector of the economy outside state regulation....

Ghana is one of the world’s gold hotspots. It is Africa’s largest producer of gold, and it ranks sixth globally. In 2023, 4 million ounces were produced. It is essential […]

16/09/2024

A delegation of Ivanhoe Mines’ senior management attending the MOU signing ceremony. Credit: Ivanhoe Mines Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) is expanding its exploration footprint into another top 10 copper-producing nation, with a view of replicating the success it has had within the Central African Copperbelt. This week, the company announced it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Zambia’s mining ministry and government for exploration activities in the country....

A delegation of Ivanhoe Mines’ senior management attending the MOU signing ceremony. Credit: Ivanhoe Mines Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) is expanding its exploration footprint into another top 10 copper-producing nation, […]

16/09/2024

File photo: Some of Zimbabwe’s biggest miners are seeking $182 million to develop 200 megawatts of locally-generated solar power, according to the head of the renewables company responsible for the projects. The agreement was signed between Grid Africa and the Intensive Energy User Group, whose members include Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.’s Zimbabwean unit, Tsingshan Holdings Group Co.’s Afrochine Smelting Pvt. Ltd and RioZim Ltd....

File photo: Some of Zimbabwe’s biggest miners are seeking $182 million to develop 200 megawatts of locally-generated solar power, according to the head of the renewables company responsible for the […]

16/09/2024

Image courtesy of Copperbelt Energy Corp. Zambia’s biggest mines are turning to a surprising power source as the copper-producing nation battles an unprecedented energy crisis: South African electricity company Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., which until March faced its own severe deficit. An historic drought has stifled hydropower turbines that Zambia relies on for about 85% of supplies. Households have power for just three hours a day....

Image courtesy of Copperbelt Energy Corp. Zambia’s biggest mines are turning to a surprising power source as the copper-producing nation battles an unprecedented energy crisis: South African electricity company Eskom […]

13/09/2024

A growing number of African critical mineral projects are adopting renewable energy solutions and signing Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) to meet their production goals. Platinum group metals (PGM) producer Northam ( for example, announced in August 2024 that it will utilize a 180 MW solar facility to power its Zondereinde PGM production site in South Africa. The solar farm is set to generate 220 GWh of electricity, meeting 15% of Northam’s energy needs using renewable energy....

A growing number of African critical mineral projects are adopting renewable energy solutions and signing Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) to meet their production goals. Platinum group metals (PGM) producer Northam […]

13/09/2024

The Marikana operation, pictured here, has been one of the most affected by Sibanye-Stillwater’s workforce cuts. (Image courtesy of Sibanye-Stillwater.) South Africa’s platinum supply has returned to pre-covid-19 levels, driven by widespread job cuts and operational recalibrations in the face of falling prices, according to data from The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC). The industry body, funded by South African platinum miners Anglo American (LON: AAL), Northam Platinum, Sedibelo Platinum Mines, Impala Platinum Holdings (JSE: IMP), and Tharisa (JSE: THA) – estimates the global industry has shed around 10,000 jobs this year alone....

The Marikana operation, pictured here, has been one of the most affected by Sibanye-Stillwater’s workforce cuts. (Image courtesy of Sibanye-Stillwater.) South Africa’s platinum supply has returned to pre-covid-19 levels, driven by widespread […]

13/09/2024

The Marikana operation, pictured here, has been one of the most affected by Sibanye-Stillwater’s workforce cuts. (Image courtesy of Sibanye-Stillwater.) South Africa’s platinum supply has returned to pre-covid-19 levels, driven by widespread job cuts and operational recalibrations in the face of falling prices, according to data from The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC). The industry body, funded by South African platinum miners Anglo American (LON: AAL), Northam Platinum, Sedibelo Platinum Mines, Impala Platinum Holdings (JSE: IMP), and Tharisa (JSE: THA) – estimates the global industry has shed around 10,000 jobs this year alone....

The Marikana operation, pictured here, has been one of the most affected by Sibanye-Stillwater’s workforce cuts. (Image courtesy of Sibanye-Stillwater.) South Africa’s platinum supply has returned to pre-covid-19 levels, driven by widespread […]

12/09/2024

A growing number of African critical mineral projects are adopting renewable energy solutions and signing Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) to meet their production goals. Platinum group metals (PGM) producer Northam ( for example, announced in August 2024 that it will utilize a 180 MW solar facility to power its Zondereinde PGM production site in South Africa. The solar farm is set to generate 220 GWh of electricity, meeting 15% of Northam's energy needs using renewable energy....

12/09/2024

Nestled on the foot of the rolling Udi Hills, which offer a picturesque backdrop to the concrete jungle below, Enugu is a city that is quietly reinventing itself. The capital of the eponymous Enugu State in southeastern Nigeria, Enugu was once a thriving coal mining hub. British colonial administrators founded the city in 1909 as a coal mining camp. Coal was extracted and exported through a purpose-built railway line to the coast....

Nestled on the foot of the rolling Udi Hills, which offer a picturesque backdrop to the concrete jungle below, Enugu is a city that is quietly reinventing itself. The capital […]

12/09/2024

Some of Zimbabwe’s biggest miners are seeking $182 million to develop 200 megawatts of locally-generated solar power, according to the head of the renewables company responsible for the projects. The agreement was signed between Grid Africa and the Intensive Energy User Group, whose members include Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.’s Zimbabwean unit, Tsingshan Holdings Group Co.’s Afrochine Smelting Pvt. Ltd and RioZim Ltd....

Some of Zimbabwe’s biggest miners are seeking $182 million to develop 200 megawatts of locally-generated solar power, according to the head of the renewables company responsible for the projects. The […]

11/09/2024

LindaMujuru/GPJ-Mining in Mudzi district, Zimbabwe. (file photo) By James Karuhanga A boom in Africa's transition minerals - those minerals that are used in technologies linked to the transition to renewable energy - is coming but some resource-rich African countries experienced only limited benefits from the continent's last commodity boom. These are some of the key messages in a new report, How Can Africa Make the Most of its Transition Minerals?...

LindaMujuru/GPJ-Mining in Mudzi district, Zimbabwe. (file photo) By James Karuhanga A boom in Africa’s transition minerals – those minerals that are used in technologies linked to the transition to renewable […]

11/09/2024

Sukari is is Egypt’s largest and first modern gold mine, as well as one of the world’s largest producing mines. (Image courtesy of Centamin.) AngloGold Ashanti is buying Egypt-focused smaller rival Centamin (LON: CEY) in a $2.5 billion (£1.9 billion) stock and cash deal that would see the South African gold miner become the world’s fourth largest producer of the precious metal....

Sukari is is Egypt’s largest and first modern gold mine, as well as one of the world’s largest producing mines. (Image courtesy of Centamin.) AngloGold Ashanti is buying Egypt-focused smaller rival […]

11/09/2024

Building a plant of any scale requires a great deal of planning and forethought and modularisation can offer a significant value solution to a construction project. The cornerstones of modularisation are high quality, accuracy, productivity, and safety as a result of off-site module fabrication in an enclosed, controlled workshop area, unhindered by adverse and hazardous environmental conditions. Given the many advantages associated with modularisation, it is often considered as the go-to for all projects....

Building a plant of any scale requires a great deal of planning and forethought and modularisation can offer a significant value solution to a construction project. The cornerstones of modularisation […]

11/09/2024

As the world pivots toward cleaner energy, with hydrogen emerging as a renewable source kingpin, Atlas Copco is stepping up its green narrative with the introduction of the new state-of-the-art H2Y hydrogen compressor. “We designed the H2Y hydrogen compressor to meet the growing demands for hydrogen mobility which is driven by the global energy transition,” affirms states JC Lombard, Business Line Manager for Atlas Copco Compressor Technique’s Oil Free Air division....

As the world pivots toward cleaner energy, with hydrogen emerging as a renewable source kingpin, Atlas Copco is stepping up its green narrative with the introduction of the new state-of-the-art […]