Ilan Solomons

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Ilan Solomons

Ilan Solomons is a Creamer Media Contributing Editor for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Email: newsdesk@engineeringnews.co.za

Govt, NGOs, industry combining to fend off acid mine water threat

10th November 2017 Acid mine drainage (AMD) is regarded as one of the greatest environmental challenges ever faced by South Africa, says Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) mine water management chief director Marius Keet. During a recent seminar on the need to rehabilitate mine-contaminated ecosystems, he... →

Govt, NGOs and industry joining forces to fend off acid mine water threat

10th November 2017 Acid mine drainage (AMD) is regarded as one of the greatest environmental challenges ever faced by South Africa, says Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) mine water management chief director Marius Keet. During a recent seminar on the need to rehabilitate mine contaminated ecosystems, he... →

Photo by Creamer Media image
IDENTIFYING THREATS Risks posed by acid mine drainage include damage to the natural and built environment, including world heritage sites and the flooding of mines, thereby sterilising reserves

Zambian chamber lauds Chile as model of what mining can achieve with the right policies

10th November 2017 A two-person team from Chile’s mining industry recently visited Zambia and met with the Zambian Chamber of Mines (ZCM), the Presidency, the Zambia Revenue Authority’s Mineral Value Chain Monitoring Project and Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings. The ZCM believes that Zambia can... →

Photo by Codelco
LONG-TERM VISION Chile place’s great emphasis on due process and the rule of law, when it comes to their mining industry; even where it might not be to the country’s short-term benefit

Miners urged to take heed of Natural Capital Protocol framework

10th November 2017 The recently released Natural Capital Protocol promises to give business a new appreciation of the ecosystem services on which they rely, states independent engineering and scientific consultancy SRK Consulting. The protocol was developed by a global multi-stakeholder group representing business,... →

Photo by SRK Consulting
PAUL JORGENSEN Sustainability practices in mining are increasingly being incorporated into these value chain approaches to risk management

Call for better understanding of trackless mobile mining equipment regulations

10th November 2017 Mechanisation of the South African mining sector is a major priority for all stakeholders. However, with the introduction of mechanised mining technologies come several new challenges, one of which relates to the brakes and in-service brake testing of trackless mobile mining (TMM) equipment, says... →

Photo by Creamer Media image
DANIE BURGER There are currently a number of problems relating to the standards for the testing of brakes and in-service brake testing of trackless mobile mining equipment

Zim mine produces first battery grade lithium carbonate

10th November 2017 Junior miner Prospect Resources has produced battery grade lithium carbonate from its Arcadia petalite project, in Zimbabwe, the company announced last week. The lithium carbonate with a purity 99.5% was produced in the company’s custom laboratory, Kwekwe, in Zimbabwe. →

Photo by Prospect Resources
LIKING FOR LITHIUM The lithium carbonate with a purity 99.5% was produced in Prospect Resources’ custom laboratory, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe

Mkango pushes forward with research programme, upbeat about Malawi prospects

3rd November 2017 Dual-listed Mkango Resources is upbeat about its research on the development of neodymium iron boron alloys, which are “critically important” for environment-friendly sectors, such as that of electric vehicles, states CEO Will Dawes. Mkango has started Phase 2 of its research and development... →

Caption: NEODYMIUM ALLOY POWDER Mkango and Metalysis are jointly researching, developing and commercialising neodymium iron boron alloy powders for use in permanent magnets

Amplats reports tame quarter, revises guidance downwards

3rd November 2017 Platinum mining company Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) reported last week that total platinum production (expressed as metal in concentrate) for the three months ended September 30, was flat at 621 400 oz. The company noted that there were strong performances from its Mogalakwena, Unki and... →

Photo by Anglo American Platinum
MOGALAKWENA MINE, LIMPOPO Strong performances from Mogalakwena, Unki and Union mines in the third quarter, were partially offset by reduced production from the joint venture Bokoni mine

Elandsfontein mine to assist in alleviating West Coast water challenges

3rd November 2017 Emerging miner Kropz’s Elandsfontein phosphate mine, near Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape plans to supply the drought stricken West Coast region with additional clean water, while offsetting its own water-use over the course of the next three years. The project is located on land adjacent to... →

Photo by Creamer Media image
SEEKING TO BE MISERLY Kropz has revised down its water-use requirements to 1.6 megalitres a day and it is the company’s intention to further revise this down to 1 meglitres a day

Continued unrest at Elikhulu threatens to ‘adversely impact’ on project, warns Pan African

3rd November 2017 South African precious metals miner Pan African Resources has strongly condemned the protest action by some community members at the company’s Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant project, within the Evander gold mine complex, in Mpumalanga, warning that the unrest threatens to disrupt... →

Photo by Pan African Resources
ELIKHULU TAILINGS RETREATMENT PROJECT To date, the project has created business opportunities for about 40 local and community businesses, with this number set to rise in the near future

Zim project produces first known battery grade lithium carbonate in Southern Africa

31st October 2017 Junior miner Prospect Resources has produced battery grade lithium carbonate from its Arcadia petalite project, in Zimbabwe, the company announced on Tuesday. The lithium carbonate with a purity 99.5% was produced in the company’s custom laboratory, Kwekwe, in Zimbabwe. →

Photo by Prospect Resources
The lithium carbonate with a purity 99.5% was produced in Prospect Resources’ custom laboratory, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe

CuDeco reports Sept quarter results

31st October 2017 Queensland copper miner CuDeco earned a positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of $3.3-million, gross revenue of $39.8-million and a net revenue of $30.8-million during the three months to September 30, the company reported on Tuesday. CuDeco noted that its... →

Reviewed Central Eyre mine plan speeds up production timetable, cuts capital costs

31st October 2017 ASX-listed Iron Road on Tuesday announced that a review of the mine plan of its Central Eyre iron-ore project (CEIP), in South Australia, had identified lower upfront capital requirements and that it had accelerated the project’s ore extraction. The review, conducted by Thiess-RWE, focused on... →

Photo by Iron Road
The mine plan review focussed on opportunities relating to early ore access and mine establishment costs

Sylvania dump production down 8% in Q1

30th October 2017 Platinum group metals (PGMs) processor Sylvania Platinum’s Sylvania Dump Operations (SDO) produced 16 589 oz of PGMs in the quarter to September 30 – an 8% decrease on the previous quarter's output of 17 954 oz. Commenting on the results on Monday, Sylvania CEO Terry McConnachie said the decrease... →

Photo by Sylvania Platinum
Yearly production is still expected to meet the full year 2018 forecast of 70 000 oz, which is outlined in the company’s annual report

First indigenous tree species planted on West Rand sand dump

27th October 2017 Local environmental watchdog the Federation for Sustainable Environment (FSE) planted the first indigenous trees, namely Ziziphus mucronatas, which are commonly known as Buffalo Thorns, on the rehabilitated footprint area of Sand Dump 20 in Randfontein, on the West Rand, earlier this month. The... →

Photo by Federation for Sustainable Environment
REINVIGORATING NATURE Sand Dump 20 was alleged to be the ‘largest man made sand dump worldwide’ and had been a significant source of dust fallout and water pollution

AMCU scoffs at allegations of orchestrating killings, tribalism

27th October 2017 The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has rejected recent multiple allegations made by media houses that the trade union is orchestrating killings on South Africa’s Platinum Belt, in particular at platinum producers Impala Platinum and Lonmin, and that it engages in... →

Photo by Duane Daws
JEFFREY MPHAHLELE In relation to the killings the leadership of AMCU has been ‘extremely pained and traumatised’ by what has been taking place

BME claims world record for most electronic detonators fired in single blast

27th October 2017 Johannesburg-headquartered explosives and services supplier BME says it has broken the world record for the most electronic detonators fired in a single blast. This was achieved in conjunction with its client Kansanshi Mining at its Kansanshi operation, in North-Western province, in Zambia.... →

Photo by BME
EXPLOSIVE EXCELLENCE The blast was conducted in the main pit of Kansanshi and involved 6 690 electronic delay detonators that were initiated using BME’s Axxis digital initiation system

Enviro lobby group takes emerging miner to court over phosphate mine’s water-use licence

27th October 2017 Emerging miner Kropz has warned that the West Coast Environmental Protection Association’s (WCEPA’s) application to have the water-use license (WUL) for Kropz’s Elandsfontein phosphate mine, near Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape, suspended, would, if successful, cause “irreversible environmental... →

Photo by Creamer Media image
IN THE CROSS HAIRS Kropz is opposing WCEPA’s application, stating that according to legal advice, the bid to have Elandsfontein’s water-use license revoked has ‘no grounds’

Mine.D hackathon seeks to ensure health and safety in mining sector

26th October 2017 The Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in collaboration with open innovation firm RIIS, will host the Mine.D hackathon from November 3 to 5, at the precinct, which is located in Braamfontein, in Johannesburg. The precinct, a project managed by the University of the Witwatersrand, is used... →

Photo by University of the Witwatersrand
MINE.D HACKATHON The hackathon will be focused on mixed reality and the Internet of Things and will focus on improving the health and safety practices in the mining sector

Pan African warns ‘rogue elements’ threatening development of Elikhulu

25th October 2017 South African precious metals miner Pan African Resources has strongly condemned the protest action by some community members at the company’s Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant project, within the Evander gold mine complex, in Mpumalanga, warning that the unrest threatens to disrupt... →

Photo by Pan African Resources
Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant project, within the Evander gold mine complex, in Mpumalanga

Mixed fortunes for Anglo’s copper, coal and nickel divisions

24th October 2017 Diversified major Anglo American recorded increases in production at its copper units, while coal and nickel production decreased in the third quarter, ended September 30. The company on Tuesday posted a 6% year-on-year increase in production on a copper-equivalent basis in the third quarter of... →

Photo by Bloomberg
For the first nine months of the year, copper equivalent production increased by 8%, while copper production increased by 5% to 147 300 t

Amplats reports flat Q3 production numbers, revises guidance downward

24th October 2017 Platinum mining company Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Tuesday reported that total platinum production (expressed as metal in concentrate) for the three months ended September 30, was flat at 621 400 oz. The company noted that there were strong performances from its Mogalakwena, Unki and... →

Photo by Anglo American Platinum
Anglo American Platinum's Mogalakwena platinum mine in Limpopo

Softening demand, unrelenting supply key causes of platinum price weakness

20th October 2017 The weakness in platinum prices has been driven primarily by softening fabrication demand fundamentals and a lack of commensurate reductions in supply to offset those weaker demand fundamentals, states New York-based research and consulting firm CPM Group. The company notes that one of the... →

LOSING FAVOUR There has been a growing negative sentiment in Europe toward diesel vehicles, which use platinum intensive catalysts

Digital transformation necessary to improve productivity in mining – EY

20th October 2017 The current digital disruption that is occurring worldwide and upending industries, has resulted in a digital disconnect – a gap between the potential that digital transformation has and the reality of a track record of unsuccessful implementations – in the mining and metals sector, states... →

DIGITAL IMPERATIVE Digital transformation in the South African mining sector will be a critical enabler to addressing the industry’s productivity and margin challenges

General uptick in West Africa mining as commodity prices improve

20th October 2017 There have been a number of recent positive developments in West Africa’s mining industry, such as in Mali, where two new mines are scheduled to be commissioned by the end of this year. This is according to engineering and scientific consultancy SRK Consulting Ghana country manager John Kwofie,... →

Photo by SRK Consulting
JOHN KWOFIE SRK has been engaged in aspects of iron-ore projects in Cameroon, bauxite in Guinea and diamonds in Sierra Leone and Guinea in recent years

Chamber of Mines championing rooftop agriculture in Joburg inner city

20th October 2017 The Chamber of Mines (CoM) hosted the launch of the Urban Agriculture Initiative, last week, which is aimed at creating a vibrant urban agricultural ecosystem by “innovatively” repurposing disused rooftops and making use of hydroponics and aquaponics to produce agricultural produce for... →

Photo by Chamber of Mines
URBAN AGRICULTURE The Chamber of Mines is participating in and has funded a pilot project to assess the feasibility of growing herbs and vegetables on the rooftops

Miner defends Western Cape phosphate project, highlights its importance

19th October 2017 Emerging miner Kropz has warned that the West Coast Environmental Protection Association’s (WCEPA’s) application to have the water-use license (WUL) for Kropz’s Elandsfontein phosphate mine, near Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape, suspended, would, if successful, cause “irreversible environmental... →

Economist warns of consequences of low growth, potential tax hikes

18th October 2017 It is well known that the South African economy is having serious growth challenges, which is unlikely to improve over the next three years, with best estimates that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by just 2% during this period. This is according to financial services company... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Citibank South Africa chief economist Gina Schoeman

Self-starters share secrets to success in the South African mining sector

13th October 2017 There are many ways for entrepreneurs to enter the mining industry, including as project developers, service providers and product suppliers – all of which hold great opportunities and challenges, states mining investment advisory company MX Mining Capital Advisors director Dr Mike Seeger. The... →

Zim coal miner posts revenue decline but operating loss narrows

13th October 2017 Zimbabwe coal mining and exploration company Hwange Colliery Company (HCC) recorded a 23% year-on-year decline in revenue for the six months to end June, it reported last month. The company’s revenue stands at $18.8-million, which is substantial decline from the $24.5-million recorded during the... →

HWANGE COLLIERY, ZIMBABWE The company’s revenue stands at $18.8-million, which is substantial decline from the $24.5-million recorded during the same period last year

Canyon Coal optimistic about local mining industry despite headwinds

13th October 2017 Despite current policy uncertainty relating to the implementation of Mining Charter 3 and a struggling South African economy having adverse effects on the local mining industry, South African junior coal mining company Canyon Coal is buoyant about the future. The company’s management has adopted... →

Photo by Duane Daws
GROWTH AMBITIONS Canyon aims to graduate to a midtier coal miner by 2020, as it ramps up production from 3.6-million tons of coal a year to 10-million tons a year

Self-starters share secrets to success in the South African mining sector

13th October 2017 There are many ways for entrepreneurs to enter the mining industry, including as project developers, service providers and product suppliers – all of which hold great opportunities and challenges, states mining investment advisory company MX Mining Capital Advisors director Dr Mike Seeger. The... →

Photo by Ilan Solomons
DREAM FULFILLED The opening of the Assen iron-ore mine, in the North West, earlier this year is the realisation of Matodzi Nesongozwi’s life goal of owning his own mining operation

CoM shows off potential of rooftop agriculture in Johannesburg inner city

11th October 2017 The Chamber of Mines (CoM) on Wednesday hosted the launch of the Urban Agriculture Initiative, which is aimed at creating a vibrant urban agricultural ecosystem by “innovatively” repurposing disused rooftops and making use of hydroponics and aquaponics to produce agricultural produce for... →

Photo by Chamber of Mines
The Chamber of Mines is participating in and has funded a pilot project to assess the feasibility of growing herbs and vegetables on the rooftops

Altus sets out intention to buy Legend Gold

11th October 2017 Africa-focused exploration project generator Altus Strategies has signed a nonbinding letter of intent to buy gold exploration company Legend Gold Corp – a TSX-V-listed company with a portfolio of gold projects in Mali. Aim-listed Altus plans to acquire a 100% interest in Legend and is offering... →

Photo by Legend Gold Corp
The Diba gold resource, on the Korali Sud licence, includes intersections of 5.36 g/t gold over 13 m and 13.88 g/t gold over 8 m

Kenmare buoyed by ilmenite market improvement, record production potential

11th October 2017 Production volumes decreased across the board at mineral sands miner Kenmare Resources’ Moma titanium minerals mine, in Mozambique, in the third quarter, with the exception of ilmenite. Nonetheless, production of total finished products increased by 4.5% year-on-year to 277 800 t in the third... →

Kenmare Resources’ Moma titanium minerals mine, in Mozambique

New Liberty records 26% q/q production improvement despite heavy rains

11th October 2017 TSX- and Aim-listed Avesoro Resources’ New Liberty mine, in Liberia, achieved a 26% quarter-on-quarter increase in gold production to 19 885 oz for the quarter ended September 30. This brought the mine’s year-to-date gold production to 50 615 oz. →

The Krugerrand's remarkable contribution to SA mining value-addition

6th October 2017 The gold bullion Krugerrand represents a most remarkable story from a beneficiation perspective, with more than 60-million pieces sold over the past 50 years. This equates to more than 1 660 t of local gold used in the process, and about 25% of all South African gold sold currently is in the form... →

Metso’s Vereeniging factory celebrates 60 years of service

6th October 2017 This year marks 60 years since global engineering and technology corporation Metso's factory in Vereeniging was established. The factory became part of the Metso group in 1970 and has played "a crucial role" not only in the South African, but also the African mining industry. →

Photo by Creamer Media image
STANDING TEST OF TIME The factory became part of the Metso group in 1970 and has played ‘a crucial role’ not only in the South African, but also the African mining industry

The Krugerrand’s remarkable contribution to SA mining value-addition

6th October 2017 The gold bullion Krugerrand represents a most remarkable story from a beneficiation perspective with more than 60-million pieces sold over the past 50 years, equating to more than 1 660 t of local gold used in the process with about 25% of all South African gold sold currently in the form of... →

Photo by Duane Daws
DEMAND RENEWAL The resurgence of demand for the Krugerrand returned it to its standing as the world’s best selling new gold coin in 2016

Partnership to provide $12m for African development minerals producers

6th October 2017 Five-thousand small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development minerals operators will have access to more affordable finance as a result of a partnership between the African Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (AGF), the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP),... →

Photo by Reuters
PROVIDING NEW OPPORTUNITIES The $12-million in credit guarantee facilities will be made available to financial institutions in Cameroon, Guinea, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia

Golden value-addition for Zambian copper miner

6th October 2017 Copper mining can produce lucrative by-products, with the most common one in Zambia being cobalt. It sells for five times more than copper on world markets. However, Zambia Chamber of Mines initiative Mining for Zambia (MFZ) points out that the ultimate by-product for any copper mine is gold and... →

KANSANSHI COPPER MINE ‘Advanced mining techniques’ have assisted the mine in recovering increasingly more ounces of gold during the mineral refining process

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