Ramaphosa key to dealing with ‘off-the-charts’ South Africa risk

President Cyril Ramaphosa is key to handling political risk that’s “off the charts” in the nation after a vote last month failed to hand any party a majority, Standard Bank’s chairperson said. The... 

Adani’s Aussie coal port gets A$500m private credit loan

The Adani Group unit that controls a major Australian coal port has obtained a private credit loan of about A$500-million, according to people familiar with the matter. The company North... 

Zimbabwe’s ferrochrome miners agree to build power plants

Zimbabwe’s ferrochrome miners, the nation’s biggest electricity consumers, have agreed to build their own power plants over the next two years as the government seeks to balance energy demand.... 

Congo to buy out UAE partner in gold venture as shipments slump

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is finalising a deal to take full control of a gold-export joint venture from its Emirati partner, after shipments slumped. Congo started Primera Gold DRC in... 

Volkswagen says carmakers seek to revive key South African rail line

Volkswagen and other automakers operating in South Africa are in talks with the state logistics company to revive a dilapidated rail line between the country’s commercial hub and a car export... 

Fortescue loses another senior leader

Fortescue has confirmed the resignation of its director of global growth, Julie Shuttleworth, who previously served as group deputy chief executive and CEO of the green energy division.... 

Solar installations slow in South Africa after blackouts ease

Repairs to South Africa’s coal-fired stations that have helped the State power utility avoid debilitating blackouts for three months straight is giving solar installers an unintended break. Until... 

Forget copper and gold as steelmaking manganese outperforms

Manganese, an essential steel-making ingredient, has outstripped copper, gold and many other commodities this year after a cyclone halted exports from the world’s second-largest mine in March.... 

Glencore to back Indonesia nickel miner Ceria Nugraha before IPO

Indonesian nickel miner PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama is set to get backing from Glencore Plc to build a battery metal plant ahead of an initial public offering planned for next year. Glencore is in... 

Western Australia resolves mining imbroglio threatening licences

Western Australia’s government has approved draft legislation that will ensure the security of mining licenses and permits in the state, a major producer of iron-ore. The legislation, to be passed... 

BHP set to avert mine strike in Chile with preliminary wage deal

BHP reached a preliminary wage agreement with union leaders in Chile, signaling the company will avert a costly strike at a copper mine that accounts for about 1% of global supply of the wiring... 

Australia ‘not naive’ on China as Li visit looms, Chalmers says

Australia is realistic about the challenges in its diplomatic relationship with Beijing, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, as the country prepares for the first visit by a Chinese Premier in more than... 

Elliott steps in to back faltering Canadian copper miner after bankruptcy

US hedge fund manager Elliott Investment Management has offered support to troubled Canadian miner Nevada Copper after the company filed for bankruptcy protection. Before Monday’s bankruptcy... 

Freeport-McMoRan is looking for ways to expand copper production, CEO says

US copper giant Freeport-McMoRan believes it can unlock the equivalent of a large new mine by applying new processing technology at its existing assets, according to new CEO Kathleen Quirk. Quirk,... 

Volkswagen, Isuzu pour cold water on South Africa’s EV ambitions

Volkswagen and Isuzu Motors have expressed skepticism about South Africa’s plans to develop electric and hydrogen-powered vehicle industries. While the government in February announced that... 

Eskom seeks executive to lead renewables division

South Africa’s Eskom Holdings is looking for a manager to lead its clean energy projects even as the utility extends the use of coal plants to mitigate nationwide electricity shortages. The group... 

Botswana says it’s in talks about increasing stake in De Beers

Botswana said it’s in talks over increasing its shareholding in De Beers, as Anglo American prepares to end its almost century-long relationship with the iconic diamond producer. As part of a... 

Zambia sees KoBold spending $2.3bn on giant copper mine

KoBold Metals, the Bill Gates-backed mining exploration company, could spend $2.3-billion to build a major new copper mine in Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema said, citing figures from the... 

Speedier, greener lithium may be nine years away, Codelco says

Codelco, the copper giant that’s about to become a major lithium player, delivered some cautious guidance on the timing of a cleaner, faster way to extract the battery metal in northern Chile. A... 

Israel risks losing Colombian coal supplies over Gaza war

Colombia’s trade ministry is calling for a restriction on coal sales to Israel in the latest bid to isolate the Jewish state as the death toll rises in its Gaza campaign. The ministry made the... 

New copper fund revives controversial product

Sprott has launched a $100-million fund that will buy and hold physical copper, marking a comeback for a class of investment product that has in the past been highly controversial among investors... 

Zimbabwe to start gold-tracing system in bid to curb smuggling

Zimbabwe’s sole authorized buyer of gold will introduce a system that traces supply of the metal from mines to the market in a bid to stop smuggling. Fidelity Gold Refinery’s initiative will start... 

Copper’s spike isn’t justified by fundamentals, Trafigura says

Copper’s recent surge to a record wasn’t justified by real-world supply and demand, according to Trafigura Group — the top copper trader and usually one of the market’s most bullish voices.... 

Namibia’s audacious plan to become a global green hydrogen hub

Early in May, King Philippe of Belgium was on the edge of the Namib desert to inaugurate a project that aims to help decarbonize European industry, and which might just enable one of Africa’s... 

Investment in clean energy to reach $2tr this year, outpacing investment in fossil fuels

Investment in clean energy technologies will climb to $2-trillion this year, almost double the amount spent on fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Two-thirds of the... 

Glencore is said to weigh selling stake in Kazakh miner Kazzinc

Glencore is considering selling its stake in Kazakh mining company Kazzinc amid interest from potential buyers in China, people familiar with the situation said. A deal could value Glencore’s... 

Traders are desperate for copper deals and miners are cashing in

A heated competition for copper among some of the biggest commodity traders is creating opportunities for miners to negotiate favorable terms ranging from huge upfront payments to extra-long... 

China’s unusually large copper stockpiles fuel demand concerns

China’s copper inventories are growing at exactly the time of year when they should be shrinking fast — an anomaly that underscores concerns about demand in the world’s biggest market. Stockpiles... 

BHP turns to mediation as Chile miners seek share of copper boom

BHP Group is heading into mediation with union leaders in Chile in a bid to avoid a strike as this year’s surge in copper prices inflates the bottom lines of producers and expectations of their... 

Chile lithium project attracting plenty of interest, Enami says

Chilean State mining firm Enami says it’s getting plenty of interest from prospective partners in a lithium project as part of the government’s efforts to tap more of the world’s biggest reserves.... 

Copper falls through $10 000 as exchange inventories keep rising

Copper fell below $10 000/t as a sharp rise in global inventories prompts traders to zero in on weak conditions in the spot market. Stockpiles on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have climbed to the... 

Australian rare earths miner hit by cybersecurity breach

Australian rare earths firm Northern Minerals said some of its data had been released onto the “dark web” months after the firm detected a breach of its cybersecurity protections. “The exfiltrated... 

Maersk sees deeper impact to world trade from Red Sea disruption

AP Moller-Maersk, a bellwether for global trade, said the world’s supply lines are more impacted than previously expected by the ripple effects coming from the congestion in the Red Sea. The... 

BHP faces a test of patience after $49bn Anglo bid falters

Days after BHP Group failed to secure the $49-billion takeover of smaller rival Anglo American, investors have one message for CEO Mike Henry — keep your cool. BHP argues it showed restraint in... 

De Beers ditches man-made diamonds as it looks beyond Anglo

De Beers will ditch a controversial experiment to sell lab grown diamond jewellery, ending a six-year program that broke one of its oldest taboos. While the company long held the technology to make... 

Russia said to seek takeover of France’s uranium assets in Niger

Russia is seeking to take over uranium assets in Niger held by a State-controlled French company, according to people informed about the matter, in a further challenge to Western interests in... 

Iron-ore tumbles to lowest in six weeks on China demand concerns

Iron-ore dropped to the lowest level in more than six weeks on worries over the outlook for Chinese demand, which has been hammered by the protracted property crisis. China’s housing slump is now... 

IXM co-head of refined metals Sethaputra is leaving trader

IXM’s co-head of refined-metals trading is leaving the company, the latest in a series of personnel changes at the trading house owned by Chinese miner CMOC. Adhitya Sethaputra is departing the... 

China’s CNGR looks to snap up more lithium projects in Argentina

CNGR Advanced Material, a Chinese battery-component maker and Tesla supplier, is looking to buy major stakes in Argentina brine deposits to extend its foray into the lithium-rich region as it... 

South Africa’s post-election wrangling leaves investors in limbo

Investors braced for further upheaval in South Africa’s financial markets in the wake of last week’s elections that produced no outright winner, with the outcome of ongoing coalition talks...