Mia Breytenbach

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

Mia Breytenbach

Mia Breytenbach is Deputy Editor: Features for Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Africa Climate Change Fund embraces new partner contributions

14th April 2017 The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved the conversion of the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF) to a multidonor trust fund last month. This conversion brings two new partners to the fund, the governments of Italy and Flanders, Belgium, which are contributing €4.7-million and €2-million... →

Lesotho diamond mine poised to start commercial production in June

14th April 2017 Aim-listed diamond development company Firestone Diamonds expects its Liqhobong diamond mine, in Lesotho, to reach commercial production at the end of June. Commissioning of the mine started in October 2016, with mine construction completed on time and within the $185.4-million budget. In a... →

Photo by Firestone Diamonds
ATTAINABLE ACHIEVEMENT Nameplate capacity at the Liqhobong diamond mine has been achieved on multiple occasions and 402 440 t was treated up to December 31

Perseus makes positive start to 2017, as Edikan’s Q1 production rises 51% q/q

12th April 2017 Dual-listed gold miner Perseus Mining has made a positive start to 2017, with 48 655 oz of gold produced in the quarter ended March 31. Production for the quarter was 51% higher than that produced in the December 2016 quarter, with the Edikan mine, in Ghana, on track to achieve its production... →

Photo by Bloomberg
Perseus Mining CEO Jeff Quartermaine

Least-cost base case essential starting point for IRP process – Sawea

7th April 2017 The South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea) has rejected the current base case scenario used for the 2016 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Update for Electricity, calling for the scenario to be remodelled as a “least-cost energy plan” and re-issued for consultation. The public participation... →

Local company partners with global software solutions major

7th April 2017 Provider of integrated project cost management software solutions Ares Project Management LLC, subsidiary of Ares Holding Company, and South Africa-based, multi-layered consulting company Infracon Consulting launched their strategic partnership last month. The aim of this partnership is to serve... →

SOFTWARE PROVISION Infracon Consulting will be able to sell and distribute Ares Prism, an enterprise project life-cycle management solution to manage the complete project life-cycle of capital projects

RBPlat to list R1.2bn unsecured convertible bonds, proceeds to fund Styldrift expansion ramp-up

5th April 2017 The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has granted platinum mining company Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) approval for the listing of R1.2-billion 7% senior unsecured convertible bonds. The bonds will be listed on the main board of the JSE with effect from the start of business on April 20. →

Bushveld’s Lemur, Sinohydro to build coal-fired power plant in Madagascar

5th April 2017 Aim-listed Bushveld Minerals’ Lemur Resources subsidiary has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese State-owned hydropower engineering and construction company Sinohydro Corporation to codevelop an initial 60 MW independent power producer (IPP) coal-fired power plant and an... →

Bushveld Minerals moves closer to SMC acquisition as it supports BEE deal

28th March 2017 Aim-listed Bushveld Minerals has signed a a deed of settlement and undertaking (DSU) with Gingko Trading and Oakleaf Investments Holdings 115. Under the DSU, Bushveld will settle all demonstrable funding that Gingko advanced to Oakleaf 115, as part of its acquisition, as a participant in the... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Bushveld Minerals CEO Fortune Mojapelo

Firestone narrows H1 loss, says Liqhobong on track for commercial production in June

28th March 2017 Aim-listed Firestone Diamonds, which on Tuesday posted a $4.1-million loss before tax for the six months to December 31, expects its Liqhobong diamond mine, in Lesotho, to reach commercial production at the end of June. Commissioning of the mine started in October 2016, with the mine construction... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Firestone Diamonds CEO Stuart Brown

Revised mine plan, updated reserves extend life of Shanta’s New Luika mine

24th March 2017 Aim-listed Shanta Gold has announced a revised mine plan for its New Luika gold mine, in Tanzania, for January 2017 to December 2023, as well as an updated reserve plan for the mine. The revised mine plan is expected to result in a 39% increase in forecast gold production for 2017 to 2023, from... →

Exosun, Lesedi partner to offer localised solar tracking solutions in South Africa

23rd March 2017 Global supplier of solar tracking solutions for ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) plants Exosun and South Africa-based engineering, procurement and construction company Lesedi Nuclear Services have entered into a partnership to provide localised solar tracking systems in South Africa. “Lesedi will... →

Siemens on schedule to complete PRASA’s Gauteng signalling project in early 2020

25th November 2016 International engineering company Siemens is on track and aims to complete its project scope for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) rail signalling system project in early 2020. Overall completion of Phases 1 and 2 of the Gauteng re-signalling project are at 83% and 33%... →

Logistics firm records 50% growth, driven by SA, South American mining sectors

25th November 2016 Logistics provider Dachser South Africa (SA) has, over the past three years seen a 50% increase in growth driven by the South African mining industry, as well as by growth in the South American mining industry, says MD Detlev Duve. “As there remain tremendous growth opportunities for logistics in... →

INTEGRATED LOGISTICS Dachser believes that digitalisation, integrated with logistics, will increase efficiency in the mining industry and shape it for the future

Regional demand grows for safety science company’s services

18th November 2016 Global independent safety science company UL says demand for its services in Southern Africa has increased by more than 25% year-on-year since the company established a local footprint in 2015. The company certifies, validates, tests, verifies and inspects manufactured products, as well as audits... →

New Hermanus Medical Village to open in January

11th November 2016 The increasing population of Hermanus and the surrounding Overberg area, as well as high demand for quality medical facilities, has prompted Cape Town-based commercial and industrial property brokers Annenberg Property Group to develop a multi-disciplinary, state-of-the art medical centre in... →

ENVISIONED HEALTHCARE The Hermanus Medical Village will include an oncology centre, a 20-bed subacute facility, the Hermanus Elderly Care Place frail care facility and a day hospital

New approach to deliver safe, efficient blasting and cost savings – AEL

11th November 2016 South African explosives manufacturer and distributor AEL Mining Services has launched IntelliBlast, a holistic and flexible approach to help clients on their unique journey to optimal blast outcomes using AEL’s differentiated products and services. IntelliBlast was launched at AEL’s Blasting... →

UNDERSCORED INTELLIGENCE IntelliBlast ensures delivery on desired blast outcomes and driving efficiencies, and optimise mining conditions

Metso raising awareness about advantages of its offerings

11th November 2016 By focusing on reducing costs and downtime for the mining industry, mining and industrial solutions provider Metso aims to raise awareness about the advantages of several of its offerings. This includes the newly developed protective Poly-Cer ceramic liner for its HP / MP range of crushers, the... →

POLY-CER CERAMIC LINER Comprises a wear ceramic that has been vulcanised into rubber, providing high resistance against abrasion

Caterpillar to invest $1bn in Africa over next five years

4th November 2016 US mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar, its independent dealers and the Caterpillar Foundation are to invest $1-billion in business, education and training across Africa over the next five years, chairperson and CEO Doug Oberhelman announced at the US-Africa Business Forum in New York, last... →

Photo by Duane Daws
EMPOWERING AFRICA Since 2010, Caterpillar has invested about $50-million to support projects in Africa that improve the lives of those living in poverty

South African renewables IPP in financing deal with Japan’s Inabata

4th November 2016 Renewable energy independent power producer and energy consulting group Next Renewable Generation (NrG) has concluded a significant investment deal with large Japanese trading company Inabata to further fund the development of renewable energy projects in Africa. The investment deal, finalised in... →

GENERATION DEVELOPMENT Next Renewable Generation is currently involved in about 50 projects, which are in various stages of proposals and feasibility

As remanufacturing trend emerges worldwide, SA auto parts makers improve their capabilities

4th November 2016 With remanufacturing gaining traction worldwide, local companies in the automotive sector are improving their capabilities in this discipline, says auto-electrical and battery distribution company Probe CEO Frank Rovelli, who tells Engineering News that remanufacturing demand is increasingly... →

US miner using nanotechnology to recover gold

4th November 2016 US-based start-up gold producer New Gold Recovery (NGR) has started gold production at its Black Rock Canyon mine, in Nevada, in the US, using a proprietary gold recovery process applying nanotechnology that recovers in excess of 90% of gold particles. This is a remarkable improvement over... →

Photo by Bloomberg
REMARKABLE RECOVERY New Gold Recovery’s proprietary gold recovery process applies nanotechnology that recovers in excess of 90% of gold particles

Investing in climate resilience will be key to improving prospects for drought-prone farming sector

28th October 2016 With several weather institutions expressing cautious optimism that South Africa could receive normal, or even above-normal, rainfall towards mid-summer – that is between December and January – there is a degree of optimism that the embattled local agriculture sector could rebound in 2017. In... →

Voltage optimisation solution punted as way to cut energy costs

28th October 2016 A deal by South African energy efficiency specialists Rhino Lighting and Powerstar South Africa (SA) has signalled the nationwide roll-out of a globally patented Powerstar range of voltage optimisation systems for local industry, which has resulted in energy cost-savings of more than 25% in some... →

ENERGY SOLUTION The Powerstar range includes the energy storage system Virtue that can be integrated with any Powerstar Max or HV Max voltage optimisation system

Firm begins installing off-grid solar-charging stations in informal settlements

28th October 2016 Following the successful installation of its solar-powered charging station in the Mooiplaas informal settlement, in Centurion, renewable-energy supplier ePower Holdings are installing additional charging stations, with the latest stations to be installed in Shoshanguve, Gauteng, and in Zambia,... →

Investing in climate resilience will be key to improving prospects for drought-prone farming sector

28th October 2016 With several weather institutions expressing cautious optimism that South Africa could receive normal, or even above-normal, rainfall towards mid-summer – that is between December and January – there is a degree of optimism that the embattled local agriculture sector could rebound in 2017. In... →

CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM Following weather reports of potential above normal rainfall, the agricultural industry seems optimistic for a better season

PTM to advance Waterberg project to feasibility, construction decision stage

28th October 2016 Having received positive results from an independent prefeasibility study (PFS) on the Waterberg platinum group metals (PGM) project, in Limpopo, TSX- and NYSE-listed Platinum Group Metals (PTM) plans to advance the project to the completion of a feasibility study (FS) and a construction... →

South African engineer’s geotechnical contribution recognised

21st October 2016 Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Gibb senior associate and geotechnical engineer Ron Tluczek has been recognised internationally for his contribution to the geotechnical engineering sector by being appointed as the vice-animateur for Working Group 2 Research at the International... →

RON TLUCZEK As a vice-animateur, my role entails the provision of leadership

New SADC body set up to strengthen groundwater management

21st October 2016 The Southern African Development Community Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI), a new organisation that will work within 15 SADC member States to collaboratively strengthen the management and development of groundwater for social and economic development in the region through the... →

Photo by Bloomberg
UNTAPPED RESOURCE Groundwater is the primary source of all water for about 70% of the inhabitants of the Southern African Development Community, yet only 1.5% is used

Rail Road Association to hold inaugural career expo

21st October 2016 In support of Transport month, the Rail Road Association (RRA) of South Africa will host an inaugural career expo day this month for all rail industry players to meet learners and youth to expose them to the opportunities in the industry. According to RRA officials Trevor Mohlala and Mesela... →

Photo by Duane Daws
INDUSTRY COMPOSITION The Railroad Association believes the youth must be made aware of the different aspects that contribute or relate to the rail sector

$400 000 raised to advance Sierra Leone gold project

21st October 2016 Multicommodity exploration and development company Sula Iron & Gold has raised $400 000 through a subscription for about 304.6-million new ordinary shares of 0.1p each in the company at a price of 0.1p per subscription share to advance its Ferensola gold project in northern Sierra Leone. The... →

PROMISING PROSPECT The Ferensola gold project has an exploration target with a tonnage range of between five-million and seven-million tonnes at a grade of between 4 g/t and 8 g/t gold

Kimberley Process chair supports Namibia’s rough diamond valuation initiative

21st October 2016 As part of his Africa Initiative, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Kimberley Process (KP) chair Ahmed Bin Sulayem met with Namibia Prime Minister Dr Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila in Windhoek, to discuss Kimberley Process-related matters focusing principally on initiatives regarding rough diamond valuation... →

Gold exchange-traded product holdings up 3% in September

21st October 2016 At the end of last month, total holdings in physically backed gold exchange traded products (ETPs) were 2 335.6 t, or 75.1-million ounces, representing a 38.1 t month-on-month increase, according to the World Gold Council’s (WGC’s) latest monthly gold-backed ETP update. In value terms, total... →

Photo by Bloomberg
MONTHLY INCREASE Total holdings in physically backed gold exchange traded products were 2 335.6 t, or 75.1-million ounces in September

PTM to advance Waterberg PGM project to feasibility, construction decision stage

20th October 2016 Having received positive results from an independent prefeasibility study (PFS) on the Waterberg platinum group metals (PGM) project, in Limpopo, TSX- and NYSE-listed Platinum Group Metals (PTM) plans to advance the project to the completion of a feasibility study (FS) and a construction... →

Groundwater inflow limits Tschudi’s Q1 copper production

20th October 2016 Aim-listed Weatherly International’s Tschudi openpit copper mine, in Namibia, delivered 3 641 t of copper cathode in the quarter ended September 30, in line with expectations informed by the excessive rates of groundwater inflow into the openpit. Although output for the first quarter of the 2017... →

Gold tailings retreatment an attractive proposition in current environment

14th October 2016 The strong performance of the rand gold price, increasingly lower ore grades mined in deeper underground mining operations and higher labour and electricity costs are underscoring the attractiveness of, and accelerating, gold tailings retreatment operations in South Africa, states gold miner... →

Industries should collaborate in submitting industry waste-management plans – law firm

14th October 2016 It appears industry will soon have to collaborate and share their current research and other resources to develop industry waste management plans (IWMPs), states legal services firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. It is likely that IWMPs will not only have to comply with challenging timeframes but also... →

Photo by Bloomberg
ONEROUS MATTER? Contentious content for industry waste management plans include the way in which affected industries will prioritise reduction, reuse, recycling, and waste recovery

Gold tailings retreatment an attractive proposition in current environment

14th October 2016 The strong performance of the rand gold price, increasingly lower gold grades mined in deeper underground mining operations, as well as costlier labour resources and electricity, are underscoring the attractiveness and accelerating the traction of local gold tailings retreatment operations,... →

Photo by Bloomberg
ADDING CAPACITY DRDGold expects to start construction of the additional tailings capacity facility at the Brakpan/Withok Tailings Complex in late 2018 or early 2019

Botswana diamond project poised for 2017 completion as it surpasses 80% completion mark

14th October 2016 Construction of Botswana-based diamond mining company Debswana’s Letlhakane Mine Tailings Resource Treatment Plant project (LMTRTP), in Lethakane Village near Orapa near Botswana, is currently 80% complete, with final project completion expected by 2017. “The plant will undergo C5 commissioning... →

SUSTAINABILITY AIM The Letlhakane Mine Tailings Resource Treatment Plant project will deliver sustained and profitable operations at Letlhakane beyond the end of life of open pit mining

Sula raises $400 000 to advance Sierra Leone gold project

13th October 2016 Multicommodity exploration and development company Sula Iron & Gold has raised $400 000 through a subscription for about 304.6-million new ordinary shares of 0.1p each in the company at a price of 0.1p per subscription share. Sula will use the proceeds to advance its Ferensola gold project in... →

Gold ETPs continued to see gains in September – WGC

11th October 2016 At the end of September, total holdings in physically backed gold exchange traded products (ETPs) were 2 335.6 t, or 75.1-million ounces, representing a 38.1 t month-on-month increase, according to the World Gold Council’s (WGC’s) latest monthly gold-backed ETP update. In value terms, total... →

Wheeling touted as viable option for mines facing electricity supply challenges

7th October 2016 While mining operations require reliable power on a continuous basis, whether in remote locations, or in developed areas, load-shedding, poor quality power and weak grids are forcing mines to consider alternative sources of electrical energy. Consequently, juwi South Africa MD Greg Austin... →

CROSS COUNTRY POWER A solar photovoltaic plant in the Northern Cape could supply mines in the north of South Africa through electricity wheeling

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