Ilan Solomons

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

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

Poseidon, Aphrodite enter MOU to assess gold processing at Black Swan

10th July 2017 ASX-listed companies Poseidon Nickel and Aphrodite Gold announced on Monday that they had entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to evaluate the processing of Aphrodite’s gold mineral resources at Poseidon’s Black Swan processing facility (BSPF), in Western Australia’s Eastern... →

Kidman to focus on Earl Grey development as tussle with Marindi is resolved

10th July 2017 ASX-listed gold and lithium miner Kidman Resources has successfully defended the ownership of lithium rights to its Mt Holland project, including the Earl Grey deposit, located near Southern Cross in Western Australia. The finding followed a three-day trial in the Supreme Court of West Australia,... →

Altura concludes offtake agreements with Chinese battery firms

10th July 2017 ASX-listed lithium developer Altura Mining has executed a binding offtake agreement (BOA) with Chinese battery producer Shaanxi J&R Optimum Energy and has revised the terms of the existing BOA with China-based lithium and battery materials processor Lionergy to align both agreements. Altura MD... →

Toro receives federal approval for Wiluna uranium project

10th July 2017 Federal Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has granted environmental approval for Toro Energy’s Wiluna extension uranium project, in Western Australia. The project was assessed under a bilateral agreement between federal and state governments initiated in February 2014. ASX-listed... →

Photo by Toro Energy
Toro Energy’s Wiluna uranium project in Western Australia

Universal expects output to hit 3Mt in 2017, significantly improves cash flow

10th July 2017 ASX-listed coal miner Universal Coal advised on Monday that its Kangala and New Clydesdale Colliery (NCC) mines, in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province, delivered an estimated three-million tons of coal in the 2017 financial year, ended June 30. Kangala, near Delmas, produced an estimated... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Universal Coal’s Kangala colliery in Delmas, Mpumalanga

Neometals to advance integrated strategy as it holds on to Mt Marion equity

10th July 2017 ASX-listed Neometals will advance an integrated strategy for its lithium assets, including developing a downstream processing plant to produce lithium hydroxide, after the notice period for selling a 13.8% equity stake in the Mt Marion lithium project, in Western Australia, ended without the... →

Neometals MD Chris Reed

Explorer seeking partners to support its efforts to tap Mauritania’s mineral wealth

7th July 2017 Mauritania has many mining investment opportunities, with economic, social and political conditions conducive to the pursuit of developing a sector considered strategic by the country’s government, says Oil, Energy and Mines Minister Dr Mohamed Abdel Vetah. He points out that the Mauritania... →

New technologies enabling advances in geological mapping

7th July 2017 Geological mapping has represented the core function of the Council for Geoscience (CGS) for more than 100 years. Geological maps provide the base information for a range of applications, including minerals exploration; hydrogeological, engineering and environmental investigations and natural... →

Photo by MSA Group
CONTEMPORARY GEOLOGICAL WORK Modern geological maps are produced by teams of multiskilled geologists and research specialists through a multidisciplinary process

Mining Charter imbizo aborted as section of audience heckles Minister

7th July 2017 Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane was, last month, forced to leave a community engagement imbizo in the Steve Tshwete local municipality, in Mpumalanga, without addressing the meeting. The Minister, who was meant to hear the views of affected communities following the release of the... →

STAGE STORMED Practical Radical Economic Transformation members take over the platfrom where Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane was meant to discuss the new Mining Charter

Premier's imbizo no-show explained

7th July 2017 Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza was unable to attend a community engagement imbizo in the Steve Tshwete local municipality, in Mpumalanga, regarding the third iteration of the Mining Charter, last week, as he was out of the country on an official trade and investment trip to Russia, said... →

DAVID MABUZA The Premier urges communities to continue to be active in engaging government leadership, but stresses that this should be done in a respectful and peaceful fashion

Motion Metrics sells six payload monitoring systems to local mine

7th July 2017 Monitoring solutions provider Motion Metrics has sold six of its ShovelMetrics payload monitoring solution systems for hydraulic shovels to a South African precious metals mine looking to improve its loading and hauling productivity. The company says that the systems will be installed on six of... →

Photo by Motion Metrics
DETAILED ANALYSIS Payload monitoring for hydraulic shovels uses a series of orientation and pressure sensors to provide bucket-by-bucket payload measurements to ensure efficiencies

Explorer seeking partners to support its efforts to tap Mauritania’s mineral wealth

7th July 2017 Mauritania has many mining investment opportunities, with economic, social and political conditions conducive to the pursuit of developing a sector considered strategic by the Mauritanian government, says Mauritania Oil, Energy and Mines Minister Dr Mohamed Abdel Vetah. He points out that... →

Photo by Suricate Minerals
QUALITY QUARTZ DEPOSITS Suricate will soon undertake a feasibility study for the commissioning of a mine to extract high-purity quartz from Inal, which contain up to 99.99% in silicon

Zama-zamas depriving South Africa of R20bn in revenue each year – Sibanye

7th July 2017 Illegal mining is by no means a victimless crime, as it costs South Africa an estimated R20-billion a year in lost mineral sales, taxes and royalties, diversified miner Sibanye protection services senior VP Nash Lutchman said last week. Sibanye estimates that it has lost between 3% and 4% of its... →

Photo by Reuters
WEB OF CRIMINALITY In addition to the professional syndicates that supported illegal miners, mine employees were often found to be collaborating with illegal miners

Sephaku lifts FY17 profit despite challenging economic environment

30th June 2017 JSE-listed minerals exploration, development and investment company Sephaku Holdings’ (SepHold’s) net profit increased by 12.8% year-on-year to to R68.1-million for the year ended March 31, despite its revenue having decreased to R839.9-million on the back of lower prices and reduced demand in... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Sephaku Holdings CEO Dr Lelau Mohuba

M&A activity ‘largely static’ as Chinese investors steal march on sector

30th June 2017 One of the biggest mergers and acquisition (M&A) stories of 2016 concerned the assets that did not sell. A number of large deals, expected to be completed by early 2017, were withdrawn from the market, possibly owing to the rebound in commodity prices and the improving prospects of the companies... →

Photo by World of Diamonds Group
BRIGHTS RAYS OF HOPE Many mining companies will see the conditions as ripe for value accretive moves, with market differentiation their immediate goal

Company seeks strategic partners as it aims to mine diamonds off the West Coast

30th June 2017 Local diamond exploration company Mza Diamonds Resources is calling for expressions of interest from marine mining companies to join the company to deploy remote marine mining equipment to extract diamonds from its number 7B mid-water diamond concession, off the West Coast of South Africa. The... →

Photo by Mza Diamonds Resources
GLISTENING PROSPECTS The 7B concession is estimated to contain 65-million tons of diamondiferous gravel

Passive treatment may hold key to tackling AMD challenge – geoscientist

30th June 2017 Abandoned coal mines have contributed to the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) in South Africa, states Council for Geoscience (CGS) environmental geoscientist Gloria Dube. She elaborates that AMD is characterised by lowered pH of less than 4, high sulphate concentrations and high acidity... →

CAUSE FOR CONCERN Hazardous metals such as aluminium, iron and manganese may currently be entering the country’s streams and rivers, threatening its limited water resources

Illegal mining a substantial burden on South African economy, warns Sibanye

28th June 2017 Illegal mining is by no means a victimless crime, as it costs South Africa an estimated R20-billion a year in lost mineral sales, taxes and royalties, Sibanye protection services senior VP Nash Lutchman said on Wednesday. In a presentation on the negative impact of illegal mining on the South... →

Sibanye protection services senior VP Nash Lutchman

Mpumalanga Premier unable to attend Mining Charter imbizo owing to Russia trip

26th June 2017 Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza was unable to attend a community engagement imbizo in the Steve Tshwete local municipality, in Mpumalanga, regarding the third iteration of the Mining Charter, last week, as he was out of the country on an official trade and investment trip to Russia, said... →

David Mabuza was not able to attend the community engagement imbizo because he was out of the country on an official trade and investment trip to Russia

Zwane forced to beat a hasty retreat from community engagement imbizo

23rd June 2017 Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane was, on Friday, forced to leave a community engagement imbizo in the Steve Tshwete local municipality, in Mpumalanga, without addressing the meeting. The Minister, who was meant to hear the views of affected communities following the release of the third... →

Practical Radical Economic Transformation members storm stage where Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane was meant to discuss the new Mining Charter

Much progress in mineworker housing delivery but more needs to be done

23rd June 2017 Many migrant employees do not want to permanently settle in mining towns, but prefer to maintain their homes in the rural areas and return to them, says the Chamber of Mines (CoM) of South Africa, citing its research and experience in the industry. “Providing permanent urban dwellings, as well as... →

Much progress in mineworker housing delivery but more needs to be done

23rd June 2017 Many migrant employees do not want to permanently move to mining towns, but prefer to maintain and return to their homes in rural areas, says the Chamber of Mines (CoM) of South Africa, citing its research and experience in the industry. “Providing permanent urban dwellings, as well as urban home... →

Photo by Duane Daws
SUPPORTING FAMILY DYNAMICS The mining industry is exploring alternative shift arrangements and different shift cycles to enable employees to return home to their families more frequently and for longer periods

UK young mining professionals form association as they eye domestic, offshore opportunities

23rd June 2017 The Young Mining Professionals (YMP) association, in the UK held its launch event in London last month, where “like-minded” individuals from within the UK met to discuss the opportunities that exist for young people in the country’s mining sector and abroad. Private equity investment firm Tembo... →

Photo by Young Mining Professionals UK
LAUNCH EVENT Going forward Young Mining Professionals UK will host a variety of events designed to develop the skills and knowledge of its members

BCL liquidation poser for Botswana diamond exploration JV

23rd June 2017 Diamond explorer and project developer Botswana Diamonds is weighing its options in resolving the corporate governance issues relating to its Maibwe joint venture (JV) exploration project, in the emerging diamond province of Gope in Botswana, says MD James Campbell. The Maibwe JV consists of a... →

Photo by Duane Daws
JAMES CAMPBELL Botswana Diamonds is currently in discussions with BCL’s liquidator KPMG to resolve the corporate governance issues associated with the Maibwe joint venture

Lonmin risk manager spells out four scenarios local mines may be exposed to in 2017

23rd June 2017 In the Institute of Risk Management South Africa’s (IRMSA’s) recently launched 2017 risks report, four scenarios laying out how the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) might potentially be executed are tabled. As part of ensuring that mining companies have a thorough understanding of the... →

Photo by Duane Daws
BUILDING BOUYANCY Despite being a ‘taker’, resilient mining companies are able to absorb certain factors as a result of their planning and execution processes

Top 40 miners returned to profitability in 2016 – PwC

23rd June 2017 The world’s top 40 miners recovered from a “race to the bottom”, with bolstered balance sheets and a return to profitability in 2016, giving them much-needed space to pause and take a breath. This is according to advisory firm PwC’s ‘Mine 2017’ report, which was released on the sidelines of the... →

Photo by Duane Daws
IMPROVED BALANCE SHEETS The top 40 miners recorded a net profit of $20-billion in 2016, which was a significant improvement from the aggregate loss of $28-billion recorded in 2015

De Beers establishes incubation hub for Kroonstad’s entrepreneurs

23rd June 2017 Diamond miner De Beers’ Voorspoed mine has officially unveiled its Incubation Support Programme for small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) at the miner’s Zimele business hub in Kroonstad, in the Free State. The programme is aimed at helping budding entrepreneurs. Thirty-five people from... →

Photo by De Beers
PROVIDING A HELPING HAND De Beers supply development lead Lesiba Lamola with some of the incubatees of the Incubation Support Programme

Mundoro Capital focusing on copper, gold exploration in south-eastern Europe

16th June 2017 Mineral exploration and investment company Mundoro Capital is focused on providing value to its shareholders through the exploration work on its copper and gold projects, in Serbia and Bulgaria. Mundoro CEO Teo Dechev highlights that the company’s projects are located on the Western Tethyan belt... →

HIGHLY PROSPECTIVE Mundoro projects are located in an area with historical discoveries of 67-million ounces of gold and 8.7-million ounces of copper, lead and zinc combined

Technological innovations will be key to success of seabed mining

16th June 2017 Minerals from the deep sea, such as polymetallic nodules, ferromanganese crusts and hydrothermal sulfides are potential sources of metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese and iron. In future, depending on the development of suitable technologies, these minerals could be mined and metals... →

Zambia’s mines chamber calls for transparent electricity pricing

16th June 2017 The Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM) says that the country’s power pricing must of necessity be determined in a transparent, objective and efficient manner. The chamber notes that as an industry body, it does not and cannot negotiate power tariffs for its individual members. Nonetheless, the ZCM... →

CORE CONCERN The question of power pricing is ‘vital to the economic future of Zambia’

Consolidation of efforts key to increasing youth participation in mining

16th June 2017 South Africa’s mining sector needs to consolidate its current youth development initiatives to ensure meaningful upliftment of the country’s youth, says Chamber of Mines (CoM) of South Africa skills development head Mustak Ally. The pooling of resources will provide a more focused and centralised... →

Photo by Rio Tinto
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT The pooling of resources will provide a more focused and centralised platform for youth development in the local mining industry

Unrehabilitated Mpumalanga asbestos mine tailings a possible health hazard – scientist

16th June 2017 Asbestos mining was banned in South Africa because of the health effects linked to the inhalation of asbestos dust-fibres. However, asbestos mine tailings in Mpumalanga have not been rehabilitated and dust-fibres could easily be lifted and transported by the wind and then settle in sensitive... →

ASBESTOS MINE DUMP, MPUMALANGA Despite the cessation of asbestos mining, there is still a concern about possible environmental pollution by asbestos fibres

Incubation fund launched to support mining startups

16th June 2017 In response to the funding challenges young business people in the South African mining industry are faced with, a fellow young professional in the mining industry has recently established the Simba Mgodi Mining Incubation Fund to assist start-ups in the mining industry and junior miners looking... →

Photo by Yeabo Mining
ZWELI MKHIZE AND OLEBOGENG SENTSHO Olebogeng Sentsho receiving ‘Outstanding Woman in Mining Award’ from Zweli Mkhize at the Youth in Mining Business Awards in 2016

CoM to boycott new Mining Charter announcement, holds own briefing at 13:30

15th June 2017 Ahead of the scheduled publication of the reviewed Mining Charter 3 by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) later on Thursday, the Chamber of Mines (CoM) has raised its concerns about the process, particularly about the lack of consultation about the content of the new charter. The DMR on... →

Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane is being heavily criticised for not ensuring that there was sufficient discussion about the content of the new charter

Consolidation of efforts key to increasing youth participation in mining

15th June 2017 South Africa’s mining sector needs to consolidate its current youth development initiatives to ensure meaningful upliftment of the country’s youth, says Chamber of Mines (CoM) of South Africa skills development head Mustak Ally. The pooling of resources will provide a more focused and centralised... →

Mundoro Capital focusing on copper, gold exploration in south-eastern Europe

15th June 2017 Mineral exploration and investment company Mundoro Capital is focused on providing value for its shareholders through the exploration work it is undertaking on its copper and gold projects in Serbia and Bulgaria. Mundoro CEO Teo Dechev highlights that the company’s projects are located on the... →

De Beers’ Voorspoed mine initiates Kroonstad entrepreneur scheme

9th June 2017 Diamond miner De Beers’ Voorspoed mine on Friday officially unveiled its Incubation Support Programme for small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) at the miner’s Zimele business hub in Kroonstad, in the Free State. The programme is aimed at helping budding entrepreneurs. Thirty-five... →

Photo by De Beers
De Beers supply development lead Lesiba Lamola with some of the incubatees of the Incubation Support Programme

Mine tailings recovery can be value generator, says Council for Geoscience

9th June 2017 Mine tailings have been identified as a major source of environmental impact for many mining operations and more stringent requirements have been placed on the management of these tailings. An aspect which is often overlooked in the life cycle of sustainable mine residues management is that mine... →

Photo by Duane Daws
RESIDUAL VALUE Platinum group metals tailings contain a significant portion of aluminium, iron and calcium, which have the potential to serve as a secondary mineral source

New platform launched to connect professionals with industry experts

9th June 2017 Mining consultancy Core Consultants has launched its Core Connect business platform. Core MD Lara Smith explains that the platform will serve to provide professional learning and is the company’s latest customised consultancy offering. →

LARA SMITH Knowing the right questions to ask and having someone to direct these questions to, is the difference between making a good investment decisions and a great one

Operating environment remains challenging, despite 2016 improvement for top 40 miners – PwC

7th June 2017 The world’s top 40 miners recovered from a “race to the bottom”, with bolstered balance sheets and a return to profitability in 2016, giving them much-needed space to pause and take a breath. This is according to advisory firm PwC’s ‘Mine 2017’ report, which was released on the sidelines of the... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan’s AngloGold Ashanti is the only South African company to make PwC’s list of the world’s top 40 mining companies

Despite a gloomy outlook, Baxter highlights opportunities for emerging miners

7th June 2017 While the South African mining sector still faces significant challenges, Chamber of Mines (CoM) CEO Roger Baxter believes that great opportunities still exist in the sector, particularly for emerging miners. Presenting the keynote address at the Junior Indaba, in Johannesburg, on Wednesday,... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Chamber of Mines of South Africa CEO Roger Baxter

About

Engineering News is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Engineering News is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe