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

ETFs act as market indicator for precious metals, ensuring improved transparency

21st April 2017 Precious metal exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have evolved a long way from being the new kids on the metals investment scene. ETFs now act as a market barometer for underlying investor demand and a potential window into future metal demand and prices, says banking group Standard Bank Corporate and... →

Strong lithium prices predicted until at least 2021

14th April 2017 Lithium prices are likely to remain elevated at around $9 500/t till at least 2021, which is a significant increase on its historic pricings of $6 500/t. This is attributable to rising demand and impending supply deficits from 2019, says lithium and rare earth elements assets developer Cadence... →

Photo by Reuters
IN DEMAND Cadence Minerals believes that the increased demand for electric vehicles is a significant driving force behind the increased demand for lithium worldwide

After three years of decline, gold price rises as investors return to sector

14th April 2017 Gold prices increased on an annual average basis in 2016, after declining for three consecutive years, with the price increase primarily driven by investors returning to gold. This is according to New York-based research and consulting firm CPM Group’s ‘Gold Yearbook 2017’ report. The 260-page... →

RETURNING HOME There has been a return of ‘opportunistic generalist investors’ who previously exited the gold sector between late 2011 and early 2012

Mines seeking to ensure safe, productive operations

14th April 2017 Amid the scramble to acquire capital for reinvestment in the mining industry, a group of executives participated in a roundtable discussion at the recent 2017 Investing in African Mining Indaba, in Cape Town, to deliberate ways of escaping the ‘boom-and-bust’ cycle endemic to the mining industry.... →

SAFETY SPOTLIGHT Cultural changes within organisations are imperative to drive actual improvement in safety standards at mines

Mobile power plants mooted as solution to African mines’ electricity woes

14th April 2017 One of the main topics of discussion at the recent 2017 Mining Indaba revolved around power supply to mines on the continent. With official power distribution grids only covering around 40% of Africa, a substantial number of mining operations are responsible for their own power generation, says... →

REDUCING CONCERNS By farming out electric generation to a fast-track power provider, mining companies can eliminate the challenges that divert from their core focus of extracting minerals

DMR to be more flexible with small-scale mining applicants

7th April 2017 The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) will “amend and relax” some of its conditions in issuing mining permits to small-scale miners, said Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant last month. The Deputy Minister was speaking following the conclusion of a one-day workshop on illegal... →

Photo by Bloomberg
SHAFT SHUTTING CAMPAIGN The Department of Mineral Resources has spent a great deal of time and resources sealing and resealing old mining shafts used by illegal miners throughout the country

Cautious optimism prevails in mining as prices rise, shallow growth returns

7th April 2017 For the first time in a number of years, there is a mood of cautious optimism in the mining industry, with commodity prices on the rise, shallow growth returning to different end markets and most mining companies in better cost positions than in the recent past, says advisory firm Deloitte.... →

TOUGH DECISIONS Mining companies face key choices about where to invest and how to position themselves in the coming years

Chamber of Mines ‘seriously concerned’ about Gordhan’s dismissal

31st March 2017 The Chamber of Mines has added its voice to the chorus of parties that are worried about the consequences of President Jacob Zuma’s decision to reshuffle his Cabinet. Those that were removed from their positions included Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, his deputy Minister Mcebisi Jonas, Tourism... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan

Coal junior targets near-threefold output increase to 10Mt/y in two years

31st March 2017 Junior coal mining company Canyon Coal is producing 300 000 t/m of run-of-mine (RoM), which equates to 3.6-million tons of coal a year across all its operations. However, the company is aiming to increase this to ten-million tons a year over the next two years, thereby making it a midtier coal... →

Radical attitudinal shift needed to improve productivity – SRK

31st March 2017 A change in attitudes, from the boardroom to the operational pit level, will be the only way for mines to escape low productivity levels and find a path back to long-term sustainability, says mining consultancy SRK Consulting corporate consultant Roger Dixon. “With productivity levels currently... →

Coal junior targets near-threefold output increase to 10Mt/y in two years

31st March 2017 Junior coal mining company Canyon Coal is producing 300 000 t/m of run-of-mine (RoM), which equates to 3.6-million tons a year of coal across all its operations. However, the company is aiming to increase this to ten-million tons a year over the next two years, thereby making it a midtier coal... →

Photo by Duane Daws
HAKHANO COLLIERY, MIDDELBURG Canyon Mining Services undertakes all the mining at Hakhano, Phalanndwa and Singani collieries using traditional truck-and-shovel mining methods

Amplats unveils social and labour plan projects

31st March 2017 Platinum miner Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) hosted Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant at the official handover ceremony of a number of the company’s social and labour plan (SLP) projects in Rustenburg, in the North West, earlier this month. The projects included the official... →

GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITIES Amplats chairperson Mohammed Valli Moosa and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant visiting Photsaneng Primary School computer centre

Bushveld outlines vision to transform from explorer to junior miner

31st March 2017 Diversified mineral development company Bushveld Minerals is confident that it will soon unlock the vanadium mineral resource potential of the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC) – which spans the North West, Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces – to propel the company from a junior explorer to a... →

VANADIUM IN FOCUS The Bushveld Igneous Complex contains an estimated 20-billion tons of vanadium- and titanium-bearing iron-ore, thus making up about 26% of the world’s vanadium reserves

Harmony aims to increase gold production from 1.1Moz to 1.5Moz in three years

31st March 2017 Dual-listed Harmony Gold is aiming to increase its yearly gold production from the current 1.1-million to 1.5-million ounces over the next three years. This would be achieved by undertaking expansions at its operations in South Africa, the rest of Africa and Papua New Guinea, while also... →

GOLPU GOLD PROJECT, PAPUA NEW GUINEA The feasibility study results for the project states that there could be robust returns on a large block cave mine and would offer staged development opportunities

Govt to ‘amend and relax’ laws for small-scale miners in bid to combat illegal mining

24th March 2017 JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) will “amend and relax” some of its conditions in issuing mining permits to small-scale miners, Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant said on Friday. The Deputy Minister was speaking following the conclusion... →

Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant

‘Barometer’ provides assessment of mineral resources industry transparency

24th March 2017 Governments are challenged with creating new approaches to governance that enable them to better exploit the developmental potential provided by mineral resources. It is therefore imperative that countries establish regulatory frameworks and State capacity to ensure that mining activities are... →

Photo by Duane Daws
FOUNDATION AND ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS Establishment of regulatory frameworks and State capacity is needed to ensure mining is compatible with efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable development

‘Women, local communities must play greater role in mining’

24th March 2017 Women must be encouraged and supported to play a greater role in Africa’s mining industries, states Zambian Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma. The Minister, who was speaking at the Alternative Mining Indaba in Cape Town, last month, said that one of the greatest... →

CHRISTOPHER YALUMA One of the greatest constraints women face in entering into the mining industry is in securing financing

Simplified processes, suitable technologies key to success – diamond miners told

24th March 2017 Historically diamond plants were designed on the basis of process engineering excellence. However, this focused excessively on ensuring maximum diamond liberation and recovery, rather than on the defining of the optimal mix of technical and financial solutions. This is according to project... →

PERFECTING PLANT DESIGN AND PROCESSES Diamond miners need to design plants to ensure ‘business excellence’ by introducing appropriate modern technologies and simplifying workflow processes

Mine mechanisation and automation accelerating in South Africa and globally, says Sandvik

24th March 2017 The mechanisation and automation of mines in South Africa and globally is accelerating, with ancillary support services, such as information technology (IT), information transfer and data analysis, among others, taking on greater importance, says mining equipment and services provider Sandvik... →

SIMON ANDREWS Mining companies have realised that it is no longer good enough just to have high-tech equipment in operation at their projects

Harmony plans to grow output to 1.5Moz, outlines acquisition criteria

22nd March 2017 Dual-listed Harmony Gold is aiming to increase its yearly gold production from the current 1.1-million to 1.5-million ounces over the next three years. This would be achieved by undertaking expansions at its operations in South Africa, the rest of Africa and Papua New Guinea, while also... →

Golpu gold project, in Papua New Guinea

Oliphant visits various Amplats-led SLP projects in Rustenburg

17th March 2017 Platinum miner Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Friday hosted Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant at the official handover ceremony of a number of the company’s social and labour plan (SLP) projects in Rustenburg, in the North West. The projects included the official opening of... →

Amplats chairperson Mohammed Valli Moosa and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant visiting Photsaneng Primary School computer centre

Faulty statistics to blame for belief that PGM prices are inaccurately low – report

17th March 2017 Platinum group metals (PGMs) market analysts have expressed confusion that platinum and palladium prices have been cut in half over the past few years while the PGM statistics they use show persistent long-term deficits in these markets. This is according to New York-based research and consulting... →

OVERSUPPLY CONCERN Surpluses are larger for platinum than for palladium and are expected to add metal to the already large stocks of above-ground inventories

Commodities supply shortfall looming following years of underinvestment

17th March 2017 Several years of little or no investment in exploring for and developing new mining projects has resulted in the emergence of an impending commodity supply cliff in a number of resource sectors, says professional services firm EY Africa mining and metals transactions leader Quintin Hobbs.... →

Photo by Duane Daws
SEEKING A CHAMPION More ‘brave companies’ need to emerge, breaking out of the ‘boom or bust mentality’ by pushing their boards to unlock funds for the development of new projects

West African explorer targets Ghana gold project

17th March 2017 Gold exploration company GoldStone Resources is aiming to focus its resources on developing the company’s flagship Homase-Akrokerri gold project, in Ghana, says CEO Emma Priestley. She says it is her intention to seek funding to carry out the next round of exploration drilling works on the... →

HOMASE-AKROKERRI GOLD PROJECT The project is located in the Ashanti gold belt region of Ghana, which possesses about 70-million ounces of gold reserves

Caledonia targeting higher output, lower costs at Zim mine

17th March 2017 Southern Africa-focused gold miner Caledonia Mining Corporation aims to have its Blanket gold mine, in Zimbabwe, produce 60 000 oz of gold at all-in sustaining costs (AISCs) of between $810/oz and $850/oz this year, says corporate development VP and investor relations manager Maurice Mason.... →

BLANKET GOLD MINE Caledonia intends to ramp up gold production at its Blanket mine, in Zimbabwe, to 80 000 oz/y by 2021 while driving down the mine’s AISCs to about $750/oz

Mining deaths up 31% since January

17th March 2017 South African Colliery Management Association (Sacma) president Kevern Mattison has called for a “revolutionary step change” to achieve the mining industry’s goal of achieving ‘zero harm’. He highlighted that the local mining industry had to become “sexy, attractive and funky” to ensure that this... →

MTHOKOZISI ZONDI There has been a 31% year-on-year increase in the number of fatalities recorded between January 1 and March 6, this year compared to the same period in 2016

MPRDA Amendment Bill to redress racial, economic inequalities – DMR

10th March 2017 Radical economic transformation is a key driving force behind the creation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill, says Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) mineral policy and promotion deputy director Nhlanhla Jali. Speaking at the Gauteng... →

TAKING A STAND Demonstrators outside Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill hearing, in Johannesburg

Form partnerships and seek community acceptance, mines urged

10th March 2017 Forming partnerships and social acceptance by communities are the two key factors miners need to ensure to promote sustainability in the mining industry, says University of Cape Town Department of Chemical Engineering Minerals to Metals Initiative chief research officer Professor Jennifer... →

PERCEPTION PROBLEMS Anti-mining lobbyists argue that mining companies purposefully divide communities and 'corrupt' their leaders to ensure that mining projects receive local endorsement

Coal industry expresses concern over fatalities

9th March 2017 South African Colliery Management Association (Sacma) president Kevern Mattison has called for a “revolutionary step change” to achieve the mining industry’s goal of achieving ‘zero harm’. The plea came as Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) acting chief inspector of mines Mthokozisi Zondi on... →

Photo by Ilan Solomons
Sacma president Kevern Mattison

SA-based company partners with Chad to develop country’s nascent minerals sector

3rd March 2017 Gold mining, refining and resources development company Quaestec Gold Africa Resources has partnered with the government of Chad to develop the Central African country’s nascent mineral resources sector, says company CEO Charles Fourie. Chad’s gold deposits occur over 1 200 km, from the south to... →

‘Ground-breaking equipment’ set to join Babcock’s product line this year

3rd March 2017 Engineering support services company Babcock announced at the Investing in African Mining Indaba that it would be launching “ground-breaking construction equipment” during the course of this year. “Babcock is renowned and respected for delivering high-production machinery that is also fuel... →

DAVID VAUGHAN The Volvo A60H’s higher payload represented a 40% increase on Volvo’s A40 model, thereby significantly lowering the cost-per-tonne ratio for hauler customers

SA-based company partners with Chad to develop country’s nascent minerals sector

3rd March 2017 Gold mining, refining and resources development company Quaestec Gold Africa Resources has partnered with the government of Chad to develop the Central African country’s nascent mineral resources sector, says company CEO Charles Fourie. Chad’s gold deposits occur over 1 200 km, from the south to... →

Photo by GPB Global Resources
INTRIGUING INVESTMENT South African, Canadian, European, Chinese, Australian and Russian mining companies are all interested in obtaining prospecting permits in Chad

ELB, ENFI team up to advance joint interests in rest of Africa

3rd March 2017 South African engineered solutions provider ELB Engineering Services and Chinese engineering company ENFI Engineering Corporation have signed a strategic partnership agreement to tackle mineral and metal process projects and associated infrastructure projects in sub-Saharan Africa. At a private... →

MAKING IT OFFICIAL ELB CE Dr Stephen Meijers and ENFI VP Wei Jiaming signing partnership agreement to formalise companies’ long standing working relationship

'Coal is critical for Africa's development'

3rd March 2017 Coal is required for the industrialisation of Africa, particularly as several African countries are experiencing significant development and expansion of their industrial sectors, says mining investment advisory company MX Mining Capital Advisors director Dr Mike Seeger. He states that Africa’s... →

MIKE SEEGER Coal miners are facing ‘severe challenges’ in raising the capital they require, as coal is not viewed as an attractive investment proposition for many traditional investors

Africa, Middle East seen emerging as biggest importers of South African coal

3rd March 2017 In 2016, 50% of South Africa’s 73-million tons of export coal was delivered to South Asian countries with Africa receiving only four-million tons of South African produced coal. However, it is predicted that by 2030 Africa and the Middle East will account for 80% of South Africa’s export coal... →

RODRIGO ECHEVERRI By 2025 demand for South African coal into the rest of Africa will increase significantly to 31-million tons, reaching 38-million tons by 2030

Coal punted as 'possible solution' to Egypt's power challenges

3rd March 2017 With Egypt’s energy consumption increasing at about 7% a year, along with its low crude oil and gas production rates, coal-fired power generation is increasingly being touted as a possible solution to the country’s electricity challenges, says Egyptian commodities trader Protrade MD Afifi Afifi.... →

Photo by Bloomberg
COST ADVANTAGE A major positive factor in the likely growth of coal use in Egypt’s energy mix relates to the fact that it is a low cost source of electricity production

De Beers revenue up 30% to $6.1bn on stronger demand

3rd March 2017 Higher revenues contributed to a 42% improvement year-on-year in diamond miner De Beers’ underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) to $1.4-billion in 2016. A 30% increase in revenue to $6.1-billion was driven by stronger rough diamond demand, which led to... →

SOARING SALES Rough diamond sales increased by 37% year-on-year to $5.6-billion owing to a 50% increase in consolidated sales volumes of 30-million carats in 2016

Anglo exceeds target as 2016 net debt declines to $8.5bn

3rd March 2017 Diversified miner Anglo American is this year seeking an additional $1-billion in incremental net cost and volume improvements, while also aiming to return to an investment-grade credit rating and resume dividend payments. The group has already identified 75% of these targeted net cost and volume... →

FOCUSED CAPITAL Anglo American is aiming to have capital expenditure maintained at $2.5-billion and stay-in-business capital increased to $1.2-billion in 2017

Eastern basin AMD plant lauded for success achieved since coming on stream in June 2016

3rd March 2017 Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has lauded the successes achieved by the Eastern Basin acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment plant, located in the town of Springs, in Gauteng, since it began operating in June 2016. Speaking during a visit to the facility last month, the Minister... →

Photo by Duane Daws
EASTERN BASIN TREATMENT PLANT The high-density sludge treatment plant IS running at about 85% of its 108 Mℓ/d capacity, thereby treating around 94 Mℓ/d of acid mine drainage

Implats posts R318m in six months to December

3rd March 2017 Platinum miner Impala Platinum (Implats) has recorded a gross loss of R318-million for the six months to December 31, a significant increase on the loss of R40-million recorded in the six months to December 31, 2015. The group posted a headline loss of R508-million, compared with headline... →

WITHHOLDING DIVIDENDS Owing to Impala Platinum’s continued ‘cash conservation strategy’ its had resolved not to declare an interim dividend

MPRDA Amendment Bill to propel ‘radical economic transformation’

2nd March 2017 Radical economic transformation is a key driving force behind the creation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill, says Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) mineral policy and promotion deputy director Nhlanhla Jali. Speaking at the Gauteng... →

Demonstrators outside MPRDA Amendment Bill hearing, in Johannesburg

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