Mia Breytenbach

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

Mia Breytenbach

Mia Breytenbach is Deputy Editor: Features for Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

AfDB in $2bn project finance pact

28th July 2017 The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have signed a landmark agreement to strengthen their partnership at country level and jointly contribute to $2-billion over the next three years to finance projects in agriculture, food security, renewable energy, small... →

Bearings, power transmission giant moves to 5 000 m2 site

28th July 2017 As part of its business strategy to re-engineer and optimise global operations, bearings and mechanical power transmission solutions provider Timken has opened a new facility in Gauteng. The facility spans almost 5,000 m2 and is home to Timken South Africa’s bearing repair and assembly... →

Photo by Duane Daws
AEROTROPOLIS LOCATION The new Timken location provides several logistical advantages as it is close to an international airport, which includes main transport routes

New R1.7bn Gauteng fluorspar mine to rank in bottom cost quartile

28th July 2017 The new R1.7-billion Nokeng fluorspar mine near Rust de Winter, in Gauteng, the development of which started last month, was expected to lead in terms of production volume and quality, and rank “in the bottom cost-quartile when it reaches full production in 24 months”, said SepFluor CEO Rob... →

Photo by Duane Daws
PRODUCTION VOLUME Nokeng’s orebody comprises a 12.2-million-tonne reserve, with the mine to produce an average run-of-mine feed rate of 630 000 t/y

De Beers’ Venetia mine launches multimillion-rand empowerment deal

26th July 2017 Diamond miner De Beers has announced the launch of a major empowerment deal related to the transportation of employees to and from its operations at the Venetia diamond mine, in Limpopo. In a high-impact, local procurement and empowerment initiative, Venetia mine, in partnership with VM Diamond... →

CoJ incentivises new building developments through special rebates

26th July 2017 The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) will offer special rebates to property developers undertaking new building developments in earmarked areas across the city in a bid to grow the economy and create jobs. The CoJ recently implemented the new 2017/18 Property Rates Policy, in which the city... →

Vedanta’s Zinc International production down y/y in Q1, Zambia copper production improves

26th July 2017 Diversified miner Vedanta Resources' Zinc International business recorded a 25% year-on-year decrease in production to 32 000 t for the quarter ended June 30 – the first quarter of its 2018 financial year. The decrease was mainly as a result of an planned plant shutdown at the acid plant, as... →

Tom Albanese

Kodal receives final high-grade lithium drill results for Bougouni prospect

25th July 2017 Aim-listed Kodal Minerals has received final drill results for the Ngoualana prospect at the Bougouni lithium project, in southern Mali, which show high-grade lithium mineralisation, the company announced on Tuesday. The West Africa-focused mineral exploration and development company completed... →

New water-quality analyser launched for smart water networks

21st July 2017 Environmental consultant SI Analytics, a division of JSE-listed technology solutions provider EOH, has launched the new Smart Low Energy Analyser (Lea), a self-powered and multi-parameter water-quality analyser. The analyser is equipped with sensors that collect and transmit data to be used in... →

MARK ROWAND The Smart Low Energy Analyser will provide consistently safe water, operation efficiently, low energy demands and cut costs

Otis relaunches training academy to build skills, expertise in industry

21st July 2017 Elevator and escalator manufacturer Otis South Africa earlier this month relaunched its training academy in line with its skills development programme, which is designed to create technical and functional expertise in African markets. “Building skills and expertise through the Otis training... →

ESCALATED OFFERING The training academy will now offer programmes that include service and maintenance, installations, as well as quality, environment health and safety

Canada’s First Cobalt hoping to seal DRC exploration deal by next month

21st July 2017 Cobalt asset group First Cobalt aims to close the transaction of a strategic alliance for a 70% interest in seven prospective copper/cobalt exploration properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by next month and progress exploration in one of the world’s “high-reward cobalt... →

PROPERTY PROSPECTS The seven properties cover 190 km2 on the Central African Copperbelt, in Katanga, all with known surface mineralisation

New local fluorspar mine set to lead globally in production volume, quality and cost

18th July 2017 The new R1.7-billion Nokeng fluorspar mine in Gauteng, the development of which got under way last month, is expected to lead in terms of production volume and quality, and to rank “in the bottom cost quartile when it reaches full production in 24 months”, says SepFluor CEO Rob Wagner. Speaking... →

University library, student resources building wins prestigious award

14th July 2017 The Sol Plaatje University library and student resources building project, in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, has been awarded the 2017 Fulton Concrete Award in the buildings greater than three storeys category at the 2017 biennial Fulton Awards, hosted by the Concrete Society of South Africa... →

LANDMARK ENGINEERING The Sol Plaatje University library’s design allows for the building to be draped in a continuous concrete shell, which takes on a strong angular diamond-like shape

Hudaco remains cash generative in tough economic environment

14th July 2017 Despite a difficult economic and trading environment, JSE-listed industrial products provider Hudaco remains cash-generative, with operations having generated net cash of R247-million for the six months to May 31. Hudaco CEO Graham Dunford emphasised that the results were reported during a... →

Photo by Duane Daws
GRAHAM DUNFORD Hudaco continues to closely manage the relationship between sales, gross margins and expenses

Mining Charter Three unpacked ahead of court hearing

14th July 2017 Ahead of the High Court of South Africa’s hearing, on July 18, to decide on an interdict to halt the implementation of the revised Mining Charter, Deloitte Africa Energy and Resources leader Andrew Lane last week said the mining industry had to take a broader view of the charter, focus and... →

Photo by Duane Daws
MOSEBENZI ZWANE Zwane published the Mining Charter on June 15, which was received with much turbulence and controversy

Mining ups y/y output in May, but down again month on month

13th July 2017 South Africa’s headline mining production grew 3.6% year-on-year in May, but contracted -0.2% from the downwardly revised month-on-month decrease in April over March, of -1.4%. The three largest positive contributors to the headline improvement in mining activity came from iron-ore production,... →

Harmony achieves fatality-free quarter, exceeds yearly production guidance

13th July 2017 JSE-listed Harmony Gold’s South Africa and Papua New Guinea operations achieved a milestone fatality-free quarter in the June 2017 quarter. Moreover, gold production for the financial year ending June 30 is estimated to be 1.09-million ounces, which exceeds the company’s production guidance of... →

MPRDA, LNG import clarity key to establishment of gas economy

11th July 2017 Key factors that will influence the establishment of a gas economy in South Africa include the passing of the amended Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA), while greater clarity is also needed around the anticipated and stated imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), says South... →

Singularity University to host inaugural African summit

7th July 2017 Singularity University, a global community leveraging exponential technologies to tackle the world’s key challenges, will host its first international SingularityU South Africa Summit from August 23 to 24 in Midrand, Gauteng. The two-day summit will highlight the impact of artificial... →

Photo by Bloomberg
SUMMIT HIGHLIGHT The SingularityU South Africa Summit will highlight impacts of exponential technologies in healthcare, security, design and finance

AfDB approves $15m equity investment to support inclusive growth

7th July 2017 The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $15-million investment in multinational private equity fund Shore Capital Fund III (ShoreCap III), which promotes financial inclusion by supporting financial institutions serving Africa’s low-income and emerging middle-class communities. The... →

Photo by Bloomberg
FUND OBJECTIVE The Shore Capital Fund III will focus exclusively on sub-Saharan Africa and will provide growth capital and capacity building for inclusive financial institutions

Afrimat Construction Index continues to outperform general economy

7th July 2017 Despite negative perceptions, South Africa’s economy remains resilient, while the construction industry remains healthy and continues to perform well, says JSE-listed openpit mining company and industrial mineral and construction material supplier Afrimat CEO Andries van Heerden. This is evident... →

RESILIENT INDUSTRY According to the Afrimat Construction Index, the construction sector at large remains on a stronger footing than what it was in 2010

New Archicad solution incorporates highly anticipated stair design tool

7th July 2017 Building information modelling (BIM) software developer for architects and designers Graphisoft has locally launched Archicad 21, the latest version of a BIM software solution that introduces a new, highly anticipated Stair Tool, which features Graphisoft’s patent-pending Predictive Design... →

ANTICIPATED TOOL With the new Stair Tool in Archicad 21, intuitive graphical methods allow for users to easily tweak the stair’s shape and customise structural components

New waterless separator improves iron recovery by 10%-plus

7th July 2017 To deliver enhanced iron content in high-grade magnetite production, processing company Innovative Mineral Processing Technologies (Imptec) has developed the Cyclomag planar magnetic separator, which can produce up to 71% iron-grade products, or 66% iron, or shipping grade in one pass. The... →

PRODUCT POTENTIAL The planar magnetic separator can achieve high-grade magnetite, assuming liberation size has been achieved

Improved iron-ore market bodes well for Congo project – developer

7th July 2017 The global iron-ore industry's performance improved significantly in 2016 from a cost and pricing perspective, providing a much more positive platform going into 2017, Zanaga Iron Ore Company (ZIOC) nonexecutive chairperson Clifford Elphick said in a company results statement last week. Industry... →

Photo by Bloomberg
RISING APPRECIATION Zanaga Iron Ore Company suggests the demand spectrum is increasingly showing an appreciation in pricing of higher-quality lump and pellet feed iron-ore products

Deloitte unpacks Mining Charter ahead of High Court hearing into Chamber’s application to halt its implementation

5th July 2017 Ahead of the High Court of South Africa’s hearing, on July 18, to decide on an interdict to halt the implementation of the revised Mining Charter, Deloitte Africa Energy and Resources leader Andrew Lane on Wednesday said the mining industry had to take a broader view of the charter, focus and... →

Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane

Hudaco maintains resilience amid tough economic environment

30th June 2017 Despite a difficult economic and trading environment, JSE-listed industrial products provider Hudaco remains cash-generative, with operations having generated net cash of R247-million for the six months to May 31. Speaking at a presentation of the group’s results on Friday, CEO Graham Dunford... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Hudaco CEO Graham Dunford

Business holds small-business funding line, despite serious postreshuffle trust deficit

30th June 2017 It is now well documented how President Jacob Zuma’s March 31 Cabinet reshuffle, which saw South Africa’s highly regarded Pravin Gordhan removed as Finance Minister, seriously undermined trust between government and its social partners, including business. The controversial move also placed the... →

Women in energy efficiency look to expand mentorship programme

30th June 2017 Following the initial success of the Southern African Females in Energy Efficiency (Safee) mentorship programmes in the past year, Safee’s potential objectives are to establish the mentorship programme in other provinces, as well as host Safee chapters at various tertiary institutions in the... →

Business holds small-business funding line, despite serious postreshuffle trust deficit

30th June 2017 It is now well documented how President Jacob Zuma’s March 31 Cabinet reshuffle, which saw South Africa’s highly-regarded Pravin Gordhan removed as Finance Minister, seriously undermined trust between government and its social partners, including business. The controversial move also placed the... →

Photo by Bloomberg
GROWTH BOOSTER The SASME Fund’s core objective is to support economic growth, create jobs and increase tax revenue in South Africa

Manufacturer becomes latest tenant at Eastern Cape industrial park

30th June 2017 The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environment Affairs and Tourism (Dedeat) last month introduced green manufacturer and innovation company Ikusasa Green as the latest tenant to the Dimbaza Industrial Park, in the Eastern Cape. Ikusasa Green, which manufactures high-end cooler... →

SUPPORTING INVESTMENT Eastern Cape Development Corporation chairperson Nhlanganiso Dladla, Buffalo City Metro Mayor Xola Phakathi, Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism MEC Sakhumzi Somyo, Massmart group supplier development manager Von Stander and Ikusasa Green MD Thami Gxowa

3D printing could improve mining uptime and productivity

30th June 2017 Forward-thinking mining organisations are realising that industrial-scale, three-dimensional (3D) printing of equipment used in mines could make operations more cost effective and reduce the frustrations of equipment downtime, says information technology consultancy and systems integration firm... →

Photo by Bloomberg
OPERATIONAL CONTROL By 3D printing the spare parts and replaceable components that complex mine machinery requires, operators can gain greater control over the supply chain

Lonmin showcases nonmining career opportunities to youth

30th June 2017 In launching its Youth Month initiatives, London- and JSE-listed platinum mining company Lonmin has convened a series of career guidance workshops for learners at schools in communities around the company’s mines and in labour-sending areas to showcase a career life “beyond mining”. Lonmin... →

WIDENING THE HORIZON Despite communities often seeing mining as the only career opportunity and choice, Lonmin aims to expose the youth to other career opportunities

Endeavour to acquire Avnel to further strengthen high-quality project pipeline

29th June 2017 Canadian gold producer Endeavour Mining will acquire gold mining, exploration and development company Avnel Gold, which owns the Kalana gold project in Mali, in an all-share transaction valued at about $122-million. The transaction, which is expected to close in September, has been unanimously... →

Endeavour Mining Houndé Project Burkina Faso

Summit to outline African LPG market growth potential

29th June 2017 While Africa – the fastest-growing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market in the world today – is rich with potential for LPG industry players, distribution challenges, affordability and safety issues need to be addressed to capitalise on this potential, according to industry experts. This emerged... →

ZIOC encouraged by improved equilibrium in iron-ore market, to enhance Congo project’s investment case

29th June 2017 The global iron-ore industry's performance improved significantly in 2016 from a cost and pricing perspective, providing a much more positive platform going into 2017, Zanaga Iron Ore Company (ZIOC) nonexecutive chairperson Clifford Elphick said on Thursday. Industry operating costs have been... →

Infrastructure development key to accelerating growth, Gama avers

23rd June 2017 Industrialisation and the provision of infrastructure will accelerate Africa’s economic growth, says State-owned logistics provider Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama. Speaking at the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) Conference promotion breakfast, in Johannesburg, earlier this month, he... →

SIYABONGA GAMA We need to make sure that Africa’s share of global trade continues to grow

Stenprop mulls London listing as it pursues UK prospects

23rd June 2017 Following the acquisition of a portfolio of 25 multilet industrial (MLI) properties in the UK earlier this month, JSE-listed property investment company Stenprop is considering the merits of a conversion to real estate investment trust status, as well as a possible listing on the LSE. The... →

Photo by Bloomberg
ATTRACTIVE MARKET Stenprop earlier this month announced the £130.5-million acquisition of a portfolio of multilet industrial (MLI) properties in the UK

Company starts Phase 3 drilling at Sierre Leone gold project

23rd June 2017 Multicommodity exploration and development company Sula Iron & Gold has started Phase 3 drilling at the Sanama Hill and Southern Target deposits at its flagship Ferensola gold project, in Sierra Leone. Following an initial 1 500 m programme carried out in 2015 and the recently completed 3 800 m... →

Photo by Reuters
NEXT STEP Sula Iron and Gold's Phase 3 drilling programme will focus on areas of known high-grade mineralisation

Afrimat Construction Index continues to outperform general economy

22nd June 2017 Despite negative perceptions, South Africa’s economy remains resilient, while the construction industry remains healthy and continues to perform well, says Afrimat CEO Andries van Heerden. This is evident in the Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) having expanded by 22.7% between the third quarter... →

Afrimat CEO Andries van Heerden

Rocket technology idea wins Global Impact Challenge Award

16th June 2017 The idea to use innovative rocket technology that uses asteroid metal as fuel to achieve industrial-scale transport of mined asteroid material has been crowned the winner of the 2017 Singularity University Global Impact Challenge (GIC) Southern Africa edition competition. The US-based Singularity... →

JONATHAN LUN My idea is to use . . . a vacuum arc thruster, that consumes asteroid metal as fuel to achieve industrial-scale transport of mined asteroid material

Mobile hard-drive shredder plant launched in Africa

16th June 2017 Secure information technology (IT) asset disposal services provider Xperien has launched the first mobile hard drive shredder plant in Africa, which is a fully equipped Protection of Personal Information compliant truck that provides on-site degaussing and destruction facilities. Degaussing is a... →

Solar PV project construction starts at Burkina Faso gold mine

16th June 2017 The groundbreaking ceremony of the new 15 MWp photovoltaic (PV) power plant, which will supply power to Canadian midtier mining company Iamgold’s Essakane S.A. gold mine, in Burkina Faso, was held last month at the site. The power plant is owned by global renewable-energy independent power... →

Photo by Bloomberg
NOTABLE SIZE The solar plant will be added to the existing 55 MW heavy fuel power plant, thereby creating the largest hybrid photovoltaic-diesel plant in the world

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