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

Input costs weigh heavily on Zambia’s mines – ZCM

27th January 2017 Electricity and labour, which together account for up to 50% of total operating costs, are the most important elements in the cost structure of the average Zambian copper mine, states the Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM). This means that even small increases in these two cost components can have a... →

UK scientists develop ‘power generating’ diamond

27th January 2017 New technology has been developed that uses nuclear waste to generate electricity in a nuclear-powered battery. A team of physicists and chemists from the University of Bristol have grown a man-made diamond that, when placed in a radioactive field, is able to generate a small electrical current.... →

Photo by University of Bristol
GROUND-BREAKING DEVELOPMENT The development could solve some of the problems associated with nuclear waste, clean electricity generation and battery life

Nigeria gets pat on the back for promoting accountable management of natural resources

27th January 2017 Nigeria’s efforts to improve natural resource governance through the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Standard were recognised earlier this month by the international EITI board. The EITI is a global standard to promote open and accountable management of natural resources. →

LEADING AFRICA BY EXAMPLE The first country in Africa to implement the EITI, Nigeria has helped shape the EITI Standard and developed one of the most extensive EITI reporting processes globally

Propellant-based rock breaking system mooted as alternative to traditional explosives

27th January 2017 It is generally acknowledged that South Africa’s narrow-reef mining sector is in a precarious state as its viability is challenged by declining global commodity prices, labour instability, uncertain government policy, overregulation and declining productivity. Adding to the problem is mine... →

Photo by Master Blaster
IMPROVING SAFETY The 1.4S initiation system propellant powders produce no shock energy, which ensures improved hanging wall conditions, and therefore a safer working environment

Carbon tax would have costly implications for mines – Accenture

27th January 2017 In South Africa, policymakers and businesses have discussed a carbon tax for several years, starting with the country’s signing of the Copenhagen Agreement in 2009. However, progress has been slow with the first draft of a carbon tax policy – which aims to reduce emissions through a fixed price... →

SEGRAN PILLAY A low carbon future is on the horizon not only in South Africa, but globally

Mining Indaba remains pivotal to Africa

27th January 2017 The mineral resources sector remains “critically important” to the African continent, which is why the Investing in African Mining Indaba has consistently been regarded as an event of “paramount significance”, says Mining Indaba MD Alex Grose. This is also a key motivation for the at least 24... →

THE PLACE TO BE, CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Despite challenging market conditions facing the global mining industry, companies worldwide regard the Investing in African Mining Indaba as a ‘must-attend conference’

Merafe increases FY output, reduces debt

26th January 2017 JSE-listed Merafe Resources’ attributable ferrochrome production from the Glencore Merafe Chrome Venture for the year ended December 31, increased by 4% to 107 t, compared with the 101 t produced in 2015. Merafe on Thursday said that it expects to report basic earnings a share of between 20c and... →

Glencore Merafe Chrome Venture chrome refinery

Despite disappointing Q1 production figures, Lonmin maintains FY17 guidance

26th January 2017 Platinum producer Lonmin is disappointed by first-quarter production figures at its Generation 2 shafts; however, with the initiative of deploying additional stoping and vamping crews and the expected platinum ounces from the smelter clean-up project, it is maintaining its sales guidance for the... →

Photo by Bloomberg
Lonmin’s Marikana mining operations, in the North West

Anglo American Q4 output broadly higher but copper output down 19%

26th January 2017 Diversified miner Anglo American achieved higher output for most of its products in the fourth quarter ended December 31, but copper production fell by 19% year-on-year. The lower copper production, which decreased to 146 600 t, was mainly the result of lower grades and the impact of adverse... →

Barro Alto nickel mine, Brazil

Tough operating climate brings greater transparency emphasis for miners

24th January 2017 The mining industry has continued to face significant uncertainty, volatility and pressure to contain costs over the past three years. This unpredictable business environment has given rise to a number of reporting trends geared towards providing stakeholders and users of mining companies’... →

Photo by Duane Daws
KPMG global mining leader Jacques Erasmus

South Africa’s mining sector at a crossroads, collaborative effort required

20th January 2017 The global mining industry has been struggling since the 2008 international financial crisis set off a chain of events resulting in contracted growth in important markets, such as China, and recession in others, such as Europe, leading to severe declines in commodity prices. In South Africa, the... →

South Africa’s mining sector at a crossroads, collaborative effort required

20th January 2017 The global mining industry has been struggling since the 2008 international financial crisis set off a chain of events resulting in contracted growth in important markets, such as China, and recession in others, such as Europe, leading to severe declines in commodity prices. In South Africa,... →

Photo by Duane Daws
REMAINS RELEVANT Mining remains important to South Africa, as it directly contributes 9% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), doubling to 18% of GDP when mining inputs are taken into account

Adoption of new technologies can benefit mines, local communities

20th January 2017 A raft of highly-matured existing technologies are available to miners in the quest to transform their operations, enhance efficiency, improve productivity, elevate safety levels, and revitalise a struggling mining industry, says information technology consultancy and systems integration firm... →

INADEQUATE TECHNOLOGY UPTAKE While the technology is available, South African mining organisations are largely not ready to embrace it

Proposed amendments to residue stockpiles and deposits regulations welcomed

20th January 2017 Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa in November published the proposed amendments to the Regulations Regarding the Planning and Management of Residue Stockpiles and Residue Deposits for comment. Law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) environmental director Sandra Gore explains that the... →

ALECIA PIENAAR Planning and management techniques must be context-driven and well-tailored to manage the ‘peculiar risks’ associated with each mining operation

Company looks back on its first decade, upbeat about future fortunes

20th January 2017 South African geospatial solution and aerial survey company Southern Mapping celebrated its tenth anniversary last month, reflecting on its many achievements while outlining its aims for the future. “Our aim is to remain the leader in the field of aerial surveying airborne remote sensing and... →

HYPERSPECTRAL SURVEY Southern Mapping’s hyperspectral sensor is the only one its kind that is permanently based in Africa

Portia Derby joins Aurecon, advances company’s transformation efforts

19th January 2017 Employee-owned consulting engineering company Aurecon is moving its transformation process up a gear with the appointment of Portia Derby to the position of Gauteng senior regional director. She is the first black woman appointed to a senior management position involved in the operations of the... →

Portia Derby is Aurecon’s new Gauteng senior regional director

Worcester set to have a new R61m high school in 2017

22nd December 2016 Construction of the new Worcester high school, in the Western Cape, is nearing completion and is expected to open its doors in January, the Western Cape government (WCG) said on Thursday. The R61-million project was commissioned in August 2015 by the Department of Transport and Public Works... →

Dacian secures A$150m for WA gold project

21st December 2016 Gold developer Dacian Gold has completed and signed a syndicated facility agreement (SFA) to fund the development of its Mt Morgans gold project, in Western Australia. Financial institutions Westpac Banking Corporation, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited and BNP Paribas will each... →

Corunna Downs DFS indicates large iron-ore deposit

21st December 2016 Iron-ore miner Atlas Iron’s Corunna Downs project, in Western Australia, has the potential to deliver 4-million tons a year of lump and fines direct-shipping iron-ore (DSO) over an initial mine life of five to six years. This is according to the results of the project’s definitive feasibility... →

Kibo secures $2.9m forward payment facility for Mbeya project

21st December 2016 Tanzania-focused mineral exploration and development company Kibo Mining has entered into a binding term sheet with UK-based private equity provider Sanderson Capital Partners for a new $2.9-million forward payment facility. The facility provides for Kibo to be advanced part of the $3.6-million... →

EDD transactions adds R10.8bn to local economy

21st December 2016 Settlements concluded during the year by the Economic Development Department (EDD) has resulted in R10.8-billion being released back into the local economy. This included, among others, settlements with beer and cider giant Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), carbonated soft drink producer Coca-Cola... →

Medupi’s second unit powered for first time, generates 796 MW

20th December 2016 State-owned power utility Eskom revealed on Tuesday that the second unit of its Medupi coal-fired power station, in Limpopo was loaded to full capacity over the weekend and generated 796 MW of electricity. Eskom interim CE Matshela Koko said that this was Medupi’s most “significant achievement”... →

Moody’s retains Bidvest’s investment rating, outlook negative

20th December 2016 While credit ratings firm Moody’s has kept JSE-listed Bidvest’s investment rating at Baa2 for the local currency global scale long-term outlook, it has changed the outlook to negative. However, it also kept the company’s Prime-2 short-term issuer ratings as well as affirmed its Aa1.za national... →

Bacanora in advanced discussions with Asian offtake partner

20th December 2016 Aim- and TSX-V-listed lithium and borates company Bacanora Minerals is currently in advanced discussions with a “significant Asian offtake partner” for the supply of battery-grade lithium carbonate from its Sonora lithium project, in Mexico. Bacanora executive chairperson Mark Hohnen stated on... →

Kefi Minerals has a ‘very good’ year, upbeat about 2017 project advancement

20th December 2016 Gold exploration and development company Kefi Minerals has had a “very good” 12 months in which it has made solid progress towards becoming a gold production company, said Kefi executive chairperson Harry Anagnostaras-Adams on Tuesday. “The calm and prodevelopment situation in Ethiopia, combined... →

CSG strengthens security portfolio with R57m purchase of Stallion Reaction

20th December 2016 Strategic outsourcing company CSG Holdings, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Invictus Risk, will purchase the armed response and monitoring division of Stallion Reaction as a going concern for about R57-million. The transaction includes individual client and commercial contracts, the armed... →

Capricorn Metals announces discovery of new, high-grade structure

19th December 2016 Australian junior gold miner Capricorn Metals has confirmed the presence of a new, high-grade mineralised structure in the immediate footwall of the Bibra gold deposit at its 100%-owned Karlawinda gold project, in Western Australia. Capricorn MD Peter Thompson said on Monday that a recently... →

Eskom’s delay in approving PPAs could cost country 15 000 jobs – Sarec

19th December 2016 The South African economy is in jeopardy of losing 15 000 possible jobs, associated with 26 Department of Energy- (DoE-) approved renewable energy plants, if State-owned power utility Eskom does not follow through with its legal obligations to finalise power purchasing agreements (PPAs) with the... →

Telkom to support subsidiaries with R1.1bn cash injection

19th December 2016 State-owned telecommunications services provider Telkom on Monday informed its shareholders that it would grant R1-billion in financial assistance to its subsidiary Business Connexion (BCX). The information and communication technology (ICT) firm was bought by Telkom for R2.6-billion in 2015,... →

Glencore outlines $1.1b pricing of tender offers

19th December 2016 Diversified mining and marketing company Glencore has priced the offers to purchase up to the maximum tender amount of outstanding notes of $1.1-billion. The total offer consideration relates to the individual number of $1 000 principal amount of notes that have been accepted for purchase. The... →

Sanral embarks on R226m road resurfacing project

19th December 2016 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has announced a R226-million road resurfacing project between the Eastern Cape towns of Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort. Resurfacing of the R67 from Grahamstown to Fort Beaufort will commence in January and is set to be completed by... →

Electronic incident reporting, management system touted as best practice

16th December 2016 For many years line managers and safety staff in the South African mining industry have tried to understand the relationship between incidents, minor injuries, lost-time injuries, serious injuries and fatal injuries. In the early 1980s, ‘loss control’ was the buzzword in mine safety and the Frank... →

RISK AWARENESS Any manager that knows of a hazard and the associated risk, as a reasonable person, will act to avert the harm that will result if this risk materialises

Integration of IoT platforms in mining seen as way to enhance productivity

16th December 2016 The adoption and implementation of exponential technologies will increase productivity and ensure greater efficiencies throughout the mining sector globally, asserts advisory firm Deloitte digital transformation in Africa head Gareth Rees. He points out that the mining sector has been developing... →

TECHNOLOGY TAKE-UP BHP Billiton intends using blockchain to record movements of wellbore rock and fluid samples

Report says Zambia needs more friendly tax regime to attract mining investors

16th December 2016 Zambia needs a more competitive mining tax regime to entice new and existing investors to invest billions of dollars into the mining industry and boost flagging production, says Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM) president Nathan Chishimba. “Zambia Finance Minister Felix Mutati’s Budget Speech, last... →

Photo by Bloomberg
IMPROVEMENT, BUT…… Despite recent welcome changes to Mineral Royalty Tax, Zambia’s overall effective mining tax rate remains among the highest in the world

Systems thinking game aims to bring change to mining industry

16th December 2016 Mining industry stakeholders knows that the industry must become more productive and efficient if it is to remain competitive and achieve the returns on investment required by shareholders. Local management consultancy Vuuma Collaborations has been researching other complex industries that have... →

Photo by Duane Daws
SERIOUS GAMING SiMINE provides a systems thinking approach for mining through modern game technology to understand the complexities of an interconnected mining value chain

Report says Zambia needs more friendly tax regime to attract mining investors

15th December 2016 Zambia needs a more competitive mining tax regime to entice new and existing investors to invest billions of dollars in the mining industry and boost flagging production, says Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM) president Nathan Chishimba. “Zambia Finance Minister Felix Mutati’s Budget Speech, last... →

Petmin sees 2% sales increase, 3% production decline in Q3

9th December 2016 Diversified miner Petmin on Friday reported that its production of metallurgical anthracite for the third quarter of the year decreased by 3% year-on-year to 342 536 t, from 352 179 t during the same period in 2015. However, sales volumes increased by 2% year-on-year to 363 982 t compared with... →

Workers in discussion at Somkhele anthracite mine, KwaZulu-Natal

Slide in BEE ownership to 30% won’t affect Eskom supply deals, says Exxaro

9th December 2016 Diversified miner Exxaro Resources has assured investors that despite its black ownership falling below the 51% required by State-owned power utility Eskom for all its supply contracts, this will not affect its existing supply contracts with the utility. The company is set to introduce a new... →

Photo by Duane Daws
MXOLISI MGOJO Exxaro has for some time, been diversifying some of its shorter-term contracts that were coming to an end

Sibanye testing alternative to explosives-based rock breaking

9th December 2016 The South African mining industry requires a paradigm shift in its fundamental approach to mining processes to ensure that it can move away from the use of explosives, says diversified miner Sibanye Resources safe technology and innovation project engineer Alex Fenn. He argues that explosives are... →

Photo by CMTI
NONEXPLOSIVE MINING ENABLER The Multi-Track1000 is 930 mm in height and has four independent track assemblies, which are capable of three different degrees of motion

DMR insists it ‘engaged comprehensively’ with chamber on revised Mining Charter

9th December 2016 The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has refuted claims that the Ministry has not actively engaged stakeholders about the draft revised Mining Charter. The DMR issued a statement stating that it had “engaged comprehensively” with the Chamber of Mines (CoM) on the draft of the charter since... →

Photo by Duane Daws
TARGET OF DMR DERISION The DMR says Roger Baxter comments that the previous Mining Charter had been codeveloped were ‘interesting’

MPRDA Bill could deter investment in upstream oil and gas industry – lawyer

9th December 2016 In January 2015, President Jacob Zuma referred the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill to the National Assembly based on reservations that it would not pass constitutional muster. Law firm Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa director Lizel Oberholzer says that... →

LIZEL OBERHOLZER Expectations are that the legislator will provide principles that will guide the Mineral Resources Minister in exercising discretion in adjusting the State’s participation in the oil and gas sector

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