Mia Breytenbach

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Mia Breytenbach

Mia Breytenbach is Deputy Editor: Features for Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Expansion at Zim’s Blanket gold mine to increase production by 45% to 80 000 oz/y in next three years

4th May 2018 Mining, exploration and development company Caledonia Mining believes that its Blanket gold mine in Zimbabwe will achieve continued record production in future, owing to the company’s drive for expansion, says Caledonia Mining corporate development and investor relations VP Maurice Mason. The... →

‘Toolbox’ helps Harmony Gold improve environmental management

27th April 2018 JSE-listed Harmony Gold Mining (Harmony) has improved its environmental management through the implementation of a system that centralises the company’s environmental data. The system, named Management Toolbox (MTB), facilitates the capturing of environmental data, the storing of related source... →

First phase of Lesotho diamond mine project poised for commercial production in second half of 2018

20th April 2018 Angola- and Lesotho-focused diamond miner Lucapa Diamond Company believes that once the Mothae diamond mine, in Lesotho, enters into full production, the operation, paired with the company’s Lulo alluvial diamond mine, in Angola, will position it as one of few worldwide to have two mines... →

MINING POTENTIAL Lucapa made its first diamond recoveries from Mothae last month, with the largest of the about two dozen diamonds recovered in the first test run being 6.6 ct

Software, digitalisation to enhance mining productivity, efficiency

13th April 2018 Amid the recent economic downturn, with the global mining industry having to deal with volatile commodity prices, as well as the increasing need to improve operational efficiencies and address safety concerns, mining software solutions provider MICROMINE global marketing manager Kate Gilbey... →

INCREASING AWARENESS Mining companies recognise the need to improve their processes to increase productivity and output and, ultimately, realise a healthier bottom line

Bullion association punting responsible sourcing as a ‘must have’

23rd March 2018 The London Bullion Market Association, the world’s authority for precious metals, together with its 150 members based in more than 30 countries and encompassing every part of the journey in precious metals production, is adding value to the global industry by setting standards, developing market... →

Photo by Bloomberg
VAULT HOLDINGS Data available for end of November 2017 reveals that there is 7 841 t of gold, valued at $322.7-billion, equating to approximately 627 319 gold bars

Digitalisation, automation to increase across Africa

16th March 2018 Digitalisation and automation in the mining industry have become a reality, says mining and equipment services provider Sandvik Southern Africa sales VP Simon Andrews, who tells Mining Weekly that industry “has stepped beyond the conceptual phase and entered the operational phase”. He suggests... →

DIGITALISATION EMPHASIS The OptiMine information management systems are suitable for surface and underground mining applications

Mining-specific staff recruitment, management app developed

6th March 2018 To refine and improve the execution of recruitment within the mining industry, mining and engineering professionals recruiter TrueVine Consulting has developed a new, innovative online recruitment platform, called Digger. “Digger is a digital recruitment, talent management and staff retention... →

DIGGING IT Through the Digger app mining professionals are informed of available positions globally, directly on their mobile devices

Nigerian mining’s GDP contribution seen increasing sixfold to 3%, cautious optimism takes hold in South Africa

23rd February 2018 With investors continuously scouring for new opportunities worldwide and countries scrutinised for their investment attractiveness and moni- tored in terms of economic growth, new light has been cast on the re-emerging and growing Nigerian mining sector, while South Africa’s mining industry... →

De Beers unit’s density measurement system now commercially available

23rd February 2018 De Beers Group of Companies’ innovation division De Beers Technologies South Africa (DebTech SA) has developed a novel density measurement system that can provide process plants with fast and accurate data on material density profiles of particle samples. The availability of this data, in turn,... →

ACCURATE MEASUREMENT The RhoVol has a process rate of approximately 1 000 particles an hour, which is generally sufficient for a representative sample

Nigerian mining’s GDP contribution seen increasing sixfold to 3%, cautious optimism takes hold in SA

23rd February 2018 With investors continuously scouring worldwide for new opportunities and countries scrutinised for their investment attractiveness and monitored in terms of economic growth, currently, new light has been cast on the re-emerging and growing Nigerian mining sector, while South Africa’s mining... →

Photo by Bloomberg
PICKING UP Nigeria is looking to learn from South Africa and other developed mining destinations as it develops its own mining sector

There is new energy to ease mining industry conflict – Scholes

16th February 2018 There appears to be new political resolve to mend the relationship between the mining industry and the Department of Mineral Resources, says specialised law firm Malan Scholes director Hulme Scholes. Speaking at the IHS Markit South African Coal Export Conference, in Cape Town, on Thursday, the... →

Photo by Duane Daws
HULME SCHOLES For the first time . . . we will see the trust deficit between the mining industry and department close

Botswana Diamonds starts exploration work at Botswana JV, maintains exploration optimism

13th February 2018 Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has started exploration work on the Sunland Minerals joint venture (JV), which it shares with Russian diamond producer Alrosa, in Botswana. The objective of the exploration programme is to follow up on 15 previously identified priority geophysical targets in PL232-235... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Botswana Diamonds MD James Campbell

Abandoned mines punted as potential pumped-storage scheme sites

9th February 2018 Several abandoned mine sites in South Africa and Australia could be sustainably used, particularly in terms of serving as pumped hydro-energy storage sites, says renewable-energy generation and storage provider Genex Power executive director Simon Kidston. Although underground and opencast mine... →

Photo by Genex Power
ENERGY HUB Genex Power is implementing a solar farm and pumped hydro energy storage scheme at the defunct Kidston gold mine in Queensland, Australia

Bushveld to focus on growth at vanadium, coal assets this year

9th February 2018 Following the achievement of significant development milestones during 2017, integrated vanadium producer Bushveld Minerals will focus on enhancing growth at its vanadium and coal assets this year. “There is a unique window of opportunity for the company to position itself as a large, vertically... →

Photo by Duane Daws
FORTUNE MOJAPELO There is a unique window of opportunity for the company to position itself as a large, vertically integrated and low-cost vanadium platform

Orion to target BFS completion for Prieska project by October

8th February 2018 Following the release of the maiden mineral resource for Orion Minerals’ Prieska zinc/copper project, in the Northern Cape, the company will target the completion of a bankable feasibility study (BFS) on the project by October. Speaking to Mining Weekly Online on the sidelines of the Investing in... →

Master Drilling unveils novel mobile tunnel boring system at Indaba

6th February 2018 JSE-listed Master Drilling has launched its new South African-developed mobile tunnel boring system, which is suitable for the excavation of various types of tunnels. Master Drilling executive director Koos Jordaan explained at the unveiling of the system at the Investing in African Mining... →

Randgold Resources CE calls for gold industry to focus on assets

6th February 2018 Although the gold mining industry has largely weathered the post supercycle storm and is no longer in survival mode, the industry still remains in a kind of limbo, says Randgold Resources CE Mark Bristow. Speaking at a presentation of the company’s 2017 results, on the sidelines of the Investing... →

Randgold Resources achieves record production, reduces cost in high-performance year

5th February 2018 Randgold Resources has, for the seventh consecutive year, increased its gold production, boosting output by 5% year-on-year to 1.32-million ounces and exceeding the guidance for 2017. The miner has further reduced its total cash cost by 3% to $620/oz – the lowest level in six years. →

Photo by Duane Daws
Randgold CEO Mark Bristow

CoM sees resurgence in hope, green shoots in South African mining industry

5th February 2018 There is new sense of hope in the mining industry and in South Africa, says Chamber of Mines (CoM) CEO Roger Baxter. “It gives us a new confidence that a resurgence is taking place in the industry for the year ahead,” said Baxter, who spoke at a media briefing at the Investing in African Mining... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Chamber of Mines CEO Roger Baxter

Streaming, royalty agreements novel alternative funding structures for coal juniors

2nd February 2018 Streaming and royalty agreements are novel financing structures that are useful in medium-risk environments, says legal services provider Strata Legal director Brandon Irsigler. Speaking at the IHS Markit South African Coal Export Conference, in Cape Town, on Friday, he highlighted royalty and... →

Southern African countries, Botswana to play larger role in coal export market

2nd February 2018 Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique are beginning to play a much bigger role in the Southern African domestic and export coal market, says Botswana Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Minister Sadique Kebonang. Speaking at the IHS Markit South African Coal Export Conference,... →

Savannah submits mining lease applications for Moz sands project

2nd February 2018 Resource development company Savannah Resources has submitted three mining lease applications to Mozambique’s Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy for mining leases for the Mutamba heavy mineral sands project. Located in the Gaza and Inhambane provinces, Mutamba is being developed in a... →

CONSTRUCTION COMPLEMENT Savannah Resources completed the construction of the pilot plant for its bulk metallurgical test work programme at Mutamba in December

Explorer changes name as it targets production of cobalt, other battery metals in DRC

2nd February 2018 Multicommodity exploration and development company Sula Iron & Gold, which has changed its name to African Battery Metals (ABM), will now focus on developing its cobalt exploration licences in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Trading in the company’s shares under its new name started last... →

ALLURING POTENTIAL African Battery Metals will continue to advance the Ferensola gold project in Sierra Leone

Gold expected to peak at $1 500/oz this year – Thomson Reuters

2nd February 2018 Gold prices are expected to average $1 360/oz and hit a 2018 peak of more than $1 500/oz later this year, according to research firm Thomson Reuters GFMS, which published its fourth-quarter Gold Survey last month. The firm noted that the survey’s forecast discounts three federal fund rate hikes... →

Photo by Bloomberg
DOLLAR GAIN The highlights for gold in 2017 include the yellow metal gaining 12.5% intra-year in dollar terms, supported largely by geopolitical risk

Johnson Controls’ dual centrifugal chiller selected for cooling system at Ghana gold mine

2nd February 2018 Engineering consultancy Bluhm Burton Engineering (BBE) has selected diversified technology provider Johnson Controls’ York YD dual centrifugal chiller to meet the cooling requirements for gold and copper producer Newmont Mining Corporation’s Subika underground project at the Ahafo complex, in... →

MEETING REQUIREMENTS The York YD dual centrifugal chiller with its cooling capability meets the needs of the surface air cooling plant design at Subika

New energy to ease mining industry conflict – Scholes

1st February 2018 There appears to be new political resolve to mend the relationship between the mining industry and the Department of Mineral Resources, says specialised law firm Malan Scholes director Hulme Scholes. Speaking at the IHS Markit South African Coal Export Conference, in Cape Town, on Thursday, the... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Malan Scholes director Hulme Scholes

Eskom sees opportunity for emerging coal miners to improve utility’s security of supply, logistics

1st February 2018 State-owned power utility Eskom’s demand for about 750-million tonnes of coal between now and about 2040, has seen the utility identify opportunities arising for emerging coal miners in respect of two of its strategic objectives – the security of supply and logistics optimisation. Speaking at the... →

Mali’s Yanfolila mine pours first gold, ramping up to commercial production

26th January 2018 With West African gold producer Hummingbird Resources having started gold production at its Mali-based Yanfolila gold mine on time and within budget last month, the gold producer remains on track with its ramp-up to commercial production. Since acquiring the project from Gold Fields in 2014,... →

PROJECT MILESTONE Hummingbird Resources having started gold production at Yanfolila gold mine on time and within budget last month

Liviero Mining buys mobile lighting system fleet to light up opencast operations

26th January 2018 In addition to marketing its specialist range of crushing and screening products, crushing and screening specialist Pilot Crushtec International has made significant strides in the marketing of its Generac range of Tower Light mobile lighting systems, which has resulted in major mining contractor... →

MINING ILLUMINATED Illumination from the Generac VTevo lighting towers is provided by four 290 W floodlights instead of conventional lamps

West African gold explorer lists in Australia

26th January 2018 West African gold developer and explorer Tietto Minerals started trading on the Australian Stock Exchange earlier this month, following its successful initial public offer (IPO) that raised A$6-million from institutional and high net worth investors, including two global resources funds. The... →

Photo by Bloomberg
KEY FOCUS The Abujar project has a maiden Joint Ore Reserves Committee- compliant mineral resource estimate of 10.4-million tonnes at 2.1 g/t gold for 703 600 oz gold

Acacia’s gold production slumps on Tanzania export ban, downscaling

26th January 2018 While gold miner Acacia Mining’s gold production for the fourth quarter in 2017 was slightly ahead of expectations at 148 477 oz, it was 30% lower quarter-on-quarter as a result of its flagship Bulyanhulu gold mine in Tanzania having downscaled operations. The miner’s decision to reduce... →

Gold expected to peak at $1 500/oz this year – Thomson Reuters

25th January 2018 Gold prices are expected to average $1 360/oz and hit a 2018 peak of more than $1 500/oz later this year, according to research firm Thomson Reuters GFMS, which published its fourth-quarter Gold Survey on Thursday. The firm noted that the survey’s forecast discounts three federal fund rate hikes... →

Oyu Tolgoi reaches milestone with shaft completion, maintains force majeure

23rd January 2018 Rio Tinto subsidiary Turquoise Hill said that Oyu Tolgoi, a copper and gold mine in the southern Gobi desert, in Mongolia, has marked an early development milestone at the Hugo North Lift 1, with the completion of the sinking of Shaft 2, including reaching final depth, shaft bottom mass... →

Banro starts court-approved sales, investment solicitation process

23rd January 2018 Following the start of restructuring proceedings last month, Democratic Republic of Congo- (DRC-) focused miner Banro Corporation and its Barbados subsidiaries have initiated a sale and investment solicitation process (Sisp). The company, which in December filed for bankruptcy protection in... →

Sula to pursue DRC cobalt opportunities as it changes name to African Battery Metals

19th January 2018 Multicommodity exploration and development company Sula Iron & Gold, which has changed its name to African Battery Metals (ABM), will now focus on developing its cobalt exploration licences in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Trading in the company’s shares under the new name started on... →

Regulatory uncertainty casting shadow over South Africa amid forecast for further minerals market uptick

19th January 2018 The South African mining industry has had a tumultuous time because of the controversial Reviewed Draft Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry, also known as Mining Charter III, which, amid lingering political uncertainty, led to low... →

Solar energy body launches five-point plan for industrialisation, job creation and growth

19th January 2018 The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has announced a “bold” five-point plan for the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry to drive industrialisation, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth. Speaking at the Energy Indaba held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, on Friday,... →

Up to ten midtier mineral deposits can still be discovered in South Africa – resources consultant

19th January 2018 There is no reason why South Africa cannot build an exploration and junior mining sector, says resources consultant Dr John Bristow, who notes that while the country has vestiges of this sector, it is hampered by regulatory policy, and a preoccupation with a “Sunset” mining industry. Speaking at... →

Photo by Duane Daws
DR JOHN BRISTOW South Africa’s geological and minerals jewel box remains underexplored

Nkomati mine tailings pipeline project set for completion next month

19th January 2018 Multidisciplinary engineering services provider TDS Projects Construction, in partnership with Robor Pipe Systems, has started construction of 13-km-long tailings pipeline for the Nkomati nickel mine’s Onverwacht site, in Mpumalanga. Reports from site indicate that the project is on track for... →

PROJECT PROGRESS All the pipes required for the project have been delivered and more than 4 500 m of piping have been installed to date

Australian junior to acquire Namibia zinc project

19th January 2018 ASX-listed Tanga Resources will acquire the high-grade Joumbira zinc project, in Namibia, and raise A$1.16-million to fund the transaction and start planned work programmes. The company entered into a binding option agreement to acquire 100% of the issued shares of Namibia-registered Coldstone... →

Photo by Bloomberg
GOOD TIMING Tanga Resources believes that Joumbira is a highly prospective, advanced project, in a world-class mining jurisdiction, with good timing for shareholder exposure to zinc

Envoy urges SA, Brazil to share ideas on improving mining

19th January 2018 With the mining sector having played a significant role in the history and development of South Africa and Brazil, it is “natural and appropriate” that the two countries come together to discuss and exchange ideas about how to improve the mining sector in both countries, says Ambassador of Brazil... →

Photo by Bloomberg
CONTRIBUTION OF NOTE The Brazilian mining industry contributes about 4% to the national gross domestic product with the value of mineral production amounting to about $24-billion

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