Plight of near-mine communities highlighted at Joburg conference

The plight of near mine communities in the Southern African region was highlighted recently at the annual Southern African Resource Watch conference held in Johannesburg. 

Angloplat chairperson to step down before next AGM

Anglo Platinum chairperson Fred Phaswana indicated at the JSE-listed company's annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday that he would be stepping down before the group's next AGM. 

Recruitment firm partners Homecoming Revolution in project to lure professionals back to South Africa

In the midst of last year's global financial crisis, more then 1 000 South Africans living in the UK attended the yearly Homecoming Revolution function, which was held in London, and expressed... 

AngloGold Ashanti, Okimo to jointly develop DRC project

Gold-mining major AngloGold Ashanti has entered into a definitive joint-venture (JV) with l'Office des Mines d'Or de Kilo-Moto (Okimo) to develop the Ashanti Goldfields Kilo (AGK) project in the... 

Processing operations at Ghana's Iduaprien mine suspended while tailings facility is being built

Gold-mining major AngloGold Ashanti has suspended processing operations at its Iduapriem mine, in Ghana, pending the establishment of a temporary tailings storage facility at the mine. 

Diamond jewellery company notches up 300% growth despite economic slowdown

In the midst of the worst economic crisis the world has seen since the great depression in the 1930s, diamond-focused jewellery company African Romance has grown by 300% during this period. 

Phaswana to vacate Angloplat chair before next AGM

Anglo Platinum chairperson Fred Phaswana indicated at the JSE-listed company's annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday that he would be stepping down before the group's next AGM. Phaswana is a... 

Illegal mining: SA govt draws the line as investors grow restless

Since the end of 2008, reports of illegal mining at top producing South African operations have become more frequent. In an effort to settle the fears of international investors, South African... 

Global consumption of uranium to quadruple over next 30 years

A leading academic predicts that the global demand for mined uranium will rise at least four times over the next 30 years. It would be driven by rising electricity demands and the scaling back of... 

Equinox aiming to increase production at Lumwana as process plant exceeds design capacity

The performance of the Lumwana process plant, which has been performing above designed capacity, has focused the attention of Australian mining major Equinox Minerals on increased future production. 

DMR gives CoAL the go-ahead to take a bulk sample from Makhado coking coal project

Coal mining junior Coal of Africa (CoAL) has received approval from the Department of Mineral Resources for an application to take a bulk sample from its Makhado coking coal project. 

Illegal Mining: Govt draws the line as investors grow restless

Since the end of 2008, reports of illegal mining at top producing South African operations have become more frequent. 

Remains of 70 migrant workers laid to rest in Joburg

The remains of about 50 to 70 migrant labourers of Asian and African decent were laid to rest last week following the discovery of a mass grave on the West Rand in December 2008. 

SRK completes due diligence study into ‘complex copper-mining operation’

Diversified engineering company and scientists SRK Consulting recently completed a comprehensive due diligence (DD) study on a complex mining operation in Southern Africa. 

Africa-focused junior launches study 
into Namibia uranium projet

Africa-focused Australian mining junior Bannerman is in the process of initiating a definitive feasibility study on its 80%-owned Etango project, in Namibia, in December 2009, and has since... 

Mining sector accounts for big portion of 
hydraulics company’s 600% turnover increase

Hydraulic engineering company Hydraulic Engineering Repair Services (Hers) has grown its turnover by 600% since 2004, with a significant portion of the growth achieved in the mining sector. 

Skills shortage to be more acute by 2020

The full affects of the global skills crisis on the South African engineering industry will be compounded by 2020 owing to the aging nature of professionals within the industry, reports executive... 

SRK’s China unit retailed to offer 
iron-ore operation advisory services

With visible signs of a global economic and commodity revival, renewed focus will be placed on commodities that are key to fast-tracking infrastructure projects significantly affected by the global... 

Gold producer renames mine 
to highlight safety advances

Gold-mining major Harmony Gold has renamed its Elandsrand mine to Kusasalethu in an effort to highlight the advancements that the mine has made in safety and to entrench a strong safety culture at... 

Engineering company secures order for 27 apron feeders

Bulk materials handling and minerals processing specialist Osborn is starting 2010 with a record number of orders in hand, including 27 new apron feeders that will be fabricated and delivered... 

Exxaro aiming to be a significant player in iron-ore sector

Diversified miner Exxaro Resources announced at its 2009 annual results presentation that it hoped to offer future competition to Kumba Iron Ore (KIO) in the local market. 

2010 to be characterised by more innovative deal financing strategies – Ernst & Young

Following a turbulent 2009 for the mining and metals sector, 2010 will be a year characterised by a greater focus on capital allocation, more innovative deal financing strategies, a continuation of... 

Kumba reports 42% decline in injury frequency rate

South Africa’s largest iron-ore producer, Kumba Iron Ore (KIO), has decreased its lost-time injury-frequency rate by 42%. 

KIO’s export sales surged by 9,3-million tons in 2009

The world’s fourth-largest iron-ore producer, Kumba Iron Ore (KIO), has recorded a 9,3-million-ton increase in its export sales. 

New head takes over at Wits School of Mining Engineering

South Africa’s oldest mining school, the Wits School of Mining Engineering, has acquired the services of two former heads of mining schools and two former chief inspectors of mines under its... 

Gold mine notches up 2m fatality-free shifts

Fairview mine, part of Pan African Resources Barberton Mines in Mpumalanga, recorded a exemplary safety record for the six-month period ending December 2009, with the mine achieving two-million... 

Pan African aiming to produce 
95 000 oz in fiscal 2010

Africa-focused midtier miner Pan African Resources announced, at its interim results presentation for the six months ending December 2009, that it is targeting 95 000 oz of gold for the full... 

Great Basin breathing new life into S Africa's South Rand goldfield

Gold producer Great Basin Gold’s (GBG’s) ambition of becoming a midtier gold producer is fast becoming a reality and could be achieved by June this year when its Burnstone project, in Mpumalanga,... 

North West rural communities set to benefit from potential beneficiation project

Rural communities in the North West province could be the main benefactors of an ambitious diamond beneficiation project that could be established near the province’s capital Mafikeng. 

Mining junior advances Liberian 
gold, iron-ore projects

African mining junior African Aura Mining reports that significant progress is being made at its New Liberty gold and Putu iron-ore projects in Liberia. 

Great Basin Gold breathing new life into underexploited South Rand goldfield

South African gold producer Great Basin Gold’s (GBG) ambition of becoming a midtier gold producer is fast becoming a reality and could be achieved by June this year when its Burnstone project, in... 

Actom supplying biggest portion of substation equipment at Namibia uranium mine

In its largest-ever contract to date, energy engineering company Actom Power Systems is procuring, supplying and installing the electrical equipment required for four new substations being... 

South African consultancy steps up involvement in Moz coal exploration

In line with the group’s increased focus on the energy sector, South African consulting engineer SRK Consulting has increased its coal exploration activities in Tete province, in Mozambique. 

SRK to open office in DRC, eyeing Ghana, Zimbabwe

Diversified consulting engineers and scientists, SRK Consulting is in the process of positioning itself for an aggressive expansion into the African market. 

Mining contractor working on safer, productivity-enhancing 
shaft sinking method

Diversified engineering giant, Murray & Roberts Cementation, is currently engineering a new shaft sinking methodology for its African operations that will see an increase in both safety and... 

New explosives code to come into effect within months

In an effort to bring South Africa on par with best-practice safety standards in the mining industry, new regulations are being introduced for the mine explosives industry. 

Uganda vermiculite mine to start production by end of first quarter

Australian mining junior Gulf Resources has announced that its subsidiary, East African Vermiculite (EAV) operation, is quickly moving towards recommissioning its pilot project and production is... 

World Diamond Council calls on buyers to shun Zim gems 
until human rights concerns have been dealt with

For more than a year, the World Diamond Council (WDC) has voiced its concerns regarding allegations of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and significant examples of irregularities concerning... 

Bon Accord project should achieve significant profits at ‘moderate’ price levels – African Nickel

African mining junior African Nickel reports that the company is eyeing significant profits from its Bon Accord project, in Mpumalanga, which can be achieved at a nickel price stable at moderate... 

Alliance has advantages for both Anglo and African Nickel

The nickel alliance agreement between mining junior African Nickel and one of the world’s largest diversified miners Anglo American is proving to be mutually beneficial to both companies reports...