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Kingsrose and BHP team up to explore Finland and Norway

Published: 22 May 24

ASX-listed Kingrose Mining on Wednesday announced an exploration alliance agreement with commodities major BHP, which would provide funding for regional exploration across Norway and Finland. This follows on from Kingrose’s successful participation in the BHP Xplor programme, which the major developed to address the challenge of declining global discovery rates.

South Africa considers complaining to WTO against EU carbon border tax

Published: 22 May 24

South Africa is considering lodging a formal complaint at the World Trade Organization against the European Union's "protectionist" carbon border levy, Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Wednesday. The EU's proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which will impose charges on imports of carbon-intensive goods like steel and cement into Europe, has faced criticism from some developing nations and sectors including China's steel industry.

At least two companies seek Norway seabed mining permits

Published: 22 May 24

Two companies said on Wednesday they are seeking offshore seabed acreage on the Norwegian continental shelf where they hope to explore for minerals, in what could be the start of a controversial new mining industry. The process puts Norway on track to become the first country to start commercial production from its continental shelf of metals useful in the transition from from oil and gas, such as copper, cobalt and zinc, as well as rare earth elements (REE).

South Harz bolsters position in German potash sector

Published: 22 May 24

Australia-headquartered potash firm South Harz on Wednesday announced the completion of the prefeasibility study (PFS) for its flagship Ohmgebirge development in central Germany. Alongside this milestone, the company reported a potential significant future acquisition of a neighbouring mining opportunity, opening avenues for brownfield development. South Harz has agreed nonbinding key terms for the purchase of the Sollstedt property, including shafts, underground and surface infrastructure, as well as mineral rights.

Junior coal miners bemoan logistics as single-biggest challenge to their survival

Published: 22 May 24

Logistics inefficiencies in South Africa are the single-biggest reason why junior mining companies are likely to fail, said midtier coal producer Ndalamo Resources. Ndalamo CEO Shammy Luvhengo participated in a junior coal mining panel at Joburg Indaba, which was held on May 21 and 22, highlighting the biggest challenge for this sector as being Transnet’s inefficiency and saying this was creating an imbalance in the system.

Harmony employee dies in blasting incident at its Phakisa mine

Published: 22 May 24

An employee was killed in a blasting incident at Harmony Gold Mining's Phakisa mine on Tuesday afternoon. All blasting operations have been temporarily suspended. The relevant authorities have been informed and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, labour representatives and mine management will investigate the cause of the incident.

From left, Kudakwashe Maramba, George Roach, Ntsiki Adonisi, Louis Nel, Jaco Prinsloo, Bernard Swanepoel.

Huge manganese value-add opportunity reiterated at Junior Indaba

Published: 22 May 24

The huge opportunity that South Africa has to add value to its rich endowment of manganese through local processing was reiterated during the second day of Wednesday’s Junior Indaba. “Specific to manganese, we’re certainly very bullish,” Manganese Metal Co (MMC) CEO Louis Nel said in response to questioning by Fluor sales director Kudakwashe Maramba during a panel discussion.

Eskom’s has applied for permission to reserve scarce grid capacity for IPPs participating in public procurement bidding rounds

Presidency insists 22.5 GW private IPP pipeline won’t be disrupted by Eskom move to reserve grid for public projects

Published: 22 May 24

The Presidency does not anticipate that Eskom’s move to reserve scarce grid capacity for independent power producers (IPPs) participating in public procurement bidding rounds will disrupt the more than 130 private IPP projects being advanced outside of those processes to supply private consumers. Speaking during a briefing convened to report back on the reforms implemented under Operation Vulindlela, including those undertaken to address South Africa’s loadshedding crisis, the Presidency’s project management unit head Rudi Dicks lauded the progress being made through the Energy One Stop Shop to support the private projects stimulated by the reform to allow grid-connected private projects of any size to proceed without a licence.

Anglo American chairperson Stuart Chambers

Anglo shoots down BHP’s third attempt, agrees to one-week extension

Published: 22 May 24

The world’s top diversified miner BHP has made a third unsolicited conditional takeover proposal for smaller rival Anglo American on Wednesday, only hours before its initial deadline for a firm intention to make an offer expired. The board of London-listed Anglo American rejected the latest proposal of £29.34 a share, but agreed to a one-week extension to the 'put up, or shut up (PUSU)' deadline under UK Takeover rules.

JSE primary markets business development manager Patrycja Kula-Verster

More funding mechanisms needed to support juniors in early stage exploration, panel says

Published: 22 May 24

South Africa needs more funding mechanisms to support junior mining at an early stage of exploration, Bedrock Capital CEO Messu Mwaniki said on May 21 at the Junior Indaba in Johannesburg. “I think by now we should have much more junior mining funds available, which can be seen to come on board, from a private equity perspective. As a junior miner, at best, your mindset should be on private equity,” he said.