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Thunderbird shifts focus to high-potential Canadian uranium, drops lithium

Published: 29 May 24

Exploration company Thunderbird Resources on Wednesday announced its decision to concentrate all efforts on the high-potential uranium assets in Canada’s Athabasca basin, following a strategic review of its project portfolio. The review highlighted a compelling case for prioritising uranium, leading Thunderbird to discontinue its lithium ventures in Ontario.

Kizito Pakabomba was appointed to oversee the Mines Ministry and Congo's globally significant reserves of coltan, copper and other minerals.

DR Congo names new government after months of delay

Published: 29 May 24

Democratic Republic of Congo has appointed a new government, spokesperson Tina Salama said in the early hours of Wednesday, ending an impasse that has mired the country in political uncertainty for months. President Felix Tshisekedi won a second term after elections in late 2023 that also handed his Sacred Union coalition a large majority in parliament. But internal jostling for jobs has delayed the formation of a new cabinet of ministers.

China’s silver imports set to jump as solar demand lifts prices

Published: 29 May 24

Chinese silver imports could surge in coming weeks, as traders take advantage of a jump in demand that’s taken prices well above the international market. Silver’s in a sweet spot because of its dual uses as an industrial metal and a financial asset. It’s an important material in solar panels, which China continues to build in vast quantities, and it’s also a cheaper alternative to gold, which is setting its own records on price led by Chinese demand.

Mongolia defends plan to tap mining riches for new sovereign wealth fund

Published: 29 May 24

Mongolia’s prime minister defended changes to the country’s mining laws after foreign investors raised concerns they could deter investment in its large reserves of critical minerals, including those used in electric vehicle batteries and other new energy technologies. Legislative amendments to restrict private investment in strategic deposits and give the government free shares in mining projects will ensure the Mongolian people benefit from the country’s substantial resources, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai said in an email to Bloomberg News last week.

Anglo American's head office in South Africa

BHP, Anglo dig in even as takeover talks deadline nears, sources say

Published: 28 May 24

BHP was struggling to find common ground with Anglo American on Tuesday in talks over its takeover offer, with no new concessions as a deadline nears for the world's biggest miner to submit a binding offer, five sources said. Anglo granted its bigger rival a one-week extension until 1600 GMT on Wednesday to its original May 22 deadline to submit a binding offer, after rejecting a third takeover proposal that had been dismissed as difficult to execute. It agreed to hold talks with BHP to iron out contentious issues over the structure of the deal.

Rand strengthens on eve of national election

Published: 28 May 24

The South African rand strengthened a day before a national election on Wednesday which could see the ruling party lose its majority for the first time in 30 years. At 1605 GMT, the rand traded at 18.2775 against the dollar, around 0.6% stronger than its previous close.

Nature-based solutions could accelerate development, social equity – ECA

Published: 28 May 24

Nature-based solutions present a unique way for Africa to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, while contributing to the conservation of the continent's rich biodiversity, promoting ecological connectivity and enhancing climate resilience, said Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) deputy executive secretary Antonio Pedro at the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA) Annual Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 28. “With careful design of its development pathway, Africa can harness the value of its natural resources through responsible management practices that recognise planetary boundaries and balance economic growth with environmental conservation and social equity, beyond growth domestic product metrics,” he commented.

Global aviation IT specialist enters the maritime sector

Published: 28 May 24

Global air transport IT solutions group SITA announced on Tuesday that it was expanding into the maritime sector, with the launch of its new subsidiary company, SmartSea. It also announced that SmartSea had entered its first agreement, with Cyprus-based global major ship management and maritime services company Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM). “SITA is taking a bold step into the maritime sector, where our longstanding leadership in aviation can serve to overcome economic and capacity challenges, ...

Bird flu vaccines for laying hens prove effective in practice

Published: 28 May 24

Bird flu vaccines for laying hens are effective in practice, the Dutch government said on Tuesday, while confirming plans to vaccinate poultry against the virus that ravaged flocks around the world and is raising fears about human transmission. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has killed or caused the culling of hundreds of millions of poultry globally in recent years, most of them laying hens, which sent egg prices rocketing.

Johannesburg one of 3 cities to benefit from Suncasa project tackling climate threats

Published: 28 May 24

The Scaling Urban Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (Suncasa), a new three-year project, will undertake watershed restoration and adaptation actions in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Kigali, Rwanda; and Johannesburg, South Africa. It is expected to reduce climate-fuelled flood risks and enhance the resilience of people in these three sub-Saharan African cities, while promoting gender equality and social inclusion and strengthening biodiversity protection.