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An image of a quarrying machine at a quarrying site

Sound ESG performance a non-negotiable in quarrying

Published: 14 Jun 24

Environmental performance holds particular significance in the quarrying industry, with quarries re-evaluating their strategies and operational models, driven by an imperative to align with customer and industry sustainability goals, reports bulk emulsion explosives and blasting solutions manufacturer BME. BME, part of the Omnia group, seeks to reduce its environmental impact through continuous research, development and product innovations, to develop green blasting technology.

Organisation looks into industry challenges

Published: 14 Jun 24

High regulatory and legislative barriers in the quarrying sector are constraining its growth, says quarrying and surface mining professional body Institute of Quarrying Southern Africa (IQSA) chairperson Jeremy Hunter-Smith. This is compounded, he says, by the 20% downturn in the construction industry in the first quarter of 2024. A country’s growth in often gauged by the volume of infrastructure projects and South Africa has huge potential for growth, with a drive for infrastructure development needing to come to the forefront.

Eloise mine, Australia

Published: 14 Jun 24

A copper/gold/silver mine in North Queensland, Australia.

Mining production rose by a modest 0.7% y/y in April

Published: 13 Jun 24

Mining production rose by a modest 0.7% in April, after declining by -4.8% year-on-year – revised from -5.8% year-on-year – in March, data published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) shows. Commenting on the statistics, Investec economist Lara Hodes says output was weaker than consensus expectations of a 1.1% year-on-year increase in production.

An image showing Osino's Twin Hills gold project in Namibia

Sustainability reports highlights Osino’s investment in jobs, Namibia’s economy

Published: 13 Jun 24

TSX-listed Osino Resources’ Twin Hills gold project, located near Karibib in Namibia, is on track to create about 1 000 new jobs in the region, the company’s third annual sustainability report shows. The report summarises the company’s social, environmental and economic performance for the year 2023 and outlines plans for the ongoing integration of sustainability into the design of Twin Hills.

Copper 360 on home straight to produce quite a bit of cash, CEO reports

Published: 13 Jun 24

Copper mining and marketing company Copper 360 is on the home straight to produce quite a bit of cash by financial year end. That was the main takeaway from Mining Weekly’s post-results Zoom interview with the head of the only pure copper play listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

Global nickel prices have probably hit a floor, says Macquarie

Published: 13 Jun 24

Global nickel prices may have hit a floor, according to a Macquarie analyst who sees a market recovery driven by strong demand from the steel sector and as a surplus of ore supplies shrinks after Indonesia slowed production permits. "Our belief is that we've seen the bottom, we've seen the supply adjustments, we see the uncertainty in future supply, and that is giving us quite a lot of support where the prices are today," Macquarie analyst Jim Lennon told a conference organised by Shanghai Metals Market in Jakarta this week.

Gold Fields lowers full-year output guidance as Chile mine hit by severe weather

Published: 13 Jun 24

JSE- and NYSE-listed Gold Fields has revised its group-wide full-year production guidance downward, from between 2.33-million and 2.43-million ounces, to between 2.20-million and 2.30-million ounces, owing to a production revision at its Salares Norte project, in Chile, where production is uncertain owing to winter events. The production guidance for Salares Norte has been revised down from the previously indicated gold-equivalent ounces range of 220 000 oz to 240 000 oz, to 90 000 oz to 180 000 oz.

Bezant marks progress at Namibia project

Published: 13 Jun 24

Aim-listed Bezant Resources has completed the chain of contractor services that will make up the Hope and Gorob mining operation, chairperson Colid Bird outlines in an update on the copper/gold project in Namibia. Letters of preparedness have been received from the main contractors responsible for future mining, processing plant construction and concentrate haulage and letters of intent and offers for financing of an off-grid hybrid renewable power supply for the project.

Tucumã on track for first copper in Q3, says Ero Copper

Published: 13 Jun 24

Toronto and New York-listed Ero Copper has been awarded an operational licence for the Tucumã project, in Brazil, passing the final permitting milestone for commercial operation. With physical completion at about 99%, commissioning well advanced and more than 90% of the operational staff hired and trained, Ero continues to expect its first copper concentrate early in the third quarter of 2024.