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Botswana vows to protect interests in potential BHP-Anglo deal

Published: 09 May 24

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi vowed to protect the country’s interests, including its 15% stake in diamond giant De Beers, should BHP Group acquire Anglo American. Anglo, which rejected a BHP proposal valuing the mining company at about $39 billion, owns the other 85% of De Beers. Under the proposed deal, BHP — once a major diamond producer itself — said that De Beers would be put on a strategic review. Anglo, the only major miner with a big diamond business, has already been reviewing the future of units including De Beers.

Johnson Matthey forecasts lower palladium, rhodium deficits, but larger platinum deficit

Published: 09 May 24

Chemicals and sustainable technologies provider Johnson Matthey says the palladium and rhodium markets are likely to record smaller deficits this year, while platinum is likely to record a deficit of 600 000 oz on the back of lower primary supplies. It states in its latest yearly ‘PGM Market Report’ that an anticipated recovery in primary and secondary platinum group metal (PGM) production fell short of expectations in 2023.

Manuka raises cash to bring Mt Boppy into production

Published: 09 May 24

Exploration and development company Manuka Resources has announced an A$8-million capital raise that it plans to use to bring the Mt Boppy gold mine into production this year. The capital will be used to establish an onsite processing facility to recover gold from oxidised ore. First gold production is forecast for the fourth quarter.

Panama President-elect rules out First Quantum talks until arbitration dropped

Published: 09 May 24

Panama's President-elect has ruled out talks with Canadian miner First Quantum Minerals until it drops multiple arbitration proceedings it has launched seeking billions of dollars in compensation from the government over a mine shutdown order. President-elect Jose Raul Mulino spoke about his plans for the major copper mine, once responsible for some 5% of Panama's economic activity and some 40% of First Quantum's revenue, in an interview with local news radio program Panama en Directo on Thursday.

An image of DMRE chief inspector of mines David Msiza

Conference highlights coal mining industry safety milestones, new targets

Published: 09 May 24

The South African coal mining industry has made progress in reaching its goal of zero harm; however, programmes and initiatives must be bolstered to ensure this is achieved and then maintained. This was outlined by speakers during the Coal Safe 2024 conference, held on May 9, at Emperors Palace, in Gauteng.

AP Ventures Co-Founding Partner Kevin Eggers

Hydrogen’s ‘irreplaceable’ role highlighted by platinum-linked venture capital provider

Published: 09 May 24

The role of hydrogen in the decarbonisation of the hardest-to-abate sectors of the global economy continues to be highlighted as “irreplaceable” by AP Ventures, the independent venture capital fund focused on investing in early-stage companies that use or enable the use of platinum group metals (PGMs). “We remain very excited about the hydrogen sector,” was the comment of AP Ventures co-founding partner Kevin Eggers in a Zoom interview with Mining Weekly. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

Lotus confirms significant uranium potential in updated Letlhakane MRE

Published: 09 May 24

ASX-listed Lotus Resources has published a revised mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 155.3-million tonnes, grading 345 parts per million (ppm) triuranium octoxide (U3O8), for the Letlhakane uranium project, in Botswana. This means the project can deliver 80-million pounds of recovered uranium over its life, based on a 70% recovery rate, the company says.

Tertiary granted enviro approval for exploration on second Zambian prospect

Published: 09 May 24

Aim-listed Tertiary Minerals’ environmental project brief (EPB) for the Mupala copper project, in Zambia, has been approved by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency, which allows the company to start mineral exploration on site. The Mupala project is located 12 km west of the company’s Mukai project, both of which are located in the prospective Kabombo Domes region of Zambia, which is reported to host multiple producing copper and nickel mines, including First Quantum Minerals’ Sentinel mining complex.

De Beers progresses diamond traceability, emissions reduction targets

Published: 09 May 24

As part of efforts to provide increased provenance across the diamond industry, De Beers plans to bring the first non-De Beers Group goods onto its Tracr platform this year. The Tracr platform uses blockchain, AI, the Internet of Things and advanced security and privacy technology to track a diamond’s journey from where it is mined and throughout the value chain, providing consumers tamper-proof assurance of where the diamond comes from.

BHP-Anglo American deal raises alarm in Japan's steel industry

Published: 09 May 24

Japanese steelmakers have raised concerns with Australian authorities that BHP Group could become too dominant in the global supply of coking coal if it goes ahead with a takeover of Anglo American. Australia is the world's biggest exporter of coking coal and top supplier to Japan, making up around 60% of its imports, with most of the steel-making ingredient coming from the state of Queensland, where BHP and Anglo American are the two largest producers.