The acceleration of restructuring in China’s steel industry and an increasingly aggressive environmental clampdown had a significant impact on the global iron-ore industry in 2017, and according to Australia’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, the sector is in for a bumpy ride in 2018. Creamer Media’s Iron-Ore 2018 Report provides an overview of the global iron-ore market over the past year, with particular emphasis on supply and demand, trade and pricing. Not only does it provide information on South Africa’s iron-ore market and its major producers, but also an overview of the major global iron-ore producing companies and other significant producers.

The signing of the long-delayed agreements for 27 renewable-energy projects in April, procured by the Department of Energy in 2015, is arguably the first tangible signal that ‘Ramaphoria’ may well be starting to have positive spin-offs for the embattled domestic project economy. What is needed now is for the various obstacles blocking the investment runways in the other key sectors covered in Creamer Media's Projects in Progress 2018 (First Edition) to be progressively cleared. This will require not only policy certainty but, in some instances, also an entire overhaul of the policies that are failing to create the confidence required to stimulate the investment needed to lift South Africa from its low-growth flight path.

Investors are always searching for better opportunities, and Africa, with its vast mineral resources, offers an appealing environment. The continent hosts more than 60 metal and mineral products and has much potential with regard to mineral reserves exploration and production. Mining projects, when well managed, also offer opportunities to transform Africa’s resource wealth into sustainable development in many of its countries. This edition of Creamer Media’s Africa Mining Projects in Progress highlights some of the prospective projects on the continent that have been announced focusing on recent preliminary economic assessments, scoping, prefeasibility and definitive/bankable feasibility studies, as well as some of the projects that are already under way.

The uranium industry has continued to face challenges, as low uranium prices have persisted for the sixth consecutive year amid bear market conditions, following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, in Japan, in March 2011. The impact of this uranium market downturn has taken a toll on uranium production, with cutbacks becoming the norm as higher-priced legacy long-term contracts come to an end. Nonetheless, nuclear energy continues to expand globally, owing to its ability to deliver large amounts of reliable and constant baseload energy without carbon emissions or air pollution at competitive generating costs, compared with alternative forms of electricity. Creamer Media’s Uranium 2017 report examines the global uranium market in the context of demand, supply, pricing and market outlook, with a particular focus on the African uranium market, and the mines, projects and exploration that are under way on the continent.

The South African mining industry has had a tough 2017 – a year of uncertainty and questions about the sustainability of the sector, as policy and regulatory concerns are stalling new investment. A downturn in the global coal industry has also affected investment in South African coal mines, as many of the large producers and exporters have embarked on a global reassessment of their coal strategies. There is also investor pressure on companies holding significant carbon resources. Creamer Media’s Coal 2017 report examines South Africa’s coal industry with regard to the business environment, the main participants, local demand, coal exports and coal logistics, projects being undertaken by the large and smaller participants, as well as various issues affecting the sector, including labour issues and environmental considerations.

Mining has been the driving force behind much exploration in Australia’s remote inland and its industrial development – from the gold rush in the nineteenth century, and the iron-ore and nickel booms of the 1960s to the later expansion of the coal industry. Mining comprises about 10% of Australia’s gross domestic product. Currently, the Australian mining industry is on the verge of a new mining boom, based on so-called tech metals. However, Australia's mining sector is awash in red tape, with overlapping legislation and replication between state and federal governments creating significant obstacles to the industry’s development. Mining companies prospecting, investing and pursuing new mining opportunities spend a considerable amount of time and money dealing with bureaucracy – eliminating this in mining, particularly the project approval process, is, therefore, crucial to take the growth and prosperity of Australia’s mining sector forward.

The diamond industry has faced much volatility in recent years and, although there were signs of improving market conditions in 2016 and so far in 2017, some uncertainty remains. Some market analysts questioned whether the industry has reached peak supply and point to the unlikelihood of mining companies finding any further large diamond deposits. Many believe that the best resources have been discovered. Miners worldwide, however, continue to explore for new deposits, and the biggest miners are also investing in expansion projects while smaller miners are working to bring new mines into production. Creamer Media’s Diamond 2017 report provides an overview of the world diamond market, which includes a look at rough diamond production, supply and demand, imports and exports, and synthetic diamonds. The report emphasises diamond mining activities in South Africa over the past 12 months, and provides information on the country’s major and midtier diamond producers, junior diamond mining companies, explorers and developers.

After declining by a collective 23.43% in 2015, base metals have rebounded since 2016 and the fundamentals suggest that a major reversal of this trend is unlikely to occur in the near term. Creamer Media’s Base Metals 2017 report examines the global base metals market, with a particular focus on the supply and demand of copper, zinc, nickel and lead in the African market, and on selected base metals operations and projects on the continent.

South Africa’s project economy continues to tick over, albeit at an uninspiring pace. Some State-owned enterprises, such as Transnet, have confirmed a significant pull-back in investment plans, while private fixed investment remains under pressure as a result of weak economic growth and ongoing policy uncertainty, particularly in the mining industry. Nevertheless, Creamer Media’s second Projects in Progress supplement for this year includes valuable updates on and insights into some of the largest fixed investment programmes under way in South Africa.

As a major focus of minerals mining in the world, and an untouched treasure trove of natural resources, Africa has a sizeable and thriving mining industry. The mining sector does not only provide employment for millions of African nationals, but is also a significant source of foreign direct investment and earnings. According to mine and industry engineering company Ukwazi nonexecutive director Alan Clegg the commodities that are likely to provide a sufficient upward cycle, thereby sustaining investor interest in Africa, are precious metals, base and battery metals, and energy fuels. The burning question facing the mining sector, however, is whether, and how, it can make its full potential contribution to satisfy the ever-growing need for mineral resources while capturing the wider socioeconomic benefits from such development. This edition of Creamer Media’s Africa Mining Projects in Progress reviews recently announced scoping, prefeasibility and definitive/bankable feasibility studies on projects across the continent, as well as the projects that are under way.