Новости за 29.08.2019

Considering the impact of the extended strike at dual-listed Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African gold operations, which significantly disrupted operations during the six months to June 30, CEO Neal Froneman said the company had achieved “sound” operating and financial results for the interim period. Improved results from the South African and US platinum-group metals (PGM) operations had offset the losses from the South African gold operations.

South African coal producer Buffalo Coal has appointed Graham du Preez as interim CFO. He succeeds Emma Oosthuizen, who will continue to act as Buffalo's interim CEO.

The energy systems of the world are going ‘green’ in a process that is fast becoming irreversible, says Isondo Precious Metals CEO Vinay Somera, who adds that hydrogen is emerging as the main storage medium for energy generated from the sun, wind and other renewable sources. The storing of wind and solar energy as hydrogen requires the electrolysis of water into hydrogen in a process that uses platinum and iridium-based catalysts coated on membranes.

Indian State-run oil refiner-marketer, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will foray into electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing as part of its strategy to evolve into a "future-ready comprehensive energy solutions company". The oil company is working out a partnership with an overseas start-up to source technology to manufacture alumina-based storage batteries, instead of lithium-based batteries.

Aim- and TSX-listed nickel company Horizonte Minerals has signed a royalty agreement with Orion Mine Finance that will provide it with an upfront cash payment of $25-million for the development of the Araguaia ferronickel project, in Brazil. Orion will have a 2.25% royalty on the first 426 429 t of contained nickel within the final product (ferronickel) produced and sold. This is equivalent to the nickel production estimated over the life-of-mine for Araguaia in the Stage 1 feasibility study.

Leading miner BHP is near a deal to divest its stake in Guinea's Nimba iron-ore deposit, while three big miners are vying to develop half of the country's Simandou, the largest known untapped iron-ore reserve, sources close to the talks said. Guinea has struggled for decades to extract money from its iron-ore, which has been left undeveloped because of protracted legal disputes and the cost of infrastructure.

Construction of the Gunnison project, in southern Arizona, is nearing completion and TSX-listed Excelsior Mining has confirmed that first copper production will be achieved in the fourth quarter. Excelsior CEO Stephen Twyerould reported on Wednesday that the overall construction of the project was more than 90% finished and that the remaining elements would be completed over the next month.

Australia’s Sunstone Metals has earned a 51% interest in Canadian company Cornerstone Capital Resources’ Bramaderos gold/copper project in Ecuador, having met the required project expenditure of $3.4-million over three years. Sunstone, which is now the project operator, has until November 27 to decide on whether it will be proceeding to 70% ownership under a farm-in agreement.

A nickel processing plant owned by Metallurgical Corp of China (MCC) that spilled mine waste into Papua New Guinea's Basamuk Bay faces compensation claims and possibly closure, the head of the country's mining authority said on Thursday. MCC's Ramu nickel plant located in Madang, on the country's northeastern coast, spilled waste into the bay over the weekend which caused the surrounding ocean to turn red and left a muddy residue on the rocky shoreline, according to locals and photographs of the incident.

Junior Platina Resources has struck a joint venture (JV) agreement to earn a 70% interest and become the operator of the Blue Moon zinc project, in the US. The company will spend C$3.25-million over the next 18 months to earn an initial 50% interest in Blue Moon, and a further A$3.75-million over a further 18 month period, to gain an additional 20%.

Mining Weekly editor Martin Creamer unpacks Japan’s plan to import hydrogen, Mogalakwena’s boost and urban mining in the City of Johannesburg.

The US has authorised the construction of Canadian developer Crystal Peak Minerals’ 298 000 t/y sulphate of potash (SOP) mine, in west-central Utah. The Department of Interior' record of decision (ROD) for the Sevier Playa project has been hailed as the company’s “most important milestone” and now allows Crystal Peak to speed ahead with financing and offtake negotiations.

Diversified miner Independence Group has reported record revenues and underlying earnings after tax, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) for the full year ended June. Underlying Ebitda for the full year increased by 1%, to a record A$340.7-million, while net profits after tax were also up by 44% compared with the previous financial year, to A$76.1-million.

Investors holding “poor man’s gold’’ are suddenly a lot richer, and silver’s rally may still have room to run. Silver has surged 13% this month and touched a two-year high on Wednesday. The metal is benefiting as concerns over the global economic outlook bolster demand for haven assets, sending sister-metal gold to the highest since 2013.