Новости за 04.10.2019

The nickel market is being roiled by Indonesia’s impending ban on ore exports and traders are rushing to withdraw as much metal as possible. Inventories tracked by the London Metal Exchange posted a record decline for a second straight day, adding fuel to a rally that’s put prices on course for their biggest annual gain since 2006.

Research presented at a seminar in Johannesburg, on Friday, suggests that a shift is needed in peoples’ view of coal as a source of energy, jobs and foreign exchange, to coal as a driver of inequality, social dislocation and environmental damage; however, this will require collaboration. The seminar was held by the Society, Works and Politics (Swop) Institute, and was titled “A Just Transition from coal: implications for coal workers and coal-affected communities”.

Exploration company Sienna Resources has started a multi-hole drill programme on its flagship Slättberg nickel, copper and cobalt project in Sweden. “It has been well over a year since our last drill programme and drill results are what the market wants to see. The work programmes over the past few years have enabled us to razor focus the drill programme into the most highly prospective locations for nickel,” commented president Jason Gigliotti.

Aim-listed Firestone Diamonds' share price on the LSE fell by nearly 28% on Friday after it announced that power supply issues had disrupted production at its 75%-owned Liqhobong diamond mine, in Lesotho. The mine receives its electricity from the Muela hydropower station (MHS), which is owned by the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC). The power station located at the Katse dam, which is part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).

ASX-listed Newfield Resources has completed the blasting of the boxcut for the portal access to the underground declines at its Tongo diamond mine, in Sierra Leone. "Work is now focussed on providing the necessary support of the boxcut and shaping of the haul road to attain the right angle of entry into the decline.

The government of Lesotho has renewed the mining lease for LSE-listed Gem Diamonds' Letšeng mine. This followed a statutory negotiation process between Gem and the Lesotho Mining board.

South Africa needs to consider its unique position and its level of industrialisation to determine what should be deemed a “just transition”, Menar chairperson Mpumelelo Mkhabela said during a panel discussion at this year’s Joburg Indaba, in Sandton, this week. Speaking during a panel focusing on the outlook for coal mining and South Africa’s coal sector, he explained that “what may be deemed just for Germany in terms of transitioning away from coal, may not be just for emerging countries, such as South Africa and India”.

The Oppenheimer Research Conference and the Joburg Indaba kicked off in Johannesburg this week. Mining Weekly editor Martin Creamer attended both events and unpacks the headlines coming out of them.

Base metals miner Hudbay has appointed Stephen Lang as its chairperson to succeed Alan Hibben, who will resign as chairperson, but remain on the company’s board. Lang is the former CEO of Canadian miner Centerra and also served as that company’s chairperson until he stepped down at the end of last month.

The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended approval of the Jervois copper project, being developed by ASX-listed KGL Resources. KGL chairperson Denis Wood on Friday said that the EPA’s approval was a satisfying conclusion to the thorough assessment process, and was the last major regulatory step before final government approval of the mine management plan for Jervois.

Base metals hopeful Heron Resources has unveiled a A$91-million funding package to allow for the commissioning of its Woodlawn copper/zinc project, mitigating the financial impacts of a seven month delay in construction. The funding package will consist of a A$35-million non-renounceable entitlement offer of new shares, priced at 20c a share, and a $35-million convertible note provided by Castlelake, Greenstone Resources and Orion Mine Finance Group.

In the 1990s it was unlikely that tennis sensations Venus Williams and Serena Williams – collectively known as the Williams sisters – would have been mentioned without referencing their coach at the time and father, Richard Williams.

Canada-headquartered senior gold producer B2Gold has started the mill expansion at the Fekola mine, in south-west Mali. The expansion, which is scheduled for completion early in the fourth quarter of 2020, is expected to significantly increase yearly gold production and enhance the Fekola mine’s economics, says B2Gold’s operational and financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2019 published in August.

Mining equipment supplier Sandvik Mining & Rock Technology has extended its 2 Series product offering with the launch of the QI442 track mobile impact crusher, which includes the newly developed CI621 Prisec Impactor. “Like previous Prisec impact crushers, the CI621 can be configured to work as either a primary or secondary machine, while the two hydraulically assisted curtains can be readily adjusted to produce a range of high-quality product sizes,” notes a statement published by the company in June.

Earthmoving equipment supplier HPE Africa foresees significant demand for the four new high-performance mobile cone crushers, with improved cone chambers, added to its range of McCloskey crushing and screening equipment. “These units will be ideal for local road tenders expected for release in due course,” says HPE in reference to the upcoming upgrades to the N2 from Lovu River on the South Coast to eMdloti on the North Coast and the N3 freeway from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mines and quarries are conservative with regard to capital expenditure on crushing and screening equipment amid the current depressed economic climate, but there are gaps in the market where the cost of investing in a complete plant is warranted, says quarrying and mining equipment supplier Pilot Crushtec. “It is a tough business environment in general. The shortage of work from State-owned company South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) and a lack of major construction projects are impacting... Читать дальше...

Mines and quarries are returning to original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as mining and quarrying equipment manufacturer Osborn Engineered Products for service-level agreements (SLAs) amid tough economic conditions. “Even repairs are being redirected to OEMs, owing to the great cost and risk mines endured when using non-OEM approved service providers,” says Osborn sales and marketing director Vinesh Surajlall.

Specially designed ore silo chutes from transfer solutions provider Weba Chute Systems will be installed at a South African gold mine to reduce mill wear and other processing challenges caused by the uncontrolled flow of mined material into the mills. Developed in collaboration with vibrating screens and feeders manufacturer Kwatani, the solution must also deal with frequent large-sized material as the mine has no crushing stage before the milling circuit.

Technological advances in the crushing industry are few, with some machines based on old technology that has been used for decades, says surface mining association Aspasa director Nico Pienaar. “Crushers remain basic,” he says, noting that the industry is in the Second Industrial Revolution and will take a long time to adopt technology synonymous with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Finnish industrial machinery company Metso is expanding its crusher wear part offering by launching a new range of original-equipment manufacturer crusher liners. Available for select markets from September 2019, the new Metso O-Series offers the right balance between performance, affordability and reliability.

Wet-processing equipment company CDE South Africa is targeting iron-ore and gold mining operations with low-grade ore and tailings dumps, as it believes this is where potential for growth lies in South Africa. “In the iron-ore space we have had a lot of success in beneficiating low-grade waste stores. We are introducing the benefits of wet processing to the mining sector in South Africa as there is value to unlock from that waste.