Новости за 20.02.2020

At least five of America’s coal producers went bankrupt in 2019. Prices for the fossil fuel have plunged 40% since a 2018 peak. And some of the nation’s largest miners are retrenching and slashing their dividends. But don’t be mistaken: The fight against climate change hasn’t killed off Coal Country yet. Instead of pouring money into dividends and buybacks, the nation’s largest coal producers say they’re hoarding cash to weather what they see as an impermanent storm. Overall, the industry returned... Читать дальше...

Mining Weekly editor Martin Creamer unpacks the alternative energy developments at Anglo American Platinum and Sibanye Stillwater.

Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani on Thursday described the building of the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell haul truck in Limpopo as a great initiative that would in time be rolled out across the platinum group metals (PGMs), diamonds, copper and iron-ore mining company. Hydrogen fuel cell technology, which is platinum rich, is increasingly showing clear signs of being the next big disruptive technology that will make itself felt in global transport markets, stationary power generation and the heating sector.

As bushfires and floods fuel public concerns in Australia about global warming, the country's powerful mining lobby is facing increasing pressure from investors to drop support for new coal mines, according to a dozen interviews with shareholders in global mining companies. Nearly a third of shareholders in BHP Group, the world's biggest miner, last year voted for resolutions to axe its membership in industry groups advocating policies counter to the Paris climate accord, which aims to limit global warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius. Читать дальше...

Diversified miner Exxaro Resources has issued a request for expressions of interest (EoIs) from parties interested in potentially acquiring Exxaro Coal Central (ECC) and the Leeuwpan coal mine. This follows the conclusion of an internal portfolio review to evaluate and optimise the group's portfolio of coal operations and projects, which determined that these assets were noncore to the future objectives of Exxaro.

Although stock levels in the diamond industry’s midstream are returning to a more balanced position, following stable consumer demand, especially in the US, diamond miner De Beers has warned that risks remain. The company on Thursday reported a 55% year-on-year decrease in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation for the 2019 financial year, as a result of lower sales volumes and lower rough diamond prices.

Graham du Preez has resigned as interim CFO of TSX-V- and AltX-listed Buffalo Coal Corporation to pursue other endeavours. The coal producer on Wednesday said it was finalising the process of identifying and appointing a permanent CFO.

Colombia has launched an investigation over alleged unpaid royalties of 619-billion pesos ($181.5-million) from iron and nickel production at Australian miner South32's Cerro Matoso mine between 1982 and 2012, the country's comptroller said Wednesday. According to initial findings the Australian miner applied incorrect discounts and deductions to the detriment of the Andean country's resources, the comptroller said. "An investigation has been opened following an audit and preliminary inquiry because... Читать дальше...

JSE-listed coal miner Wescoal says its Moabsvelden project implementation is progressing to plan with a contract mine having been selected. The appointment, however, remains subject to a contract mining agreement being signed.

The Mexican government will resume a search for the bodies of dozens of coal miners killed in a blast more than a decade ago, after mining firm Grupo Mexico returned the concession for the site to the government, officials said on Wednesday. Speaking on the 14th anniversary of the blast, Labor Secretary Luisa Maria Alcalde told a news conference that specialists have identified a new route to enter the Pasta de Conchos mine and plan to resume the search in October. She also said experts had determined... Читать дальше...

Albemarle, the world's largest lithium producer, reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday and forecast a double-digit drop in 2020 earnings on weak prices for the battery metal. Lithium companies in the past year have been producing more than automakers currently need, denting prices. China, the world's largest electric vehicle market, is also facing an economic slowdown due to the coronavirus. Albemarle posted fourth-quarter net income of $90.4-million, or 85c a share, compared to $129.6-million... Читать дальше...

Breakthrough Energy Ventures, helmed by Bill Gates, and MIT’s The Engine fund are leading an investment round of $20-million for Lilac Solutions, a US startup aimed at making the extraction of lithium less water-intensive and more sustainable. As the world looks to cut carbon emissions, people are increasingly turning to lithium-ion batteries for solutions such as powering electric vehicles or storing renewable energy. While there’s enough lithium available to meet today’s demand, BloombergNEF expects... Читать дальше...

A prefeasibility study (PFS) into the Mt Thirsty cobalt/nickel joint venture (JV), in Western Australia, has found that the project could support the production of 19 100 t/y of cobalt and 24 800 t/y of nickel as a mixed sulphide product over a mine life of 12 years. The PFS estimated that the project would require a capital investment of A$371-million by JV partners Conico and Barra Resources, with all-in sustaining costs estimated at $35 400/t of contained cobalt.

Copper/gold miner Sandfire Resources has reported a solid end to the six months ending December, despite weaker US dollar copper prices. Sandfire on Thursday reported that sales revenue for the interim period reached A$313.1-million, up from the A$272.3-million, with copper sales up from 32 715 t to 33 616 t, while gold sales volumes declined from 20 721 oz to 18 252 oz.

South Africa-focused coal miner Universal Coal has maintained its advice that shareholders not take any action in regards to a takeover bid from fellow-listed TerraCom, despite the suitor’s reports that its offer had garnered significant attention. TerraCom earlier this week reported that acceptances to date, when aggregated with TerraCom’s existing interest in Universal, gave the company over a 51% voting right to Universal shares.

South Africa could use mining royalties to set up a proposed sovereign wealth fund, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said on Wednesday. President Cyril Ramaphosa said in an annual address to parliament last week the government had decided to establish a sovereign fund, but he did not say how the fund would work.

Harmony Gold decries attacks on gold plants; DRDGold pleased with ‘wonderful’ gold performance; and, 'Green’ is king as ESG sweeps through mining world

Coal miner Whitehaven Coal has reported a 30% drop in revenue for the interim period ending December, as coal prices tumbled. The ASX-listed miner on Thursday reported that revenue for the six months under review reached A$885.1-million, down from the A$1.2-billion achieved in the previous corresponding period, a average achieved prices fell from A$155/t to A$108/t.

Eramet has postponed an Argentine lithium mine project aimed at shifting the group's focus towards electric vehicle minerals, it said, citing economic and regulatory uncertainty in the debt-stricken South American country. The French company had been due to make a final investment decision on the project after giving initial approval last year for plans to start producing lithium from late 2021. "The context in Argentina and the wider economic climate do not allow us at the moment to launch with... Читать дальше...