Новости за 25.03.2020

Peru may be on track to record its first annual economic contraction in over two decades as the world's second largest copper producer is hammered by the impact of a global coronavirus pandemic hurting commodities demand. Around the country miners have been forced to slow or suspend operations with the government strictly curbing movement and activity with military presence on the streets to halt the virus with 416 confirmed cases so far.

Phosphates and phosphoric acid producer Foskor has advised that it will not be operating during South Africa’s national lockdown period – March 26 to April 16 – although the company qualifies as an essential service provider. Foskor in a statement on March 25 explained that the continuation of its operations required the assistance of service providers and suppliers over which the company did not have any control during this time.

Dual-listed Botswana Diamonds continues to develop its portfolio of eight exploration projects across three sub-Saharan countries – Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. In South Africa, drilling on the Marsfontein ground-intersected kimberlite continues, where a significant bulk sample of the kimberlitic ground has been recovered and transported for analysis.

LSE-listed Trident Resources has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire a significant, cash-generative mining royalty. The company says the acquisition will create a new, growth-focused diversified mining royalty and streaming company that will provide investors with exposure to a mix of base and precious metals, bulk materials (excluding thermal coal) and battery metals.

Egypt-focused gold miner Centamin will postpone publishing its financial results for the 12 months ended December 31, in accordance with a request by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The LSE- and TSX-listed miner said it would announce the new date of publication once it has been advised by the FCA on the updated timing.

Aim-listed Beowulf has provided investment alongside founders and existing shareholders in Vardar Minerals to fund a soil sampling programme across the Madjan Peak gold target, at Vardar’s Mitrovica licence, in Kosovo. Beowulf is investing £30 000, while Vardar shareholders are investing £40 000.

Aim-listed Kropz has advised that all its employees based in South Africa will be working from home during the national lockdown declared from March 26 midnight to April 16. Kropz does not anticipate its Elandsfontein phosphate mine, in the Western Cape, to be adversely impacted on by the lockdown, as the company was still waiting for the Water Tribunal to reschedule a hearing into the water-use licence for the mine.

London- and TSX-listed SolGold has reduced its mining operations throughout Ecuador, in heeding a call made by the country’s Emergency Operations Committee of a “stay at home” policy. The policy has resulted in the temporary closure of businesses across the country.

JSE-listed Exxaro Resources has been approved for a secondary listing on A2X Markets from April 2. Exxaro is a black-empowered miner in South Africa, with an asset portfolio of coal operations and investments in iron-ore, pigment manufacturing, renewable energy and residual base metals.

China's first iron ore futures-based exchange traded fund (ETF) has raised $11-million from institutional investors and clients at private banks, according to the manager of the fund, which will list in Hong Kong on Friday. The ETF, managed by the Hong Kong unit of Chinese broker Shanxi Securities Co Ltd - Shanxi Securities International Asset Management Ltd - will track the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) iron ore futures index and use its closing price on March 20 as a benchmark.

An extraordinary squeeze in the gold market has forced the main U.S. exchange to take action as the global pandemic shuts down physical trading routes just as investors are racing to buy the metal as a safe haven. Banks and traders typically ship gold around the world on commercial flights, linking the trading hubs of London and New York with vaults and refineries in Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore. But as the coronavirus grounds flights and refineries shut down, it’s becoming harder to trade between global markets.

A definitive feasibility study (DFS) into its integrated nickel re-start plan, in Kambalda, has confirmed the potential for the production of 63 000 t of nickel-in-concentrate over a five year period. ASX-listed Mincor Resources on Wednesday noted that the project would require a capital investment of A$68-million and would have a life-of-mine all-in sustaining cost of A$4.47/lb.

ASX-listed TerraCom has increased its voting rights in takeover target Universal Coal to 87% as the deadline for the takeover offer looms. The suitor previously said that should it gain a shareholding of more than 75%, but less than 90% of Universal by the end of the offer period, the company would consider applying to the ASX to have Universal delisted, or would consider whether it was appropriate to maintain a listing on the Australian bourse.