Новости за 06.05.2020

TSX- and NYSE-listed Yamana Gold says its Phase 2 expansion project for the Jacobina mine, in Brazil, has reaffirmed the mine as a low-cost and long-life asset with significant value. The Phase 2 expansion plan builds on the success of the company’s Phase 1 optimisation project, which targeted a sustained throughput of 6 500 t/d and yearly production of 175 000 oz. Phase 2 outlines an increase in throughput to 8 500 t/d, which will be achieved through the installation of an additional grinding... Читать дальше...

TSX- and Aim-listed Condor Gold has been granted an environmental permit for the development and exploitation of gold from the high-grade America openpit, in Nicaragua. The company’s America openpit hosts 114 000 t at a grade of 8.1 g/t gold, for 30 000 oz of gold in the indicated mineral resource category. In the inferred mineral resource category, the pit hosts 677 000 t at a grade of 3.1 g/t gold, for 67 000 oz.

Aim-listed Ncondezi Energy has finalised a binding agreement with GridX Africa Development for a pipeline of solar and battery storage projects in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector. Ncondezi and GridX have signed a binding relationship agreement under which Ncondezi has the right but not the obligation to fund a pipeline of GridX C&I solar and battery storage projects in Mozambique.

The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) reports that demand for American Eagle platinum bullion coins has reached its highest level in 21 years. By the end of April, sales of the 1 oz platinum Eagle had reached 56 500 oz, which came close to exceeding the second-highest sales figure of 56 707 oz in 1999.

The Dwarsrivier chrome mine, in Lydenburg, has suspended all production as a precautionary measure after an employee tested positive for Covid-19, a statement on May 6 confirmed. Operations at the mine will resume operations management has successfully completed an audit.

Gold major Barrick has withdrawn its full-year guidance for the Porgera mine after it placed the operation on care-and-maintenance late last month, amid a dispute with the Papua New Guinea government over the renewal of a 20-year special mining lease. The decision means that the Toronto-headquartered group has trimmed its guidance for the year, which will now range between 4.6-million and 5-million ounces. The company previously forecast that it will produce between 4.8-million and 5.2-million ounces of gold in 2020.

Global miner Anglo American has announced the retirement of Dr Mphu Ramatlapeng, who stepped down from the board with effect from May 5, following the conclusion of the 2020 Annual General Meeting. She has served as an independent nonexecutive director since July 2013 and brought a broad range of global social welfare and health expertise from across both the public and private sectors.

Production at the Dwarsrivier chrome mine was suspended this week after an employee tested positive for Covid-19, highlighting the challenge mining firms face as they start operations again as a lockdown eases. The worker was screened last week as part of Dwarsrivier Chrome Mine's return to work protocols and was tested after showing Covid-19 symptoms.

Five people have been injured in an explosion at diversified miner Anglo American’s Grosvenor coal mine, in Queensland, the miner confirmed on Wednesday. The miner said in a statement to Mining Weekly Online that the mine was in the process of being evacuated and operations have been stopped, while those injured have been transported to hospital.

Freeport-McMoRan Inc is cutting molybdenum production at a key Colorado mine by half and "plans to reassess" operations at a New Mexico copper mine that has been temporarily shuttered due to Covid-19, a spokeswoman said. The steps come after Phoenix-based Freeport, the world's largest publicly traded copper producer, said last month it would cut $1.3-billion from its budget as prices for the red metal plunged due to the global spread of the novel coronavirus, the virus that causes Covid-19.

Stimulus loans meant to help small businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic are being doled out to coal companies, stoking criticism from environmentalists that the Trump administration is using the aid to help a preferred industry that was already in financial trouble. The US Small Business Administration has given more than $31-million in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program to publicly-traded coal mining companies, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Canada-based Kinross Gold has nearly doubled its net earnings in the March quarter, while its margin growth outpaced the increase the average realised gold price. The TSX-listed company, which operates in the Americas, West Africa and Russia, reported net earnings of $122.7-million, or $0.10 a share, in the first quarter, and a 53% year-on-year increase in adjusted earnings to $127.4-million, or $0.10 a share.

ASX-listed Consolidated Zinc has applied to be exempted from the Mexican government’s decision to suspend all non-essential services until the end of May, in zones where Covid-19 cases have been identified. The miner on Wednesday said that the Aldama zone, where its process plant and the Plomosas mine were located, had just reported its first case of Covid-19, meaning that the at which the ban will be lifted in the region has changed from mid-May to the end of May.

Mining major BHP on Wednesday announced that some A$25-million of the A$50-million set aside for its Vital Resources Fund since it was established in late March has over the past six weeks been committed to organisations and programmes across Australia in the areas of health, education and community resilience. “We established the BHP Vital Resources Fund to support our regional communities during Covid-19. In just six weeks we have committed half the funding to 46 projects across Australia,” acting president operations minerals Australia... Читать дальше...