Новости за 22.05.2020

Diamond major Alrosa on Friday announced that it would curtail 2020 production to between 28-million and 31-million carats, in response to the crisis unfolding in the global rough and polished diamond market. The 2020 production guidance compares with the group’s initial guidance of 34-million carats for the year. “The coronavirus pandemic and steps taken to fend it off have had their toll on the demand for diamond jewellery, which saw strong growth earlier in the year,” Alrosa said in a statement.

Australian iron-ore major Fortescue Metals has made another C$1.38-million investment in TSX-listed Candente Copper, upping its interest to 19.92%. Through wholly owned subsidiary Nascent Exploration, Fortescue has subscribed for 27.5-million at C$0.05 apiece in Candente, which owns a large-scale openpit copper project, in Peru. In addition to Fortescue’s extensive iron-ore deposits in Western Australia, the major’s recent Australian exploration activity has focused on early stage target generation for copper/gold. Читать дальше...

The mining industry is at the forefront of work being done to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace and will be subjected to intense scrutiny; however, it is undertaking adequate measures and responses to the pandemic and believes it is up to the task. The was indicated by industry body, the Minerals Council South Africa on May 22, during its first weekly online update on the mining industry’s position on Covid-19.

London-listed junior mining investment company All Star Minerals has appointed Ian Harebottle and Richard Lloyd as directors. Harebottle is a former CEO of Aim-listed companies Gemfields and TanzaniteOne.

Gold-backed ETFs are on pace for a record haul in a year that’s seen some funds tracking oil futures founder. Investors have poured unprecedented amounts of cash into gold exchange-traded funds, with inflows totaling $16.8-billion in less than five months and set for a record year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. State Street’s $62-billion SPDR Gold Shares, ticker GLD, has taken in nearly $12-billion in 2020, ranking it third for worldwide ETF inflows behind two equity-focused funds.

ASX- and TSX-listed RTG has received commitments to raise about $6-million, or A$9-million, in a private placement to Australian and international investors. “The private placement received strong institutional support, demonstrating the considerable interest in RTG’s interest in the high-grade copper/gold/magnetite Mabilo project, in the Philippines, and our other potential opportunities,” RTG states.

A political debate on the merits of rare-earth supply in the US has put on hold progress on the US Department of Defense (DoD) Phase 1 contract for a heavy rare-earth separation facility. This is according to Australia's Lynas, which on April 22 had been advised of the DoD's intent to award a Phase 1 contract to the company.

Aim-listed Great Western Mining Corporation (GWMO) has signed an option agreement with Nevada Select Royalties to acquire 48 mineral claims in Nevada, which are prospective for gold and silver. Nevada Select is a subsidiary of Ely Gold Royalties.

The general manager of State-owned metals group Chinalco is calling on China to rein in "blind expansion" of copper smelting capacity as the country's lawmakers gather in Beijing to decide policy objectives and economic targets for the year. Yu Dehui, also a delegate at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is submitting a proposal at this year's Two Sessions that will also urge an acceleration of supply-side reform in the sector, a publication run by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association said on Thursday.

Edgar Basto has been promoted to president of mining major BHP’s entire suite of Australian operations, including iron-ore, coal, nickel and copper, with effect from July 1. The Colombia-born executive previously headed BHP’s Western Australia iron-ore business and is filling the position left vacant when Mike Henry became group CEO last year. Basto, who has acted as Minerals Australia president since November, will be responsible for BHP’s iron-ore and nickel operations in Western Australia, metallurgical... Читать дальше...

TSX-V-listed Cypress Development has announced positive results from a prefeasibility study (PFS) of the company’s Clayton Valley lithium project, in Nevada, US. The study, prepared by Continental Metallurgical Services, envisions an average production rate of 15 000 t/d to produce 27 400 t/y of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), over a 40-year mine life.

ASX-listed TNT Mines has entered into a binding share sale agreement to acquire Vanacorp Aust and its wholly-owned US subsidiary, Vanacorp USA. Vanacorp USA owns 200 unpatented lode claims that are prospective for uranium and vanadium, together called the East Canyon project, which is located in the East Canyon/Dry Valley mining district, in Utah.

Mining Weekly editor Martin Creamer unpacks the success of South African platinum coins, the gazetting of the guidelines for a mandatory Code of Practice in the mining industry during covid-19, and the Marula mine being temporarily suspended.

Canadian miner Hudbay Minerals Inc expects a delay of up to four months before it can start mining an extension at its Constancia copper mine in Peru, the miner's chief executive said on Thursday. Hudbay said in February it expected to start mining the Pampacancha satellite deposit in late 2020, but restrictions imposed to fight the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus have limited the government's ability to consult with a local indigenous community, said Peter Kukielski, Hudbay's president and CEO.

A coal market only just rebounding from the lowest price in four years might now need to grapple with the prospect of China renewing its restrictions on Australian supplies. Two influential coal industry publications within China have raised the specter of the country tightening imports from Australia, which comes along with recent tensions between the two nations over the roots of the global pandemic.

While junior and emerging miners are experiencing tough times, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and consequent national lockdown, Minerals Council South Africa junior and emerging miners forum chairperson and board representative Errol Smart says juniors and emerging miners should stop “licking their wounds” and look for the opportunities that arise from this unprecedented set of circumstances. “I’ve been encouraging juniors to look for the opportunities that are emerging out of the Covid-19 situation. Читать дальше...

A survey of about 25 junior miners, who are members of the Minerals Council South Africa junior and emerging miners desk, conducted by the desk last month, showed that the majority of juniors intended to pay full wages for the first two weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown – docking it as paid leave – and thereafter apply for Unemployment Insurance Fund support or Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme support. The rest of the juniors in the survey said they would have to implement either forced unpaid leave... Читать дальше...

Strategic advisory and legal services firm Inmiso Consulting director Robert Botha believes that successful delivery of large mining, construction and energy projects requires an acute understanding and timeous incorporation of all applicable regulatory requirements during the project development stage. This includes requests for proposals and contracts, as well as the entire project execution stage. “Moreover, an in-depth understanding of the business environment in which these projects are executed... Читать дальше...

The impact of Covid-19 and the consequent national lockdown on junior miners is likely to be devasting, mining services provider Ukwazi Mining business development director Spencer Eckstein tells Mining Weekly. However, he believes that survivors in the real economy will occupy a vastly different business environment in future, and therein lies opportunity for those companies that are quick to adapt to change.

South African-based equipment supplier Booyco Electronics is well advanced in testing its proximity detection systems (PDS) to comply with Level 9 safety standards – despite the fact that, while the Mine Health and Safety Act regulations pertaining to Level 9 implementation have been promulgated, they have yet to be enacted. These regulations require mines to take “reasonably practicable measures” to prevent collisions between trackless mobile machines (TMMs) – as well as between pedestrians and TMMs.

This year’s Junior Indaba is one of many conferences that have been postponed because of the international Covid-19 crisis, and although a new date has been set for November 3 and 4, the organisers have to remain flexible and adaptable to an uncertain and unprecedented set of circumstances. Junior Indaba organiser Resources 4 Africa conference manager Ros Hinchcliffe tells Mining Weekly many of the speakers have confirmed their availability for the new date, and the original focus of the programme is still highly relevant.

The De Beers Group’s ‘Put Safety First as our Number One Value’ way of work – driven by management and mainstreamed into the operations – has led to numerous successes in terms of the holistic health and safety of its employees, and now forms the basis of its Covid-19 response, says  De Beers sustainability head Dr Urishanie Govender. “The work that we are doing with the Covid-19 Response Plan aligns fully to the structures and processes that were established to address fatal risk critical controls. Читать дальше...

A joint effort by the South African and Botswanan governments, as well as their respective rail agencies, to support rail infrastructure to facilitate coal exports from Botswana could enable Botswana-based coal miners, such as Minergy, to become more competitive, says Minergy CEO Morné du Plessis. “We believe that South Africa has the best coal-handling facilities in Southern Africa. We are keen to tap into that, as Botswana is a landlocked country.”

Renewed exploration interest in the Kalahari Copper Belt, in Botswana, can help the country diversify its mining economy and industrialise, says mining consulting services provider MSA Group principal consultant Mike Robertson. He emphasises that diamond mining has been the mainstay of Botswana’s economy since the first diamonds were discovered there in 1966, averaging 75% of the country’s exports. Botswana is second only to Russia, globally in terms of rough diamond production.

Virtual mining training solutions provider Immersive Technologies is encouraged by the “maturity level” of companies in Botswana, particularly in terms of technology. It is, therefore, looking forward to contributing to the wave of development in the country, spurred by continued investment from mining companies that recognise the importance of performance.