Новости за 28.05.2020

Glencore on Thursday defended its climate policy from activists who want targets set for the use of its products, with chairman Tony Hayward saying the miner's current plan will cut greenhouse gas emissions. Pressure on miners has mounted after Norway's $1 trillion wealth fund this month said it would sell its Glencore shares because it produces coal. In a call ahead of an annual general meeting on June 2, activist charity ShareAction said Glencore should align its policy with the Paris climate goals by setting targets for Scope 3 emissions... Читать дальше...

Alcoa said on Thursday it is considering laying off up to 534 workers from its San Ciprian aluminum plant in the Spanish region of Galicia, though a final decision has not yet been made. High energy costs and low aluminum prices led to persistent losses and left the plant unable to compete internationally, the company said in an emailed statement.

JSE- and NYSE-listed gold and platinum-group metals (PGMs) miner Sibanye-Stillwater has confirmed that 51 employees from the Thembelani shaft, at its Rustenburg PGM operations, have tested positive for Covid-19. This follows as two employees from the shaft tested positive for the virus last week, leading to subsequent contact tracing having identified a number of associated employees who have since been tested and quarantined.

Global diversified miner Glencore has responded to the societal needs that have arisen during the lockdown period in South Africa and has played an active role in assisting distressed communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Glencore South Africa’s two major businesses, Coal South Africa and Ferroalloys, have spent almost R23-million on social investment programmes since March 26.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the gold supply chain unlike any other event in modern history, the World Gold Council (WGC) said in a market update on May 28. With all elements of the chain affected, from mining operations to consumption, this has resulted in some distortions within parts of the market but has also “allowed the supply chain to demonstrate its resilience”.

Aim-listed Mkango Resources, together with its 25%-owned subsidiary HyProMag, has launched a project called Rare-Earth Recycling for E-Machines. The project features a strong set of partners including Advanced Electric Machines Research, Bentley Motors, Intelligent Lifecycle Solutions and Unipart Powertrain Applications.

Production in Peru's mining sector will fall by at least 15% this year, representing a loss in revenues of up to $5-billion, due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a top mining executive said on Wednesday. Large-scale mining, which makes up 80% of Peru's copper production, would not be fully up and running until early June, Victor Gobitz, general manager of mining company Buenaventura , said at a virtual news conference.

Shelved expansion plans for lithium projects due to collapsing demand for the material used to make electric vehicle batteries leaves the market facing a price spike after a couple of years when shortages start to emerge. Auto sales including electric vehicles have slumped this year due to economic damage from the coronavirus. But sales are expected to accelerate over coming years as auto makers plough on with plans to meet stringent emission regulations. "When demand comes back, the supply side... Читать дальше...

An updated version of a 2017 study conducted by professional services firm Accenture in collaboration with the World Economic Forum – the 'Extracting Value and Building Resilience with Data-led Mining in South Africa' report – highlights that, with a combination of seven digital initiatives, South Africa’s mining industry will be able to create R213-billion in value by 2026. To investigate how South African mining companies are navigating digital transformation and the impact of their investments in digital technologies... Читать дальше...

TSX-V-listed Sama Resources, backed by mining billionaire Robert Friedland's HPX, has confirmed the value for the development of its Samapleu nickel/copper project, in Côte d'Ivoire. The company released a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the project that envisions production of 3 900 t/y of carbonyl nickel powder, 8 400 t/y of carbonyl iron powder and 14 100 t /y of copper concentrate, over a 20-year mine life.

Rio Tinto said on Wednesday it has developed a process to extract the rare earth scandium from its titanium dioxide production process and is studying ways to commercially produce the mineral. The move is the latest example of Rio taking a second look at the waste from its core mining business in an effort to reprocess it and produce so-called strategic minerals and rare earths, a grouping of 17 minerals used to make electronics. China is the world's largest producer and consumer of many of these minerals, including rare earths. Читать дальше...

TSX-V- and Aim-listed Galantas Gold has advised that it will only publish its full year and interim results later this year. This follows after the Canadian Securities Administrators published blanket relief for market participants regarding the filing of certain continuous disclosure documents as a result of Covid-19 delays and impacts.

Aim-listed Katoro Gold and Power Metal Resources (POW) will continue to monitor the development of any potential commercial transactions, before any final agreement is agreed upon in terms of commercial discussions relating to the Haneti polymetallic project, in Tanzania. In lieu of this, POW has the option to extend its holding in the project to August 31, which will allow both parties the benefit of further discussions and to carefully consider all available options based on additional information.

Mining Weekly editor Martin Creamer unpacks the mining industry's hopes to attract investment, the call for the urgent restoring of the country’s economy and Covid-19's in-country, self-sufficiency opportunities for South Africa.

TSX- and NYSE-listed Yamana Gold has completed the sale of a portfolio of royalty interests and a contingent payment agreement to Nomad Royalty Company for $65-million. Nomad, formerly Guerrero Ventures, will start trading on the TSX on May 29.

The Antamina copper/zinc mine, in Peru, will resume operations at 80% capacity, 22.5%-owner Teck Resources reported on Wednesday. The mine will gradually ramp up to full production capacity in the third quarter, while adhering to comprehensive Covid-19 protocols. Antamina operated under an exemption from the Peruvian government to its Covid-19 emergency decree was issued in late March, but suspended operations in mid-April.

Junior Mincor Resources has awarded an underground mining contract for its Kambalda nickel operation, in Western Australia, to Pit N Portal. The contract will span the first five years of underground mining at the new Cassini nickel mine, where early surface work was recently completed, as well as a three-year contract, and a possible two-year extension period, at the Northern Operations, which include the brownfield Durkin North and Long nickel mines. Mincor on Thursday said that it was targeting... Читать дальше...