Новости за 10.07.2020

Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, Pan African Resources on Friday reported higher gold production, lower debt, good safety, environmental progress, project advances and intensified dividend intent. In an operational update for the year ended June 30, the London-, Johannesburg and now also New York-listed company reported that it was heading towards a position of being debt-free within the next 12 months.

Given limited domestic copper production, South Africa should prioritise the recycling of copper scrap to ensure there remains sufficient stock as the economy changes to be more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels, Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA) executive chairperson Evert Swanepoel has said. He was a panellist in a DRC Mining Week webinar, focused on the use of copper in renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles (EVs), held on July 9.

Gold has received more investment than all other major Chinese asset classes in the first half of this year, says the World Gold Council (WGC). In a WGC blog post, research manager Ray Jia says gold demand in China, particularly investment demand, has benefited from rising concerns about the economy, as well as the lower opportunity cost amid the Covid-19 outbreak and the central bank’s response to it.

Zambia's copper production increased to 342 734 t in the first five months of this year, from 330 024 t in the same period of 2019, the ministry of mines said on Thursday. Copper production was projected to continue rising in the third and fourth quarters of 2020 in line with rising prices driven by factors including growing production of electric vehicles that rely on copper.

The mandatory suspension of Mexico’s mines in April and May is evident in Endeavour Silver’s second-quarter production results, with the Toronto- and New York-listed miner on Thursday reporting a 42% decrease in silver-equivalent production. The company produced 1.06-million silver-equivalent ounces in the March 2020 quarter, comprising 596 545 oz of silver and 5 817 oz of gold. The Guanacevi, Bolanitos and El Compas mines were suspended on April 1, to halt the spread of Covid-19. In late May,... Читать дальше...

Copper prices are surging, and for once it’s not because the economy is booming. The metal – known colloquially as Dr. Copper because its performance is often used to gauge the health of the overall economy – has surged by a staggering 45% since mid-March. That’s despite the International Monetary Fund downgrading its global forecast and a resurgence of Covid-19 infections forcing governments around the world to re-impose business-crippling lockdowns. Copper’s gain has been driven chiefly by concerns... Читать дальше...

Gold and silver mining company Great Panther Mining’s mines in Mexico have returned to stable production, following the lifting of government mandated restrictions on mining, and in Brazil, its Tucano mine has “outperformed” despite the challenges of the global health pandemic. The dual-listed company on Thursday published its second-quarter production results, announcing output of 38 540 gold-equivalent ounces (GEOs), comprising 36 356 oz of gold and 142 547 oz of silver. The Tucano mine, which Great Panther bought in 2019... Читать дальше...

A bankable feasibility study (BFS) into the Crown Mountain coking coal project, in British Columbia, has found that the project could produce an average of 1.7-million tonnes a year of saleable coal and 57.5-million tonnes a year run-of-mine coal over a mine life of 15 years. ASX-listed Jameson Resources this week noted that the project would require a capital investment of some $309-million , with cash costs estimated at $93.17/t, while the study estimated a post tax net present value of $217-million... Читать дальше...

Base metals miner Red River Resources has reported record copper production for the three months to June at its Thalanga operation, in Queensland, while zinc and lead production remained consistent with the previous quarter. Copper concentrate production in the fourth quarter reached 2 697 t, which was up from the 2 310 t produced in the previous quarter, while zinc production reached 4 544 t, up from the 4 310 t produced in the previous quarter, and lead production reached 1 133 t, up slightly from the 1 117 t produced in the third quarter.

ASX-listed project house CIMIC Group has been awarded a five-year contract extension to continue providing mining services at the Lake Vermont coal mine, in Queensland. The contract extension, with Jellinbah Group, is expected to generate revenues of some A$2.5-billion for Thiess, CIMIC said on Friday.

Keeping mining operations Covid-19-free is crucial because all mine personnel return to different communities, which can extend the spread of the infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 over long distances, says global design firm Stantec global mining business line leader Jon Treen. “Several measures, such as physical distancing, temperature monitoring and, of course, additional cleaning, have been put in place.”

Rope access specialist Skyriders is preparing to install a new coronal capping, with its design in the process of being finalised, for two smokestacks at a mine in Namibia. The company secured the contract earlier this year, having had previous experience with this client in 2018 when it completed inspections of the operation’s cooling tower and smokestacks in 2018. Based on recent visual inspections, Skyriders was asked to help design and install a new coronal capping, explains Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn.

Southern African bearings and power transmission products distributor Bearings International (BI), a member of Hudaco Industries, is working closely with the manufacturers of the reclaimer chains in its product portfolio to penetrate the African market. BI product manager Frikkie Ras tells Mining Weekly that the company has received interest in these bulk materials handling products from Africa-based mining operations since introducing the reclaimer chains manufactured by Germany-based Kobo and US-based Rexnord November last year.

Few of the capital projects planned for the development of new African mines will go ahead this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant uncertainty, says project management, engineering and consulting company Wood’s mining and minerals business development manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Kuda Maramba. However, he notes a serious uptick in sustaining capital projects in Africa, as companies want to extend the operating life of existing assets instead of investing in new construction projects.

South African engineering, procurement and construction company Lesedi has completed the upgrade of the compressed air installation plant at diversified mining and minerals company South32’s Mozal aluminium plant, as part of its expansion increase project. The system is currently functioning as anticipated, says Lesedi’s project manager for the Mozal AP3XLE compressed air expansion project, Leon van Wyk.