Новости за 31.07.2020

Chile's copper output fell in June for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic landed in the world´s top producer of the red metal, dropping 0.6% to 472 172 t, according to data released on Friday by government statistics agency INE. The South American nation´s manufacturing output, meanwhile, plunged 8.3% in June, the agency said, as the peak of contagions in the South American nation hammered its economy.

Chile's environmental watchdog said on Friday it would charge BHP's Escondida copper mine, the world`s largest, with drawing more water from the parched Chilean desert than its permits allowed for nearly 15 years. The SMA regulator said the mine had caused a sufficiently serious drop in the water table in one area that the violation could result in the revocation of its environmental permit, closure or a fine. BHP did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the allegation.

JSE-, ASX and Aim-listed MC Mining has experienced a challenging June quarter, troubled by low coal volumes and prices. The company’s Uitkomst colliery, in KwaZulu-Natal, did not produce run-of-mine (ROM) coal in April, while being limited to 50% labour capacity in May, and normalised pre-lockdown production levels by the end of June.

Gold is set for the biggest monthly gain in more than four years after a weaker dollar and low rates fueled its surge to a record. Silver headed for its best month since 1979. Spot bullion is up 10% in July as a gauge of the dollar slumped, prompting concerns its status as the world’s reserve currency of choice is at risk, and US real yields fell to a record low. While the ferocity of gold’s rally cooled as the week wore on, it’s less than $20 shy of its all-time high and most market watchers predict there may be more gains ahead.

Triple listed Clean TeQ has warned of a A$180-million noncash writedown of the carrying value of its Sunrise nickel/cobalt/scandium project, in New South Wales, for the 2020 financial year. The company on Friday told shareholders that a review of the carrying value of the Sunrise project was undertaken based on a conservative best estimate of what the probable project execution plan (PEP) outcomes would be, as well as highly conservative macroeconomic assumptions, including the forecast metal process.

Canada-based B2Gold has launched a Namibian Rhino Gold Bar campaign in North America to help support the conservation and protection of the critically endangered black rhinos, and the community-based rhino rangers and trackers who protect the rhinos, in Namibia. This announcement coincides with the International Ranger Federation's (IRF) World Ranger Day, which takes place yearly on July 31.

ASX-listed Panoramic Resources has flagged a potential restart of its Savannah nickel project, in Western Australia, in the first half of 2021. Panoramic in April this year temporarily suspended operations at the Savannah project, amid the Covid-19 outbreak, as the pandemic adversely impacted transportation and the availability of personnel and equipment and supplies to the site.

Canadian miner Eldorado Gold has advised that all its mines are fully operational, with safe working practices in place, and has maintained its guidance for the year at between 520 000 oz and 550 000 oz. The company produced 137 782 oz of gold in the second quarter, which was a 50% increase on the 91 803 oz produced in the second quarter of last year, and a 19% increase compared with the first quarter of this year.

The draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for TSX- and NYSE-listed Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass lithium project, in the US, is available for public comment. The release of the draft EIS marks another step in advancing the Thacker Pass project towards production, says CEO and president Jon Evans.

Demand from the automotive sector is the largest demand segment for platinum, accounting for around 40% of yearly platinum demand. The industry mainly uses platinum in autocatalysts or catalytic converters in internal combustion engine vehicles.

Project developer Keras Resources is acquiring a 51% interest in the Diamond Creek phosphate mine, in Utah, in the US, from phosphate miner Falcon Isle Holdings on the basis that Keras provides a $2.5-million loan facility to Falcon Isle. The loan agreement will be paid in four tranches and comprise incremental equity increases, with Keras having already paid over the first $700 000 tranche. Keras announced on July 30 that they has raised £1.73-million to fund the remaining tranches.

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer unpacks the flight to iron-ore quality being a demand trend that favours South Africa’s high-quality iron-ore, the all-female exploration crew that has begun drilling in the Northern Cape and Menar’s R250-million, cash-funded, solar-boosted East Manganese project which is underway.

Canada-based Allegiance Coal has secured up to A$8-million in funding through a convertible note issue to investment fund Mercer Street Global Opportunity Fund. The ASX-listed company on Friday said that this was the first leg of funding to return the New Elk mine, in Colorado, to production, complete the environmental assessment work necessary to lodge an application for an environmental assessment certificate, and to provide general working capital.

Industrial manufacturing company BMG’s Fluid Technology division works closely with the mining sector in sub-Saharan Africa to ensure that all valves, strainers and flow control equipment supplied, meet the exact requirements of every application.

Owing to the company’s ability to source products from local manufacturers, neither its operations nor its customers have been impacted on by the pandemic, says Valve Solutions Africa sales director Niven Persad.

Using structured control valve spares analysis and diagnostic tools enables a plant to identify its critical assets and plan for, rather than react to, valve maintenance needs. The result can be dramatic improvements in plant reliability and availability.

As multinational corporations continue to make inroads into the South Africa market, the thermoplastic valves sector is finding it challenging to compete in an already difficult business environment.

Covid-19 and the subsequent national lockdown have driven the demand for digital technologies, which has highlighted the importance of data management, governance and quality in the mining industry, notes digital solutions provider Master Data Management MD Gary Allemann.   “People working from home has created a data management burden on organisations. For example, with regard to security, employees are accessing secure data from their home or personal computers, through public Internet. There are ways of managing this... Читать дальше...

Analysing and non-destructive testing equipment supplier GammaTec is the exclusive distributor of the handheld X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysers, produced by handheld analyser provider SciAps, in non-Francophone African countries as of January this year. While GammaTec’s strategy is to target and approach mines throughout Africa, the company is still engendering product acceptance and brand recognition for these analysers in South Africa... Читать дальше...

Mining solutions provider Hexagon and its subsidiary, IDS GeoRadar, announced the release of the mining industry’s first straightforward integration of systems for safety and radar-based slope stability hazards last month. Hexagon’s Mining Division chief technical officer Rob Daw states that this integration is an ideal example of the company’s wider strategy, which is to autonomously connect technology ecosystems and bring together previously siloed processes in one platform to significantly boost mine health and safety.

With more than 28% of valves used and supplied to the metals and mining sector in South Africa, industrial valves supplier Brimis Engineering is collaborating with Swiss engineering company VENTRADEX AG and incorporating DISTRAN leak detection technology to service several mining projects.