Новости за 22.09.2020

Less than half the gold processed by major refiners in 2018 came from large industrial mines, the London Bullion Market Association said on Tuesday, publishing data revealing for the first time the origin of bullion moving through its system. The LBMA said refiners it accredits, which dominate the industry and supply the world's biggest banks, jewellers and manufacturers, processed 4 836 tonnes of gold in 2018 -- an amount worth around $300-billion at current prices.

De Beers has cut prices for smaller diamonds in its latest move to draw customers back to the market after the coronavirus froze up trading in precious stones. The company had already discounted bigger and more expensive stones last month for the first time since the pandemic struck. It’s now reduced prices of rough diamonds smaller than one carat by more than 10%, according to people familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified as the details are private. The diamond market came... Читать дальше...

Aim-listed gold, diamonds and polymetals miner Vast Resources reports that its executive director Mark Mabhudhu has received and accepted an offer to join the government-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) as CEO, starting immediately. Mabhudhu’s acceptance of the offer followed a period of consultation with both Vast and the relevant government officials, a process that included a full disclosure as part of averting any possible conflict of interest.

US copper major Freeport-McMoRan has announced its commitment to the Copper Mark - an assurance framework that demonstrates the industry’s responsible production practices and contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is the first and only framework developed specifically for the copper industry and enables each site to demonstrate to customers, investors and other stakeholders their responsible production performance. Freeport-McMoRan has started the process for six of... Читать дальше...

The gold industry still has a mismatch of assets in too many managers’ hands and is in need of further consolidation, says gold major Barrick CEO Mark Bristow. Speaking at the virtual Gold Forum Americas conference, he said that the industry had come a long way in 18 months, but that the job was not yet finished. “The industry could be better served if we could reallocate some of the assets into the right place, with managements that have proven track records to deliver value,” Bristow said.

Perth-based Superior Lake Resources said on Tuesday that it was working on a US uranium strategy, announcing that the exclusivity period on assets held by Premier Uranium in Wyoming and Utah had been extended. Superior in June announced a three-month exclusive option to conduct due diligence on Premier Uranium, which is owned by a fund controlled by uranium investor Mike Alkin’s Saschem Cove Partners.

Coal miner New Hope has announced that another 175 people are to be made redundant at its New Acland coal mine, as it continues to wait for final approvals to expand the Queensland mine. The company last month announced 23 redundancies at the corporate office and the Brisbane port facility.

Australia-based junior Mont Royal Resources has entered into a joint venture option agreement with TSX-V-listed Azimuth Exploration to earn up to 70% of the Wapatik gold/copper project, in James Bay, Quebec. The Wapatik project consists of 220 claims totalling 115 km2 in continuous tenure.

The energy complex had a mixed week, with oil prices recovering and natural gas and emissions prices mixed. Australian coal prices have been catching up to SA prices as Chinese domestic coal prices (based on the Bohai-Rim Steam-Coal Price Index) have proved more robust, with several mines shutting down for safety checks and the Datong-Qinhuangdao Railway under maintenance.

The gold industry can play a major role in helping to address the many social, economic and environmental challenges facing the world, while also expanding its overall contribution to meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, says AngloGold Ashanti nonexecutive director Kojo Busia. In his foreword to the World Gold Council's (WGC's) latest report, titled 'Gold mining's contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals', he says the current high gold price is likely to result in more investment in the gold mining sector.

The Ecuador Constitutional Court on Monday ruled that referendums relating to mining activities would be allowed, but that they would only apply to future mining rights that were not yet granted and that they could not be retroactively applied to concessions granted prior to the referendum. Canada-based project developer INV Metals, which is developing the Loma Larga project, commented that the court's announcement had solidified its lawful rights. The Constitutional Court also approved the application... Читать дальше...

Toronto-listed Ivanhoe Mines is accelerating its Kamoa-Kakula expansion in the Democratic Republic of Congo to prepare for an expected surge in copper demand that will outstrip supply. The expansion of Kakula processing plant from 3.8-million tonnes a year to 7.6-million tonnes a year would be brought forward from the first quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2022, the company announced on Monday. In order to accelerate the Kamoa-Kakula joint venture would order long-lead items with a total... Читать дальше...