Новости за 05.04.2022

US coal miners including Peabody Energy and Arch Resources surged as the European Union is proposing banning imports of the fuel from Russia. Peabody, the biggest US coal producer, jumped as much as 7.1% before the start of regular trading in New York. Arch, the second-biggest miner climbed as much as 6.3%, while Consol Energy gained as much as 8.6% as prices spiked in Europe.

Coal consulting firm XMP Consulting senior coal analyst Xavier Prevost has stressed that coal is not “dead” and that South Africa’s coal resources remain abundant and can provide low-emitting, cost-effective, reliable and sustainable power well into the future with the correct technology. He called for renewed investment into coal owing to its continued critical role in energy production.

South Africa’s first green finance taxonomy will help investors and financial institutions make more informed decisions on ‘green’ projects, say Webber Wentzel’s Patrick Heron and Joon Chong. Heron and Chong describe the taxonomy, launched by National Treasury last Friday, as an official classification of what is eligible to be defined as ‘green’, while also listing the standards that define economic activities as ‘green’.

Zimbabwe’s mining industry sees a funding shortfall of $10-billion over the next five years, a challenge compounded by erratic power supplies and exchange-rate volatility. While Zimbabwe has the world’s third-biggest reserves of platinum-group metals, plus gold, diamond and chrome mines, development has been stymied by political instability, economic collapse and rules that deter foreign investment. While mining is projected to generate earnings of $5.5-billion this year, it faces a number of headwinds... Читать дальше...

Russian diamond producer Alrosa has asked its trustee to apply to the UK's sanctions regulator for a special licence to allow the company to make coupon payments on its $500-million Eurobond. Alrosa said that UK sanctions currently make it "technically impossible" to pay the coupon due on April 9, amounting $11.6-million.

Aim-listed diamond miner BlueRock Diamonds, which owns and operates the Kareevlei diamond mine, in the Kimberley region of South Africa has sold four larger gem-quality diamonds in the March tender. A 6.6ct diamond sold for $63 000, an 8.7ct diamond for $104 000, a 12.7ct diamond for $128 000 and a 19.3ct diamond for $116 000.

Since acquiring a portfolio of royalties from Newcrest Mining, Aim- and TSX-V-listed Altus Strategies has generated copper and gold royalty revenues of $1.7-million (pre-tax) in the first quarter of this year. Altus currently owns 33 royalty interests, including royalties on four producing mines – the Chile-based Caserones copper mine, the Australia-based South Kalgoorlie operations and the Ballarat gold mines, and the Côte d’Ivoire-based Bonikro gold mine.

The Queensland government has blocked the development of unlisted Fox Resources’ Bundaberg coal project, saying it wasn’t in public interest. Resources Minister Scott Stewart on Thursday refused Fox Resources' application for a mineral development licence (MDL) to further their exploration for coal north of Bundaberg.

Base metals miner New Century Resources on Tuesday said that initial investigations into the Mt Lyell copper mine, in Tasmania, has so far confirmed that the project could be viable. New Century is undertaking a restart study on the Mt Lyell copper project, after entering into an option agreement over the mine in November of last year.

Takeover target Western Areas has gone into a trading halt, with reports emerging that an independent expert had found that the takeover offer by fellow listed Independence Group (IGO) was neither fair nor reasonable, and not in the best interest of shareholders. Western Areas is currently the subject of a takeover bid from IGO, under which Western Areas shareholders will receive A$3.36 per Western Areas share in cash, which represents a 35.5% premium to the company’s undisturbed share price of... Читать дальше...

Canada's federal budget will include an investment of at least C$2-billion ($1.6-billion) for a strategy to accelerate the production and processing of critical minerals needed for the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain, two senior government sources said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, which is due to release its budget on Thursday, will make the investment to ramp up the extraction of processing of critical minerals including nickel, lithium, cobalt and magnesium, said the... Читать дальше...