Новости за 10.08.2022

Chile is taking another look at health in safety in its mines after two workers died on a mining construction project in July and a giant sinkhole more recently opened up near a copper mine. Chile President Gabriel Boric said on Wednesday he wants to ratify an International Labor Organization (ILO) convention on health and safety in mines. The rules were issued in 1995 and first adopted by Botswana, Finland, Spain and Sweden. Brazil adopted the rules, known as convention 176, in 2006 and Peru in 2008.

The remaining 24 out of 48 Marikana litigation matters, which are currently under way, are anticipated to be completed by the end of this months, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development Solicitor General Fhedzisani Pandelani said during a media briefing on August 10. This update comes a decade after the strike at Lonmin Platinum in Marikana, where 34 mineworkers were killed by police fire, and another ten died in the prelude to the shooting.

Gold prices charged higher and broke above the key $1,800 level on Wednesday after relatively tame US inflation readings prompted bets that the Federal Reserve may not opt for aggressive rate hikes. Spot gold rose 0.6% to $1 804.20 per ounce by 1249 GMT (8:49 ET). US gold futures jumped 0.6% to $1 822.30.

Aim-listed Kropz has reported a delay in the ramp-up of operations at the Elandsfontein phosphate mine, in South Africa’s Western Cape province, owing to unexpected ore variability. The company explains that mining rates and associated delivery of ore to the plant from the current mining area have been compromised owing to the presence of competent banks of hard material within the orebody that were previously unknown.

Project delivery company BBE Projects is in the final stages of completing its delivery of a turnkey air-cooling system for diamond miner De Beer’s Venetia diamond mine, in Limpopo, which is currently approaching the final stages of its transition from openpit to underground mining. BBE Group, of which BBE Projects is a subsidiary, was contracted to design, supply, construct and commission the system after having been involved in the Venetia underground project since the prefeasibility phase, engaging... Читать дальше...

This week: Royal Bafokeng applauds President’s energy plan, nears decision on solar; Anglo’s big on-site solar, off-site wind plan lays foundation for green hydrogen; and, High-flying Glencore locks in renewable power, prioritises future-facing metals

As diversified metals miner and processor Jubilee Metals works to expand its platinum group metals (PGMs), copper and cobalt operational footprint, the company has reported a sharp increase in PGM production to 21 140 oz for the six months ended June 30 – the first half of the company’s 2023 financial year. This follows after its expanded Inyoni facility, in the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, achieved full design capacity in the months since its launch in March, with an annualised nameplate... Читать дальше...

Dual-listed Endeavour Silver has raised its 2022 guidance, as the miner continues to outperform its mine plans, delivering an “exceptional” second-quarter production performance that was 15% above plan. The company increased its production outlook to between 7.6-million and 8-million silver-equivalent ounces.

Coal’s remarkable rise from a fuel left for dead to one of the world’s hottest commodities is likely to last for years. Europe’s plans to wean itself off Russian fuels will support the coal market in two distinct ways, both of which should keep prices of seaborne cargoes inflated for the near future, according to Fitch Solutions analysts.

Platinum group metals (PGMs) mining company Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) is looking to off-balance-sheet capital expenditure of R1.6-billion for a 98 MW solar power plant. The photovoltaic (PV) plant will further buffer RBPlat and the region from load-shedding into the future should it prove economically viable, CEO Steve Phiri said during the JSE-listed company’s presentation of half-year financial results covered by Mining Weekly. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

Toronto-listed Hudbay Minerals has reaffirmed its 2022 production and operating cost guidance, as its second-quarter output was in line with expectations and the company achieved strong operating cost performance despite inflationary pressures from higher input prices for many services and consumables.

South Africa’s Central Energy Fund (CEF) has completed its due diligence on its R1-billion investment in emerging integrated energy producer Renergen’s Virginia gas project. Marking a major step towards finalising the agreement between Renergen and the CEF, both parties have now started engaging with their respective stakeholders to obtain final approvals to complete the transaction.

The bidding war for that has erupted for Canadian uranium exploration junior UEX is heating up, with Denison Mines improving its offer, leaving fellow-suitor Uranium Energy Company (UEC) disappointed with UEX delaying its shareholder vote. UEX shareholders would have voted on UEC’s bid on Tuesday, but the company’s board had moved that meeting to August 15, following Denison’s amended offer.

Ecuador-focused Lundin Gold has increased its production guidance and decreased its cost guidance for 2022, following continuing strong operating results in the first half of the year. The Vancouver-headquartered miner now expects to produce between 430 000 oz and 460 000 oz, from a previous guidance of 405 000 oz to 445 000 oz. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) decreased from a range of $860/oz to $930/oz, to between $820/oz to $930/oz.

BHP must shell out more if it wants to snap up assets like those of OZ Minerals - a play on the future of electrification and decarbonisation, analysts and bankers said, after the miner's unsolicited bid for the nickel and copper company was rebuffed. BHP Group's A$8.34-billion ($5.8 billion), or A$25 per share, bid for OZ Minerals does not fully value its assets in light of the global green energy push, according to some analysts.