Новости за 30.11.2022

Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) says it has completed a final environmental- and social-impact assessment (ESIA), which includes the current and best available scientific data for the area in the ocean where it intends to mine phosphate. The company has since 2012 struggled to get through the environmental permitting process to get its Sandpiper project developed, owing to resistance from fishing and environmental groups, which NMP believes is often misinformed about the project and its potential impact on the environment.

This week: Sedibelo Platinum will now have wind power as well as solar and smelterless technology; Platinum moving into meaningful deficit amid emergent source of new end-demand; and, New implements to complement tailings testing portfolio

Copper is poised for its biggest monthly advance since April last year, as investors bet China may shift from Covid-Zero policies and boost demand in the top metal-consuming economy. Prices have increased about 8% on the London Metal Exchange in November, snapping seven months of losses. China is pushing for greater vaccination of the elderly, driving speculation about a further easing of Covid-Zero rules that have placed a heavy toll on the economy.

A truck driver and his supervisor were arrested for allegedly swapping out good-quality coal, and delivering sub-standard product to Eskom’s Matla power station on Monday. "The arrests took place after the truck driver was found to be in possession of sub-grade coal destined for the facility. The coal swapping allegedly took place at a known illegal coal yard in the Mpumalanga area, prior to the delivery being made at the Matla power station," Eskom said on Wednesday.

Aim-listed mineral exploration company Thor Explorations (THX) says gold sales generated revenue of $55.7-million for the quarter ended September 30, and $121.9-million for the nine months ended September 30. The company achieved net profit of $4.1-million for the quarter and $10.4-million for the nine-month period.

LSE-listed diamond producer Petra Diamonds' assessment team has concluded that there is a low risk of further breaches of the tailings storage facility (TSF) at the Williamson mine, in Tanzania, or a breach of the New Alamasi water dam. This follows the November 7 breach of the eastern wall of the TSF.

Development-stage phosphate mining company Arianne Phosphate has appointed Raef Sully – a 10-year veteran of Nutrien and its predecessor Potash Corp – as a strategic adviser. Sully has most recently served as Nutrien executive VP and CEO of the nitrogen and phosphate divisions, where he was responsible for the leadership of its sizeable workforce and multi-billion-dollar revenue streams.

TSX-V-listed FPX Nickel has entered into a subscription agreement for a private placement financing with a new corporate strategic investor, raising gross proceeds of $12-million that it plans to use for the continued development of its nickel project in British Columbia. Under the terms of the placement, FPX will issue 24-million common shares in the capital of the company to the strategic investor at a price of $0.50 each. Upon completion of the private placement, the strategic investor will own... Читать дальше...

Vancouver-headquartered SilverCrest has refinanced its $120-million secured project facility, of which it had drawn $90-million, with a new senior secured credit facility through a syndicate of lenders comprising The Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of Montreal. The new $120-million credit facility includes a $50-million term facility and a $70-million revolving facility. On closing of the credit facility, the company fully drew the $50-million term facility and will use $40-million of its cash balance... Читать дальше...

Canada-based Lundin Gold has published its three-year production guidance, with its outlook for the Fruta del Norte mine, in Ecuador, well above 400 000 oz/y until between 2023 and 2025. “Now that the South Ventilation Raise has been completed, the additional ventilation will allow us to increase the rate of mining to 4 400 t/d to match the expected throughput of the mill,” president and CEO Ron Hochstein said.

Australia will play a big role in South Korea's ambition to lead the electric vehicle batteries market and diversify from China for its battery metals needs, a top South Korean executive said on Wednesday. Ben Bosung Kim, the MD for steel giant POSCO in Australia, said the company has already invested around A$5 billion ($3.4 billion) in the country, which covers traditional raw material such as iron ore and coal, and more recently lithium, nickel, graphite and other minerals needed to manufacture electric car batteries.

Indonesia's president said on Wednesday his country would appeal a trade dispute ruling that he stated had gone in favour of the European Union, which had sued Indonesia over its 2020 ban on exports of nickel ore. Speaking at an investment event, President Joko Widodo vowed the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) ruling would not deter a drive to process more raw materials at home and that he had ordered his government to appeal it.

Nasdaq- and TSX-V-listed Uranium Royalty Corp (URC) has elected to receive royalty proceeds from the recently re-started McArthur River mine, in Canada, through the delivery of physical uranium. URC’s royalty interest applies to Orano Canada’s 30.195% ownership interest in the McArthur River project, which is operated by Cameco.

Oil and gas major Woodside has entered into a bilateral Indigenous Land Use Agreement and a modern benefits-sharing and relationship agreement with the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) over the proposed Woodside power project in the Pilbara. Woodside is currently investigating the supply of approximately 50 MW of solar energy from the power opportunity to the Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, which would result in a direct reduction in Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions from Pluto.

South African coal company Buffalo Coal announced on Wednesday that Emma Oosthuizen had resigned as CEO of the company by triggering the termination clause of her employment contract. This follows the change of control of ownership of Buffalo Coal, with Belvedere Resources now the majority shareholder. Oosthuizen, who was also acting as the interim CFO, assumed the role of the CFO with immediate effect.

Administrators have been called in at ASX-listed Red River Resources. The company’s MD Mel Palancian resigned in July this year, followed by chairperson Brett Fletcher and non-executive director Ian Smith in August, while its subsidiary Cromarty Resources was placed into voluntary administration in October due to ongoing operational issues at the Thalanga base metals operation in Queensland.

Diversified major Rio Tinto will invest a further A$600-million million in renewable energy assets in the Pilbara as part of its efforts to decarbonise its Western Australian iron-ore operations. The investment will fund the construction of two 100 MW solar power facilities as well as 200 MWh of on-grid battery storage in the Pilbara by 2026.