Mining Weekly Audio Articles

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses July’s Shanghai Week, which is set to firm up platinum’s already solid status; Phelan Green selecting Johnson Matthey technology for its Saldanha electro‑sustainable aviation fuel plant; and platinum jewellery generating the highest d

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. TSX- and NYSE-listed copper miner Hudbay Minerals has broken ground at the New Ingerbelle expansion project at the Copper Mountain mine, in British Columbia. This marks a significant milestone for the operation and its long-term future in British Columbia. With key permits in place, Hudbay is advancing important infrastructure required for the expansion, including an access road, a bridge across the Similkameen river and an east haul road connecting New Ingerbelle to existing operations. Concurrently, the company has initiated a targeted drilling programme at New Ingerbelle, focusing on upgrading existing inferred resources to reserves to further optimise and extend the future mine life at Copper Mountain. The groundbreaking ceremony on June 18 was attended by Hudbay's executive team, employees, the British Columbia Mining Association, the Chief of the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, leaders from the local community and British Columbia's Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals, Jagrup Brar. The event was also recognised by Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, saying in a video recording that Hudbay's groundbreaking is more than the start of a new mine expansion. "It is a signal of confidence in Canada's resource sector, in Canadian workers and in our ability to build big things." Based on current mineral reserves, New Ingerbelle is projected to produce about 750 000 t of copper, 900 000 oz of gold and 5.5-million ounces of silver over the life-of-mine. It is designed to access higher-grade mineralisation while it also features a stripping ratio three times lower than that of the current mining areas. The expansion is expected to generate significant economic benefits for British Columbia, including more than C$11.5-billion in provincial GDP, while supporting regional supply chains, contractors, local businesses and community investment across the Similkameen region and the province. Hudbay president and CEO Peter Kukielski says New Ingerbelle is not just an expansion but a critical pillar of the group's long-term growth strategy in British Columbia. "The opening of New Ingerbelle enhances the copper and gold production profile at Copper Mountain, secures more than 800 full-time jobs beyond 2040 and ensures the mine continues to deliver economic benefits at the local, regional and federal levels. Our efforts to optimise Copper Mountain, combined with the development of New Ingerbelle, will unlock significant long-term value for all of our stakeholders."

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Africa cannot afford fragmented voices any longer, South Africa's mining and energy leading light Mike Teke pointed out in an address at the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines, where he highlighted the need for greater regional collaboration. Speaking as FutureCoal Africa chapter chairperson, Teke invited governments, industry, and investors across Africa to participate actively in the Africa chapter and to help shape a balanced, secure and investment-ready energy future. Founding support for the chapter has been provided by industry leaders in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, with its mandate extending to countries across the continent and its focus concentrated on coordinated engagement in technology, investment, energy security, and industrial growth. While the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was welcome news, Teke pointed out that recent events had demonstrated how quickly global energy markets could be disrupted. "The lesson for governments is not about a single shipping route; it's about ensuring that countries have access to reliable domestic energy resources, resilient supply chains and secure industrial capacity. Energy security and affordability must come first, because without them, there can be no stable or sustainable transition," Teke explained. Interestingly, he drew attention to the deployment of high-efficiency low-emission technology at Zimbabwe's Hwange power station's units 7 and 8 as a practical example of sustainable coal stewardship in action, alongside rehabilitation work on units 1 to 6 and Zimbabwe's broader exploration of coal gasification and coal-to-x pathways. Particularly noteworthy is that Hwange Power's expansion is underpinned by FutureCoal's sustainable coal stewardship framework, which provides a practical roadmap for responsible coal production, emission reduction, technology deployment and industrial development. "The issue is not whether coal exists, but how it is produced, used and its negative impacts mitigated. Sustainable coal stewardship provides a practical pathway for responsible development. Africa has the resources, the capability, and the people – we must now act with coordination and confidence," Teke advocated. Teke, who is CEO and co-founder of Seriti Resources Holdings and the chairperson of renewable energy company Seriti Green, emphasised that Africa needed to position itself strategically within the changing global environment.

The intensifying competition among China, the US and other major powers to secure future copper supplies is creating an opportunity for African producer countries to capture greater value from the metal’s supply chain, says political scientist and economist Gaylor Montmasson-Clai

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Despite metal price and import tariff headwinds, platinum jewellery delivered growth across all markets in 2025, generating the highest demand level since 2019. South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum, consistently supplying 70% to 80 of total annual output. "While the world was being disrupted profoundly, the key platinum jewellery markets responded with remarkable resilience," Platinum Guild International (PGI) CEO Tim Schlick said during the presentation of the 2025 platinum jewellery business review themed 'A year of resilience'. In China, 2025 platinum jewellery fabrication rose 56% to 589 000 oz, the strongest manufacturing year since 2022, while gold jewellery demand fell by 25%. The surge was driven largely by the sharp rise in the gold price, which attracted new participants to platinum jewellery. PGI partners outperformed the market with more than half of Chinese platinum demand linked to love-gifting occasions. In Japan – the world's highest per-capita platinum jewellery market – platinum jewellery demand grew by 2% in 2025, increasing its share of retail unit sales to 28%, while gold jewellery demand fell by 11%. Platinum continued to gain share from white gold amid elevated gold prices. Demand for higher-weight pieces such as Kihei chains held firm and the Platinum Woman programme delivered 23% more value despite the retail price increases. In India – platinum's fastest-growing jewellery market – platinum manufacturing rose by 4% to 280 000 oz in 2025 compared with a 24% decline in gold jewellery demand. While more modest than the double-digit growth of recent years, the figure reflects the impact of US tariffs on exports. The Men of Platinum campaign closed with an exclusive fan meet-and-greet with Indian professional cricketer MS Dhoni at the Taj Lands End five-star hotel in Mumbai. PGI's India partners were central to platinum's expansion into the Middle East, which saw tremendous uptake over the year. In North America, platinum jewellery demand grew by 6% in 2025, compared with gold jewellery's 10% decline. The price delta to gold made converting white gold to platinum a profitable proposition for the trade. "With the increase in lab-grown diamonds, now chosen by over 60% of consumers for the centre stone, there is an opportunity for consumers to spend more on the metal in the engagement ring, the single most important purchase in the US jewellery industry. In a K-shaped economy, high-end jewellery rose in both units and value, and bridal remained a priority," PGI stated in its media release to Mining Weekly. LOOKING AHEAD PGI expects Japan to remain stable, China to normalise towards pre-2025 levels, and Europe is expected to shift towards lower karat gold and to platinum. With platinum jewellery having proved its resilience through a year of exceptional disruptions, PGI sees a foundation for continued momentum across its markets in 2026. PGI has offices in the world's major jewellery markets and creates consumer ounce demand by identifying and fulfilling platinum jewellery opportunities for its partners.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Australian miner BHP Group has reported an increased capital estimate for its potash production expansion project Jansen Stage 2, in Saskatchewan, Canada, to $6.9-billion from $4.9-billion previously, as well as a $2.3-billion impairment charge as higher costs and additional labour hours drive up spending and delay first production. BHP has exceed initial capital cost estimates at the two-stage Jansen project for the third time. , The company undertook a detailed cost and schedule review for Stage 2 of the Jansen project, with production now expected late in the 2031 financial year. BHP continues to expect Jansen Stage 2 to deliver about 4.36-million tonnes a year of production. Following an expected two-year ramp-up period from first production, combined output from Jansen is expected to be 8.5-million tonnes a year and will deliver about 10% of total global potash production. Future expansions could eventually push the site to between 16-million and 17-million tonnes a year. The funding covers the development of new mining districts, second shaft hoist infrastructure, expanded processing facilities and additional rail cars to handle higher volumes. BHP says the increased funding estimate is owing to additional construction hours and quantities of materials to complete Jansen Stage 2 and escalation, which was identified as part of the comprehensive review. At the end of May, Jansen Stage 2 was 16% complete, with engineering at 83% complete, de-risking the estimate for remaining work. Jansen Stage 2 has an updated internal rate of return of 11% and expected payback period of eight years. Underlying earnings margins for Jansen Stage 2 remain above 65% owing to its low cost position. Once Jansen Stage 2 ramps up, BHP anticipates that the combined Jansen mine will be the lowest unit cost Canadian potash mine at between $114/t and 130/t, in line with unit cost estimates at sanction, reinforcing Jansen's durable competitive advantage in the potash market and further supporting BHP's long-term growth strategy in future facing commodities. Meanwhile, Jansen Stage 1 is achieving its critical path milestones set in the updated January 2026 cost and schedule estimate, and first production remains on track for mid-2027. BHP expects its group capital expenditure guidance for the 2027 financial year to remain at about $11-billion.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. A sale of De Beers, Anglo American's diamond unit, has never been closer, its CEO said on Tuesday, adding that a deal could come within weeks. Anglo put De Beers - one of the world's leading diamond companies with operations and exploration spanning Botswana, Namibia, Angola, South Africa and Canada - up for sale in May 2024 as part of a broader restructuring amid falling diamond prices and the global rise of synthetic diamonds. "I'm hopeful that it'll happen in weeks rather than months going forward," De Beers CEO Al Cook said in an interview at the Reuters NEXT Europe conference in London. "It's been a two-year period. There's been a lot of negotiations. They're now maturing. We've never been closer than we are to a sale." The unit has attracted interest from the governments of Botswana, which already holds a 15% stake, Namibia and Angola. They are members of consortia with companies interested in buying Anglo's 85% stake, according to sources. "I think what's good for us is we've had countries that really understand diamonds," Cook said. "We've had consortia and companies that know a lot about diamonds wanting to take stakes. So we've got. all the ingredients for a really powerful public-private partnership. But as with all deals, we need to get it over the line." Sources previously told Reuters there are two consortia still vying to take stakes in De Beers, down from six in 2025. The two remaining consortia include governments of diamond-producing countries, former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, now chairperson of asset manager Ninety One, a Qatari investment fund and Israeli businessman Nir Livnat. 'DIAMONDS BECOMING RARER' Demand for diamonds globally had fallen for three years in a row before a recent pick-up, Cook said, pointing to the plunging marriage rate in China and its knock-on effect on purchases of engagement rings. Nonetheless, Cook said wider mine closures in South Africa, Lesotho and Canada by the end of 2027 will lead to a contraction of global supply. "The whole industry has only made one commercial diamond discovery in the 21st century. So overall, we expect to see demand contract over time and diamonds will become rarer," Cook said. Cook added that De Beers has been steadily cutting its own supply of stones to the market, adding that he saw a "K-shaped" economic recovery, where higher-quality diamonds are increasingly sought after, with lower quality stones remaining at depressed prices.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Brazilian miner Vale plans to invest up to 13-billion reais ($2.56-billion) in decarbonization initiatives to meet its voluntary emissions reduction targets and mitigate climate-related risks, a sustainability report showed on Monday. The company did not specify the timeframe for the investment. The amount includes up to four-billion reais for decarbonizing operations, with 24% invested in the medium term and 76% in the long term. Another eight-billion reais is linked to building industrial complexes focused on low-carbon technologies, which includes steelmaking transition technologies and iron ore briquette development. The remaining one-billion reais would go for research and development, the firm said. Vale invested nine-billion reais in decarbonization initiatives from 2020 to 2025. Through these initiatives, Vale sees potential for financial and environmental returns for its business, sustainability executive VP Grazielle Parenti said in an interview with Reuters. "Within Vale's governance framework, all projects and decisions of this caliber are evaluated using an environmental, social, and governance matrix that identifies potential risks and opportunities for each one," she said. The company also warned on Monday it could face carbon costs of up to 22-billion reais at present value from carbon pricing mechanisms, with substantial impacts expected from 2030 onwards.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Trade union the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has expressed concern about the alleged deaths of two employees at Northam Zondereinde mine in Northam, in Limpopo. According to preliminary information, AMCU notes that, on June 13, a development crew was conducting an early entry examination at 1 Shaft when a strain burst occurred at the development face. The union says the rock drill operator attempted to take evasive action but was struck by the rock. AMCU says crew members immediately assisted the injured worker, moved him to a safe area, and administered first aid. The control room was informed, and paramedics were dispatched underground. It notes that the occupational medical practitioner (OMP) and life support team attended to the injured employee and prepared him for airlift transfer to Milpark Hospital. He allegedly succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the mine medical centre. AMCU adds that a second fatal incident occurred at the same mine later that day in the processing plant's smelter converter aisle where a contractor employee supposedly died after falling from a crane during maintenance work. The trade union notes that the control room was immediately notified and that paramedics were dispatched to the smelter. It adds that the OMP and life support team attended to the injured contractor employee. Unfortunately, despite emergency response efforts in both cases, AMCU says they succumbed to their injuries. "We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends, and colleagues of the two workers who lost their lives while on duty. These tragic deaths represent not only the loss of workers but also the loss of breadwinners whose families will bear the consequences of these incidents for years to come," says AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa. Mining Weekly has reached out to Northam for comment.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. ASX-listed lithium explorer PMET Resources has confirmed in a concept study that the Shaakichiuwaanaan project, in Québec's Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, can viably produce a value-added lithium chemical at site. This offers reduced logistics intensity over time and aligns with Canada's objectives for domestic processing of critical minerals. PMET set out to evaluate future potential to process spodumene concentrate into a value-added lithium product directly at the Shaakichiuwaanaan site. The company completed a structured review of seven processing flowsheet options in this regard, opting ultimately for ASX-listed NRW Holdings' subsidiary Primero's ALi atmospheric leach process as the preferred value-added pathway for further study. PMET says Primero's ALi proprietary process offers the best economic potential, strong logistics efficiency benefits and a low technical risk profile. The technology also minimises the project's environmental footprint. Primero undertook bench-scale testwork on spodumene concentrate samples from Shaakichiuwaanaan using its ALi process, which produced a 99.8% battery-grade lithium carbonate. If combined with the use of electric calcination through Québec's low-cost renewable energy, on-site value-added processing has future potential to reduce carbon intensity and improve efficiencies within the battery materials supply chain, PMET confirms. The company adds that the on-site refining strategy is a staged, longer-term growth opportunity and is not required for the current proposed development of the base spodumene concentrate project outlined in the Shaakichiuwaanaan 2025 prefeasibility study. Next, PMET aims to determine more economic benefits of value-added products on site including potential introduction of electrical calcination technology to leverage the full potential of Québec's renewable and low-cost hydroelectric power. PMET COO Frederic Mercier-Langevin comments Shaakichiuwaanaan is already a Tier-1 asset and this concept study potentially identifies a credible pathway to capture additional value on top of it. "Converting spodumene concentrate to a 'value-added' and potentially battery-grade lithium chemical on-site could deliver a lower-cost, lower-carbon flowsheet powered by Québec hydroelectricity. Primero's bench scale results on our concentrates indicate battery-grade purity possibility and the logistics savings could be material." PMET CEO, MD and president Ken Brinsden highlights that the lithium industry has been mining hard-rock lithium in one place and refining it in another for decades. The refining has often taken place overseas, which is hardly the most efficient supply chain solution. "The work we are reporting points to the potential for a redefinition of the supply chain. It could be a credible alternate pathway, demonstrated at bench scale with our spodumene concentrates, to refine battery-grade lithium at the mine gate in a stable, Western and low-carbon supply chain. "This is the king of industry step-change, coupled with Shaakichiuwaanaan's premier geology, that drew me to this project," Brinsden concludes.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. South Africa's platinum group metals (PGMs) mining and marketing company Valterra Platinum this week affirmed sustainability as being at the heart of the future of mining when it hosted its inaugural Sustainability Day to highlight the role responsible mining plays in driving competitiveness and long-term value creation. The event followed the publication of Valterra Platinum's first sustainability report in March and reinforces sustainability as a strategic imperative embedded across the business. Sustainability is the practice of using resources responsibly so that human needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, ensuring long-term viability for the planet and society. Valterra Platinum supplies PGMs that underpin cleaner technologies. These cleaner technologies, it stated, specifically include: hydrogen energy systems; andemission reduction solutions. Collectively, hydrogen energy systems and emission-reduction solutions make this Johannesburg Stock Exchange- and London Stock Exchange-listed PGMs company a central driver of the transition to a lower-carbon global economy. As demand grows for cleaner mobility, industrial decarbonisation, energy security, and emerging technologies such as AI, sustainability is increasingly shaping operational performance, market access, customer relationships, and future growth. "The cleaner, more electrified and more connected future the world is building, depends on the metals that we mine, and we need to produce these metals in ways that are responsible, resilient and trusted," Valterra CEO Craig Miller stated in a media release to Mining Weekly. "The scale and pace of today's challenges call for integrated thinking, stronger partnerships, real innovation, and a willingness to lead. Sustainability should be more than a compliance exercise. It has to be a driver of operational excellence, an enabler of innovation and a source of resilience – and that's why sustainability is integrated into everything we do," Miller added. Valterra's sustainability strategy is guided by two mutually reinforcing principles: protecting and creating value. Value protection focuses on securing the company's licence to operate, managing regulatory and social risks, and ensuring reliable delivery to host communities and stakeholders. Value creation focuses on strengthening operational resilience, enabling cost efficiencies and energy security, supporting long-term growth, and building enduring customer relationships. The sustainability strategy is also anchored in three interconnected priorities. The first of these is climate and environment, which involves advancing decarbonisation, resource stewardship and climate resilience. This year, Valterra and Envusa Energy announced the commercial operation of the 240 MW Mooi Plaats solar PV project in South Africa's Northern Cape. The Koruson 2 project, when completed later in 2026, will reach up to 520 MW of renewable energy, of which 79% will be allocated to operations. This will meet about a third of Valterra's electricity needs, strengthening the pathway to a 30% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030. It will also ensure operational energy security, deliver cost savings of about R300-million a year and is expected to abate about 2.2-million tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year. Furthermore, Valterra's smelting operations comply with the Minimum Emissions Standard regulations and with SO₂ abatement systems that convert emissions into sulphuric acid. While this investment delivers no additional PGM ounces, it reflects the company's commitment to doing the right thing for the environment in which it operates. Water stewardship remains a priority, with programmes to improve water effi...

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses the completion of Manganese Metal Company’s new plant in Mpumalanga; the rare earths project in the Northern Cape that was highlighted on day two of the Junior Indaba; and the fantastic opportunity for junior mining companies.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Copper producer Glencore Canada has welcomed the Québec government's passage of Bill 11, which establishes a stable regulatory framework for the Horne Smelter operations through to 2033. This regulatory stability enables the company to progressively resume its air emissions reduction projects. The law provides Glencore Canada with more time to comply with strict emissions standards. In particular, Bill 11 extends the deadline for reducing ambient air arsenic emissions at Horne to 15 nanograms per cubic metre until 2029/30, which is a two-year delay, and maintains it at that level until at least 2033. Glencore Canada put $300-million worth of planned environmental investments on hold earlier this year pending clarification on its air emission allowances and a clear operating framework. At the time, uncertainty surrounding future emissions requirements and permit conditions made it impossible for the company to proceed with projects, even those critical to the smelter's future. The air emissions reduction projects, once complete, will cement the Horne Smelter's position among the highest-performing copper smelters in the world - in terms of environmental performance. Glencore custom metallurgical assets COO Marc Bédard says Canada's only copper smelting capacity has never mattered more, amid intensifying global competition, rising tariffs and ongoing supply chain disruptions, with the plant contributing to economic resilience and national sovereignty. "Governments worldwide have recognised the strategic importance of domestic refining in the critical minerals value chain. Many jurisdictions have introduced targeted measures to support modernisation and ensure long-term competitiveness. "Canada has identified critical minerals and secure supply chains as strategic priorities, but federal support has yet to match that ambition. While programmes to support key industrial assets exist, the pace of implementation has not caught up to the urgency on the ground," Bédard states. Glencore Canada is calling on the federal government to match provincial efforts with timely and concrete support through the Strategic Response Fund. "The federal government's support is essential to secure the economic viability of the smelter and the substantial investments to ensure the modernisation and competitiveness of the Horne Smelter and Glenore Canada's complementary Canadian Copper Refinery operation. "The regulatory certainty provided by the government of Québec, along with its existing targeted programmes, speaks to how much the province values the copper sector. What remains is decisive federal action to solidify Canada's commitment. Government of Canada support is critical to unlocking future capital investment that will ensure the future of Canada's last copper smelter and refinery," Bédard says. He concludes that the Horne Smelter has demonstrated that it consistently delivers on its commitments to its workers and its environmental targets. With the right federal partnership, Canada could have a midstream anchor worthy of its critical minerals ambition. According to a 2026 KPMG socioeconomic study, Glencore's Canadian copper operations supported more than 2 330 direct, indirect and induced jobs in 2024, and contributed $1.2-billion in direct GDP.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Activist investor Elliott Investment Management late on Wednesday called on Australia's largest gold miner Northern Star Resources to immediately restore shareholder value by changing its board and undertaking a formal strategic review, citing severe underperformance. Elliott burst publicly onto Northern Star's register last week with a more than A$1-billion ($700.80-million) stake, calling for a review and new leadership, citing repeated "operational missteps", including seven outlook misses in four years, and a share price that vastly underperformed its peers. The call from Elliott, which successfully pushed BHP to collapse its dual listing after a five-year campaign, came as the $19-billion miner was in the process of recruiting a new CEO and in succession planning for its chair. Northern Star responded to Elliott's approach with a letter to shareholders earlier on Wednesday, saying it was happy to work with the activist investor and consider a board candidate that Elliott might suggest. The US-based investor said: "The board's letter indicates that it does not understand the magnitude of change required to win back shareholders' trust, starting with significantly strengthening the board itself." The case for a strategic review of Australia's largest listed gold miner is now clearer than it was before the board published its letter, Elliott added. ACTING FASTER In its shareholder letter, Northern Star said that it did not consider it the right time for a sale process. The miner acknowledged that it had been approached by several companies on considering various corporate combinations, given the underperformance of its shares. "Their response is definitely less than adequate and detailed plans for creating value are still amiss," said Elan Miller, a deputy portfolio manager at Blackwattle Investment Partners.| "I would be of the view that management are not fully across the asset or the production issues and therefore there really needs to be a reset in people way deeper than just the CEO," he added. Northern Star appears to want to go forward with its richest assets, Kalgoorlie's Super Pit, the Hemi and Pogo projects, said analyst Daniel Morgan of Barrenjoey. Remaining assets could be sold to cashed-up mid-tier gold miners, he added. "I think a lot of what Elliott is looking for Northern Star to do, (it) will do, but Elliott's pressure is going to make Northern Star act faster," he said. In its letter, Northern Star said that investment banks in the last six months had proposed a spin-off of assets, in an option also reviewed by its financial adviser, but one the miner decided not to act on. Over the past year, Northern Star has faced several headwinds at its Kalgoorlie gold operations in Western Australia, and it said achieving the lower end of its fiscal 2026 production guidance would be challenging. Shares of the company fell as much as 5.3% to A$17.55 in early trade on Thursday, their lowest level since March 24. The broader benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was down 0.8% by 00:38 GMT. The stock has lost nearly 33% in value so far this year, outpacing gold's 5% decline.

The global copper market is expected to remain in deficit as growing demand from the energy transition collides with the realities of bringing new supply to market. In this episode of IN FOCUS, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking head of resources and energy coverage Shirley W

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. South Africa's supply status in the rapidly evolving and increasingly geopolitically fragmented battery materials market has taken a major leap forward with the completion of the construction by Manganese Metal Company (MMC) of Mpumalanga of the first phase of a battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) plant in Mbombela. What's more, MMC is already evaluating a second significantly larger phase to the project amid also developing a patented ore-to-crystals process that could support larger-scale future growth in the battery supply chain, without the need to use the metal-based route. Chaired by mining luminary Bernard Swanepoel, MMC is the world's only producer of electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) outside China, and the largest producer of high purity selenium-free EMM. Presenting at the International Manganese Institute (IMnI) annual conference in Rio de Janeiro, MMC Chief Marketing Officer Morné Ruiters outlined MMC's seven-year journey from project conception in 2019 to commissioning of the 6 000 t/y HPMSM facility in 2026 at its Mbombela location, where the second phase is poised to add a further 18 000 t/y. The IMnI conference was attended by stakeholders from across the global manganese value chain, including manganese mining companies, alloy, metal and chemical producers, traders, consultancies, logistics companies and steel and battery sector participants. The project's development has unfolded against a backdrop of significant shifts in electric vehicle (EV) adoption and battery chemistry preferences. According to MMC, industry forecasts prepared in 2020 substantially underestimated the pace of EV penetration. Global battery electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales reached more than 21-million units in 2025, more than double the levels anticipated five years earlier. Battery chemistry trends also surprised the market. While lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries were expected to account for only around 10% of the market by 2025, they captured roughly half of global EV battery demand last year, on account of very strong EV growth in China, reshaping assumptions about future manganese consumption. Given these uncertainties, MMC elected in 2024 to pursue a modular 'metal-to-crystals' (MTX) production route, for converting a small portion of its existing high-purity manganese metal into battery-grade sulphate. The strategy leverages the company's established EMM production capacity, brownfield infrastructure and decades of manganese purification expertise while reducing capital exposure and allowing phased expansion. "The battery market has changed dramatically since our initial studies were completed," Ruiters pointed out during his IMnI presentation. "Flexibility and optionality have become critical." The technical ability to produce material at industrial scale at the purity level demanded by the battery industry is now being matched by a requirement to be flexible and meet changing market realities. The company argues that battery supply chains remain far from settled. While LFP cathode chemistry is expected to dominate mass-market midrange EVs and stationary energy storage systems, there is a continuing role for nickel-manganese-cobalt (NCM) cathodes, particularly as battery manufacturers increasingly adopt mid-nickel, high-voltage NCM formulations with higher manganese content. Emerging lithium manganese-rich (LMR) technologies will further strengthen manganese demand and reduce battery cost, underscoring the continued research and development efforts by various automotive and battery companies to overcome the last technical hurdles related to commercialisation of LMR batteries. Geopolitical developments are adding another layer of complexity – "and...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. The Zandkopsdrift rare earths project in South Africa's endowed Northern Cape was highlighted on day two of the Junior Indaba, which also learnt of the rapid forward momentum of West Wits Mining's gold-bar producing Qala Shallows mine on the doorstep of Johannesburg, as well as the advance of Pensana's rare earths project in Angola. Frontier Rare Earths CEO and co-founder James Kenny declared the company's Zandkopsdrift to be the lowest-cost producer of magnet rare earths and battery-grade manganese sulphate globally. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.) West Wits CFO Simon Whyte, one of only two non-South African employees of this Australia-listed gold mine, the other being its chairperson Michael Quinert, reported having 55 people in the owners' team compared with ten last year and 450 people on site in Roodepoort. "It still surprises people that we've got a seven-million-ounce project from surface here in the Witwatersrand basin," said Whyte. Pensana CEO Tim George outlined the beneficiation steps being taken in Angola, involving flotation followed by a hydrometallurgical process to end up with a mixed rare earth carbonate – "white powder with all of the rare earths still mixed up in it". Part of Pensana's journey is to develop the separation technology suitable for this particular deposit. In answer to what rare earths were and why they were rare, Frontier's Kenny displayed a slide showing China's dominance of rare earths and battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) being at the 85% to 90% level. He pointed out rare earths at oxide level as a sub-$20-billion market and the overall industry that relies on rare earths for end-use applications at a colossal $4-trillion to $5-trillion. "That tells you what their critical importance is, and they've become the most weaponised critical raw material globally," Kenny remarked at the event chaired by mining luminary Bernard Swanepoel and covered by Mining Weekly. Kenny predicted the strong growth of rare earth magnets between now and 2040, but under supply, "and there's going to be an enormous squeeze in terms of pricing". Luxembourg-based Frontier Rare Earths has signed a technology supply agreement with rare earths separation specialist company Carester to work with Frontier on developing South Africa's Zandkopsdrift rare earths and manganese project. Additionally, South Africa's State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has provided an investment of $20-million to finance a definitive feasibility study (DFS) on the project. Carester owns proprietary rare earth solvent extraction technology that will enable the production of high-purity neodymium/praseodymium (NdPr) oxide, as well as mixed heavy rare earth carbonate (MHREC) at Zandkopsdrift. The agreement between the companies includes a seven-year offtake arrangement for MHREC, which will be processed at Carester's Lacq facility, in France. IDC industry planning and project development executive Rian Coetzee has described the IDC's investment in Frontier as reflecting the organisation's mandate to support projects that advance Southern Africa's industrialisation and critical minerals strategy. The investment has afforded Frontier the option for the IDC to offtake up to 10% of production at prevailing market prices, subject to being used in further downstream processing in South Africa. Zandkopsdrift is described as having strong fundamentals and the potential to support downstream beneficiation, job creation and long-term economic value. The project's DFS is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2027 following an updated prefeasibility on the project being completed last year. First production is envisaged from 2030 along with a 25-year mine life....

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Canadian lithium developer E3 Lithium has met all the conditions required to receive Canadian federal government funding worth $36-million to advance Phase 3 of Clearwater project's demonstration facility and the project's overall feasibility study, in Alberta. Having executed a contribution agreement for the non-repayable funding through Natural Resources Canada's Global Partnerships Initiative (GPI), E3 will have enough funding to support 75% of the Clearwater project's $48-million capital requirement for the current works underway. The funding is retroactive to April 1, and the company can claim eligible expenses from the start of the second quarter. This support through the GPI will enable E3 to accelerate the development of its Clearwater project at a critical juncture as the company looks to complete major technical deliverables for Stage 1 of commercial operations. "Canada is building strong domestic critical minerals value chains, and that means investing at the stages that matter most in getting projects over the line. Through GPI, we are supporting the engineering, demonstration and feasibility work needed for E3 Lithium's Clearwater project to reach final investment decision (FID). This is how we move faster, reduce risk and ensure sustainable, sovereign Canadian lithium can power our economy at home and supply our allies abroad," says Canada Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson. E3 began ramping up aspects of this project beginning in April this year, upon conditional approval of the funding, explains E3 CEO and chairperson Chris Doornbos. "With the execution of the contribution agreement, E3 is now fully executing towards some of the biggest technical milestones we have in front of us, aiming to significantly derisk our Clearwater project ahead of the FID. We appreciate the government of Canada's support in advancing a domestic lithium supply chain and strengthening Canada's position in the global critical minerals market." The federal funding provided through the GPI will also support 75% of the costs of the company's current technical team, as well as the commitment to hire up to an additional 25 new technical staff and operators. WORKS UNDERWAY With the contribution agreement having been secured, E3 has started equipment orders required to complete the third and final phase of the demonstration facility. Phase 3 includes operation of the previously commissioned 30-column direct lithium extraction (DLE) and purification/carbonation skids, along with the construction and operation of a commercial-size, single DLE column. The company expects to achieve increased production volumes of battery-grade lithium carbonate, which will enable E3 to continue progressing product qualification with offtake partners and evaluate commercial battery supply chain value opportunities. The successful completion of Phase 3 of the demonstration facility is a major derisking milestone for the company and will be a critical component in the evaluation of the Clearwater project by potential strategic and offtake partners, project financiers and any potential additional government support. E3's goals for Phase 3 of the demonstration facility include demonstrating lithium recovery rates greater than 85% through the single commercial column and producing lithium chloride at an equivalent rate of up to 100 t/y of lithium carbonate. The GPI funding will also support E3's completion of the Clearwater project feasibility study, which targets 12 000 t/y of battery-grade lithium carbonate in Stage 1. The study is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2027. The engineering scope will include the final designs for the reservoir development, gas-handling system, lithium extraction and purifi...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Mining's future will not be built only by the largest companies. Even though major mining houses are economically critical, history has shown that discoveries are usually made by optimists, entrepreneurs, and explorers. Every operating mine started as an idea, a map, a drill programme, and a group of people prepared to take a risk when success was still uncertain. Junior Indaba chairperson Bernard Swanepoel pointed out in opening of the vibrant junior mining event on Tuesday, June 9. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.) "We meet at a fascinating moment. The world's becoming more fragmented, supply chains are being redrawn, nations are competing for access to minerals, capital is becoming more selective, and yet Africa's mineral endowment has never been more strategically important. "So, the question is no longer whether Africa has the resources. The question is whether we can create the conditions that allow investment, discovery, and development to flourish," Swanepoel said amid the event's reiteration of today's world in all likelihood requiring significantly more mining than seen in recent decades, which is where junior mining companies have a fantastic opportunity to play increasingly catalytic roles. Junior mining companies were urged to forge ahead with even greater determination. "South Africa, in particular, faces a choice: we can continue debating our challenges, or we can become globally competitive again. "Investors have options. Exploration capital is mobile, and I would say fickle. Good intentions are not enough. Competitiveness matters," Swanepoel pointed out during the event covered by Mining Weekly. He expressed the strong hope that there would be a move beyond diagnosis and that the Junior Indaba would trigger partnership, project funding and new mines against the background of mining ultimately a business of faith, patience, and perseverance, that at times required participants to take themselves completely out of their comfort zones. The event stretched out to draw in the viewpoints of the in-person and online audience with the first poll undertaken putting the question of what Africa lacks most when it comes to junior mining stimulation and these voting options: policy certainty, investment, more collaboration, or projects. The lot fell overwhelmingly on policy certainty indicating that governments, in particular, have a central role to play in creating a conducive environment for mining investment. Also wanted is regulatory efficiency and licensing processes that are transparent, predictable, and responsive. While a modern cadastral system will not solve every challenge, it was made clear that a globally competitive exploration industry cannot be built without one.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. TSX- and NYSE-listed precious metals and copper developer McEwen has confirmed in a prefeasibility study (PFS) on the Grey Fox project its viability to become a major source of ore for the Fox Complex and play a key role in increasing the group's production near Timmins, in Ontario. With the addition of Grey Fox, gold production at the Fox Complex is anticipated to reach 100 000 oz in 2029 and average 87 000 oz/y from 2028 through 2041. This production growth will support the company's near-term objective of increasing total yearly production to between 250 000 and 300 000 gold equivalent ounces across its portfolio by 2030. McEwen also has a stake in the advanced-stage Los Azules copper development project in Argentina, as well as gold and silver projects in various stages of development or production in Nevada, Manitoba and Mexico. Using a gold price assumption of $4 000/oz and a silver price assumption of $50/oz, the PFS confirms production from Grey Fox will generate sufficient cash flow to self-fund production growth with limited to no share dilution. Grey Fox will benefit from the combination of using the company's existing Stock mill and tailings facilities, along with its existing workforce. Grey Fox will extend the Fox Complex mine life by 15 years to 2041, with mine reserves totalling about 40% of the current resources - which leaves opportunity for further extension of the mine life. The project can contribute an average 43 000 oz to the Fox Complex's production every year from 2028 to 2035. From 2035 to 2040, Grey Fox will become the sole source of production, averaging 87 000 oz/y before tapering off in 2041. For comparison, the Fox Complex production guidance for 2026 is set at between 16 000 oz and 19 000 oz. The PFS outlines an initial capital expenditure requirement of $181-million for Grey Fox, which McEwen says can be funded primarily from treasury and operating cash flow. The capital requirements can be divided as $17-million in 2026, $60-million in 2027, $80-million in 2028 and $24-million in 2029. Grey Fox can reach this production at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $2 212/oz over the life-of-mine, at a gold price of $3 000/oz as the base case scenario. In a higher price scenario of $4 500/oz, AISC will amount to $2 421/oz. At the lower end price scenario, Grey Fox has an after-tax net present value of $282-million, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 25% and a payback period of 4.6 years. In the higher gold price scenario, Grey Fox is valued at $841-million after tax, IRR increases to 55% and the payback period reduces to 2.3 years. McEwen plans to mine Grey Fox through a combination of two independent underground operations accessed from two portals. The mineral zones will be mined using a longhole mining method supplemented with cut and fill mining. The Stock mill will process both the Grey Fox ores and the Stock mine ores, with expected recovery rates of 87.5% based on laboratory testing. The company has advised that development at Grey Fox will require amendments to the current operating permits within the Fox Complex. For example, water permit and closure plan amendments will be initiated in the coming weeks. With the small footprint and existing facilities at the Fox Complex, McEwen is targeting receipt of permits for development work at Grey Fox within 12 to 18 months. The company will also be evaluating optimisation opportunities to increase cash flow from the project, incorporate new mineralisation as exploration progresses and examine opportunities to reduce initial capital requirements. The next steps at Grey Fox include detailed engineering and ordering of long-lead items and submitting water permit and closure plan amendments. McEwen targets a constructi...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Green hydrogen, which is produced with the help of platinum group metals (PGMs) could become the catalyst for new green iron, green steel, green chemicals and beneficiation industries built on South Africa's mineral and renewable energy advantages. "The real prize is not hydrogen — it's industrialisation. The opportunity is significant if South Africa can align infrastructure, investment and skills development," Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy president Gary Lane pointed out on LinkedIn in response to Mining Weekly's report on June 5 about South Africa's green hydrogen and power-to-x (PtX) project development standard (PDS). Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré officially launched the PtX PDS on May 19 during the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam. The initiative is described as marking an important step in strengthening South Africa's pipeline of credible, investment-ready green hydrogen and PtX projects by Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan Programme Management Office stakeholder specialist Collins Nyamadzawo. The standard introduces a structured and transparent process through which project developers can demonstrate technical, commercial, financial, and operational readiness through the standardised questionnaire and assessment platform aligned with investor and development finance institution expectations. PGMs are key in electrolysers that turn water into green hydrogen and then also key in turning hydrogen back into green electricity for green steel, green cement, green chemicals, data centres, AI, off-grid communities, and many other products. In Namibia, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, which has announced a strategic partnership with GIZ Namibia, is inviting qualified firms or consortia to submit proposals for the development of an enterprise and supplier development programme tailored specifically for Namibia's emerging green hydrogen industry. Hyphen is committed to ensuring that Namibia's green energy future is built and benefits Namibian enterprises. Kenya has reportedly approved 15 projects targeting a combined 5 GW of captive renewable energy generation, marking the East African country's move to enter the global hydrogen economy. The initiatives are designed to leverage Kenya's energy mix, which already derives over 90% of its power from renewable sources like geothermal, wind, and solar to develop entirely new industrial value chains. Specifically, these projects will focus on the local production of green ammonia and zero-emission fertilisers, sustainable aviation fuel, methanol, and hydrogen-based green steel. By prioritising these sectors, Kenya aims to spark export-led industrialisation and establish itself as a primary supplier within the emerging global clean-energy supply chain, moving from a position of strategic leadership rather than from the margins. As the world looks beyond batteries alone, PGMs are once again becoming a strategic conversation, it was stated in a release on June 8 to publicise Zimbabwe's upcoming Zimbabwe Mining Week, the special focus of which will be the future of PGMs in a hydrogen economy amid the next chapter of the energy transition beginning with platinum. To support the automotive sector's energy transition, Toyota South Africa has announced that it will invest R10.4-billion in KwaZulu-Natal to strengthen local manufacturing for a more sustainable future. Toyota North America, meanwhile, plans to deploy hydrogen fuel cell-powered Class 8 trucks in its commercial logistics fleets by early 2027. The automotive company has also signed an agreement with Air Liquide for the supply hydrogen fuel for the company's growing fleet. The brand-new Toyota ...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. A clear example of why mining project valuation should be dynamic is the Cerro Caliche project, in Mexico, which can have its net present value (NPV) valuation increase by $253-million using updated commodity prices, says analytics platform Stormlands Mining. Using its AI-first mining valuation platform to model project economics from publicly available technical information, Stormlands is able to create an illustrative economic model on projects, which takes into account current commodity prices. Stormlands finds in a new independent case study on Cerro Caliche that the project's after-tax NPV increases to $475-million using current commodity prices, compared with the project owner Sonoro Gold Corporation's last technical report (December 2025) determining a $224-million NPV and Stormlands' own base case modelling NPV of $222-million. The updated case study uses a gold price of $4 877/oz and a silver price of $74.92/oz. Estimated revenue generation by the project increases from $1.6-billion in Stormlands' base case scenario to $2.2-billion under the updated commodity price scenario. Life-of-mine (LoM) earnings also increase from $726-million in the base case scenario to $1.35-billion in the updated scenario, while the modelled payback period improves from one year and seven months to 11 months. Stormlands demonstrates in its Cerro Caliche case study the project's sensitivity to key economic drivers – firstly gold prices, followed by operating costs, recovery assumptions and mine scheduling. For example, a 10% reduction in operating costs increases the modelled NPV to $255-million while a 10% increase in operating costs reduces the NPV to $189-million. Stormlands finds that, in Cerro Caliche's case, capital cost sensitivity is more limited, reflecting the relatively modest capital intensity of the proposed heap leach development, compared with the project's LoM revenue base. Stormlands CEO Róisín O'Connell says a technical report provides a base case for a gold project but the economics of one can change materially as commodity prices move. "In this published case study, we have only updated the commodity price assumptions, while keeping the mine plan, costs, recoveries, capital and fiscal assumptions unchanged. Even that single change has a material impact on valuation," he explains. The broader point is that Stormlands' models are built to "go further" than static technical report numbers. Once the model is structured, users can test changes across the full project economics – from grades, recoveries, throughput, operating costs and capital costs, through to royalties, fiscal regimes, financing assumptions, inflation and discount rates. "By rebuilding the model and making those assumptions dynamic, we can see in real time how the project behaves under current market conditions and where the real value drivers sit," O'Connell explains. He motivates that public technical reports contain the data required to build robust economic models, but those models need to be updateable and comparable if they are to support better decision-making.

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses the new online mining licensing system that has begun with Western Cape applications; Sam Molefi's Modi Mining operation; and PyroFuZA, which sees a positive value-add future for South Africa.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Canada-listed copper manufacturer Red Metals has secured $10-million in seed funding which will contribute to its planned $70-million facility in Charleston, South Carolina, to scale its novel copper refining process designed to reshore the manufacturing of finished copper products to the US. The funding round was led by a company called Gigascale Capital, with participation from Future Ventures, MCJ and JB Straubel, who is the founder and CEO of Redwood Materials and co-founder of Tesla. Red Metals has also secured economic incentives from South Carolina and Charleston Country to support development of its first production facility, which reduces the complexity of traditional copper refining methods. The company's first facility in Charleston will produce high-conductivity copper rod. US copper demand is expected to increase by more than one-million tons a year through 2035, which will result in a domestic market value of more than $45-billion. At the same mine, American copper production capacity has declined, with the US poised to face a refined copper supply gap of more than 2.5-million tons by 2035 - even if every major announced mining project comes online. Red Metals explains that a key bottleneck in the industry is the refining process. Conventional copper refining moves material through multiple intermediate products, including concentrate, matte, anode, cathode and rod. Designed for ore that is often less than 1% copper, the legacy process requires significant energy, time and working capital to move material across numerous facilities, operators, and often multiple countries before reaching a finished product pure enough for industrial use. "America has the feedstocks, the demand, and the workforce to produce copper domestically at scale. What it has lacked is an economically viable refining process. To this end, Red Metals is building an integrated, modern model that converts copper feedstocks directly into finished products closer to where they're needed, reducing supply chain complexity while strengthening domestic manufacturing," says Red Metals founder and CEO Jackson Switzer. Red Metals will integrate physical processing, advanced sorting, and metallurgical refining into a single continuous operation, converting copper feedstocks directly into finished products while eliminating the intermediate steps that add cost, time, and emissions in conventional refining. The process is designed to be feedstock-flexible, initially focused on domestic copper scrap, and to make domestic copper refining commercially viable without subsidies to help rebuild the industrial base and skilled manufacturing workforce needed for the twenty-first century. The company's first commercial product will be high-conductivity copper rod, the industry-standard input used in wire, magnet wire, and other electrical applications. Straubel comments that electricity and industry run on copper, and the US has spent decades offshoring the refining and manufacturing capacity needed to produce it. "Red Metals has the rare combination of technical depth and operational pragmatism needed to rebuild that capability. What Red Metals is building is exactly the kind of industrial infrastructure America needs more of." Gigascale Capital partner Victoria Beasley adds that the demand signal for domestically refined copper is undeniable, but the domestic infrastructure needed to support it barely exists today. "Red Metals is the first company we've seen combining genuine process innovation with the execution capability required to rebuild it."

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Enticing support for first movers into green hydrogen project development is on offer via a first-of-a-kind government-led framework designed to assess the readiness and bankability of green hydrogen and power-to-x (PtX) projects in South Africa. This follows South Africa's official launch of the PtX project development standard (PDS), which includes green hydrogen and PtX developers being invited to register their projects and complete the PtX PDS questionnaire, with the assurance that all information will be treated as confidential and shared only with authorised partner institutions. "The questionnaire takes less than 60 minutes to complete, in less time than it would take to prepare and drink a cappuccino, offering project developers a practical and efficient route to position their projects within a recognised national framework for investment readiness and investor engagement," Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan (JET-IP) Green Hydrogen Programme Management Office (GH-PMO) director Dr Rebecca Maserumule outlined in a media release to Engineering News & Mining Weekly. Readers will recall that at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) conference in Vienna on April 8, Maserumule described South Africa as being at the same green hydrogen inflection point today that it was with renewable energy in 2009. "We've done it with renewables successfully. We moved from strategy and policy to execution very well and I think today we're standing here in 2026 because we had a great run of moving to renewables and getting projects on the ground. "This is what makes the next stage of just adding an electrolyser, moving the molecules, either for domestic or export, really enabling for South Africa. This is why I know, without any doubt in my mind, we can do it," Maserumule insisted, while emphasising the need to support first movers with funding to make things happen. In welcoming the launch, South Africa's Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) hailed the PtX PDS as a key instrument to support a credible and investment-ready pipeline of green hydrogen and PtX projects. The department described green hydrogen as a strategic, cross-cutting sector linking electricity planning, industrial development, trade, infrastructure, permitting and finance. PtX embraces technologies that use renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen, which is then converted into sustainable fuels, chemicals, and raw materials and enables the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, shipping, and chemical manufacturing. "UNIDO remains firmly committed to advancing the hydrogen agenda in South Africa, including continued technical and partnership support to the Industrial Development Corporation's (IDC's) JET-IP GH-PMO and key stakeholders of the hydrogen economy in South Africa," UNIDO Climate and Technology Partnership Division chief Petra Schwager reported. The United Nations organisation has provided technical support to strengthen the scoring and weighting methodology of South Africa's South Africa's PtX PDS framework, convening international sectorial technical specialists and development partners. "Leveraging its mandate as an industrial development organisation, UNIDO – through its dedicated hydrogen expertise and platforms – stands ready to provide strategic and targeted technical assistance to accelerate project development toward investment readiness and operationalisation," Schwager added. Launched by the DEE and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the PtX PDS is being implemented by the JET-IP GH-PMO, which is hosted at the IDC. A strong endorsement of the PtX project development standard template was made by the IDC, which described it as a catalytic ...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Having warned shareholders of acute financial, legal and operational challenges ahead owing to US sanctions in Cuba last month, TSX-listed Sherritt International Corporation has appointed Fitzroy Richardson as interim CFO effective immediately. The company explains Richardson's appointment will provide experienced financial leadership as the corporation works to complete its outstanding quarterly filings, an important step toward seeking a revocation of a failure-to-file cease trade order issued by the Ontario Securities Commission on May 21. "Richardson brings deep knowledge of Sherritt's business, strong financial leadership and extensive experience across treasury and international operations. His appointment strengthens our leadership team at an important time providing continuity and support," says Sherritt interim president and CEO Peter Hancock. Richardson is a seasoned finance executive with nearly 30 years of experience at Sherritt, where he has held a range of senior finance and treasury roles. Having held a number of senior roles at the company, his latest position has been president of a Sherritt subsidiary called New Providence Metals Marketing. Sherritt is a world leader in using hydrometallurgical processes to mine and refine nickel and cobalt. The corporation operates a strategically important refinery in Alberta, Canada, recognised as the only significant cobalt refinery and one of just three nickel refineries in North America. For context, the US administration announced an executive order on May 1, which involved expanded sanctions against Cuba. The company has since suspended its direct participation in joint venture activities in Cuba and is working with stakeholders and advisers to implement appropriate steps to address the US executive order.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. The phased rollout of the new online mining licensing system – the cadastre – is progressing steadily, with Western Cape applications being received and processed online, Parliament was informed on June 3 during the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources' National Council of Provinces Budget Vote 34. The migration from the old system to the new platform has been completed in the Western Cape, and the implementation is now progressing towards other regions, Minerals and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe reported during this week's National Council of Provinces budget vote 34 of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. "We're pleased to share that the system has been tested and found to be operational in the Western Cape, with applications being received and processed online," Mantashe added. Lessons drawn from the Western Cape experience would, he said, assist in accelerating implementation across South Africa. Regarding legislative reform, it was reported that the Mineral Resources Development Bill is being refined to incorporate stakeholder inputs. Once all processes are completed, including legal certification, the Bill will be submitted to Cabinet for approval ahead of being introduced to Parliament for consideration and adoption, which is expected to take place during the three months ending September 30. A key pillar of the government strategy to position South Africa in the global critical mineral's economy is geoscience mapping and exploration, which is being advanced through the integrated and multi-disciplinary geoscience mapping programme. This has reportedly increased national onshore mapping coverage from below 5% in 2019 to a cumulative 20% in the 2025/26 financial year. Thirteen exploration projects have been funded through the Junior Mining Exploration Fund and the results of its first drilling project in Bothaville, targeting rare earth elements and associated minerals, are currently being interpreted. The second project in Giyani, targeting copper, nickel, and gold, is nearing completion. Despite prevailing global economic pressures, the South African mining industry continues to demonstrate resilience. This is evidenced by South Africa's mining gross value add reaching R477-billion in 2025, contributing an estimated 6.3% to the country's gross domestic product. Mining royalties to the fiscus totalled R11.8-billion in 2025, an increase of 11% from the R10.6-billion recorded in 2024. Mining export revenue from primary minerals reached R649-billion, increasing from R586-billion in 2024. Social and labour plan implementation was highlighted last month with the handing over in Steelpoort of a new four-lane bridge, which replaced a single-lane century-old bridge. That bridge stands as a physical symbol of mining companies pooling resources together to deliver infrastructure that no single entity could have achieved independently, the Minister stated. For the 2026/27 financial year, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has been allocated R2.86-billion, of which R1.17-billion will be transferred to public entities and strategic programmes. Operational allocations include R70.46-million for the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator, R94.98-million for the Petroleum Agency South Africa, R666.9-million for the Council for Geoscience, R328.7-million for Mintek, and R4.89-million for the Mine Health and Safety Council. Project-specific allocations include R23.48-million for the Mine Rehabilitation Research Project., R140.87 million for the Rehabilitation of derelict and ownerless mines, R48.1-million for the implementation of the Shale Gas Project, R33.83-million for the Mine Water Ingress Project, and R31.12-million for the Artisanal ...

Investment in electricity grids is set to become the single most important driver of copper demand over the coming decades, underpinning growth from renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs) and artificial intelligence (AI), says Wood Mackenzie head of copper research Charles Coo

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. The strong ongoing investment demand for platinum is broadening to the minor platinum group metals (PGMs) such as ruthenium and iridium, SFA (Oxford) CEO Henk de Hoop pointed out on Wednesday June 3. Questioned by Mining Weekly on the prospect of platinum investment demand remaining strong, De Hoop noted that up to half of some of the ruthenium imports into China had been for investment purposes rather than industrial demand. Iridium is also being stocked away, and part of that might be strategic, part of it also the private sector seeing it as an investment opportunity, De Hoop added. ((Also watch attached Creamer Media video.) "Probably the upside will be more limited as we start to move down, but I'm not necessarily so convinced that if platinum prices weaken, we're going to see a similar flood of platinum investment bonds coming back to the market, as has been seen in the past, which is good because it basically manages liquidity a bit better than what has happened in the past. "Historically, when platinum prices would run up, for example, we would see Japanese bar buying ramping up quite enthusiastically, especially at certain price points in yen. In our last visit to Japan, it was also clear that because the gold price kept on rising, people who bought platinum investment bars did not come back and sell them on any dip in platinum prices. "They've kept on buying on the way up, and we think a part of that has to do with the very uncertain environment out there. Direction is very difficult to read. It's also nervousness about stock markets, nervousness about global political events. There's a lot of stress from a political level, and we sense that it could well be that the investment angle for platinum is getting stronger and stronger, and we're not going to get this ride down to the same extent as what we had in the past. When platinum prices would weaken, it would almost get accelerated down with a lot of bars ending up being thrown back into the market and providing lots of liquidity. "The big drainer of liquidity, I would say, would have been China over the last two years, where investment bar demand is very strong. It's a diversifier. Because of the gold bar demand being very strong, it helps to diversify holdings. But it was also easy to access. The manufacturers were putting a lot more platinum bars on display, and we heard stories there of wealthy individuals having hundreds of kilos of platinum bars stacked away at home. We're not so convinced necessarily that they'll rush back to the market, either, because remember the investment opportunities in China, particularly the housing market, have weakened dramatically, and people are very nervous about that. The stock markets are very volatile and have not been necessarily that good consistently for the Chinese," De Hoop explained. The recent SFA (Oxford) Platinum Lectures 2026 had record attendance. "We had to actually stop registrations at one point, because we were going beyond the lecture hall capacity." The high attendance arose against the background of "a lot of buzz, a lot of positiveness, partly obviously because the prices were pretty good as a background, but also I think because there was a broad range of market participants. We saw a lot more bankers and financial people there and there was more junior activity as well." Mining Weekly: What do you foresee being spotlighted at the upcoming Shanghai Platinum Week in China? De Hoop: First of all, the Shanghai Platinum Week is a really valuable conference. It's organised with the help of the World Platinum Investment Council. It's a combination of presentations and lectures, followed by site visits. We have two people going there this year again because I think it's an increa...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. TSX-V-listed American Lithium Corporation has welcomed the Peruvian government's issuance of a Supreme Decree formally declaring the national importance of both uranium and lithium, while declaring an upcoming international forum of national importance. The inaugural forum, called 'Uranium and Lithium: Pillars of energy leadership for mining, technological and smart city development in Peru and the world', is being co-organised by Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation, and is scheduled for July 7 and 8. The decree formally recognises uranium and lithium as critical and strategic minerals of increasing international relevance, citing their central role in the energy transition, electro-mobility, clean energy storage and smart city development. The decree also highlights as government policy objectives the development of an energy sector with minimal environmental impact and low carbon emissions within a sustainable development framework. The Peruvian government's policy direction coincides with rising international focus on Peru's role in long-term critical minerals supply, including discussions linked to the upcoming twenty-seventh World Mining Congress, which is also to be hosted in Lima. American Lithium holds two of the most strategically located and advanced-stage projects in Peru's Puno region: the Falchani lithium project, one of the world's largest hard-rock lithium and cesium deposits, and the Macusani uranium project, the largest undeveloped uranium project in Latin America. Both projects are situated on the Macusani Plateau in south-eastern Peru and both projects have robust preliminary economic assessments completed, along with increased mineral resources supported through further exploration. "The Peruvian government's decision to declare this forum of national importance is a landmark development that validates exactly what we have believed for many years. Peru holds extraordinary uranium and lithium resources, and this forum signals that the country is ready to take its place at the centere of the global critical minerals conversation," says American Lithium president and COO Laurence Stefan. American Lithium, through the Falchani and Macusani projects, is uniquely positioned to contribute to Peru's energy leadership ambitions. "We look forward to participating in the forum and working constructively with government, industry, and community stakeholders to advance these world-class assets responsibly and on an accelerated timeline," Stefan concludes.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Look out for PyroFuZA. Those eight letters have the potential to make best use of South Africa's natural resources and restore South Africa's value-adding power, which, in turn, can help to foot the bill for the innovative rebuilding of this country's economy. PyroFuZA spells out that it's possible for South Africa to put its own distinctive correct measures in place that will enable this country to, once again, become a strong player within the value-add ecosystem, amid different measures being applied at different stages of advancement so that long-term momentum is assured. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.) Pointed out is that, even now, South Africa is not totally bereft of momentum, and will not have to restart from scratch, but needs to a stand-together approach, a same-direction aim, and a new-foundation-laying agenda. While PyroFuZA acknowledges that "the needle has to be threaded very carefully", the eight letters also come with the conviction that both internal and external win-win synergies can be turned to positive account if conscientiously sought. Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly spoke to Dr Johan Zietsman and mining luminary Bernard Swanepoel following the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy's Pyrometallurgy International Conference 2026, which shone a bright spotlight on the future of the South Africa's pyrometallurgical industry, which spans the worlds of iron and steel, ferroalloys, platinum group metals and base metals. Mining Weekly: The conference opened with something quite unusual — a full-day workshop called PyroFuZA, bringing together CEOs, government officials, and senior industry figures behind closed doors. What was the purpose of that day, and why was it necessary? Zietsman: Thanks for the opportunity to chat about this, which I think is essential to our country and our economy, We are blessed with minerals of great value in the ground, and it has been the platform for building our economy for the previous 100 years. But in the last 30 or so years, that has all been in decline, and there are geopolitical issues at play. There are local issues at play. It's by no means a simple matter, but it's a fact that this industry and the value addition of these minerals that we have can pay the bills for rebuilding our economy again to be leading in Africa and in some respects leading in the world. I think we owe it to the future generations to do this and not just accept the direction in which our industry is going, and that's why we invited industry leaders, government participation. In my view, one company cannot solve this on their own. As other countries operate in national unity in some respects, we need to do something similar in South Africa. This industry specifically is fragmented. There is no unified effort to build the common infrastructure that we need, and that's a great opportunity. The decline that we are seeing does not need to continue. It's a choice, and rebuilding the industry is also a choice, but it's a choice that we have to make together. South Africa has lost more than two-million tonnes of smelting capacity since 2014. At least 30 of 59 chrome furnaces are on care-and-maintenance or closed. Last year South Africa exported 24-million tonnes of chrome ore while producing less than one-million tonnes of ferrochrome, against nearly five-million tonnes of installed capacity. How did this happen? It's a structural decline. If we consider the major ferrochrome producers in the world, it's South Africa, Kazakhstan, and China. Our energy cost is basically double that of our competitors, and we have not sustainably renewed our energy generation capacity, which means that we have come to a point where it's basically impos...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. ASX- and Aim-listed uranium developer Aura Energy is nearing a final investment decision (FID) on the Tiris project, in Mauritania, underpinned by a robust processing flowsheet, positive indicative economics and a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) that strengthens the funding pathway. The group expects to make an announcement on the Tiris project by year-end, following a bankable feasibility study (BFS) that is due in September. Tiris would be Mauritania's first uranium mine and its first new mine in 20 years. Aura signed an MoU with a major international nuclear power company covering potential investment, offtake and technical collaboration. The collaboration would support a pathway to a substantial, well-capitalised funding partner for Tiris, without derogating from other funding options. Aura's funding pathway for Tiris spans multiple complementary sources, including a potential cornerstone strategic equity investment from a strategic investor such as the MoU counterparty; senior project debt with the US International Development Finance Corporation together with new equity and quasi equity such as royalties; and a non-binding, fully funded proposal from a major US investment fund. While early-stage analysis on the project indicates positive economic outcomes for a two-million-pound-a-year triuranium octoxide operation, the BFS is considering the economics for an expansion to a 3.5-million-pound plant. Chairperson Phil Mitchell says it is a defining moment for Tiris, with the settled processing flowsheet having locked in a validated technical foundation for the project. The flowsheet is built entirely on commercially proven technologies and has been validated across the full range of Tiris ore types. "With technical uncertainty having been cleared, Tiris has a clear run to a FID," Mitchell affirms. The flowsheet pairs pre-leach centrifuge separation with post-leach polymer dewatering and horizontal vacuum belt filtration, which Mitchell explains is an efficient and cost-effective combination that is ready for deployment. The polymer-based dewatering system, called ATA, is owned by ASX-listed Clean TeQ Water, which has also been awarded a design and construct contract for a full -scale ATA plant processing 750 000 t/y of tailings.

Soweto Cluster gold study on way as Pan African hits gold production top spot This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. The Soweto Cluster definitive feasibility study (DFS) is on track for completion this month, Pan African Resources reported on Monday, June 1 in an operational update ahead of its financial year ending June 30 to highlight its 40% increase in annual gold production to 275 000 oz. The option to construct a new 600 000-t-a-month tailings processing facility next to the London- and Johannesburg-listed company's thriving Mogale Tailings Retreatment (MTR) surface gold operations west of Johannesburg, is the focus of the Soweto Cluster DFS. Envisaged is a standalone operation producing 30 000 oz to 35 000 oz a year for 15 years. Pan African, headed by CEO Cobus Loots, has achieved improved safety statistics as it continues to concentrate on safety initiatives amid MTR contributing to a 14% higher half-year gold output of 147 000 oz, along with excellent production performances from the Elikhulu Tailings Retreatment Plant as well as the Evander and Barberton underground operations, which offset slower-than-anticipated ramp-up of production from Tennant Mines, the company's acquisition in Australia. Initiatives to expand annual gold output to 300 000 oz and beyond are under way. On the cost front, all-in sustaining cost (AISC) guidance of $1 870/oz is expected against a background of record operating cash flow generation, projected cash of $220-million, and domestic medium-term notes of $49.7-million being the only outstanding debt. AISC estimates allow for above inflation increases for reagents, electricity and other key inputs at a time when the company has never been in a stronger financial position, atop major growth investments and dividends to shareholders. Further production increases are expected in later years, primarily driven by production growth from Tennant and MTR, where environmental approvals and processing of water use licence applications for the Soweto Cluster are in progress. The required pipeline servitudes from the Soweto Cluster tailings storage facilities to the Mogale plant site are being concluded and the study for the expansion of the Mogale plant to include a separate circuit for the treatment of hard rock ore from local surface material is being finalised. The treatment of the hard rock ore could potentially further increase the Mogale complex's production by 20 000 oz to 30 000 oz a year. "The strong operational performance from our South African portfolio offset the slower-than-anticipated production ramp-up from Tennant. In the next financial year, we expect a much-improved performance from Tennant, with a full year of mining from the high-grade White Devil deposit, and a clear pathway to growing Australian gold production to 100 000 oz/y in the next three years. In addition, we anticipate increasing gold production from MTR in the next years, with the Soweto Cluster DFS now nearing completion," Loots stated in a release to Mining Weekly. "Despite inflationary pressures, costs remain well managed. We're in a fortunate position in South Africa, with stable grid power to all our operations, and an accelerating renewable energy portfolio being rolled out to maintain this supply and reduce the impact of Eskom cost increases. "In Australia, while diesel price increases have had an impact on production costs, sufficient storage facilities are now in place to minimise risks associated with potential fuel supply shortages. We are also investing in a large renewable energy solution for Tennant Mines, which will include battery storage, to reduce future operating costs. "The conclusion of the Emmerson transaction will see Pan African consolidate the Tennant Creek goldfield, and we look forward to welcom...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Global metals miner Rio Tinto has successfully commissioned its $1.5-billion AP60 smelter expansion at the Complexe Arvida operation, in Québec, marking a major milestone for the deployment of low-carbon aluminium smelting technology. The startup, which began in March, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 with all 96 new pots operating. This will increase the plant's production capacity by about 160 000 t/y of primary aluminium for a total of 220 000 t/y produced with the AP60 technology. The AP60 expansion, together with the planned aluminium recycling centre at Arvida, will more than offset the loss of production associated with the closure of Rio Tinto's older Arvida potrooms, which is expected to be completed in June. The expansion will directly support 100 permanent high-quality jobs locally and help consolidate positions across the supply chain. During its peak construction period, more than 1 500 jobs were created and the project generated more than $1-billion in economic benefits for the province of Québec through spending with contractors and suppliers. Representing the next chapter of Rio Tinto's century-long history in Québec, it strengthens its ability to supply customers in North America with low-carbon, high-quality aluminium for transportation, construction, electrical applications and consumer goods. Developed by Rio Tinto's research and development teams, the AP60 technology is among the most efficient and lowest carbon technology currently available, at commercial scale. When combined with the hydropower used at Rio Tinto's operations in Canada, it generates one-sixth of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per tonne of aluminium, when compared with the industry average, and half the emissions of the technology currently used at the adjacent older Arvida smelter. It will deliver significant improvements, including an expected reduction of up to 90% in fine particulate matter. The AP60 expansion supports the transition to carbon-free aluminium electrolysis technology being developed by ELYSIS in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Québec, a partnership that includes Rio Tinto. Supported by the government of Canada, through the Strategic Innovation Fund, a demonstration plant is being built in Québec in partnership with government, through Investissement Québec, to advance this breakthrough technology, which eliminates all direct GHG emissions from aluminium smelting and produces oxygen as a by-product. Rio Tinto aluminium and lithium CE Jérôme Pécresse says for 100 years, Québec has been at the heart of the aluminium industry, and, with AP60, Rio Tinto is now strongly positioned for decades to come with one of the most advanced smelting technologies operating at commercial scale. "This milestone brings into production the first major primary aluminium project in the West in more than a decade and demonstrates Rio Tinto's ability to deliver world-class, low-carbon technologies," he explains. He adds that the newly expanded AP60 smelter reinforces the company's competitiveness and offerings for customers in North America, while increasing the efficiency of the operations in Québec. The new plant will mitigate 290 000 t/y of carbon emissions compared to the old Arvida smelter. The AP60 technology generates about 1.6 t of CO2 equivalent per tonne of aluminium produced, compared to approximately 3.2 t of CO2 equivalent per tonne of aluminium for the Arvida smelter's current technology – compared with the industry average of 10.9 t of CO2 equivalent per tonne of aluminium produced. Together with the construction of the ELYSIS demonstration plant in Québec, using the first licence of this breakthrough technology, Rio Tinto is demonstrating its value as a secure, innovative and reliable ...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. He was born in Roodepoort but never imagined that one day he would be mining gold in Roodepoort, now the site of Qala Shallows, the first new underground gold mine to be built in South Africa in 15 years. He was convinced all the gold had been mined out. But that was the furthest thing from the truth. The thousands of tons of gold ore that he is extracting are being turned into gold bar that is being sold at a time of high gold price, which is helping to fund ongoing development. He is Sam Molefi, the CEO of Modi Mining, the contracting company that is mining the gold at Qala Shallows, ASX-listed West Wits Mining's Roodepoort operation, which is located a mere 15 km from Johannesburg, the City of Gold. Molefi and his co-entrepreneur wife, Motlapele Molefi, head a business that could well be putting many more people to work in the not-too-distant future. (Also watch the attached Creamer Media video.) "For me, contributing in a meaningful way to the livelihoods of our communities, our neighbours, is a key achievement and something that I never thought could happen," Molefi confided in his interview with Mining Weekly. "We've already created 193 jobs, and we're ramping up to about 1 000, and more people will be sourced from the local communities. Every time I look at my birth certificate and see the word Roodepoort, it excites me." He was raised in Dobsonville, Soweto, and used to catch a taxi from Dobsonville to Wits Technikon, where he began his mining studies. "For me it's a blessing, and I thank God," said Molefi, who looks forward to the creation of local job opportunities for local communities. "Every now and then, when I'm back home and can see that there is a lot of unemployment and disparities in our communities, I think this mine will come in handy to alleviate some of that." Modi Mining's corporate social investment programme targets enterprise development and the company is already engaged in business relationships with local suppliers. "Since we last spoke in 2022, we've been able to establish the mine. The infrastructure you see on surface and underground was installed by us." A milestone was its ability to achieve an early supply of 10 000 t of gold ore used for West Wits' first gold pour in March. "We're now building up to steady state mining, and a key milestone has been the safe installation of water, power and air reticulation services," Molefi reported. Last week, when level two was intercepted, historic tons plus some reserve ore was unlocked. "The highlight of this phase was when the tons were delivered to the plant, processed, and out there, gold bars were being poured and delivered." The completion of the 1 West Decline into this area of historic 2 Level unmined stopes transitioned the project from development ore into higher-grade production areas with established underground infrastructure already in place. The 1 West Decline forms part of a planned optimisation of the original mine plan and is specifically designed to accelerate payback, improve capital efficiency and further strengthen the overall project business case. Mining Weekly: What are tasks that must still be carried out by Modi on this contract? We still need to advance the main decline to greater depth. We have advanced from level one to level two, which needs to be made safe. The team is already doing the assessments there to see how much of the backlog tons are lying in there and how many of the unmined blocks are available. Further to that, we continue developing down, because we need to go to three level, four level, and we need to scope and scale the mine, because we need to reach the steady state of about 50 000 t a month. The ramp-up to that will come with developing and advancing the declines and ens...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Billions of dollars worth of gold is still being extracted illegally from Brazil's Amazon rainforest, a study by nonprofit watchdog Greenpeace found, despite efforts by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to crack down on wildcat mining. Lula pledged upon taking office in 2023 to eliminate illegal gold mining from Indigenous lands and protected areas after years of expansion encouraged by far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro. Last year, Brazil's Federal Police seized a record 447 kg (985 pounds) of illegally mined gold. However, as gold prices hit record highs amid intense geopolitical instability, the Greenpeace study found that miners have adapted by using permits from places with no mining activity to falsify the origin of illegally mined gold. Greenpeace analyzed 187 forest areas with gold mining permits issued by Brazilian mining agency ANM near Indigenous lands and protected areas in the Amazon and found that 98 of them showed no signs of mining. Still, so-called "ghost permits" from those areas were used to justify the sale of 26.8 t of gold worth an estimated $3.88-billion between 2018 and March 2026. Reuters flew over two of the permitted areas in the dataset and verified that, despite paperwork for huge output from surface mining, there was no activity to be seen. Six minutes away by air, journalists spotted a large active illegal operation in a protected area. It was not clear where all the gold backed by so-called "ghost permits" originated, but researchers and investigators believe much of it is extracted from protected areas and Indigenous lands, such as the Kayapo people's territory in the State of Para. Kayapo chief Megaron Txucarramae expressed frustration at the government's failure to act. "I don't know what else is needed to solve illegal mining on Indigenous land," he said. "It destroys the land, pollutes the rivers, and Indigenous people, without realizing it, end up eating poisoned fish." ANM said in a statement that it was monitoring the permits that Greenpeace denounced for any irregularities and added that, with thousands of permits issued, the Amazon region imposes "large-scale logistical and oversight challenges." "As long as it is possible to launder gold using mining permits, there will be an expansion of the activity in the Amazon," said Greenpeace Brazil spokesperson Danicley Aguiar.

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer notes that the Minerals Council AGM heard this week that mining can elevate South Africa’s economic development; he also discusses the urgent need for a one-stop shop for mineral right applications; and he talks about the R180-million that has

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. The mining cadastre under development by South Africa's Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) must be rolled out "effectively, rapidly and transparently". That was the emphatic response of Minerals Council South Africa president Paul Dunne to Mining Weekly during question time at this week's 136th AGM of Minerals Council South Africa, which represents more than 90% of annual mineral sales for South Africa's 470 000-employee mining industry, which in 2025 contributed R477-billion to GDP, exported R816-billion worth of minerals, and generated R124-billion in taxes for the fiscus. The DMPR is carrying out a phased implementation of a new digital mining cadastre, which enables users to identify mineral investment opportunities online. As reported by Mining Weekly on May 15, implementation of Botswana's Department of Mines' mining cadastre portal has seen an increase in exploration activity owing to users being able to apply for an exploration licence from anywhere in the world. Botswana's portal provides mining licence holders, prospectors and mining right seekers with an electronic platform that enables them to engage directly with Botswana's Ministry of Minerals and Energy. Once registered, users of the Botswana cadastre can manage the complete process of handling representation, including requests, approval and cancellations of person, company or syndicate representation. In addition to this, users can manage and submit licence applications through the portal to ensure the accurate reporting of all exploration data, while being able to submit payments, reports and documents for review, including the necessary approvals and feedback, online. Moreover, to promote transparency in governance, the portal provides the public with access to searchable licence records, enhancing engagement and communication. Users can also rely on interactive maps to visualise cadastre data and validate spatial information in real-time. In all, this enables users to manage their licences through streamlined processes, ensuring compliance, while facilitating the easy tracking of renewals and audits. In his response to Mining Weekly on the expectations surrounding South Africa's upcoming systems, Dunne positioned cadastres at the same ultrahigh level as that occupied by policy certainty – "right at the top" of the attractiveness or otherwise of mining investment destinations, which is why it is essential that South Africa's new cadastre system is effective. Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane added that South Africa's DMPR had been asked to come and present an update of implementation progress of its cadastre last seen being demonstrated to Parliament. "But that did not give us an opportunity to be able to be interactive in terms of asking questions, so we continue to inquire with the DMPR to come and engage directly with ourselves, so that we can get a real understanding of the nature of the success that they report in terms of where they've implemented in the Western Cape. "That'll give us a good basis to understand potential challenges when they roll out the cadastre in the more complex mining regions," said Mthenjane, who had earlier outlined the Mineral Council's encouragement at the nature of the engagements with the DMPR since the draft Mineral Resources Development Bill and spoken of the possibility of "greater exploration and mine development". "We must seize this opportunity to unlock the potential inherent in South Africa's unique mineral endowment to catalyse economic and industrial investment, growth, and, of vital importance, to create jobs to lift South Africans out of poverty," Mthenjane urged. PLATINUM GROUP METALS The Minerals Council was also subjected to a question on the...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation Another round of tariff impacts are in store for copper, a Reuters columnist reports, as the deadline for a US decision on whether to impose tariffs on refined copper imports looms at the end of June. The market reaction is a widening in the arbitrage between the Chicago Mercantile Exchange's (CME's) US duty-paid copper contract and the London Metal Exchange's (LME) international price. The rising premium for US delivery is drawing more metal into the US tightening up availability everywhere else in the world. The copper market was in exactly the same state of nervous anticipation this time last year. US President Donald Trump ended up confounding expectations by imposing tariffs on copper products but not on refined metal. Left on the table was the option of phasing in refined copper tariffs from next year. A decision is due by the end of June. MINDING THE VOLATILE GAP The CME premium over the LME price is smaller than this time last year, because back then traders were pricing in import tariffs of 50% to match those already imposed on aluminium and steel. Trump's July decision to exempt refined metal upended the trade. The CME premium imploded and the arbitrage eventually inverted, with LME even commanding a premium in the early months of 2026. Now, the CME premium is back and widening once again. The spot premium is a modest 3% of the LME price. But the March 2027 forward premium is close to $1 000/t, equivalent to 7% of the LME price. Given that the US administration has flagged the potential for phased tariffs of 15% from the start of 2027 and 30% from the start of 2028, there is clearly further upside to the CME premium. RENEWED TARIFF PULL Not that it matters too much for physical traders. Reuters says the differential on the forward months is more than enough to cover the costs of shipping to the US. US imports dropped sharply in the closing months of 2025 as the tariff trade unwound. However, these imports have bounced back strongly so far in 2026. Inbound shipments more than doubled year-on-year to 533 000 t in the first quarter, according to the World Bureau of Metal Statistics, which collects data from official customs figures. More is on its way, judging by the renewed upward momentum in CME stocks, which now total 577 385 t, accounting for 44% of global exchange inventory. Even that tells only part of the story. LME copper stocks have also been migrating to the US with 222 000 t sitting at US ports in a combination of registered and off-warrant inventory. Last week's cancellation of 33 275 t at New Orleans suggests metal is being prepared for customs clearance as the arbitrage yawns wider again. STRATEGIC STOCKPILE The US has over the last year or so built up its own strategic copper reserve thanks to the on-again, off-again threat of tariffs. Including metal that is being stored off exchange, the stockpile is now likely more than one-million tons, which is not as large as that held by China's State stockpile manager but bigger than any other country's reserves. Does the US need any more, Reuters questions, saying probably not but it is not clear how the stock build will figure in Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's thinking when he reports back to Trump at the end of June. As with other metals tariffs, the stated aim is to reinvigorate US production capacity and in that regard the country still has only two primary copper smelters with no signs of that changing any time soon. Thanks to last year's import surge, the country's import dependency rose to 57% from 45% in 2024, according to the US Geological Survey. On those metrics the case for tariffs looks strong given the parameters of the Section 232 national security investigation. But as the copper market has found out to its co...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. With disciplined policy reform, modernisation and partnerships, mining can elevate South Africa's economic development, industrial capability and social progress. "We can unlock growth, skills and job creation, restore competitiveness, and secure a sustainable future for our industry and our country and demonstrate why mining matters," Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane emphasised at the 136th annual general meeting of Minerals Council South Africa on Wednesday, May 27. "I'm proud to say that our sector has once again demonstrated resilience, discipline and the ability to deliver value in the face of a complex, volatile and evolving domestic and international environment. "Internally, we strengthened governance, succession planning, and risk oversight. Quarterly risk reviews and structured board sessions improved alignment between advocacy priorities and emerging risks. "Financial discipline remains robust, reinforcing our credibility. Our work is delivered through structured engagement with government, labour, communities, other economic sectors as well as domestic and global institutions. "The maturity of these platforms reflects a shift from crisis response to future facing and structured collaboration, and forging partnerships for investment and growth," Mthenjane reported. He described modernisation as the long-term lever for safe, healthy, productive mines that are globally competitive. Through partnerships such as the Mandela Mining Precinct and Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability, the Minerals Council was integrating mechanisation, digitalisation, and safety and health-enhancing technologies into operations. "Modernisation in South Africa is people-centred and integral to competitiveness, resilience and sustainability - it must enhance safety, health, and productivity, deepen skills and improve efficiency simultaneously," he noted. In 2025, the council intensified engagement on the amended Employment Equity Act and launched the Women in Mining Strategy 2025–2027, with research showing strong investment in skills development, reflecting commitment to workforce empowerment and long-term sustainability. Transformation was, he said, deliberate, achievable and supported by strengthened skills pipelines, with sustainable transformation requiring policy coherence, collaboration and practical implementation mechanisms that recognised operational realities and past achievements. A growing mining sector was, he pointed out, breaking through racial and gender barriers to employment, generating economic opportunities through enterprise and supplier develop and procurement opportunities that increase localisation, creating ownership models for employees and communities, enabling investment in critical infrastructure within communities and surrounding regions, and driving industrialisation through producing critical materials and minerals. In this way, mining was diversifying the economy, stimulating broader skills development and harnessing the full potential of South Africa's capabilities. While challenges remained, the council had entered 2026 on a stronger footing and with clear intent. It was partnering with members to embed predictive safety and health systems to eliminate critical risks and continue our journey towards zero harm. It was prioritising fhe strengthening inclusive transformation through skills pipelines that would meet evolving innovation and technology developments. Securing pragmatic policy certainty under the Mineral Resources Development Bill, fiscal regime and other related legislation, would limit the burden of compliance and enhance the ease and ability to do the business of exploration and mining. Restoring infrastructure reliability to unl...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. There is an urgent need for a one-stop shop for mineral right applications to coordinate and align all relevant regulations from other departments, to streamline and expedite approval processes. This was pointed out explicitly at the 136th annual general meeting (AGM) of Minerals Council South Africa on Wednesday, May 27. "The prevailing fragmented system results in delays and lost opportunities. A shared vision in the government of the importance of mining and the role it plays in our economy and society is essential," Minerals Council President Paul Dunne explained at the AGM covered by Mining Weekly. The AGM came together during one of the most important moments in recent years for the South African mining sector with a fundamental sea change underway as the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) is further revising the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act , which was gazetted 22 years ago in April 2004. South Africa had, Dunne said, a long history of robust engagements in policy developments with the DMPR, with moments of positive outcome, but also moments of disagreements ending up in court. "These were unnecessary developments that damaged sentiment and perceptions of South Africa as a mining investment destination, and which, we trust, will never be repeated," Dunne stated. Since 2004, South African mining had operated under the Mining Charter, which had positioned the mining sector as one of the country's most transformed economic clusters. The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act marked a profound change in the way mining operated by vesting all unmined minerals in the custodianship of the State, ending private mineral ownership. It ensured the participation of all South Africans who were previously excluded from full participation in one of South Africa's most important industrial clusters. It ensured that companies looked beyond their mine gates to uplift communities through investments and partnerships, and to create fairer, more equitable and inclusive workplaces. Around the time it was gazetted, women representation in mining, which is now at 21%, was around 3%, with mining companies meeting or exceeding economic empowerment ownership targets. "It's unfortunate, however, that while the Act has delivered profound social change and transformation in the mining sector, it has fallen short of its aspiration to create an internationally competitive and efficient administrative and regulatory regime," Dunne reported. Mining's contribution to GDP in 2025 was 6.2%, virtually flat compared with 6.3% when the Act was gazetted in 2004. Simply put, South African mining was not – and had not been -- growing in any meaningful way for a multitude of reasons, including electricity shortages, above-inflation energy tariffs, logistics bottlenecks, regulatory uncertainty and poor administration of the law. The past 22 years had been marred, Dunne noted, by disputes between the regulator, and the Minerals Council and its members, which were often resolved in court. In 2013, a Bill to amend the Act spent more than 2 000 days in various proceedings before being withdrawn amid profound unhappiness about its proposed amendments. "The negative impact of the prolonged regulatory uncertainty that those proposed amendments caused for the mining sector must not be understated. A repetition of drawn-out wrangling, because of an ill-considered Amendment Bill, which does not reflect our engagements with the DMPR, must be avoided at all costs," Dunne urged in reference to the latest Mineral Resources Development (MRD) Bill expected later this year. Coupled with the uncertainty caused by the previous Bill, there had been the four versions of the Mining Charter, each setting rev...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. ASX-listed critical minerals explorer Lodestar Minerals has received firm commitments to raise $4.4-million through a placement of 2910million shares at a price of $0.0151 apiece, which will drive the company's exploration efforts across the Three Saints and Los Loros copper projects in Chile, the Virgin Mountain heavy rare earths project in the US and the Ned's Creek gold project in Western Australia. The company's director are supporting the capital raising through a commitment of $305 700 in addition to the placement but on the same terms as the placement. The placement, should shareholders approve it, will be led by Oakley Capital Partners, which upsized the initial placement following considerable demand from a range of existing Lodestar shareholders and other professional and sophisticated investors. In Chile, Lodestar awaits assay results from a diamond drilling programme on the Three Saints project in the coming weeks, where extensive visible chalcopyrite (copper sulphide) was observed across multiple intervals from depths between 190 m to 600 m in the project's maiden drill hole. A second diamond drill hole was also completed to a depth of 611 m, which displayed encouraging signatures of potential increasing copper mineralisations at depth. At Los Loros, Lodestar will soon start its first drill campaign targeting copper/molybdenum porphyry and high-grade epithermal gold. At Virgin Mountain, Lodestar will be progressing a high-resolution airborne radiometric and magnetic survey over the project area to follow up on recent identification of surface expressions of xenotime-bearing rare earth element mineralisation - which is a lead indicator that a prospect is heavy rare earth-enriched. Finally, Lodestar is working to deliver a maiden mineral resource estimate on Ned's Creek to enable future development options to be considered. The company is progressing a 10 000 m drill programme on site, with the resource estimate on track to be published later in the year.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Emerging South African mining company Copper 360, which operates in the Northern Cape's Okiep copper district, on Tuesday, May 26 alerted its shareholders to its loss-narrowing financial performance in the 12 months to February 28. The reduction in the basic loss per share is expected to be 36% to 43%, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange AltX-listed Copper 360 reported, ahead of the publication of its consolidated annual results. The improvement in its financial performance, Copper 360 reported, was largely the result of the prior year's inclusion of a non-recurring R113-million solvent extraction plant impairment. Moreover, the improvement was achieved despite a R33.8-million rights offer loss. Interestingly, the Stock Exchange News Service announcement follows an operational restructuring that opens the way for Copper 360's Rietberg copper mine to feed higher-grade underground ore into the company's Nababeep processing facility, something which used to take place as long ago as the 1970s but which was stopped in 1981 because of other deposits being closer and thus more economical. Then, in August 2024, Copper 360's relook at production from Rietberg took place under the leadership of former CEO Jan Nelson, now deceased, resulting in the first on-ore blast at Rietberg taking place on January 31, 2025, which marked the restart of structured hard-rock mining to uplift operational economics and long-term sustainability. Against the backdrop of Copper 360's multi-mine model embracing 12 previously operating mines and something like 60 identified copper prospects and mineralisations, Rietberg is now expected to lay a foundation for long-term profitability and value creation. Copper 360's dozen opencast and underground mines, which are within 13 km of one another, span more than 19 000 ha. In addition to Rietberg, these include Jubilee, Homeep, Klondike, Wheal Julia North, Whyte's West, Koeëlkop, Hoogkraal and Waaihoek. While the mines are geographically close, they differ in size, ore grade, stage of development, and operational status, with the multi-mine model offering a form of risk lowering that diversification normally provides. When Copper 360 listed in 2023, it reported having a resource of two-million tonnes of copper worth R560-billion, with the 25 000 t at Rietberg valued at R1.4-billion. Former mining majors that mined in the area in the old days included Gold Fields of South Africa and Newmont of North America.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. The contrast between China's weak steel production but robust iron-ore imports is continuing and is starting to look like a structural shift rather than a temporary dislocation. China, which produces just over half of the world's steel, recorded output of 86.63-million tons in April, down 2.8% from the same month in 2025 and the weakest April figure since 2018. For the first four months of the year steel production was 331.12-million tons, a drop of 4.1% from the same period last year. However, iron-ore imports rose 8% in the first four months of the year to 418.6-million tons, according to official data. April imports of the key steel raw material were 103.9-million tons, down 0.8% from March's 104.74-million but actually slightly higher on a per-day basis given April had one day less than March. May imports are expected to stay relatively strong, with analysts at DBX Commodities estimating seaborne arrivals of 104.67-million tons. Explaining the lacklustre steel production is relatively straightforward given the ongoing weakness in property construction and declining exports, with shipments dropping 9% in April from the same month last year to 9.5-million tons. For the first four months of 2026, steel exports slid 9.7% to 34.2-million tons. The strength in iron ore imports can be put down to both temporary and structural factors. INVENTORIES BUILD The main temporary factor is the rebuilding of inventories, with port stockpiles monitored by consultants SteelHome holding near record highs. Inventories were 160.35-million tons in the week to May 22, up a touch from the prior week's 160.34-million and still close to the record high of 165.67-million reached in the week to March 20. Inventories typically build toward the end of each year, peaking early in the new year before declining toward the middle of the year as steel production ramps up to meet construction demand. Since the 2025 low of 131.05-million tons in late July, stockpiles have gained 22%. The question for the market is whether inventories will exhibit their normal seasonal pattern and draw down heading into the northern summer, or whether soft steel output will keep them elevated compared to prior years. The Iran war and the subsequent threat to fuel supplies in Asia from the ongoing effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz may also have encouraged Chinese steel mills and traders to import more iron-ore on the view that future supplies may be disrupted. A lack of volatility in iron ore prices may also boost import sentiment, with Singapore Exchange contracts locked in a narrow band anchored around $105/t for the past ten months. The front-month contract ended at $109.09/t on Monday. The longer-term factor driving iron ore imports is the gentle decline in China's domestic iron-ore output, which is exacerbated by weakening ore grades, which means that even the same volume of ore yields less iron content. China's iron-ore output was 326.8-million tons in the first four months of the year, down 1% on the same period last year, according to MySteel data. This follows a drop of 2.8% in 2025 to 983.- million tons from 1.04-billion in 2024. China's domestic iron-ore contains around 20% to 30% iron, meaning it has to be upgraded to match imported grades of 60% to 65%, a process that is costly and energy-intensive. It's likely that China's domestic iron-ore will continue to decline, meaning that imports will make up a larger share, assuming steel output remains largely steady.

Platinum's the gift that just keeps on giving as global value-chain prospects resurface This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Platinum-based equipment is critical for producing large, flawless crystals for electronics and optics applications, says the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) in its 60 Seconds feature. Crystals are central to technologies in everyday use and platinum plays a key role in their production, WPIC reports. Hosted overwhelmingly by South Africa, platinum and platinum group metals (PGMs) are already doing their bit in automotive and energy, medical and healthcare, industrial and chemical manufacturing, electronics and everyday life, which embraces making cars safer, treating cancer, and even maintaining personal hygiene, keeping people warm and food fresh. In 2012, South Africa's late mining industry doyen, Brian Gilbertson, highlighted that South Africa's platinum endowment provided an opportunity for international value-chain collaboration, a prospect which is now presenting itself again at a time of growing demand from particularly East Asia. This followed former Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll in 2011 telling the United Nations climate change convention's seventeenth Conference of the Parties in Durban that using platinum group metals (PGMs) to generate clean hydrogen power would sustain hundreds of thousands of South African jobs and simultaneously provide zero-emission electricity. With the current global fuel disruption and reviving interest in a cleaner molecular fuel alternative, the Gilbertson and Carroll contentions are resurfacing against a background of East Asia and also Europe re-emerging as candidates for green value-chain collaboration. On top of all this, platinum remains the gift that just keeps on giving, with platinum playing the key role in the industrially-grown crystals that WPIC is talking about finding their way into smartphones, computers, light-emitting diode lighting, medical imaging equipment, advanced sensors. During crystal growth, it is platinum's strength at extreme temperature that enables the crucibles to hold and shape molten materials. What is also crucial is that the platinum helps the crystal to achieve the ultra-high purity that its end applications demand, with the crystal structures giving materials essential predictable electrical, optical and mechanical properties. Crucibles are not the only platinum products used in crystal growing. Often the hydraulic stylus that manipulates the seed crystal is comprised of platinum, as are the protective baffles used to limit the outward radiation of heat. These components are engineered from semi-finished platinum components such as wires, ribbons, and sheets. Currently, other platinum group metals, including iridium and rhodium, can be alloyed with platinum to improve strength and lifetime under extreme conditions. The link between platinum and crystal growth is not new. Platinum crucibles became essential laboratory and production tools as early industrial crystal growing techniques emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This took place alongside the development of electric lighting, optics and early electronics. As crystal sizes increased and industrial demand grew, platinum's role expanded with it. "We manufacture platinum labware, including crucibles, dishes and beakers, to provide maximum service life, with the bases being thicker than the walls. The capacities and shapes available meet most laboratory requirements, and we can custom make anything you require. Most of the laboratory crucibles and dishes are made from 99.7% platinum with small additions of iridium and rhodium," Johnson Matthey states on its website. This long-established PGMs company also offers iridium crucibles for crystal growth and g...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. ASX-listed Haranga Resources has declared a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 2.46-million tonnes grading 5.1 g/t gold, for 402 000 contained ounces, at the Lincoln gold project, in California's Mother Lode Belt, in the US. The project is supported by a modern underground decline, mining permits and a processing plant that operated as recently as 2022. The maiden resource contains 40% more ounces compared to the historical noncompliant foreign estimate on the project, which now positions Haranga among the highest grade Australia-listed gold developers. The company explains the String Bean Alley underground decline at Lincoln provides immediate access to high-grade gold resources at the Lincoln-Comet orebody, which is estimated to contain 275 000 oz of gold. This should support a fast-tracked development programme for Haranga. The balance of the Lincoln MRE comprises 127 000 oz of contained gold at the Medean deposit. Haranga is undertaking rapid restart studies to assess the key workstreams required to support near-term production, including mining, processing and tailings management. Additionally, the company explains, its mineral rights area of about six kilometres within the historic, prolific Mother Lode Belt provides multiple pathways to build a high-grade and multimillion-ounce gold inventory. For one, the company is working to convert the MRE of South Spring Hill to a Joint Ore Reserves Committee- (Jorc-) compliant resource. Haranga points out that World War Two led to many mines and exploration projects ceasing operations, leaving behind significant known gold resources within historical shafts. Chairperson Michael Davy says delivery of the maiden Jorc-compliant MRE on Lincoln is a "watershed" moment for Haranga and marks the successful completion of the first major technical objective the company set when it first acquired the project ten months ago. "Since that time, we have transformed Lincoln into a Jorc-compliant, high-grade gold development opportunity supported by dewatered underground access, established underground services, surface processing infrastructure and key permits that are in place," he states. Davy further explains that the maiden Jorc resource already positions Lincoln as one of the highest-grade gold exploration and development opportunities in North America and on the ASX. However, Davy believes that the company has only just begun to scratch the surface of the project's true potential. "Following the delivery of the maiden MRE, we are now focused on reaching multimillion-ounce scale, for which we have already identified multiple opportunities. "The work completed to date will serve as a reliable platform from which we can accelerate the next phase of resource growth. "We remain focused on unlocking the full potential of our dominant position within the Mother Lode Gold Belt and I look forward to updating shareholders as our planned growth initiatives and development workstreams advance."

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer unpacks the latest drilling developments at Okiep in the Northern Cape, developments in the green hydrogen and green ammonia project in Nelson Mandela Bay, and investment demand for platinum still being extremely strong.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. More than R180-million has been raised to transition key copper projects in South Africa's endowed Northern Cape into operations as early as in the second quarter of this year. The strongly supported capital raise is described as being pivotal by Tony Lennox, the CEO of ASX- and JSE-listed mining development company Orion Minerals, which is reviving the Prieska Copper Zinc Mine, near Copperton, which produced 430 000 t of copper and a million tons of zinc from volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) base metal deposits when operated from 1971 to 1991 by Anglovaal. "In particular, we received strong support from South African investors via the JSE – which reflects Orion's growing visibility and status in South Africa as an important new copper producer at a key time in the global metals cycle. In addition to continued support from long-standing shareholders, we also attracted several new investors onto the register," Lennox added in the media release to Mining Weekly. The quantum of the raising puts Orion in a position to begin developing the Uppers Mine at the Prieska Copper Zinc Mine as soon as the financing transaction with Glencore is completed. Linked to the sale of bulk copper and zinc concentrates, the Prieska mine has secured a binding prepayment agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore for a $250-million facility. South African Reserve Bank approval is expected in the coming weeks. Also funded will be optimisation studies, ongoing site works and resource extension drilling at Orion's Okiep Copper Project, also in the Northern Cape, where the latest drilling has provided a clear path to scale up at Flat Mine East, where an extension hole is already proceeding down dip as a follow-on. The latest capital raising, conducted by way of a placement, involves the issue of 698-million ordinary shares at an issue price of 26c a share. The permitted Prieska mine has a compliant resource of 31-million tonnes at 1.2% copper and 3.6% zinc. A definitive feasibility study published last year has confirmed the potential to develop a mining operation through a two-phase development strategy aimed at derisking the development pathway and fast-tracking value-creation from a safe, modern, long-life, mechanised, underground base metal mine. Yearly steady-state production of 22 000 t of copper and 65 000 t of zinc is expected The initial Upper phase is based on mining near-surface supergene sulphide ore, which is accessible from an existing decline. The Deeps phase will start after the completion of mine dewatering, refurbishment of the main shaft and construction of the mining infrastructure. The Deeps has an 11-year mine life and will overlap with the past 2.2 years of the Upper mining, providing a combined mine life of 13.2 years. Orion sees the potential to define a new VMS opportunity in the area surrounding the mine's deposit, with near-mine exploration programmes delivering a series of compelling new targets. VMS deposits, which generally occur in clusters, often comprise additional medium-sized deposits and even more smaller deposits. Orion could in future use modern geophysics and the latest geological advances to see if there are additional VMS deposits nearby. Interestingly, through Xplor, mining major BHP and Orion have partnered to look at older geology in new ways. As part of the programme, a number of Orion's South African exploration project companies will receive an aggregate equity-free grant of $500 000, access to BHP's technical specialists, and structured support to advance geological concepts in the Northern Cape, with deeper copper-centric metal systems being intensively probed. Xplor is providing the chance to apply new tools and better data.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. Nasdaq-listed Greenland Mines has signed a definitive agreement with TSX-listed Neo Performance Materials to acquire full ownership of the Sarfartoq rare earths project in south-west Greenland for $35-million. The transaction establishes a highly strategic, Western-aligned critical minerals platform. The project hosts 35-million kilogrammes of combined neodymium and praseodymium. With the total oxides recoverable from the project comprising between 25% and 40% of these elements, it ranks among the highest neodymium and praseodymium resources globally. Neo remains a strategic shareholder in the project through locked-in rights for up to 60% of future production from Sarfatoq, for use in its European magnet platform. Greenland Mines also owns the Skaergaard asset, which, combined with Sarfartoq, creates the potential for a critical minerals hub that is outside of China and close to the US. Skaergaard offers exposure to palladium, gold and platinum, with potential by-products including vanadium, gallium, iron-ore and titanium. Greenland Mines plans to fast-track an updated technical and economic study on Sarfartoq, built on more than 23 000 m of drill results and the existing mineral resource estimate. The company aims to update the pricing assumptions in particular, given that rare-earth prices are two times higher then when the prior 2011 preliminary economic assessment was undertaken on Sarfartoq. The consideration for the project will be paid in the form of $20-million in cash and $15-million in newly issued Greenland Mines shares. "We wish Greenland Mines every success as they advance this project, while we maintain our commitment as an offtake partner and shareholder. This agreement reflects our disciplined approach to capital allocation and reinforces Neo's strategic identity as a midstream and downstream advanced materials company, where we create the most value for our customers and shareholders," comments Neo CEO and president Rahim Suleman. Greenland Mines president Bo Møller Stensgaard concludes that Sarfartoq is a transformational addition to Greenland Mines' North Atlantic strategy. "It will give investors exposure to two large-scale Greenland critical minerals projects and bring Neo Performance Materials on board as an offtake partner — connecting an upstream Greenlandic source of neodymium and praseodymium feedstock to Neo's midstream and downstream magnet platform. "We have great respect for the extensive technical work already completed on Sarfartoq and look forward to rapidly building on that foundation."

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. A binding term sheet for a senior loan facility of up to a R875-million has been secured by West Wits Mining, which is reviving gold mining on the very doorstep of the City of Gold. The new loan facility, to be provided by South Africa's Absa and Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), replaces the funding arrangement with South Africa's State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Absa, which was announced in June last year. The new arrangement is described as having enhanced flexibility and broader banking support for West Wits' growth strategy while also funding the production ramp-up and development of Qala Shallows, the underground gold mine project located in the historic Witwatersrand basin, 15 km west of Johannesburg. With its access to a broader range of banking products and services, the new facility is expected to better support West Wits' development timeline and strategic growth objectives. Drawdown is until 30 June 2028 and final maturity on 30 June 2031. Hybrid hedging is taking the form of half of the gold sales during the construction period being executed through a put option programme to ensure the project maintains exposure to gold price upside. Qala is the first new underground gold mine to be built in South Africa in 15 years and is designed to produce 70 000 oz/y of gold over a 17-year lifespan. But Qala means 'beginning' in Zulu, which points to this being just the start, and steps are already being taken to expand production to 200 000 oz/y. Moreover, Shallows reflects Qala's relative 800-m shallowness, which has lower cost connotations. In a joint statement, Absa and Nedbank CIB described the Qala Shallows gold project as a development that would drive local job creation, economic growth, and sustainable mining in the Witwatersrand basin, the largest and most prolific gold deposit in human history. Discovered in 1886, the ancient basin spanning 300 km by 160 km has yielded more than 1.5-billion ounces of gold in the past 140 years. "This facility reflects our continued commitment to enabling impactful, long-term investments in South Africa's resources industry," the banks stated in the media release to Mining Weekly. "The execution of this binding term sheet represents another important step forward for West Wits as we continue to advance the Qala Shallows project," West Wits CEO Rudi Deysel stated. While expressing pleasure to be working with Absa and Nedbank CIB, Deysel also acknowledged the IDC for its constructive engagement with the company, which is chaired by Michael Quinert, who pointed out on March 17, when the first gold pour from his new virgin rock Qala Shallows gold mine took place at Sibanye-Stillwater's Ezulwini gold processing plant, that many more "great" opportunities exist in South Africa for gold mine development. A pretax net present value, at a 7.5% discount rate, of $719-million and an internal rate of return of 93% is reported in the updated 2025 definitive feasibility study (DFS). Peak funding is estimated at $44-million over a 2.6-year period, a reduction from $54-million over three years in the 2023 DFS. Average steady-state production is at an estimated all-in sustaining cost of $1 181/oz. Kimberley reefs K9A and K9B are the reefs that will be processed during the life of the project. The compliant mineral reserves are estimated at 4.6-million tonnes grading at 2.60 g/t for 383 934 oz of gold. The total mineral resources for the K9A reef are estimated at 8.1-million tonnes grading at 4.8 g/t gold for 1.2-million ounces of gold, and 10.5-million tonnes at 4.5 g/t gold for 1.5-million ounces of gold for the K9B reef. Use of conventional breast mining is in a configuration considered optimal for the Qala Shallows deposit. T...