A key issue with all mineral projects is the quantification of risk and uncertainty, which has always been narrowed down to grade estimation issues; however, just basing the mineral resource category on drill spacing and a competent person’s judgment on resource boundaries is no longer good enough. Rather, it should be statistically based, since juniors could not afford to undertake vast amounts of drilling, EY natural resource principal technical consultant Andy Clay said during the Joburg Indaba, held on May 21 and 22.
Edison increases its valuation of Pan African despite lower production forecast
Analyst Edison Investment Research has increased its valuation of South African gold miner Pan African Resources to $0.48 a share, from $0.41 previously. London- and Johannesburg-listed Pan African earlier this month announced that it had revised its 2024 full-year production guidance to between 186 000 oz and 190 000 oz, compared with previous guidance of 180 000 oz to 190 000 oz, owing to it having ceased the processing of marginal surface sources at Evander Gold Mines.
Westwell to retire as Sasol chairperson
Stephen Westwell will, on June 1, retire as nonexectutive director and chairperson of chemicals and energy group Sasol, after having served on the board for 12 years. Lead independent director Muriel Dube will take up the position of acting chairperson until a full-time successor is appointed.
BHP-Anglo prospects flag more M&A ahead for miners
BHP’s bid for Anglo American underlines the growing appetite for energy transition metals like copper from miners who must become more aggressive to secure new projects or risk missing out, investors and mining CEOs said on Wednesday. The bid by the world’s biggest listed miner for Anglo is expected to whet appetite for more deals in the sector whether it goes ahead or not, they said.
Clock runs down on BHP’s $43bn bid for Anglo American
BHP Group has just hours to launch a blockbuster bid to buy smaller mining rival Anglo American — or put its audacious takeover plan on the shelf.
The proposal by the world’s biggest miner to spin off two units and then buy the remainder of Anglo would create a global copper behemoth, heralding the industry’s return to mega—deals after more than a decade. Anglo has already rejected two non-binding offers from BHP — the last worth $43-billion — and unveiled its own plans for a radical restructuring.
Latest cadastre agreement excites South Africa’s Junior Indaba panel
There were expressions of excitement at the South Africa’s Junior Indaba on Tuesday when attendees at the important mining event learnt of the signing of the service-level agreement (SLA) for South Africa’s long-awaited mining cadastral system, a key tool for orderly mineral exploration regulation. “Pen was put to paper yesterday,” opening discussion chairperson and NSDV director Lili Nupen highlighted following the revelation of the SLA by Department of Mineral Resources and Energy deputy director-general and panelist Theliso Maqubela.
South Africa’s R105bn green hydrogen project to be energised by hot De Aar sunshine
South Africa’s R105-billion green hydrogen, green ammonia project in the Eastern Cape took another major leap forward on Tuesday with the announcement of its underpinning by a cluster of nine solar projects in the very high solar yielding area of De Aar. The giga scale 1 230 MW solar project is the co-development of a consortium made up of Hive Hydrogen, Akuo Energy Afrique, Africoast Investments and Golden Sunshine Trading, which has been working towards this milestone for the past two years, and follows Hive Hydrogen signing an agreement earlier this year with Genesis Eco-Energy to implement 372 MW of wind power in the Western Cape, also in support of the green hydrogen, green ammonia project at Coega.
Eskom seeks Nersa permission to reserve grid capacity for public IPP procurement rounds
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has invited comment on Eskom’s application to preserve and reserve grid connection capacity for independent power producers (IPPs) participating in public procurement processes implemented in line with Section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA). In its application, Eskom indicates that it is seeking permission to discriminate in favour of public procurement IPP projects, at the expense of private IPP projects.
ESG just a new way of reporting on what mining companies have already been doing for years, …
When considering the challenges involved in junior mining companies living up to increasingly stringent environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements and reporting standards, mining and environmental law firm Malan Scholes director Hulmes Scholes has noted that ESG is just a new term for reporting what mining companies already do. As such, junior miners need not be intimidated by it, he told delegates attending the Junior Indaba, in Johannesburg, on May 21.
Tharisa warns of lower full-year earnings on the back of lower PGM prices
Platinum group metals (PGM) and chrome concentrate producer Tharisa has warned that its earnings per share (EPS) and headline earnings per share (HEPS) are likely to be up to 29% lower year-on-year for the financial year ended March 31, as a result of a 40% decrease in PGM price and increased cost pressures. EPS are expected to be between 22.4% to 28.2% lower year-on-year at between $0.125 and $0.135, while HEPS are expected to be between 23.3% and 29% lower year-on-year at between $0.125 and $0.135.