South Africa’s biggest labour union federation urged local shareholders, including the powerful Public Investment Corporation (PIC), to oppose BHP Group’s bid to buy Anglo American. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), which includes the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) among its members, said a deal wouldn’t be in the national interest. South African shareholders hold about 26% of Anglo, with the PIC owning 8.4%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Bushveld to dispose of Vanchem asset to SPR, working capital advanced
Aim-listed Bushveld Minerals has secured additional funding to provide immediate working capital relief and ensure continuity of its operations by entering into a binding term sheet with Southern Point Resources Fund (SPR) to conditionally sell the entire Vanchem vanadium processing plant asset for up to $40.6-million. The transaction comprises an initial consideration of $20.6-million and a deferred consideration of between $15-million and $20-million.
Kore Potash to list on the A2X
Mineral exploration and development company Kore Potash will list its shares on South Africa’s A2X Markets, with its shares to be available for trade on the exchange from May 14. It is already listed on the LSE’s Aim market, the JSE and the ASX and these listings will remain unaffected by its secondary listing on A2X.
BHP insists Anglo American’s South African assets must go in any takeover, sources say
BHP’s plan to divest the South African assets of its target Anglo American are key to the strategy behind the proposed takeover and is expected to be a part of any revised offer, investors briefed on the miner’s thinking said. The “Big Australian” was rebuffed by its smaller rival on April 26 after submitting a $39-billion takeover proposal, in a plan seen as complex because it required Anglo to offload its shares in Kumba Iron Ore and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) to Anglo American’s shareholders before any deal took place.
Arrow’s Simandou North drilling off to a promising start
Australian junior Arrow Minerals as hit the ground running at its Simandou North deposit, in Guinea, uncovering high-grade mineralisation in the area during the initial stages of drilling.
The first five holes, totalling 328 m of drilling, have yielded strong results, with assays including grades as high as 63% from surface samples.
A leadership battle is brewing at deep sea mining’s regulatory body
The secretary-general of the International Seabed Authority is set to run for a third term leading the United Nations-affiliated organization that regulates deep sea mining, as control of mineral resources used to make electric car batteries becomes a focus of US-China rivalry.
The ISA’s 168 member nations and the European Union will elect the next secretary-general at what is expected to be a pivotal meeting in July. Secretary-General Michael Lodge, a UK lawyer, will be opposed by Brazilian marine scientist Leticia Carvalho in an election that will shape the future of deep sea mining. It comes as the ISA faces pressure to finish writing regulations that could allow mining to begin within the next two years.
Copper 360’s underground copper mine set to open three months ahead of schedule
Last month copper mining company Copper 360 surprised on the upside by producing its first copper concentrate from surface material well ahead of schedule. Now, this month, it is doing the same on the underground mining front in that it will be opening its Rietberg underground copper mine three months ahead of schedule.
Eastplats reports record revenue for 2023 financial year
JSE- and TSX-V-listed Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) has reported net income attributable to shareholders of $13.8-million for the 2023 financial year, compared with a loss of $900 000 for the 2022 financial year, mainly as a result of higher revenue. Revenue increased to a record $106.9-million, compared with revenue of $53.9-million in the prior financial year.
Walkabout warns of short-term impact on Tanzania exports following cyclone
ASX-listed Walkabout Resources says its Lindi Jumbo graphite mine, in Tanzania, was only mildly impacted on by heavy rains and a brief power interruption as a result of cyclone Hidaya, which passed over the country over the weekend. However, the coastal road from the project to the capital Dar es Salaam has suffered damage and, while there are alternative routes to transport graphite to port, this will involve significantly longer trucking distances.
Theta raises $10m
ASX-listed Theta Gold Mines, which owns gold assets in South Africa, has received a firm commitment from Hong Kong Ruihua Investment Management to invest $10-million in the company through a share subscription agreement. The funds will be used to complete funding packages for the TGME gold plant’s construction; advancing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts; development works for the plant, a tailings storage facility and water management at the TGME project; and to strengthen Theta’s balance sheet.