The ‘second wave’ of government’s Operation Vulindlela initiative is poised to be widened to include additional structural reforms to those that have been pursued to date in electricity, freight logistics, telecoms, water and skills with the goal of stimulating higher levels of economic growth over the coming five years. Established jointly by the Presidency and the National Treasury in October 2020 to accelerate priority structural reforms to overcome problems identified as “binding constraints” to economic performance, Operation Vulindlela is expected to continue as a flagship programme under the government of national unity.
Exxaro weighing options for Australian coal JV amid Anglo’s planned exit
Exxaro Resources is weighing its options for its Australian coal joint venture project with Anglo American following the mining giant’s planned exit from the business, an executive said on Tuesday. The South African coal miner and Anglo equally own the Moranbah South metallurgical coal project in Queensland. On May 14, Anglo announced plans to spin off or sell its coal, nickel, diamond and platinum businesses to focus mainly on energy transition metal copper.
Letlhakane infill drilling delivers high-grade intercepts
In an update on the initial 55 holes of a 180-hole drill programme at its large-scale Letlhakane uranium project in Botswana, ASX-listed Lotus Resources has reported that completed drill holes have intersected mineralisation confirming continuity and grade. The reverse circulation (RC) drilling is being carried out by Rotsdrill Exploration, a Botswana-registered drilling contractor, with the downhole radiometric logging being carried out by Lotus’ own geological team.
Kodal confirms lithium extension into Boumou prospect on Bougouni licence
Aim-listed lithium developer Kodal Minerals has confirmed further mineralised extensions on the Boumou prospect, within the Bougouni lithium project, in Mali.
The company has determined that Boumou contains high-grade and wide lithium mineralised intersections hosted by spodumene-rich veins, with more assay results pending and diamond core drilling ongoing to test the prospect further.
Orion’s shares halted ahead of capital raising announcement
JSE- and ASX-listed Orion Minerals’ shares will be placed in a trading halt, pending the release of an announcement regarding a capital raising. Orion expects to make an announcement to the market concerning this matter before the start of trade on June 27.
Marula signs export logistics agreement for Kenyan mine
Africa-focused mining and development company Marula Mining has entered into an export logistics agreement with Scan Global Logistics (SGL) Group’s Kenya-based subsidiary, SGL Kenya, for the transportation and export of manganese ore from the Larisoro manganese mine located in Samburu County in northern Kenya. Under the terms of the logistics agreement, SGL Kenya will manage and oversee all aspects of the ore transportation and shipping process, including the loading and railing of containers to the Port of Mombasa, export booking process, customs clearance and all port-related processes, sea freight and shipping arrangements.
Blencowe nears completion of 600 t graphite bulk sample
London-listed Blencowe Resources, together with its Chinese partner Jilin New Technology Graphite Co, is nearly done with processing 600 t of raw material from the Orom-Cross graphite project, in Uganda. Blencowe says this commercial-scale testing in China has been crucial to fast-tracking product qualification, bypassing the need for a costly pilot-scale graphite processing facility at site.
Madison confirms high-grade uranium deposits after completing maiden drill programme at Khan
Uranium exploration company Madison Metals has completed its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drill programme of 997 m over nine holes at its Khan uranium project at Madison West, located in Namibia’s Central Erongo uranium province. Drilling has confirmed high-grade uranium deposits.
Exxaro warns of price, production dip in first half
Diversified miner and renewable energy company Exxaro Resources expects to report lower coal and iron-ore prices, as well as lower production, for the first six months of this year. With respect to the company’s key commodities, the average benchmark API4 Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) export price for the first six months of the year is expected to average $101/t, compared with $112/t in the second half of 2023, free-on-board (FOB), a decline from the previous six months.
Southern Palladium completes drilling campaign for South African project
JSE-listed Southern Palladium has completed an initial resource drilling campaign as part of a prefeasibility study (PFS) for the Bengwenyama platinum group metal (PGM) project, located on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, and all assays have been received. Eighty-two drillholes were completed totalling 30 746 m – including 50 reef deflections.