Former CEO and co-chairperson of diamond miner De Beers Bruce Cleaver will join the board of gemstone miner Gemfields as chairperson from July 1. He will succeed Martin Tolcher, who is stepping down.
Civil society coalition emphasises need for accountability, transparency, equity to achieve a …
A coalition of civil society organisations from Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Vietnam on June 10 launched their ‘Principles for a Fair Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)’, which emphasises the integral need for accountability, transparency and equity in climate finance. International renewable energy advocacy organisation 350.org said the guiding principles were identified with the input of Global South communities.
Botswana says it’s in talks about increasing stake in De Beers
Botswana said it’s in talks over increasing its shareholding in De Beers, as Anglo American prepares to end its almost century-long relationship with the iconic diamond producer.
As part of a turnaround plan to fend off an approach from BHP Group, Anglo last month said it planned to sell or separate De Beers, in which it holds an 85% stake. The remainder is owned by Botswana, the southern African nation that holds the company’s biggest diamond mines.
TotalEnergies, Air Products hydrogen deal uplifts platinum demand outlook still further
A 15-year agreement involving the supply of an initial 70 000 t of green hydrogen a year has been signed by TotalEnergies and Air Products. TotalEnergies, which is active in some 120 countries and which cites sustainability as being at the heart of its strategy, is setting out to reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions from its oil and gas operations by 40% by 2030.
Agriculture, mining remain growth areas for Omnia, despite difficult operating environment
JSE-listed chemicals group Omnia has reported a 10% decrease in operating profit to R1.7-billion for the financial year ended March 31, saying this reflected volatile market conditions and global economic strain. Net profit, however, increased by 1% to R1.16-billion, while earnings a share increased by 2% year-on-year to 705c.
Zambia sees KoBold spending $2.3bn on giant copper mine
KoBold Metals, the Bill Gates-backed mining exploration company, could spend $2.3-billion to build a major new copper mine in Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema said, citing figures from the company. The firm aims to produce more than 300 000 metric tons per year at Mingomba — making it the country’s biggest such operation — and will begin sinking the mining shaft in the first half of 2026, according to company officials. Their meeting with Hichilema on Friday was broadcast over state television.
Blencowe signs first offtake MoU for Orom-Cross graphite
London-listed Blencowe Resources has signed its first nonbinding memorandum of understanding (MoU) for natural large flake concentrate offtake from the Orom-Cross graphite project, in Uganda. Under the terms of the MoU, vertically integrated graphite producer Jilin New Technology Graphite intends to buy 15 000 t/y of large-flake graphite from the mine. This equates to about 66% of the Orom-Cross large-flake production for up to three years from the start of operations.
Reform momentum must be sustained ‘regardless of the form or composition’ of new government
President Cyril Ramaphosa has underlined the importance of the new government – which is yet to be formed after no single party secured an outright majority in the recent elections – continuing with the economic reforms under way in the electricity, logistics, water and telecommunications sectors. Writing in his weekly newsletter days after the national executive committee of the African National Congress (ANC) agreed that it should initiate talks with other parties on the formation of a possible government of national unity (GNU), Ramaphosa insisted that there was “broad support for the continuation of economic reforms” that have been spearheaded under Operation Vulindlela.
Minerals Council calls for collaborative relationship among govt, labour, civil society and the …
As political parties discuss the way forward in establishing a government of national unity, the Minerals Council South Africa says it and its members are advocating for a constructive, collaborative and trusting relationship among government, labour, civil society and the private sector to continue dealing with the many challenges facing the country. The council notes that government and business groups, including the Minerals Council, have been collaborating for a year on efforts to deal with the energy, rail, road, port and crime and corruption crises facing the country, stating that this partnership between government and business was making a positive difference.
Petra, NUM sign five-year wage deal
Diamond miner Petra Diamonds and labour union the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have signed a five-year wage agreement covering Petra’s South African operations for the period July 1, this year, to June 30, 2029. Employees in the A and B Paterson bands will receive a wage increase of 6.25% or Consumer Price Index (CPI), depending on which one is higher, for year one of the agreement.