The retreatment, or remining, of mine tailings can provide usable land, provide profits for companies and clean the environment by moving the reprocessed tailings to more advanced and well-managed facilities. Owing to changes in legislation, tailings need to be stored in facilities that are better managed and controlled than historical facilities. This means that the tailings from remined sites are sent to new tailing storage facilities (TSFs), said specialist consulting engineering firm Jones & Wagener environmental engineering closure and rehabilitation associate civil engineer Alice Harvey.
Anglo American’s South Africa investors open to improved BHP bid, FT reports
Anglo American’s key South African shareholders are open to a takeover offer from BHP, with some advocating for an additional cash component to the bid, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. The investors who collectively hold more than 15% of Anglo American, told FT that BHP, the world’s biggest listed mining group, would need to sweeten its offer and they were not opposed in principle to an acquisition by the Australian group.
Hydrogen’s ‘irreplaceable’ role highlighted by platinum-linked venture capital provider
The role of hydrogen in the decarbonisation of the hardest-to-abate sectors of the global economy continues to be highlighted as “irreplaceable” by AP Ventures, the independent venture capital fund focused on investing in early-stage companies that use or enable the use of platinum group metals (PGMs). “We remain very excited about the hydrogen sector,” was the comment of AP Ventures co-founding partner Kevin Eggers in a Zoom interview with Mining Weekly. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)
Botswana vows to protect interests in potential BHP-Anglo deal
Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi vowed to protect the country’s interests, including its 15% stake in diamond giant De Beers, should BHP Group acquire Anglo American. Anglo, which rejected a BHP proposal valuing the mining company at about $39 billion, owns the other 85% of De Beers. Under the proposed deal, BHP — once a major diamond producer itself — said that De Beers would be put on a strategic review. Anglo, the only major miner with a big diamond business, has already been reviewing the future of units including De Beers.
Johnson Matthey forecasts lower palladium, rhodium deficits, but larger platinum deficit
Chemicals and sustainable technologies provider Johnson Matthey says the palladium and rhodium markets are likely to record smaller deficits this year, while platinum is likely to record a deficit of 600 000 oz on the back of lower primary supplies. It states in its latest yearly ‘PGM Market Report’ that an anticipated recovery in primary and secondary platinum group metal (PGM) production fell short of expectations in 2023.
Conference highlights coal mining industry safety milestones, new targets
The South African coal mining industry has made progress in reaching its goal of zero harm; however, programmes and initiatives must be bolstered to ensure this is achieved and then maintained. This was outlined by speakers during the Coal Safe 2024 conference, held on May 9, at Emperors Palace, in Gauteng.
Lotus confirms significant uranium potential in updated Letlhakane MRE
ASX-listed Lotus Resources has published a revised mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 155.3-million tonnes, grading 345 parts per million (ppm) triuranium octoxide (U3O8), for the Letlhakane uranium project, in Botswana.
This means the project can deliver 80-million pounds of recovered uranium over its life, based on a 70% recovery rate, the company says.
Tertiary granted enviro approval for exploration on second Zambian prospect
Aim-listed Tertiary Minerals’ environmental project brief (EPB) for the Mupala copper project, in Zambia, has been approved by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency, which allows the company to start mineral exploration on site.
The Mupala project is located 12 km west of the company’s Mukai project, both of which are located in the prospective Kabombo Domes region of Zambia, which is reported to host multiple producing copper and nickel mines, including First Quantum Minerals’ Sentinel mining complex.
India considers incentives for lithium processing, sources say
India is considering offering incentives to encourage private companies to set up lithium processing facilities, as New Delhi tries to develop its nascent lithium mining and boost supplies of the EV battery metal, three government sources said.
It would offer incentives to companies to set up lithium processing plants under a new critical minerals policy that was being worked out by the mines ministry, the sources said.
Caprice ventures into West Arunta with project acquisition
Perth-based Caprice Resources on Thursday announced plans to acquire a project in the West Arunta region of Western Australia.
Spanning over 1 479 km2, the Bantam project comprises four contiguous tenements, strategically positioned adjacent WA1 Resources’ site that hosts the Luni niobium/rare earth element discovery.