Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has visited De Beers’ Venetia diamond mine, in Limpopo. As a De Beers global ambassador, she was shown how each facet of the production value chain supports sustainable development. Her visit included a tour of the 32 000 ha Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve adjacent to the mine, which De Beers uses for nature conservation.
Heatwaves driving strong growth in electricity demand – IEA
Energy demand growth is forecast to be among the highest levels this year and next, compared with the last two decades, the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes in its ‘Electricity Mid-Year Update’ report.
Solar PV technology alone is expected to account for half of the demand growth increases globally.
Congo’s South Kivu governor suspends mining operations in province
The governor of Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province has ordered the suspension all mining activities in the restive region, giving all companies and operators 72 hours to leave mining sites, a statement said on Friday. Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, said in the statement that the suspension until further notice, was due to “disorder caused by the mining operators.”
South Africa to lay out carbon market regulation proposals
South Africa’s National Treasury plans to lay out its proposals for how to regulate carbon markets in the country in the next few months. The government department said it plans to publish a consultation paper on the industry around the time it presents its Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in October.
Platinum, diamonds, hydrogen make headlines
Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses the projected downward path of platinum; Petra Diamonds looking to refinance its $250-million loan notes; and Hive Hydrogen South Africa completing pre-front end engineering design on its green hydrogen to green ammonia project.
Serbia, EU and Germany sign battery supply chain deal
Belgrade and the European Union signed a deal on Friday to give the EU access to raw materials mined in Serbia and strengthen their ties on production of sustainable raw materials, battery manufacturing and electric vehicles (EVs).
Rio Tinto is keen to start mining in Serbia’s Western region of Jadar and this week its licence to develop what would be Europe’s biggest lithium mine was reinstated, more than two years after it was annulled.
Whitehaven sees higher near-term coal prices
Australian coal miner Whitehaven is forecasting higher metallurgical coal prices over the near and long term, citing production constraints of hard-coking coal from Australian producers, combined with increased seaborne demand from India.
The miner, which bolstered its output with the recent acquisition of the Daunia and Blackwater metallurgical coal mines from the BHP-Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), expects its portfolio to benefit from supply constrained market dynamics.
Seriti progressing Mpumalanga wind energy project as it transforms to diversified energy company
Seriti Green, a Seriti Resources subsidiary, is progressing the country’s first majority black-owned wind farm, the Ummbila Emoyeni project in Mpumalanga, which would also mark the province’s pioneer wind energy facility. This was highlighted by the group during an unveiling of the project to media and key stakeholders on July 17.
Analysts predict gold to trade at average $2 547/oz in the second half
Independent previous metals authority London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) has cited analysts predicting that the gold price will trade even higher in the second half of the year, following a record price of $2 480/oz on July 17.
An average of forecasts implies the gold price may reach $2 547/oz; however, the price will likely average lower by the close of the year at $2 395/oz.
Kingrose says exploration under BHP alliance in full swing
Exploration activities under the Kingrose Mining’s alliance agreements with BHP in Norway and Finland are in full swing says Kingrose MD Fabian Baker.
These programmes have been designed with the combined expertise of Kingrose and BHP on a regional scale to identify numerous new target areas.