Vedanta Resources has paid about $246-million to creditors to regain control of the Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia after about five years. The payment paves the way for “imminent reinstatement” of Konkola’s board and return of full management control to Billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta, according to a statement. The mines in the African nation hold one of the largest high-grade copper deposits in the world, as well as cobalt reserves, according to Vedanta.
We’ve delivered strong second-quarter production – Anglo CE
Diversified mining company Anglo American on Thursday emphasised its embedding of operational resourcefulness across its asset base and highlighted its second-quarter performance as being strong. Moreover, the strategy reviewing Johannesburg- and London-listed centenarian described its copper production as “tracking well to the full year plan” and its asset divestment execution work as proceeding at pace.
Capital posts solid growth in second-quarter revenue
London-listed mining services company Capital has posted a 16.6% year-on-year increase in revenue to just under $90-million for the quarter ended June 30.
The revenue generated in the quarter also represents an 11.2% increase on that generated in the first quarter of the year.
AfDB approves R18.85bn loan for Transnet’s business recovery plan
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved an R18.85-billion, or $1-billion, corporate loan to South Africa’s State-owned freight transport and logistics group Transnet for its recovery and growth plans. The 25-year loan is fully guaranteed by the government of South Africa. It will facilitate the first phase of the group’s R152-8-billion, or $8.1-billion, five-year capital investment plan to improve its existing capacity ahead of expansion for the priority segments throughout the transport value chain.
Anglo Platinum anticipating 15% to 25% lower half-year earnings
The basic earnings and earnings per share of platinum group metals (PGM) mining company Anglo American Platinum for the first six months of this year are anticipated to be between 15% and 25% lower than the half-year earnings of 2023. Basic earnings are likely to be between R5.8-billion and R6.6-billion and earnings per share between 2 204c per share and 2 508c a share, the Anglo American group company outlined, citing the earnings decreases as being largely the result of a 24% lower rand PGM basket price relative to the first half of last year.
Eskom makes shock objection to issuance of trading licences
Eskom has lodged a surprise objection to the issuance of licences to private traders in areas where its distribution entity currently holds a licence, arguing that the current rules of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) prohibit two or more licensees supplying the same area. The objection was made during virtual Nersa hearings being held to consider the granting of generation, trading, as well as import-export licences to various entities, including Discovery Green, CBi Electric Apollo, Green Electron Market and Africa GreenCo.
US mine development timeline second-longest in world, S&P Global says
It takes an average of nearly 29 years to build a new mine in the US, the second-longest in the world behind only Zambia, hampering Washington’s efforts to boost output of lithium, nickel and other metals for the energy transition, a report said on Thursday.
The report by consultancy S&P Global comes amid rising pressure on US officials to streamline what is seen by mining companies and some policymakers as a confusing and lengthy process to obtain a mining permit that harms efforts to offset China’s near-total control of the critical minerals sector.
Kumba Iron Ore expecting half-year earnings to be 24% to 29% lower
The basic earnings of iron-ore mining company Kumba for the six months to June 30 are expected to between 24% and 29% lower than for the first six months of last year. The decreased R6 847-million to R7 347-million half-year earnings are largely attributable to a lower average realised free-on-board export iron-ore price and a decrease in sales volumes relative to the comparative period, the Anglo American group company stated in a release to Mining Weekly on Thursday.
DFS demonstrates robustness of Centamin’s Doropo project
The results of a definitive feasibility study (DFS) on London- and Toronto-listed gold miner Centamin’s Doropo project, in Côte d’Ivoire, has demonstrated that it is a robust project that meets the company’s investment criteria, says CEO Martin Horgan. “The project shows a strong first five years with production in excess of 200 000 oz/y at an all-in sustaining cost below $1 000/oz, delivering an accelerated payback on investment. The DFS has resulted in a plan with significantly lower execution risk, relative to the prefeasibility study, reflecting a reconfiguration of the project to reduce its social impact on local communities,” he adds.
Golden rule: Why younger investors are drawn to gold
What asset class do millennials and Gen Z investors both want to own?
Here is an answer you may not have guessed: Gold.
Among wealthy investors under the age of 43, 45% own gold as a physical asset, and another 45% are interested in holding it, according to a recent study by Bank of America Private Bank.
Those are far higher percentages than other age groups.