Environmental, social and governance (ESG) has evolved to being driven by external factors such as shareholder activism and investor confidence, rather than regulatory frameworks, finds a panel discussion hosted by Creamer Media on June 26. ESG strategies are also becoming increasingly data-driven, with quantifiable and measurable outcomes and thorough reporting, which many mining companies are doing voluntarily.
Vedanta in talks with IHC unit, investors for Zambian copper stake sale
International Resources Holding (IRH), the mining investment arm of United Arab Emirates’ richest company, is among investors holding talks on buying into Vedanta Resources’ Zambian copper assets, a senior Vedanta executive told Reuters. IRH, a unit of Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company which holds about $244-billion in assets, is interested in acquiring a stake in Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and is conducting due diligence on the assets, Chris Griffith, Vedanta’s chief executive for base metals, said.
Akobo completes processing plant, starts commissioning in Ethiopia
Scandinavia-based gold exploration and mining company Akobo Minerals has successfully completed the construction of its processing plant and has started commissioning activities at its operation in Ethiopia. The company currently holds an extensive exploration licence encompassing 182 km2 and a 16 km2 mining licence with an active mining operation in the Gambela region and Dima Woreda, Ethiopia.
Sibanye ‘will have to’ shutter US mine unless palladium recovers
Sibanye Stillwater will be forced to halt operations at its Montana palladium mine if prices don’t recover soon, according to CEO Neal Froneman.
“The future of Stillwater remains in the balance,” the CEO said on Tuesday, when asked at a London conference about the outlook for the mine. “I mean it’s as simple as that. If there’s no correction in the price soon, as strategic as it is, we will have to put it on care and maintenance.”
Theta raises another $4m for South Africa gold project
ASX-listed Theta Gold Mines has received firm commitments from investors to raise a further A$4-million (A$6.02-million) in equity funding to advance its TGME gold plant, in South Africa. The placement is in addition to the two-tranche, $10-million placement announced last month.
Panel explores relevance of listed market for mining capital
The world is infinitely more complex now, with the energy transition, longer lead times and geopolitical fracturing, than in previous years and this presents challenges and questions around mining equity investment, as this is no longer as simple an exercise as before. This was one of the areas explored by speakers during a panel discussion on the second day of the London Indaba on June 26.
Mining central to South Africa’s socioeconomic wellbeing, AGM hears
Given its far-reaching multiplier effect, mining is the epicentre of South Africa’s economy and social wellbeing and has been at the heart of its economic progress and development for much of this country’s history, Minerals Council South Africa’s 134th AGM attendees heard in Johannesburg on Wednesday. Simply put, a R1-million increase in mined output results in 2.5 economy-wide job opportunities.
Copper market facing renewed caution from investors
With the demand for copper having increased amid the global energy transition, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence project manager: energy transition commodities Piotr Ortonowski described this year as “the year of the unexpected” for copper. Speaking at a panel discussion at this year’s London Indaba under the theme ‘Copper: defying gravity- or was it all just hype?’, he explained that this year was expected to be a year of oversupply, with a few big mining projects still ramping up.
Trafigura clinches share of major zinc deal snubbed by Glencore
Production from a large new zinc mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be split between several new buyers including trading giant Trafigura Group, after rival Glencore backed away from a previous deal for the entire supply. Ivanhoe Mines’ Kipushi zinc mine started production in the past few days and is finalizing deals to sell its zinc to Trafigura, China’s Citic and Boliden, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the matter isn’t public.
Global miners to invest for growth, transformation amid financial pressure – PwC
The financial performance of the world’s Top 40 mining companies is under pressure owing to lower commodity prices and rising costs, which has resulted in revenues falling by more than 7% despite increases in the production of key commodities, management consultancy PwC stated in its ‘Global Mine 2024’ report. The latest iteration of the report indicates a continuation of these trends moving forward, marking the first time since 2016 that industry revenues will fall for a second consecutive year.