Although there has been a “slight” improvement year-on-year in terms of State-owned Transnet Freight Rail’s (TFR’s) North Corridor performance, the beleaguered rail operator is “not out of the woods yet”, TFR north corridor acting managing executive Theo Johnson has said. “‘Slight improvement’ is a term that I would accept. We’re working on a lot of initiatives [in] the North Corridor, because that’s the biggest corridor in TFR, particularly for the export coal line . . . but we are not out of the woods. We have a long way to go,” he said at the 2024 Coal & Energy Transition Day, in Johannesburg, on July 24.
Peak and Shenghe extend partnership to fund Tanzania REE mine
Australia’s Peak Rare Earths has signed a nonbinding term sheet with Chinese miner Shenghe to support the development and funding of the Ngualla rare earths element (REE) project in Tanzania.
The term sheet contemplates Shenghe acquiring 50% in the entity that holds an effective 84% of the Ngualla project by subscribing for new shares worth A$96-million.
Botswana proposes law for locals to acquire 24% stakes in mines
Botswana is proposing a law that will ask mining companies, once granted a licence, to sell a 24% stake in mines to locals if the government does not exercise its option to acquire the shareholding, a draft bill seen by Reuters on Tuesday shows. The current Mines and Minerals Act allows the government of Botswana, the world’s top diamond producer by value and an emerging copper mining hotspot, to buy a 15% shareholding in any mining project upon being licensed. The existing law gives the government an option to negotiate higher stakes in diamond mines.
Public-private partnership providing powerful performance potential – Kumba Iron Ore
The commitment of South Africa’s new multi-party government to continued reform of this country’s iron-ore logistics was hailed on Tuesday by Kumba Iron Ore. During the presentation of half-year results covered by Mining Weekly, Kumba CEO Mpumi Zikalala spoke of the current public-private partnership model having the potential to create powerful logistics reform. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)
Seriti’s wind move may be further energy transitioned by solar, Coal & Energy Day hears
Black-owned coal mining company Seriti Resources’ advance into wind energy through Seriti Green may be further advanced by an entry into solar power, Tuesday’s Coal & Energy Transition Day 2024 was told. Moreover, it was also made clear by chairperson and mining luminary Bernard Swanepoel and reiterated by facilitator and EY partner Thabi Malatji that next year’s event would have transitioned to something like ‘energy transition day’, with the word ‘coal’ being removed from the title, and added conversation on clean, green energy. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)
Speakers stress importance of coal as an energy source, warn of unfair pressure on developing …
With coal consumption having increased by 11% since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015 and the commodity being a mainstay for many countries’ energy mixes, including Australia and India, experts gathered at the Coal & Energy Transition Day on July 23 are confident that there is still an immediate, intermediate and long-term future for coal. Minerals Council South Africa environment, health and legacies senior executive Nikisi Lesufi said the development of South Africa was at stake, hence the importance of discussing coal’s role as a fundamental requirement for economic growth.
PCC, WWF welcome signing into law of Climate Change Bill
The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have welcomed the signing into law of the Climate Change Bill. The Presidency has announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Climate Change Bill, which sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa’s fair contribution to the global climate change response.
Eskom again moots 20 GW clean-energy build programme
Eskom will replace its declining coal capacity with clean-energy options in line with country policy and the Just Energy Transition, Eskom GM for primary energy Dan Mashigo told participants at a conference on coal and the energy transition. Speaking on behalf of Eskom CEO Dan Marokane, Mashigo reported that the State-owned company had a 20 GW-plus generation project pipeline, including 6 GW of solar PV, 4 GW of hybrid wind-PV-battery projects, 4 GW of gas-to-power, 3 GW of nuclear and 3.5 GW of hydro, wind and battery storage.
Askari secures A$850 000 funding package to advance its Tanzanian uranium strategy
Southern African exploration company Askari Metals has secured an A$850 000 funding package, comprised of redeemable notes with professional and sophisticated investors, to “aggressively pursue” its Tanzanian uranium investment strategy. This follows the company’s recent acquisition of the Matemanga project, in Tanzania.
Akobo’s Segele gold processing plant operational
Gold exploration and mining company Akobo Minerals has announced that its Segele processing plant, in Ethiopia, is now operational. The commissioning process has successfully activated the majority of the Segele plant, enabling the company to process a substantial amount of ore.