Mining Weekly News

Aim-listed gold and copper exploration and development company Kefi has announced that the Tulu Kapi Gold Mines (TKGM) board has formally launched the project. "Our launch timing is fortuitously coinciding with the improved conditions in Ethiopia and all-time high gold prices. Tulu Kapi's high grade and high process recovery, combined with our project design, has resulted in a robust set of economics for long-term operations which should support further exploration and development along with good opportunities to continue supporting local social development projects such as the already provided local school and water supply. The returns for the capital investors and lenders are attractive and the recent exemptions from exchange controls has rendered the Ethiopian mining investment climate internationally competitive,” Kefi executive chairperson Harry Anagnostaras-Adams said on May 20.

Four lithium mining companies have tabled plans to produce battery-grade lithium in Zimbabwe, a government official said on Monday. Zimbabwe, Africa's top producer of lithium, which is used in electric vehicle batteries and to store renewable energy, is prodding miners to refine the mineral locally as it hopes to boost its economy.

The Eskom board has given its approval for the continued operation of the Camden, Grootvlei and Hendrina power stations to 2030 – a departure from the original decommissioning schedule that has reportedly been endorsed by Cabinet. In response to a question posed by Engineering News during an update on the Energy Action Plan, head of generation Bheki Nxumalo said: “We have just recently received board approval to run three of our stations – that is Hendrina, Grootvlei and Camden – up until 2030.”

JSE-listed Impala Platinum (Implats) has concluded a series of agreements, facilitating the implementation of a broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) transaction at its Impala Rustenburg and Impala Bafokeng assets. The transaction will result in 13% BBBEE ownership at both Impala Platinum, which owns the Impala Rustenburg and Impala Refineries assets, and Impala Bafokeng through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Impala Bafokeng Resources (IBR).

JSE-listed chrome producer Merafe Resources has advised that the quarterly European Ferrochrome Benchmark (EUBM) price will be discontinued with effect from June. The company will, therefore, no longer publish the EUBM price on the JSE news service.