Authorities and environmental groups in Zambia are assessing the long-term impact of an acid spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine that has polluted a major river and threatens millions of people. Contamination has been detected at least 100 kilometers downstream from the site of the spill, raising concerns about water safety and ecosystem damage. The...
READ MOREChinese mining group MMG has suspended operations at its cobalt processing plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to weakening demand and lower prices. Cobalt, a key battery metal used in electric vehicles (EVs), is one of the DRC’s major exports. The decision comes just 15 months after MMG launched the plant at...
READ MOREMining giant BHP has acquired a stake in Australian company Cobre’s Kitlanya copper projects in Botswana, committing up to $25 million in funding for exploration of copper-silver deposits in the region. BHP’s investment will focus on Cobre’s East and West Kitlanya projects on the Kalahari Copper Belt margins. The company has pledged a minimum of...
READ MOREChinese state-controlled miner MMG has placed its Kinsevere cobalt project in the Democratic Republic of Congo on care and maintenance due to unfavorable cobalt market conditions, the company stated in its annual report. MMG had previously approved a mine life extension in 2022, incorporating cobalt into its existing copper production. While the expansion was completed...
READ MOREMercuria Energy Group and Glencore have renewed agreements to purchase copper from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s state mining company, Gecamines, following the company’s decision to independently market its share of output from joint ventures. The two trading firms secured deals to buy copper from the Tenke Fungurume mine, a major operation majority-owned by China’s...
READ MOREAsset manager Coronation has raised its stake in Northam Platinum to 15.05%, signaling a renewed interest in platinum group metals (PGMs). This marks a significant reversal from its earlier stance when it disinvested from the sector, citing value concerns. Coronation’s increased holdings place it alongside the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which owns 20% of Northam,...
READ MOREThe Democratic Republic of Congo, the world’s leading producer of cobalt, has temporarily suspended exports of the metal due to a production glut. The export ban, announced on Monday by the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets (ARECOMS), will remain in effect for at least four months. “This measure is...
READ MOREBarrick Gold has significantly increased the proven and probable mineral reserves at its Lumwana mine in Zambia by 180%, reaching 1.6 billion tonnes at 0.52% copper. The expansion project aims to double annual copper production from the current 120,000-140,000 tonnes to an estimated 240,000 tonnes, extending the mine’s operational life to 2057. The company recently...
READ MOREThe Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) solidified its position as the world’s second-largest copper producer in 2023 and is on track to expand production further. Having reached 3 million tonnes in 2024, the country is projected to increase copper output by at least 8% in 2025, according to a report by CRU Group. While...
READ MOREMimbula Minerals is investing $250 million in a new copper cathode plant in Chingola, Zambia, which will boost its annual output from 16,800 tonnes in 2024 to 60,000 tonnes upon completion next year. The expansion is expected to create 200 new local jobs, according to Mine Director Fidelis Chanda. Since beginning operations in 2022 with...
READ MOREAnglo American Platinum (Amplats) continues to grapple with weak platinum group metal (PGM) prices and a high-cost structure, leading to production cuts and significant workforce reductions. The South African miner retrenched 3,700 employees in 2024 and is undergoing further restructuring due to its ongoing demerger from Anglo American, expected to conclude by mid-2025. Despite these...
READ MOREKodal Minerals plc has announced the successful production of its first spodumene concentrate at the fully-funded Bougouni Lithium Project in Southern Mali. This milestone was achieved during the commissioning phase of the Stage 1 Dense Media Separation (DMS) processing plant, with pegmatite ore introduced into the circuit. The initial concentrate graded at 5.53% Li(2)O, aligning...
READ MORESouth Africa’s Impala Platinum anticipates a profit drop of up to 49% for the six months ending December 2024, citing persistently low metal prices. The company, the world’s second-largest producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), expects headline earnings between 1.65 billion rand and 1.95 billion rand ($89.39 million to $105.65 million), down from 3.26 billion...
READ MOREAnglo American Platinum (Amplats) expects headline earnings for the 2024 financial year to decline by as much as 46%, driven by persistently low metals prices and costs related to restructuring and its demerger from parent company Anglo American. The world’s leading producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), which are used to reduce vehicle emissions, anticipates...
READ MORECopper 360 has achieved a significant milestone with the successful execution of its first on-ore blast at Rietberg Mine in South Africa’s Northern Cape, marking the first such blast in 42 years. The event, which took place on January 31, signals the company’s shift from unpredictable mine development to structured hard-rock mining. Following the reopening...
READ MOREAtlantic Lithium, an African-focused lithium exploration company, has addressed recent media speculation regarding the status of its Ewoyaa Mining Lease in Ghana. The company confirmed that discussions with Ghanaian government agencies are ongoing as both parties work towards finalizing the lease ratification and advancing the Ewoyaa Lithium Project. The Ewoyaa project is central to Atlantic...
READ MOREVedanta Resources is aiming to secure approximately $1 billion in debt financing to support the development of Konkola Copper Mines PLC in Zambia, according to Reuters, citing Chris Griffith, head of Vedanta Base Metals Ltd. While Vedanta initially considered selling part of its 79.4% stake in Konkola to raise capital, Griffith indicated that this option...
READ MOREKoBold Metals, a mining company backed by billionaire investors including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, is extending its search for lithium and nickel to Namibia. Mfikeyi Makayi, CEO of KoBold’s African operations, confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that the company is now prospecting for critical minerals in the southern and central regions of the...
READ MORETanzania has signed a $2.15 billion agreement with two Chinese firms to build a railway connecting its main port of Dar es Salaam to a nickel mine in Burundi. Tanzania Railways Corp. awarded the contracts to China Railway Engineering Group Ltd. and China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group Co. Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa stated...
READ MORETerra Metals Inc., a U.S.-based mining company, has announced progress in its copper and cobalt mining operations and renewable energy projects in Zambia. The company’s assets in the Kabompo Dome, located near major mining operations, position it strategically within the region’s mining sector. The company plans to re-commission its copper and cobalt acid leach plant...
READ MOREChina’s CMOC Group, the world’s largest cobalt miner, plans to sustain high production levels in 2025 following a record-breaking year in 2024. The company, which operates major mining projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has set a target to produce between 100,000 and 120,000 tons of cobalt this year. This comes after it achieved...
READ MOREZimbabwe’s state-owned Kuvimba Mining House is on track to finalize a $270 million deal with two Chinese companies for its lithium project, CEO Trevor Barnard announced on Monday. The project, centered on the construction of a 600,000 metric tons per year lithium concentrator at the Sandawana mine, continues despite the sharp decline in lithium prices...
READ MOREThe Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has raised its stake in Northam Platinum to 20%, reinforcing its commitment to the long-term prospects of platinum group metals (PGMs). This follows the PIC’s move last year to increase its holding in Sibanye-Stillwater to 15%, as the asset manager continues to back the green economy potential of PGMs, particularly...
READ MOREAnglo American Platinum (ANGPY) has emerged as a standout player in the global platinum-group metals (PGM) mining industry. Despite market volatility and a downturn in PGM prices, the company has consistently maintained profitability, distinguishing itself from competitors. ANGPY holds the largest PGM mineral resources worldwide, operates cost-efficient facilities, and has demonstrated prudent management in navigating...
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