Mining Weekly

Aim- and JSE-listed Kore Potash has advised that the consortium it is in talks with to provide financing for the Kola project, in Congo-Brazzaville, will soon provide a financing proposal, while an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract also nears finalisation. The company aims to complete the financing of the $1.8-billion Kola project and move to start construction as soon as possible.

An exploitation lease, or mining licence, for gold and associated minerals has been issued to TSX-V-listed Aton Resources for its 100%-owned Abu Marawat Concession, in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. The existence of a commercial discovery at the Hamama and Rodruin projects has also been agreed by the company and the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA).

JSE-listed chrome producer Merafe Resources has appointed former Royal Bafokeng Platinum CEO Steve Phiri as an independent nonexecutive director, with effect from February 1. Phiri holds B luris, LLB and LLM degrees and he has more than 20 years of experience in the South African mining sector including various roles at Royal Bafokeng Platinum, where he served as CEO, and Royal Bafokeng Holdings.

London- and Toronto-listed gold miner Centamin delivered a solid performance in 2023, producing 450 058 oz and delivering on its yearly guidance for a third year. Centamin has set its production guidance for this year at between 470 000 oz and 500 000 oz as its flagship Sukari mine, in Egypt, continues to improve output against the backdrop of a strong gold price environment.

Global mining and metals companies have committed at Davos to take urgent action to support a nature-positive future by 2030 that promotes the health, diversity and resilience of species, ecosystems and natural processes. International Council of Metals and Minerals (ICMM) members, representing a third of the global industry, have pledged that meeting the demand for critical materials must not be at the expense of nature.

Aim-listed Kropz has made the final drawdown of R52-million related to a bridge loan facility it secured with its major shareholder, African Rainbow Capital Fund, in December. The full R115-million loan was meant to meet the immediate cash requirements of the Elandsfontein phosphate mine, in the Western Cape province of South Africa.