Having anticipated the future demands of the mining sector, global refractory and industrial solutions company the Dickinson Group of Companies’ (DGC Africa’s) key strategic objectives are aimed at developing lasting solutions for more sustainable mining practices and integrating advanced technologies. The company’s focus is on creating an uncontested market space by identifying and addressing unmet needs in the mining sector while breaking the value–cost tradeoff with clients. Other requirements include an emphasis on value innovation over competitive benchmarking.

Collaborative efforts undertaken with the mining industry - focusing on developing research and technological expertise - are driving new economic value in various commodities including gold, iron-ore, chrome, lithium and cobalt, highlights minerals and processing research organisation Mintek. Mintek provides products and services to the metallurgical industry on ore characterisation, unit and flowsheet optimisation, new technology development and by conducting pilot plant studies and plant audits, thereby enabling the organisation to improve mineral beneficiation processes and techniques.

Earlier in the year, metal processing and trading company Buenassa was provided $3.5-million as an initial tranche payment from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to establish a project preparation facility as part of an innovative copper and cobalt refinery project. Buenassa lists the project as being capable of producing 30 000 t/y of copper cathode and 5 000 t/y of cobalt sulphate.

State-owned Transnet Group chief business development officer Yolisa Kani has said calls for applications for private train operators wanting to access the freight rail network are likely to open early next year. Reform of rail legislation means that it is likely that private train operators will be able to access the rail network by April 2025, she noted during a stakeholder engagement event hosted by Transnet alongside the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on September 5.

Original-equipment manufacturer Barloworld Equipment Southern Africa has inaugurated a new dealership facility in Phakalane, Botswana. Barloworld Equipment has had a presence in Botswana since 1964, supporting key industries and contributing to the development of the country’s infrastructure. The new facility is aimed at further enhancing its capacity to serve the Botswana mining, construction, energy and transportation sectors.

The South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC) has announced the winners of its New Products and Innovation Awards competition at the Electra Mining Africa exhibition, at the Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg. The awards are given to both local and international exhibiting companies that have contributed excellence in innovation within their respective subsectors of the mining industry.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) has completed the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Stibnite project, in Idaho, with a draft record of decision (RoD) authorising the gold and antimony project. The USFS will reportedly publish the EIS and RoD in the federal register on Friday. A final RoD is expected by the end of the year.

Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Harmony, which has 74 years of mining experience in South Africa and two decades in Papua New Guinea (PNG), is not only a mega gold mining specialist with an emerging copper footprint, but on Thursday also flagged the cost-offsetting value of its silver and uranium production. While 96% of revenue is from gold, byproducts play a role in cost offsetting, with silver produced at Hidden Valley in PNG contributing 3% and uranium mined at Moab Khotsong in South Africa 1%.

NYSE- and TSX-listed First Majestic on Thursday announced the actuation of Mexico-focused Gatos Silver for $970-million. Gatos is a silver-dominant producer with a 70% interest in the Los Gatos joint venture, which owns the producing Cerro Los Gatos underground mine in Chihuahua.

Indonesia’s government sees nickel prices stabilizing near current levels in the future, as new plants in the world’s biggest producer offset rising demand and keep the market well supplied. Prices on the London Metal Exchange should hold around $15 000 to $16 000 a ton in the short to medium term, Septian Hario Seto, a deputy at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, said in a presentation in Bali on Thursday. An additional 928 000 tons a year of capacity is set to come online within the next three years, most of which will produce nickel for electric vehicles.Indonesia’s government sees nickel prices stabilizing near current levels in the future, as new plants in the world’s biggest producer offset rising demand and keep the market well supplied. Prices on the London Metal Exchange should hold around $15 000 to $16 000 a ton in the short to medium term, Septian Hario Seto, a deputy at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, said in a presentation in Bali on Thursday. An additional 928 000 tons a year of capacity is set to come online within the next three years, most of which will produce nickel for electric vehicles.