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Hudbay expects all state permits for Copper World this year, seeks JV partner

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Hudbay Minerals (TSX, NYSE: HBM) has moved closer to the Phase 1 start of its Copper World complex in Arizona as it was officially determined that these deposits, which are situated on private land, would not face the same water permit issue that stymied its Rosemont project located on public land to the east.

In an update on Wednesday, Hudbay announced that it has received confirmation from the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) that Hudbay’s previous surrender of the Section 404 Clean Water Act permit for the former Rosemont project was formally accepted and revoked as requested.

The ACOE also reaffirmed the validity of the March 2021 approved jurisdictional determinations (AJDs), whereby the ACOE determined there are no waters of the US on the property, and therefore, a 404 permit is not required.

State permitting for the Copper World project was initiated in June 2021 with the submission of Hudbay’s mined land reclamation plan, which has been approved. Then, in April 2022, Hudbay surrendered the 404 permit to the ACOE as there is no evidence of jurisdictional waters of the US on the former Rosemont project site.

A judge from the US District Court for the District of Arizona later affirmed that Hudbay’s surrender of the 404 permit was effective, and that the new Copper World project is not connected to the previous federal permitting process.

In late 2022, Hudbay submitted the state-level applications for an aquifer protection permit and an air quality permit to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The company expects to receive these two remaining state permits in 2023.

In January 2023, Hudbay received an approved right-of-way from the Arizona State Land Department that will allow for infrastructure, such as roads, pipelines and powerlines, to connect between the properties in the company’s private land package at Copper World. Clearing and grading work to prepare for the Copper World site, including the construction of roads and other facilities, are underway.

Phase I of Copper World reflects a 16-year standalone operation with processing infrastructure on Hudbay’s private lands and mining occurring on patented mining claims, requiring only state and local permits. During that span, the open-pit mine is expected to produce 86,000 tonnes of copper annually, according to the preliminary economic assessment released in June 2022.

Pre-feasibility activities for the private land Phase I of the Copper World project are well-advanced, says Hudbay, and a pre-feasibility study is expected to be released in mid-2023. Phase 2 would extend the mine life to 44 years with estimated annual production of 101,000 tonnes through an expansion onto federal land to mine the entire deposits, but would be subject to the federal permitting process.

Upon receipt of the state-level permits for Phase 1, the company also expects to conduct a bulk sampling program at Copper World to continue to de-risk the project by testing grade continuity, variable cut-off effectiveness and metallurgical strategies.

Hudbay also intends to initiate a minority joint venture partner process following receipt of these permits, which will allow the potential JV partner to participate in the design and funding of definitive feasibility study activities in 2024.

Shares of Hudbay Minerals rose 3.7% by 1 p.m. ET, giving the Toronto-based copper and zinc miner a market capitalization of US$1.35 billion in New York

President of the Republic of Angola to attend Mining Indaba 2024

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Mining Indaba is honoured to announce that the President of the Republic of Angola, H.E. João Lourenço, will attend Mining Indaba 2024 where he will deliver a keynote address to delegates.

His presence marks a significant step of progress for Angola and its mining industry as it seeks to increase investment and attract more companies to explore the country’s potentially rich mineral resources.

Angola is the fourth largest diamond producer in the world, though much of its hinterland remains unexplored. The Angolan government has in recent years implemented regulatory reforms which have made it an attractive and best-destination country for foreign investors. The result has seen diamond major De Beers sign two mineral investment contracts in 2022 for diamond exploration and mining in Angola. Other major players such as Anglo American,  Rio Tinto  and Ivanhoe Mines have also more recently  invested in the Angolan minerals and mining industry.

Importantly, Angola is looking to diversify and expand its commercial mining potential beyond diamonds to include critical minerals and gold in particular, which will bring a significant change in context to its mining sector. ASX-listed junior Tyranna Resources is working to help Angola realise this vision as it looks to develop and start mining the country’s first lithium  project by 2025. In addition, LSE-listed junior Pensana  is working to develop the country’s first rare earths mine  by 2025. At this stage the mine will become Africa’s first large-scale neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) rare earth mine with an expected target production of 46,000 tonnes per year.

The Angolan government is committed to provide an investor-friendly environment for those interested in exploring the potential of its minerals sector while also creating sustainable economic growth for all its citizens. The presence of President Lourenço at Mining Indaba 2024 demonstrates this commitment, as well as his eagerness to promote international collaboration between business leaders keen on investing in Angola’s minerals industry.

The theme for Mining Indaba 2024 is ‘Embracing the power of positive disruption: A bold new future for African Mining’. The steps taken by Angola to encourage mining investment supports the theme of disruption nature and shines a light on the positive steps this African country is taking to bring greater mineral wealth to the country.

Mining Indaba provides a platform for delegates to meet from around the world with interests spanning across finance, technology, sustainability and energy – all essential components of the modernising mining industry. President Lourenço’s presence at the event will offer invaluable insights into how the industry can work together towards achieving collective goals and sustainable growth across the African continent.

About Investing in African Mining Indaba
Investing in African Mining Indaba is the largest mining investment event in Africa. With a proven track record of bringing together ministers, senior government representatives, mining companies, mid and junior miners, investors, professional services as well as mining equipment and service providers, Mining Indaba is the place to meet everybody who’s anybody in the African and global mining industry.
It is the must-attend event that drives the mining industry forward and provides attendees with unmatched access to the entire value chain and the most influential players in African mining for four days of high-quality content, deal-making and networking opportunities.

Investing in African Mining Indaba 2024 takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 5-8 February 2024. Click here to register your interest.

Vhuluvhi Group also understands and embraces the political environment in South Africa and the World as a whole.

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Vhuluvhi Group provides high-quality technical services in turnkey ground engineering, geotechnical investigations, and construction services to private and public clients to cater to the South African and International community. Its geared to offer the best services and setting new trends while operating within acceptable regulations and laws and QTC (Quality, Time & Cost) targets

Our clients comprise Private Home Owners, Commercial and Industrial Building Developers and Owners, Architects, Civils and Mine Engineers, Mining Companies and Town Planners.

Modern Energy and Mines Review Magazine takes a look at the top 10 trends that are expected to shape the future of mining in 2023 and beyond

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10. Reliance on green metals to power the energy transition

Certain critical materials and metals are required to power the green energy transition – lithium for EVs, copper for renewable energy systems, the list goes on. As a result of this increased demand, mining companies are ramping up the momentum in which these materials are being mined. They will also optimise the way in which these operations are carried out, ensuring the efficiency of existing processing plants and operations.

The global green mining market size is expected to grow from USD 11.0 billion in 2022 to USD 17.6 billion by 2027.

9. Deep sea mining exploration

With an expected growth of $15.3 billion by 2030, deep-sea mining is growing in popularity, year on year. This is mainly due to the fact that deep-sea mining can ease the pressure on critical material mining through the mining of polymetallic nodules. Polymetallic nodules contain significant amounts of critical materials and have been spurred by the need for critical metals to support growing populations, urbanisation, high-technology applications and the development of a green-energy economy.

A total of 16 mining companies currently have capabilities for deep sea mining

8. An increasing number of M&A

The mining industry will see an increasing number of mergers and acquisitions, due to a ‘lack of clear strategy’ amongst individual mining companies, according to a recent Reuters interview.

The energy transition is also a big reason why mining companies are increasingly considering M&A – 5% of the top 20 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals in mining in 2022 were a response to consumer and shareholder demand for portfolio diversification and sustainability, data and analytics company GlobalData said in a report.

7. Greenfield exploration

Greenfield exploration seeks to discover mineral deposits in new areas, away from the immediate vicinity of producing mines.

Mining companies are seeking to investigate new greenfield regions as the demand for metals and minerals continues to rise. These regions have seen minimal or no exploration before and hold the promise of uncovering fresh discoveries.

6. Cloud computing

As all industries grow increasingly digital, mining is no exception. Cloud-integrated mining processes have the ability to monitor equipment, analyse data trends and anticipate processes, amongst other things. By utilising cloud computing, mining companies can make use of data processing and handling abilities without the need to maintain costly IT infrastructure. This results in a reduction of capital expenses and prevents additional operational costs. Furthermore, cloud computing allows authorised users to access mining data remotely, promoting seamless communication and mitigating issues caused by data silos.

Mining companies with cloud operations can communicate more effectively with third-party collaborators in their supply and industrial chains

5. Processing more recycled materials

In line with the circular economy efforts most industries are pushing for, throughout 2023, the mining industry will likely increase recycling efforts to increase production and keep up with demand.

One example of this being implemented can be seen with Glencore, which has been very active in the battery recycling space alongside base metals, with the company signing strategic partnerships with companies such as Britishvolt and Li-Cycle to produce nickel and cobalt from ‘black mass’.

4.  Greater inclusion and diversity efforts

There has been a renewed focus on the well-being of employees within the mining sector. While physical safety is no longer a major concern, the wider mining industry is aware that more needs to be done within the diversity and inclusion spheres.

In their latest mining trends report, Nicki Ivory, Partner, Mining & Metals Leader, Deloitte Australia, explains: “A culturally safe workplace creates an environment where people are respected, supported, heard, and celebrated whatever their cultural identity. To be culturally safe, people need to know that their whole health and well-being is understood and supported.”

3. Building resilient supply chains

With threats such as cyberattacks, labour or material shortages and increased prices due to the war, ensuring the resilience of supply chains is something mining companies are increasingly looking towards this year.

A major way this is done is through AI and machine learning – the increased implementation of these models means risk analysis can be performed at every level of the supply chain. Strategically planning ensures prevention over treatment.

2. AI & machine learning

Technological innovation can lower costs and enhance operations as a whole. AI programmes help in monitoring all mining equipment, including autonomous vehicles and analysing all the data involved within a mining process. Smooth mining operations are achieved by utilising equipment maintenance, performance tracking, and fault identification. This extends to cybersecurity measures as well.

The implementation of artificial intelligence transforms the mining of raw materials from a labour-intensive activity that depends on human involvement to a systematic process that prioritises safety measures for the workers, enhances precision, eradicates errors, and accelerates decision-making.

McKinsey estimates that by 2035, the age of smart mining achieved through autonomous mining using data analysis and digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) will save between $290 billion and $390 billion annually for mineral raw materials producers.

1. Sustainability & ESG

Unsurprising to most, given the vast traction environmental concerns have garnered over each and every industry, addressing sustainability or perhaps, the lack thereof, is number one on the agenda of mining trends in 2023.

Mining is an energy-intensive industry, meaning sustainability efforts are a necessity if we are to adhere to the Paris Agreement climate goals. Mining corporations are universally exploring new approaches, such as the use of alternative fuels, asset electrification, and reducing material consumption and waste generation. Such solutions enable mining entities to meet the requirements of burgeoning economies while minimising the negative environmental effects.

Major mining companies each have their own respective goals. Mining Technology mentions that Anglo American has its ‘FutureSmart Mining’ plan, the Newmont Corporation launched its developed tailings management at gold mining sites, and BHP Group further developed its freshwater withdrawal plan in copper mines in South America.

With optimal recycling rates, 30–40% of the USA’s needs for both lithium and cobalt could be met by recycling after 2035

Supporting contractors’ green ambitions

With the trend towards green buildings, contractors are expected to support their customers in reaching sustainability goals; AfriSam’s product range has been evolving with this front of mind.

Decades of innovation in terms of environmental responsibility and carbon reduction have put AfriSam out front, according to Hannes Meyer, Cementitious Executive at AfriSam. The company was one of the first to develop its own sustainability road map, and this is now paying off for customers.

“The sustainability drive in the construction sector is gathering momentum,” says Meyer “The carbon footprint of construction materials is where contractors can make immediate gains when looking to align a project with more stringent environmental standards.”

Sustainable future

Meyer points out that the company has made continuous progress in fields such as energy efficiency, cement extenders, water conservation and biodiversity. This allows customers to procure products in the knowledge that the environmental and carbon impact is minimised.

IPR customers praise hinged door concept on Atlas Copco pumps

A patented hinged door on Atlas Copco’s diesel driven dewatering pump sets saves users time and trouble, ensuring there is no longer any excuse to avoid regular inspection and maintenance.

“The simple but brilliant hinged door concept has meant a massive improvement in ease of maintenance for users of these end-suction dewatering units,” says Steve du Toit, IPR Product Manager for Atlas Copco. “It reduces the downtime required for inspection and servicing of Atlas Copco’s PAS and PAC pumps, as it requires none of the traditional equipment that was normally involved to safely lift and move large pump covers.”

An individual technician can now conduct inspections and maintenance on their own – a job that previously required a team with appropriate heavy lifting equipment to open and handle the end- suction cover. Depending on the size of the pump, it would also have required certain certified rigging equipment and a mobile crane or forklift.

“With the hinged door, you need none of these items,” explains Du Toit. “The technician simply loosens the bolts on the cover, and swings it open on the hinge – gaining access to the impeller within as little as three minutes.”

TOMRA Mining strengthens its business in Western Australia with a new office in Perth, Area Sales Manager and dedicated sales and service team

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TOMRA Mining invests in its operations in Australia to meet the rising demand for sensor-based sorting and be close to customers on the West Coast – the heart of the country’s mining sector – with the opening of a second office in Perth, the appointment of Jordan Rutledge as new Sales Manager based at the new location, and the extension of its local support and service team. The company also supports its Australian customers with its well-established office and Test Center in Sydney.

TOMRA Mining has a well-established presence in Australia with installations operating in a variety of applications including lithium, industrial minerals, polymetallics and gemstones. It has operated in the country since the 1990s when Ultrasort entered the market, before being acquired by TOMRA in 2009. Over the years, its business has grown in response to the evolution in the industry: “The diamond, lithium, tin, tungsten, battery and strategic minerals sectors, as well as other progressive sectors that are open to new technology, have driven sensor-based sorting into the main mining process flow and design,” explains Gavin Rech, Technical Manager at TOMRA. “The focus on Environmental, Social and Governance and on reducing energy consumption has further contributed to this trend.”

Jordan Rutledge is appointed TOMRA Mining Area Sales Manager Australia

In order to meet the rising demand for its industry-leading technology, TOMRA has decided to invest further in its operation in the country. It has strengthened its team with the appointment of Jordan Rutledge as Area Sales Manager for Australia, who brings to the team her extensive experience and know-how. Having completed a BS and MS in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, as well as programs in Europe and China, she has spent her career in the mining industry focusing on mineral processing. She has worked on projects in North and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia. In the last 4 years, she has focused on North American projects for TOMRA Mining.

A new TOMRA base in the heart of Australia’s mining industry

Jordan Rutledge has led the opening of the new TOMRA Mining office in Perth. “Western Australia is the heart of the mining industry in Australia, and with the uptake of sensor-based sorting in the sector we are seeing a fast-growing demand for our technology,” says Jordan.

Trafo serves growing demand for modular substations

Dry-type transformer specialist Trafo Power Solutions has broadened its offerings to include modular substations – leveraging the company’s depth of experience in designing and providing custom engineered electrical solutions.

“Since our entry into the market supplying dry-type transformers, we noticed an increasing demand for complementary systems related to their application,” says David Claassen, Managing Director of Trafo Power Solutions. “Our evolution began with customer recognition of the level of our in-house expertise, and requests for packaged solutions which included our dry-type transformers.”

Customers needed a reliable supply partner with the competence and experience to understand the specific demands of each project and application, says Claassen. Trafo Power Solutions has proven itself in this role, right from the concept and design stage of a project through to facilitating the manufacture, delivery and on-site commissioning.

He notes that modular substations, often referred to as E-house, are prefabricated or modular structures that house electrical equipment and systems. They are designed to provide a centralised and secure environment for critical electrical components and infrastructure. Often used in industrial settings, power plants, mining operations, oil and gas facilities and other applications where reliable and efficient electrical power is essential, an E-house would house a variety of electrical equipment such as switchgear, transformers, motor control centers, distribution panels, and other power distribution and control devices.

Afrisam’s commitment to safety: Promoting rail safety and saving lives at level crossings

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AfriSam, leading construction materials group, places safety at the forefront of its operations, acknowledging the importance of safeguarding its people and the communities within which it operates. As both a responsible employer and corporate citizen, the company’s unwavering commitment to safety extends beyond its own operations and into the realm of rail safety, particularly at level crossings, where road and rail networks intersect.

In collaboration with Traxtion, Africa’s largest private freight rail operator, and the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR), AfriSam was actively involved in promoting International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) campaign in June 2023. This global initiative, championed by the International Union of Railways (UIC), unites railway communities from 28 countries raising awareness of level crossing safety.

Zero Harm

AfriSam’s commitment to “Zero Harm” reflects its strong belief in prioritising the safety and well-being of its employees and the community. This informed the company’s contribution to ILCAD with its focus on recognising the potential risks and hazards associated with level crossings on a day dedicated to saving lives and preventing accidents.

Nathi Shoba, AfriSam’s Quality Assurance Manager, expresses the company’s resolute commitment to safety, stating, “This is all about saving lives, and for this reason, we were extremely proud to play our part in International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD).” AfriSam’s involvement in the campaign reflects its dedication to proactive engagement, education and fostering a culture of responsible behaviour at level crossings.

Madelein Williams, Executive: Media and Communications and spokesperson for the RSR in South Africa, emphasises their primary objective of enhancing rail safety, a goal that often faces challenges when motorists and pedestrians fail to adhere to level crossing regulations. Williams expresses concern over the recorded 47 injuries between 2020/21 and 2021/22, as this undermines the RSR’s efforts to raise awareness and promote rail safety at level crossings.

To commemorate ILCAD, Traxtion, RSR and AfriSam collaborated on a private siding line connecting to the Transnet line, specifically selecting the bustling Ulco crossing in Northern Cape. This crossing serves both pedestrians, including school children, and motorists, posing potential risks and making it a vital location to address level crossing incidents.

“We call upon all rail operators to join us following this awareness campaign to ensure compliance with safety regulations for the sake of the public and railway operators at level crossings.” Urges Thando Makoyi, SHEQ Compliance Manager at Traxtion and a former train driver.

AfriSam, together with its partners, remains dedicated to promoting rail safety, saving lives and fostering a culture of responsible behaviour at level crossings. By actively engaging stakeholders, raising awareness and advocating for adherence to safety measures, they aim to make a significant and lasting impact on rail safety in South Africa and beyond.

Water and Environmental Technology unit bolsters SRK capacity for water innovation

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The African water sector’s growing need for integrated solutions from multi-disciplinary teams has led to the creation of a Water and Environmental Technology (WET) unit at SRK Consulting, streamlining the company’s capabilities in vital sectors.

Underpinning this move is the growing complexity of water management in South Africa and beyond, a field in which SRK has developed considerable expertise over many decades, according to Manda Hinsch, partner and principal scientist at SRK Consulting. The new unit now leverages the experience of the company’s water scientists with the related skills base of its Pretoria strategic business unit (SBU).

“While SRK’s wide range of professional disciplines continue to be relevant in their own right, the market today requires a more integrated approach,” said Hinsch. “For instance, our water management expertise is applied in areas from tailings storage facilities (TSFs) to disaster management – and our WET unit reflects that shift.”

James Lake, WET SBU partner and principal scientist at SRK Consulting, highlighted that water supply has become a critical issue in Southern Africa – with many clients becoming more proactive about their water management strategies.

“The configuration of our new WET unit allows closer collaboration among our professionals with their respective skill sets,” said Lake. He highlighted the value of such teamwork in addressing mine closure, especially in the light of the recent Global Industry Standards on Tailings Management (GISTM).

Hydrology and environmental engineering

“In our mine closure planning for TSFs, we are guided by the strong GISTM focus on water management of the facility at closure,” he explained. “This requires a range of inputs from the hydrologists in the WET unit.”

This work includes the development of simulated rainfall data to inform the probable maximum flood (PMF) event and to undertake routing of the flood events. They would also develop management plans to limit upgradient runoff flowing onto the facility, as well as develop plans to safely discharge rainfall from the facility.

“Future erosion activity over a design life of 300 years also requires geotechnical consideration, with landform evolution modelling by one of our environmental engineers,” he said. “We also provide geochemical inputs to couple with unsaturated flow modelling, to understand the risk of salts leaching from the TSF into groundwater.”

He added that information from the WET unit was used in conjunction with stability data developed by other SRK experts – allowing the company’s engineering geology (ENGEO) unit to develop conceptual closure plans.

Disaster management

The GISTM has also placed added responsibility on stakeholders to develop emergency preparedness and response plans, according to SRK Consulting senior technologist Andries Fourie. The WET unit works with SRK’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) and ENGEO teams to help clients achieve compliance with these disaster management aspects of the GISTM, said Fourie.

“This included site visits and dam break analysis to understand the affected area and determine the vulnerabilities of communities close to TSFs,” he said. “The work aims to ensure a shared state of readiness among stakeholders, and to even identify alternative rescue services where public sector capacity in an area is low.”

Water supply

The consolidation of the WET team has also built the capacity necessary to tackle a recent fast tracked assessment of stormwater management measures at key infrastructure points for a client, according to partner and principal hydrologist Peter Shepherd.

“This project required numerous site visits, flood assessments, additional technical drawing and GIS skills,” said Shepherd. “The size and composition of the integrated team allowed us to bring the relevant expertise to bear and meet the demanding timeframe.”

In another water supply project, SRK Consulting’s WET unit worked with the company’s Eastern Cape Business Unit on a water resources study for a dam in that province. “We conducted detailed hydrological and hydraulic investigations of the dam to determine its supply potential, and to help inform decisions on abstracting water to supply nearby towns,” said Joyce Mathole, senior water scientist at SRK Consulting. “Our team determined the streamflow into the dam, which as input into the yield model so that the available water for sustainable abstraction could be ascertained.”

Climate change and green technologies

SRK’s WET unit has also been involved in the green energy sector in southern Africa, recently assisting clients to apply for environmental clearance to proceed with a green hydrogen project. The work included both an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and a public participation process, according to Laetitia Coetser, principal scientist at SRK Consulting.

“Globally, green hydrogen is seen as imperative for the transition to cleaner economies and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, especially within the transport industry,” said Coetser. “The transition to green hydrogen production is in its infancy, and economies of scale will drive growth in this market.”