Lucapa Diamond Company and Lephema Executive Transport have sealed a binding Sales and Purchase Agreement to divest its 70% stake in Mothae Diamonds, which owns the Mothae Diamond Mine in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Lucapa’s Managing Director and CEO, Nick Selby confirmed the report and said the move is part of firm’s strategic review by Lucapa’s restructured board to focus on its core assets in Angola and Australia.

The CEO emphasized that the agreement results from extensive negotiations and that Lephema Executive Transport, having provided long-term contract mining services to the Mothae Diamond Mine, is well-positioned to continue its operations.

Sales and Purchase Agreement

Under the deal Lucapa will receive a nominal purchase price of A$10,000 from Executive. Lucapa will also receive approximately A$1 million from Mothae for outstanding technical services payments. Executive will assume all liabilities and guarantee obligations relating to Mothae currently held by Lucapa

As a demolition specialist with a global project footprint, Jet Demolition has had the privilege of undertaking some of the most challenging projects in the world, resulting in being crowned ‘Best of the Best’ at the World Demolition Awards (WDA) 2020, competing against colleagues from the US, Canada, and Australia.

Being acknowledged as ‘best of the best’ was a career milestone for founder and director Joe Brinkmann, who undertook his first blasting course and underground blasting work in the US over 40 years ago.

Brinkmann’s first large demolition project in South Africa was at the Old President Brand Gold Plant in Welkom for Anglo American. He had first approached the mine to sell explosive charges but was then asked to undertake the turnkey project instead. “This was our first foray into the heavy industrial demolition space,” comments Project and Contracts Manager Kate Bester.

From there, it was a natural progression into more difficult and demanding demolition projects. A hands-on approach, mechanical interest and aptitude and a fondness for explosives came together to fuel Brinkmann’s drive for demolition work. His passion and love for demolition filters throughout all aspects of the company, resulting in a team with a true drive for demolition.

Independent Power Producer, SolarAfrica Energy, has officially broken ground on its first utility-scale solar farm based in the Northern Cape. Known as SunCentral, Phase 1 of this project will total around 342 MW in generation capacity, with Phases 2 and 3 bringing the total size to an impressive 1 GW – making it one of the largest projects of its kind in the country.

A project of partnerships

During the breaking ground ceremony, David McDonald, CEO of SolarAfrica Energy, explained the significance and strength of the partnerships behind SunCentral – a key driver behind its success.

“A project of this magnitude wouldn’t have been possible without the power of partnerships. Over the past decade, Eskom has found new and tangible ways of making wheeling a reality in South Africa. Their dedication to partnering with the private sector is proof of their commitment to address South Africa’s power generation struggles,” McDonald said.

Emthanjeni Municipality and Business Chamber representatives also attended the event, where McDonald acknowledged the importance of fostering positive relationships within the community. Mayor Lulamile Nkumbi expressed the municipality’s support for the project and emphasised the importance of maintaining open and transparent communication between all stakeholders

Nigeria has recently taken a significant step in its ongoing efforts to reform the mining sector by inaugurating 350 new operatives into its mining marshals. This move underscores the federal government’s dedication to combating illegal mining and improving the operational effectiveness of the mining sector.

With the addition of these 350 new operatives, the total number of mining marshals deployed nationwide now stands at 2,570. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) headquarters during a Passing Out Parade. Dr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbe.

Dr. Alake commended the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Ministry of Interior. He specifically acknowledged the contributions of Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the NSCDC in addressing the challenges posed by illegal mining activities.

Reforming the mining sector

Dr. Alake highlighted the achievements of the mining marshals. He noted that their efforts have notably reduced illegal mineral haulage and the activities of unlicensed operators across the country. The initiative to strengthen the mining marshals began with the inauguration of the first batch of 2,220 operatives. Since then, significant progress has been made, including the arrest of over 200 illegal mining suspects, with 133 prosecutions currently in progress. Additionally, confiscated illegally mined minerals have been forfeited to the federal government.

The third phase construction of concentrator at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been finished.

Ivanhoe Mines made the announcement and said the development occurred ahead of schedule and within budget, with the initial ore introduced to the new concentrator, and the first concentrate production expected next month. The ramp-up to commercial production is targeted for the third quarter of this year.

The Phase 3 concentrator is designed to process ore from Kamoa 1, Kamoa 2, and the Kansoko underground mines. Once fully operational, it will position Kamoa-Kakula as the world’s fourth-largest copper mining complex and the largest in Africa. By April 30, 2024, Ivanhoe Mines had accumulated 2.25 million tonnes (mt) of ore with a copper grade of 3.1% in surface stockpiles.

Scope of work

Commissioning of the Phase 3 concentrator began with dry commissioning last month, followed by wet commissioning on May 26. The new concentrator’s output, characterized by higher sulphuric content, will reduce the external energy needed for the smelter. About 70,000 tonnes (t) of this concentrate will be stockpiled in preparation for the smelter’s start-up. The completion of the Phase 3 concentrator is expected to increase the complex’s annual copper production to over 600,000 tonnes by the third quarter of 2024.

The European Union (EU) has committed €1.718 million to Ghana’s mining sector. The funds will be designated to the ‘Building Resilient and Active Communities in Extractive Landscapes in Ghana (BRACE)’ project.

The project’s goal is to promote responsible mining practices in the country. This three-year initiative aims to protect both the environment and the communities within mining areas, guided by A Rocha Ghana and implemented by a consortium of non-profit organizations, including WACAM and the Nature and Development Foundation (NDF).

The BRACE project seeks to foster a culture of respect for human rights, transparency, and accountability in mineral governance. By advocating for sustainable and fair environmental management, it aims to reshape the extractive industry’s landscape in Ghana. The project reflects the EU’s longstanding commitment to upholding social and environmental rights in the mining sector.

Responsible mining

Ghana is one of Africa’s largest gold producers. Gold is the most commercially exploited mineral in Ghana, accounting for about 95% of the country’s mineral revenue. Other commercially exploited minerals in Ghana are manganese, bauxite, and diamonds. Massimo Mina, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ghana, emphasized the need for a responsible mining sector that minimizes environmental impacts and maximizes socio-economic benefits for local populations.

The government of Cameroon has launched the country’s first enclosed gold ore processing unit. Spearheaded by companies Codias, Yucam, and Xin Wang, this innovative facility situated in Kana promises higher production efficiency, increased gold recovery rates, and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional open systems.

Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry emphasized the benefits of this new processing system, highlighting its potential to minimize resource wastage and environmental footprint while combating issues like child labor and hazardous chemical use in artisanal mining operations.

Positive impacts

“This system for processing mineralized gravel in a closed tank will significantly reduce the waste of resources, marking a significant change from the precarious situation that currently prevails in the East and Adamaoua regions. It will also significantly reduce the environmental hazards of the mining industry as it is practiced today using methods that are three centuries old,” said Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry.

With plans to establish 10 enclosed system operations across the country, the government aims to completely abandon artisanal methods, which often involve harmful practices like the use of mercury and cyanide. Operators in the sector have been urged to transition to enclosed processing units, with a six-month deadline set for existing permit holders to comply with the new requirement or risk permit withdrawal.