Aaron Bains’ Post

BATTERY AND CRITICAL MINERALS: Time for Africa to really cash in. The #Globalbatterymetals market size is calculated at USD 11.65 billion in 2024 and is expected to be worth around USD 23.97 billion by 2033 - The revenues from the extraction of just four key minerals: cobalt, nickel, lithium and copper are estimated to total $16 trillion over the next 25 years. Africa is already at the centre of global critical minerals production: ·       The #Democratic Republic of #Congo accounts for over 70 percent of the global cobalt output, approximately half the world’s reserves. ·       #SouthAfrica, #Gabon and #Ghana collectively account for over 60 percent of global manganese production. ·       #Zimbabwe has Africa's largest lithium reserves and the world's sixth-largest lithium producer and supplier. There are other African countries that have lithium resources, including #Namibia, #Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (#DRC) and Ghana. ·       Other African countries with significant critical mineral reserves include #Guinea, #Mozambique, and #Zambia. The #Globalenergytransition offers Africa mineral-rich countries the chance to bolster their industries and diversify their economies with the need to build local processing capabilities needed to add value.   The upcoming DRC - Africa Battery Metals Forum (17-18 #September 2024 in #Kinshasa, DRC), prime engagement platform contributing on building an inclusive and equitable #batterymetals industry in the heart of Africa, underpinning broad-based #sustainable growth, #localbeneficiation and #socioeconomic development. Join us ! Jean-Tite

BATTERY AND CRITICAL MINERALS: Time for Africa to really cash in. The #Globalbatterymetals market size is calculated at USD 11.65 billion in 2024 and is expected to be worth around USD 23.97 billion by 2033 - The revenues from the extraction of just four key minerals: cobalt, nickel, lithium and copper are estimated to total $16 trillion over the next 25 years. Africa is already at the centre of global critical minerals production: ·       The #Democratic Republic of #Congo accounts for over 70 percent of the global cobalt output, approximately half the world’s reserves. ·       #SouthAfrica, #Gabon and #Ghana collectively account for over 60 percent of global manganese production. ·       #Zimbabwe has Africa's largest lithium reserves and the world's sixth-largest lithium producer and supplier. There are other African countries that have lithium resources, including #Namibia, #Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (#DRC) and Ghana. ·       Other African countries with significant critical mineral reserves include #Guinea, #Mozambique, and #Zambia. The #Globalenergytransition offers Africa mineral-rich countries the chance to bolster their industries and diversify their economies with the need to build local processing capabilities needed to add value.   The upcoming DRC - Africa Battery Metals Forum (17-18 #September 2024 in #Kinshasa, DRC), prime engagement platform contributing on building an inclusive and equitable #batterymetals industry in the heart of Africa, underpinning broad-based #sustainable growth, #localbeneficiation and #socioeconomic development. Join us ! Jean-Tite

The Guinea government announced on Tuesday that shareholders involved in Simandou have signed $15 billion in financing agreements for the iron ore project. The accords provide funds for rail and port infrastructure that Compagnie du Trans-Guinéen — a joint venture 15% owned by the Guinean government and 42.5% equally by a Rio Tinto group with Chinese investors and China-backed Winning Consortium Simandou — will build. The signing occurred on April 2 after approvals came from the country’s transitional parliament and Chinese regulators, Guinea’s presidential office said in a statement on X. “Simandou is no longer a dream but a reality,” Djiba Diakite, head of the strategic committee who led the talks, said in the statement. “There is no doubt that the project will be delivered on schedule by the end of December 2025.” In February, Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm said that the company’s board had given the green light to the project in West Africa. Set to be the world’s largest and highest-grade new iron ore mine, the project will add around 5% to the global seaborne supply when it comes online. The project has long been the subject of prolonged negotiations due to its complex ownership structure, delays caused by legal disputes, Guinea’s political changes and construction challenges. Rio Tinto plans to invest $6.2 billion in Simandou. #mining #minerals #commodities #iron #lithium #copper #nickel #cobalt #gold #guineas #simandou #ironore #project #secures #15billion #financing #refinery #processingplant #investment #riotinto #JakobStausholm

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼! Sundance Resources is making a change of shareholding in Mbalam and Nabeba, an iron ore extraction project between Cameroon and Congo. The definitive feasibility studies for the Mbalam and Nabeba projects, which involve the construction of a 70-kilometer rail line that will connect 510 kilometers of railway in Cameroon to the Nabeba mines in Congo, were completed in 2011. Sundance's shareholder structure has changed, with Hanlong Resources Ltd. acquiring a 15% stake in the leading minerals company, and Hanlong Resources Ltd. became the major shareholder of the company by a resolution effective March 12, 2024. After slowing down due to the Covid-19 outbreak, project activities are expected to be reactivated in 2024. With the start of Mbalam and Nabeba, economic and infrastructural developments in the region are expected to accelerate. These developments are expected to be supported by local companies contributing to iron ore mining, which is expected to make significant contributions to the region by revitalizing the local economy, and the infrastructure projects mentioned in related to these activities. https://lnkd.in/dggzYCxu

BATTERY AND CRITICAL MINERALS: Time for Africa to really cash in. The #GlobalBatteryMetals market size is estimated at USD 11.65 billion this year and is expected to be worth around USD 23.97 billion by 2033 - The revenues from the extraction of just four key minerals: cobalt, nickel, lithium and copper are estimated to total $16 trillion over the next 25 years. Africa is already at the centre of global critical minerals production: ·       The #Democratic Republic of #Congo accounts for over 70 percent of the global cobalt output, approximately half the world’s reserves. ·       #SouthAfrica, #Gabon and #Ghana collectively account for over 60 percent of global manganese production. ·       #Zimbabwe has Africa's largest lithium reserves and the world's sixth-largest lithium producer and supplier. There are other African countries that have lithium resources, including #Namibia, #Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (#DRC) and Ghana. ·       Other African countries with significant critical mineral reserves include #Guinea, #Mozambique, and #Zambia. The #GlobalEnergyTransition offers Africa mineral-rich countries the chance to bolster their industries and diversify their economies with the need to build local processing capabilities needed to add value.   The upcoming DRC - Africa Battery Metals Forum (17-18 #September 2024 in #Kinshasa, DRC), prime engagement platform contributing on building an inclusive and equitable #batterymetals industry in the heart of Africa, underpinning broad-based #sustainable growth, #localbeneficiation and #socioeconomic development. Please join us ! Jean-Tite Ministère des Mines - RDC, Ministère du Commerce Extérieur RDC/ Foreign Trade Ministry, CMOC, Tenke Fungurume Mining, Glencore, Eurasian Resources Group, ERG Africa, Cobalt Institute, Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA). Entreprise Générale du Cobalt, #CCB, MMG Limited, USAID,AKATA USAID Organisation; COMINIERE SARL, Tantalex Lithium Resources Corp, Goodness Multi services Sarl, Axis House Group (Pty) Ltd - Reagent Experts,Africell Group, Dev Solaire ,AKATA RDC Sarl Elephant Trade Services; ARSP - Autorité de Régulation de la Sous-traitance dans le secteur Privé, ANDRITZ, Exxaro Resources...the dti (Department of Trade and Industry: Republic of South Africa). Battery Metals Africa, Lithium battery Energy...

In a question and answer session at the London Indaba, in a session entitled: "How international governments are partnering with African governments and the mining industry in pursuit of critical minerals and metals" chaired by Peter Leon, Partner & Africa chair, the question was asked by a member of the audience, through Bernard Swanepoel: Would you invest in South Africa? Panelist Dr Gracelin Baskaran, PhD, director, Project on Critical Minerals Security, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said, "Mining is a very long term investment, I don't know if the current environment is one that is encouraging", noting the last year, there were 2 500 applications that were received for mining in SA, and not a single one was processed - none rejected, just not processed; with this bottleneck SA is not exploring, and not producing mines - and mines take a long time to develop; and there are additional "systemic constraints in place" like energy, although SA is developing renewable capacity, but rail? Panelist Abdulrahman Al-Belushi, deputy minister, Mineral Resources, Ministry of Industry & Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia said, "We've been collaborating in many areas - mining sector, automotive sector, pharmaceuticals, and also considering looking at all the infrastructure requirements within South Africa. Could we support that? Energy is always an issue, refining is an issue in South Africa. So these are areas of collaboration, and we also see interest from South Africa to come into Saudi - a lot of miners, a lot of service providers and more - and we're more than happy to continue to collaborate." #mining #joburgindaba #LondonIndaba #investment #energy

Galileo Resources Plc (AIM:GLR) has initiated Phase 3 reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Shinganda Licence in central-western Zambia, targeting a 10km strike length of copper-gold mineral-bearing fault/shear zones along the Shinganda Main Fault and Splay structures. These areas have shown potential for large Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) type mineralization, with surface exposures confirming the presence of copper and gold within the Shinganda Splay Fault shears. The company aims to further explore the extent of this mineralization and will update the market as results become available. Jubilee Metals Group PLC (AIM:JLP) announced key results for Q4 FY2024, showing robust performance in chrome and copper production. In Zambia, they achieved 488 lost-time injury-free days and increased copper production by 17.1% annually, hitting the upper revised targets. The completion of the Roan Front-End Module contributed to this success, enhancing their processing capabilities. In South Africa, chrome production rose by 20% year-on-year, prioritizing chrome over platinum group metals due to favorable market conditions. The firm has set ambitious production targets for FY2025, reflecting its strategic expansion and operational efficiency in both regions. Jubilee Metals Group PLC Galileo Resources Plc

**#Sibanye to shut loss-making 4B shaft in Marikana, South Africa** - Sibanye-Stillwater, a South African #mining company, has announced the impending closure of its lossmaking 4 Belt (4B) shaft at the #Marikana #platinum operations, a move that is set to impact 855 jobs. - The decision to close the shaft follows its failure to meet profitability conditions, as determined by the Section 189A process of the South African PGM (Platinum Group Metals Ltd.) operations, which was announced in October last year. - Despite various successful initiatives and stronger PGM prices that had previously kept the shaft operational, efforts to restore profitability since 23 February 2024 have been unsuccessful, leading to the decision to cease operations at the 4B shaft. - Out of the 1,496 workers and 54 contractors at the shaft, 643 employees have accepted voluntary separation or early retirement packages, while the fixed-term contracts of 93 employees will not be renewed. - Furthermore, since 23 February 2024, 226 employees have left due to natural attrition, while 65 employees and 54 contractors have been laid off. As a result, a total of 469 employees have been reassigned to other PGM operations within South Africa. #mines #mining #rawmaterials #decarbonisation #mineralexploration

MDO’s exploration efforts lead to growth in assets MUSCAT: In a continued demonstration of its commitment to mineral exploration, the Minerals Development Oman (MDO) has seen notable growth in its exploration assets. The company invested close to RO 5 million in 2023 on various exploration programmes, which resulted in a 7 per cent increase in exploration assets. This growth encompasses both metallic and industrial minerals, reinforcing MDO’s pivotal role in the development of Oman’s mineral wealth. The strategic allocation of resources has bolstered the company’s capabilities in identifying, evaluating, and expanding its mineral reserves. Notable increases have been recorded in key minerals such as copper and chromite ore, as well as essential industrial resources including limestone, dolomite, gypsum, and silica. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dP9CGQ4Z Minerals Development Oman SAOC "MDO" Ministry of Energy and Minerals Oman Investment Authority #Minerals #ExplorationAssets #MetallicMinerals #IndustrialMinerals #Oman #OmanBiz

Another mining project is being destroyed. Could @PresidencyZA and @DMRE_ZA explain how one could create jobs in South Africa? USD 2 bn project which would create thousands of jobs and massive procurement opportunities for the community around the proposed mine will not happen because some environmental cults go and provoke less than 1% of the community against the project. Where is the leadership? Who is going to tell these NGOs to stop this nonsense and go away. We need to create jobs for the stability of the country. We need to close the gap between rich and poor to have a prosperous South Africa. We need to create the middle class that would help our economy to be vibrant and strong to attract more investment. 🇿🇦 We need President of South Africa to show a stance against the people who sabotage any development in South Africa. https://lnkd.in/gsvRp3au