In his recent keynote address to the platinum group metals industry, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe (the Minister) indicated that South Africa aims to increase the country’s share of global exploration expenditure to at least three per cent in the next five years.  This is obviously laudable. By Peter Leon, partner and Africa co-chair; Mandy Hattingh, associate; and Ernst Muller, associate at Herbert Smith Freehills.

Exxaro recently announced the appointment to its board of a trailblazer in the climate change and renewable energy space. Chanda Joanne Nxumalo is the resource company’s latest independent non-executive director, and she is set to play a key role in Exxaro’s energy growth strategy.

Chrysos Corporation, pioneer of the revolutionary PhotonAssay technology, and MSALABS, a global provider of geochemical laboratory services for the exploration and mining sectors, have announced a global partnership to deliver Chrysos’ groundbreaking assay solution to the international mining industry.

Richards Bay Minerals has announced the appointment of Nosipho Shongwe as the new chief financial officer (CFO). Shongwe, a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) was formerly employed at De Beers’ Venetia mine in Limpopo where she headed the finance department.

The R100-billion Infrastructure Fund announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address on 11 February is likely to see an increase in the demand for galvanised steel, especially with the economy anticipated to grow by 2,1% this year and 2,2% in 2022. The focus on renewable energy to assist in meeting the country’s electricity shortfall will also lead to a boom in solar energy plants and wind farms, which present another avenue for the increased uptake of galvanized steel.