Editor’s take: India recently overtook China as the world’s most populous nation, with numbers surpassing the Chinese population, which was at 1 425 775 850 people in April. According to the United Nations, India’s population is set to continue growing for several decades. By contrast, China’s population recently reached its peak and has been on a decline during 2022. It is interesting to note that the UN projects the size of the Chinese population will continue to fall and could drop below 1 billion before the end of the century.
Underpinned by a world population of over 8 billion people, minerals and metals will certainly continue to be in demand, but what of gold, for which Indians have a propensity?
On the cover
Brelko targets Nip Guard patent in the US
Following the success of its locally patented Nip Guard, an innovative product developed in 2018 and rolled-out to the South African mining industry, Brelko, a Johannesburg based conveyor cleaning equipment supplier to the mining sector, has been granted a US patent on its innovation. The company continues to broaden its horizons by developing technologically advanced products that target zero harm and is testing the boundaries established by international bodies with its Nip Guard Safety Device.
Akobo Minerals delivers first gold, targets 1 moz producer status
Gold miner, Akobo Minerals, recently shifted gears, making the jump to become one of Ethiopia’s latest precious metals producers. The new kid on the mining block has its eye firmly set on becoming a million-ounce producer, CEO Jørgen Evjen tells Modern Mining.
“This is a defining step in our ambition to develop a million-ounce world class deposit. Importantly, it is the start of income for the company after many years of operational costs as we developed our project,” says Evjen.
Junior mining producers attract investment while exploration juniors do not
Despite the overwhelming challenges that junior and emerging miners face in South Africa, the sector has done ‘disproportionately’ well when compared to the rest of the mining industry, says Junior and Emerging Miners Desk lead, Grant Mitchell. “Calculations from our economics team indicate that on the back of the commodities boom, there was an improvement in the income quantum that junior producers contributed to the local mining industry. In fact, in 2022, the annual revenue generated by junior producers was R88bn, while the rest of the sector contributed R1.2 trillion. This amount is a massive jump from the R54bn contributed in 2018 even taking inflation into account.”
T3 Projects targets growth, eyes geographical expansion
Launched at the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic, T3 Projects, a spin-off from the now defunct Group Five Projects, is growing by leaps and bounds, posting a 25% revenue increase since its launch in 2019, MD Richard van den Barg tells Modern Mining.
“When Group Five entered into business rescue in March 2019, the directors of Group Five Projects considered the Projects division, with its excellent track record of project delivery throughout Africa, to be well worth saving from potential liquidation.”
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