Editor’s take: Have you noticed that, aside from the outflux of talent from Mzanzi, even corporates are heading out. A growing number of multinational corporations (MNCs) are setting up offices in Dubai to benefit from its business-friendly environment. The latest company to make a move is Thungela, which recently opened an office for its new export marketing team in Dubai. The coal miner registered Thungela Marketing International in mid-December 2023.Major cities such as Dubai provide best-in-class infrastructure and regional and international transport links. Now, if only we had a business-friendly environment and functioning key infrastructure, not only mining but other industries would grow and thrive.
On the cover
The drive for clean energy metals continues to drive demand for commodities.
In 2023, prices for many key commodities were mixed, with some showing a clear negative trend while others, like iron ore and copper, bucked the trend. The reasons for this disparity were varied: a combination of local factors specific to each market and the slower than expected pace of China's growth re-acceleration.
Riding the green wave: the future of mining in Namibia
With some of the world’s largest unexplored reserves of lithium, copper, and uranium, Namibia’s mineral resources are essential in our net-zero carbon world. The combination of rich deposits, power that stays on, and forward-thinking policies create fertile ground for investment. Namibia should serve as a model for other African countries. The blend of resource protection, progressive regulation, environmental consciousness and community engagement forms the recipe for drawing foreign investment into Africa's mining sector. This not only cultivates growth within the nation and the wider region but also solidifies Namibia's standing as a regional leader in this context.
Uranium rebound – Neo Energy advances Henkries project
Having recently listed on the LSE, Neo Energy Metals, a new uranium, and strategic metals focused mining and development company, which is advancing its flagship Henkries uranium project in the Northern Cape, is eyeing an inward African listing sometime this year, CEO Sean Heathcote, tells Modern Mining. Following its listing on the LSE in November 2023, where it benefitted from global liquidity, Neo Energy is now eager for a secondary listing on the local bourse. “We are committed to developing a long-term future in South Africa and a listing on a local exchange will give South Africans direct access to a uranium project developer.”
Pushing boundaries in drill, load, haul automation
As a leader in the field of automated mining equipment, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has been steadily extending the reach of its automation technology into different mining environments and equipment categories. Its AutoMine® product group has allowed underground mines to automate their drilling, loading and hauling operations, for instance. More recently, according to Kabelo Nkoana, Business Line Manager for Automation and Digitisation at Sandvik Southern Africa, this technology is being applied to surface drill rigs.
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