Modern Mining July 2024
Editor’s take: Now that the die has been cast both, party heavy-weight – the African National Congress –which has wielded power for the past 30 years – and mining industry giant Anglo American, have some tough decisions to make as they carve out a new path for the future. For the country, coalition talks are underway. Will this signal the unfolding of a new era with team players looking to serve the people or will it be the same old players armed with an unchanged agenda of self-service? For Anglo American, which recently rebuffed BHP’s third takeover proposal, the company is restructuring and exploring options for divesting its steelmaking coal and nickel assets and mulling over the option to sell or spin off its diamond business.
On the cover
Executing a vision: Future-proofing mining with AECI's bold strategy
As AECI celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024, Group CEO Holger Riemensperger has unveiled a bold new strategy focused on international expansion, digitisation, achieving net zero emissions, and prioritising mining as a key growth area. “We boast a century of being a registered business and 128 years of operational expertise,” Riemensperger says. “Our success stems from our commitment to innovative solutions and the dedication of our workforce. We excel due to our strong customer relationships and our ability to adapt to global changes.” As it moves from strategising to execution, AECI is poised to solidify its role as a key partner in the mining industry, with a focus on assisting customers to future-proof their mining operations.
Energy metals: will demand forecasts drive mining exploration and development?
The demand for metals to power the green energy transition is not a novel concept. The well-documented push towards replacing traditional fossil fuel-derived energy sources hinges largely on the capacity for ‘energy metals’ to satisfy future demand for net-zero-supporting technologies. Whilst there are six core energy metals: copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel, aluminium, and rare earths; there are many more critical minerals that contribute to green technologies.
ZAC’s Mngeni shaft begins production
Zululand Anthracite Colliery’s (ZAC) newest shaft, Mngeni, produced first product in the first week of April, a key achievement for the project located in Emakhalathini, about 100 kilometres from Richards Bay in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The Zululand Anthracite Colliery is South Africa’s sole producer and exporter of prime anthracite coal.
Water woes - mining sector extends a helping hand
South Africa’s water situation is dire – regions in the country are often without the precious resource for weeks, and sometimes months, at a time when our water quality continues a downward spiral. Modern Mining spoke to the Federation for a Sustainable Environment’s (FSE), Chief Executive Officer, Mariette Liefferink, about South Africa’s current water situation and how the mining sector is investing in infrastructure development to help alleviate some of the country’s water woes.
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