Editor’s take: Caught between a rock and a hard place
In April the effect of the US-Isreal-Iran war become decidedly tangible - the double blow of soaring oil and steep electricity prices sees South African’s face higher prices all round. If the conflict does not subside soon, even greater economic strain and hardship are likely—not only for the countries directly involved, but globally.
Importantly, the conflict is forcing global shipping to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, creating a surge in maritime traffic near South African ports. Shipping operators, including giants like MSC, Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd, are bypassing the Suez Canal and the Red Sea due to safety risks, rerouting ships around the South African coast. Ports such as Cape Town and Durban are seeing higher volumes of traffic as ships avoid the Persian Gulf.
World Gold Council – bringing ASGM into the fold
While the World Gold Council members represent a sizeable share of listed gold production mined in line with responsible mining principles and established regulations, around a fifth of the global supply still sits outside this framework. This remains a key concern for the council, which has launched several initiatives aimed at bringing informal producers into the mainstream, John Mulligan, Head of Sustainability Strategy at the World Gold Council, tells Modern Mining on the sidelines of Mining Indaba.
2A – a gamechanger for Kazera
2026 marks a milestone year for AIM-listed Kazeera Global as it transitions from project developer to a profitable mining company. Beyond unlocking value from its Whale Head Minerals (WHM) heavy mineral sands (HMS) project, the company plans to increase diamond production from its Deep Blue Minerals (DBM) project in Alexander Bay, South Africa, says CEO Dennis Edmonds.
Crucially, Kazeera is awaiting the mining right for its 2A permit from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. “We have submitted all required documentation, including an environmental guarantee,” Edmonds says.
Fulcrum leverages off the golden era
Driven by the surge in gold prices, which surpassed $5 000 per ounce by early 2026, gold miners and technology specialists are exploring innovative solutions to reprocess gold tailings. Fulcrum Metals, a UK-based mining company, is advancing the opportunity through its partnership with Extrakt Processing Solutions, which has developed a groundbreaking zero-cyanide, zero-waste process for tailings recovery. Through pilot scale test work, the process has achieved high recoveries of gold, silver, copper, tellurium, and manganese in just six hours, CEO, Ryan Mee tells Modern Mining.
The Redpath Group global expertise, local experience
The Redpath Group has over 60 years’ experience delivering mining service excellence across the globe, and Redpath Africa, through operations in South Africa and across the continent, has been operating for 32 years. “We have the expertise, track record and qualifications to support any scope of work, even in the most remote parts of the world. Our projects are started well on time and executed with the highest safety standards and exceptional workmanship. We serve our international client base from our offices and facilities across the globe,” André Nel, General Manager, New Business, Redpath Africa Limited.
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