IN BRIEF
$25bn – ANGLO AMERICAN’S HEFTY CONTRIBUTIONS
© Anglo American
Diversified mining major Anglo American has contributed in excess of $25-billion in tax and economic contributions across its major operating jurisdictions. This is according to its seventh annual Tax and Economic Contribution Report. CEO Mark Cutifani said: “In 2020, our contribution amounted to more than $25bn, demonstrating the extent to which we continued contributing to the communities and countries where we work – both economically and socially – staying true to our purpose as a business.”
GOLD FIELDS INVESTS
R660M IN SOLAR PLANT
IMR ACQUIRES PPC’S KGATELOPELE LIME IMR Group, the global commodities trader with ownership of mining assets and steel production facilities, has together with a consortium of investors acquired PPC Lime for R515million ($36m). PPC initiated a formal sales process of PPC Lime in 2020 as part an ongoing capital restructuring to de-gear the company’s South African balance sheet. Kgatelopele Lime was formed with this specific acquisition in mind and to be the standout bidder in the process, the company said. The largest use of lime globally is in steel manufacturing, where it serves as a flux to remove impurities (silica, phosphorus and sulphur).
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JSE-listed Gold Fields has announced the construction of a 40MW solar plant at the South Deep mine. This follows the granting of a licence by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa in February 2021. The 40MW solar plant will generate over 20% of the average electricity consumption of the mine. It will comprise 116 000 solar panels and cover a 118ha area roughly the size of 200 soccer fields. The estimated capital investment for the plant is R660million, including contingencies and escalation. The use of self-generated renewable energy will translate into savings of around R120m on the cost of electricity a year. The plant is expected to be commissioned during Q2 2022. “We are the first South African mine to build and operate our own solar plant of this scale,” says Gold Fields CEO Chris Griffith.
EXXARO APPOINTS DR KHUMALO TO CLIMATE CHANGE TASK TEAM
THARISA SECURES A 100% STAKE IN SALENE CHROME
Exxaro Resources has appointed the group’s climate change specialist, Dr Lerato Khumalo, to the position of vice-chair for the Industry Task Team on Climate Change. The voluntary, non-profit association comprises several local energy-intensive companies across different business sectors, including Exxaro, Sasol and Anglo American, collaborating to reduce South Africa’s carbon footprint. The task team works with government departments, trade associations and social partners to develop practical solutions for climate change mitigation, supporting the country’s gradual transition into a lower-carbon, resource-efficient economy.
Platinum producer Tharisa Minerals recently acquired Salene Chrome Zimbabwe for $3-million. Salene Chrome is a development-stage low-cost open-pit asset located in the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe. The acquisition provides geographic diversification with access to a premium chrome product, a short development timeline and a low capital requirement. Included in the agreement are both the Salene Chrome East and Salene Chrome West concessions. Arxo would act as the sole off-taker/marketing agent for the chrome concentrates produced, Tharisa said. The transaction was in line with Tharisa’s growth strategy of geographic diversification, operating low-cost and openpit operations with access to a premium chrome product, the company said.
SA MINING
MAY / JUNE 2021
www.samining.co.za
