Issue 9 February - May 2002

Reinoud Boers provides an overview of the status of mining projects in Africa

ANGOLA
America Mineral Fields’ IDAS Resources has been awarded exploration and exploitation licences in Luanda-Norte and Malange provinces.

BOTSWANA
Trivalence Mining is prospecting for diamonds on the Kokong property in joint venture with Rio Tinto.

BURKINA FASO
Metorex has secured mining rights in the Perkoa region where an estimated 4,5Mt of ore reserves contain about 19,3% zinc. An investment of US$40,5M is required for zinc production of about 60 000 t/a. High River Gold Mines is continuing to drill at Taparko where a gold resource of 1,04 Moz has been calculated. SEMAFO reports an indicated gold resource of 3 456 Mt at Wona.

DRC
First Quantum Minerals has started copper mining operations at Lonshi where the copper resource has increased to 295 000 t. Its Bwana Mkubwa SX-EW processing facility in Zambia may be expanded to 30 000 t/a of cathode.

EGYPT
Centamin Egypt is completing a study for a 120 000 oz/a gold mine and a 2 Mt/a processing plant at Sukari Hill.

GHANA
Gold Fields and Repadre Capital have signed an MOU with Ranger Minerals to acquire a 90% interest in Abosso Goldfields, whose Damang gold mine is adjacent to Tarkwa mine.

GUINEA
Rio Tinto Mining can earn a 45% interest in the Aredor Kimberlite Diamond Project from Trivalence Mining by spending US$6M on exploration by end 2003.

IVORY COAST
The total resource estimate at Randgold Resources’ Tongon deposit has increased by 1 Moz to 2,9 Moz. A feasibility study is nearing completion.

LESOTHO
A feasibility study on MineGem’s Liqhobong Satellite Pipe project has indicated a resource of 1,40 Mt mineable at 420 000 t/a to produce 290 000 ct/a at a cost of US$13,60/1 000 t treated. US$7,5M will bring the project into production.

MADAGASCAR
Rio Tinto has received an environmental permit for its proposed QIT Madagascar Minerals limonite mine. A feasibility study is to be completed in 2003.

MALAWI
The Malawi Development Corporation is seeking an investor to develop a US12M, 33 750 t/a limestone mining project in Ntcheu district.

MALI
Randgold Resources has identified four new targets at the Morila gold mine, a promising target on its Kolondieba permit and increased its Loulo resource to 4,17 Moz.

MAURITANIA
Rex Diamond Mining has raised C$2.4 million to fund its diamond and metal exploration projects.

MOZAMBIQUE
February 2002 could see the start of work on a US1,2B Sasol, SA and Mozambican government project to develop the Temane and Panda gas fields. A US$600M, 865km pipeline to Sasolburg is to be completed in early 2004. Kenmare Resources is discussing funding for its Moma Titanium Project.

NAMIBIA
De Beers Marine is conducting a sampling program on Afri-Can Marine Minerals’ 40% owned Block J concession. Afri-Can is also sampling the Woduna and Together Quando concessions. Diamond Fields International and Trans Hex have started mining the Marshall Fork feature. Of 86 samples taken on Namco’s Mining License 36A, 71 contained diamonds.

SENEGAL
Randgold Resources has signed a gold exploration agreement with the government. Fieldwork will focus on three previously drilled targets.

SOUTH AFRICA
The Chamber of Mines reports that R78B will be spent on mining capital projects in SA until 2004, almost 60% of this on PGM and gold projects. As part of Anglo American Platinum’s R12,6B plan to boost platinum production by 3,5 Moz by 2006 it is to invest R2,7B to develop a 336 000 oz/a platinum and palladium mine in the Northern Province and R1.4B on the 4,8 Mt/a Waterval mine at Rustenburg. Production at the Bleskop shaft at Rustenburg Platinum Mines will be boosted to 960 000 t/a by 2003. SouthernEra Resources will start drilling on its Millennium PGM project and has begun phase 2 feasibility work on the Doornvlei Section of its Messina PGM and gold project. African Minerals can earn a 50% interest from Anooraq Resources by spending C$1,5M over two years on drilling at Rietfontein farm. Lonmin expects to reach its platinum production target of 875 000 oz/a five years ahead of schedule in 2003 and is aiming at 1 Moz by 2008. Its Newman shaft is to be extended for production of 1,44 Mt/a by 2003/04.
Ticor is to start development at the Hillendale mineral sands project near Richards Bay, while Richards Bay Minerals is to explore for heavy minerals off the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Highveld Steel and Vanadium is considering construction of a R1B ferrovanadium plant together with Nippon Denko and Mitsui, and Mintek is looking to build a R3B, 2 Mt/a hot-briquetted iron ore plant. Kumba Resources could expand its Sishen iron ore mine to 33 Mt/a and open a second 10 Mt/a mine to the south. Kumba and Eyesizwe Coal are discussing the formation of a 38 Mt/a coal supply partnership. A R600M project to increase Richards Bay Coal Terminal’s capacity to 82 Mt/a is awaiting approval. Gold Fields will spend a further R580M on developing Kloof Gold Mine’s No 4 shaft.

TANZANIA
Minieres du Nord and Pangea Goldfields have discovered an eighth mineralised vein at their Tulawaka gold project and Tan Range has reported success at the Luhala exploration.

ZAMBIA
First Quantum Minerals is preparing a feasibility study on its 80% owned Kansanshi deposit hosting a mineral resource of 267 Mt grading 1,28% copper and 0,16 g/t gold. The Binani Group’s Minerva Zambia precious metals processor is up for sale. Konkola Copper Mines is spending US$5M on expanding the Nampundwe pyrite mine to 500 t/d.