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Man Dies After Falling Into Disused Mine Shaft

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Man Dies After Falling Into Disused Mine Shaft

A 22-year-old Masvingo man died after he fell into a disused shaft at Wanderer Mine in Shurugwi Saturday.

The deceased, Tinashe Makusha of Hwede Village under Chief Zimuto in Masvingo was walking from Vital Tuckshop in Shurugwi when he slipped and fell into a shaft about 60 meters deep.

Midlands province police spokesperson Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the tragedy.

“Two mineworkers who were in another shaft heard the noise and suspected that a neighbouring mine was collapsing,” Midlands province police spokesperson Emmanuel Mahoko told NewZimbabwe.com.

“They later checked and discovered Makusha’s body at the bottom of the shaft. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and retrieved the body,” Mahoko said.

He said according to mining regulations, miners are required to rehabilitate or cover disused shafts and also fence off their working areas, tunnels, and shafts to guard against people and animals falling in.

“On the other hand, the public should report whenever they discover dangerous shafts to the Mines Ministry for corrective measures to be put in place. People should also desist from entering disused mines as they may be affected by dangerous gases,” Mahoko said.

Gold-rich Shurugwi district is littered with unprotected shafts left open by illegal miners after panning for the precious mineral in the area.

Copper price down while China’s smelters reduce production

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Copper price down while China’s smelters reduce production

China’s major copper smelters lowered production in June by 3.6% from the previous month due to seasonal maintenance, state-backed research house Antaike said on Monday.

Copper for delivery in September fell 0.5% from Friday’s settlement price, touching $4.321 per pound ($9,506 per tonne) midday Monday on the Comex market in New York.

The 22 smelters in Antaike’s production survey churned out 745,700 tonnes of refined copper cathode last month, which was still up 6.7% year-on-year, as producers including Tongling Nonferrous carried out overhauls.

January-June production from the group came in at 4.61 million tonnes, Antaike said, up 12.4% from a coronavirus-impacted first half of 2020.

Although Chinese producers including Jinchuan Group plan maintenance in July, overall cathode output is set to increase to around 780,000 tonnes during the month as smelters cash in on rising treatment charges and sulphuric acid prices, Antaike said.

Lightning rod

The rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of covid-19 in some emerging markets has raised concerns that the global economic rebound might be derailed, dampening expectations for metals demand.

A possible monetary policy easing in China did not help sentiment in Shanghai because it was viewed as a sign of weakness in the world’s top metals consumer.

“This created a risk-off tone across markets, with copper the lightning rod for these concerns,” said ANZ senior commodity strategist Daniel Hynes.

China has stepped up efforts to rein in runaway metals prices, including selling supplies from state reserves, triggering a drop in steel and copper prices.

Mining.com(With files from Reuters)

Iron ore price up despite high China ferrous scrap imports

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Iron ore price up despite high China ferrous scrap imports

Iron ore prices continued surging on Monday, propelled by recovering global steel demand.

According to Fastmarkets MB, benchmark 62% Fe fines imported into Northern China were changing hands for $217.85 a tonne on Monday, up 1.4% from Friday’s closing.

Construction steel rebar on the Shanghai Futures Exchange ended daytime trading 1.4% higher at 5,432 yuan ($839) a tonne after touching 5,532 yuan, its highest level since May 19.

China’s recycled steel imports hit 114,741 million tonnes in May, more than 28 times the volume seen in January when the country lifted import restrictions on ferrous scrap.

“China’s emission and production controls in the steelmaking sector in the second half of 2021 are expected to turn the tide for raw material demand, for the worse,” said S&P Global Platts in a recent note.

“However, the same environmental goals could play in favor of recycled steel in the longer term as China expands its electric arc furnace (EAF) capacity, which releases less carbon emissions and uses ferrous scrap as the main feedstock.”

China’s top steelmaking city said in March it would punish firms that did not comply with its emergency anti-pollution plan, following weeks of smog in northern China.

Firms in the Tangshan’s heavy industry, including the steel and cement sectors, have been told to limit or halt production during heavily polluted days to reduce overall emissions of air pollutants – such as sulphuric dioxide or nitrogen oxide – by 50%.

S&P Global Platts Analytics expects China’s EAF steelmaking capacity to increase by 17 million mt/year in 2021 to about 198 million mt/year.

Mining.com (With files from Reuters)

Lithium-sulphur batteries one step closer to becoming viable

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Lithium-sulphur batteries one step closer to becoming viable

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a new technique that allows them to modify lithium-sulphur (Li-S) batteries to suppress a problem known as polysulfide shuttling.

Polysulfide shuttling involves the movement of sulphur-containing intermediates between the cathode and anode during the battery’s chemical processes. This seriously degrades the capacity and recharging ability of Li-S battery technologies that have been explored to date.
To solve this issue, the KAUST team added a layer of graphene. To do this, they subjected a polyimide polymer to laser energy in a process called laser scribing and created a suitably structured porous material.
Lithium-sulphur batteries one step closer to becoming viable_1
Incorporating a layer of hierarchically porous graphene into lithium-sulphur batteries helps to overcome polysulfide shuttling. (Image by Anastasia Serin, courtesy of KAUST).

A key feature is that the material is hierarchically porous in three dimensions, meaning it has an array of pores of different sizes. Nano-sized carbon particles were then added and taken up by the pores to form the final product.

By placing a thin layer of this material between the cathode and anode of a Li-S battery, the scientific team was able to significantly suppress the polysulfide shuttling.

“Making this freestanding interlayer just a few micrometres thick was a challenge,” Eman Alhajji, who led the research, said in a media statement. “It was fun to roll it like playdough, but then I had to handle it in a very gentle manner, especially during battery assembly.”

According to Alhajji, until now, most options proposed to solve the polysulfide shuttling problem have suffered from limitations that make them unsuitable for large-scale commercial applications.

“In contrast, the laser-scribed graphene developed at KAUST is produced by a method that is scalable and straightforward,” the PhD student said.

Li-S have a higher theoretical energy storage capacity than most commonly used types of batteries and sulphur is a nontoxic element readily available in nature.

Sulphur is also a waste product of the petrochemical industry, so it could be obtained relatively cheaply while increasing the sustainability of another industry.

Mining.com

Fidelity official gold buying prices Monday 12 July 2021

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Fidelity official gold buying prices Monday 12 July 2021

Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) official gold buying prices Monday 12 July 2021

 

SG 90% AND ABOVE $55.45/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$54.58/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$53.99/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$53.41/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$52.25/g
FIRE ASSAY CASH US$55.74/g

EXCHANGE RATE 84.614

  • NB*Fire Assay cash price is for gold above 100gs and no sample is deducted.
  • For Fire Assay Transfer price, a sample of not more than 10g is deducted
  • 2% royalty is charged on all deposits (Small-scale Miners)
  • 5% royalty is charged on Primary Producers

Cash available. Fidelity Printers and Refiners prices will be changing daily in relation to world market prices.

Visit Fidelity: at No. 1 George Drive, Msasa, Harare, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +263 242-486670, +263 242-486694, +263 242-487131, +263 242-447810-5

Will Fidelity unbundling solve late payments challenge

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Will Fidelity unbundling solve late payments challenge

Late payments by the state entity, Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) have been leading Artisanal and Small-scale Miners (ASM) to shun the former leading them to turn to cash-ready alternative markets.

This previous week, miners complained that the sole gold buyer was taking over a week to pay gold producers making it unfavorable for them to submit their gold to the state entity.

“Fidelity is letting us down. You find that you have challenges at the mine that need urgent attention like broken pumps, consumables like explosives, diesel for generators. You run to Fidelity to sell your gold only to be told there is no money). We cannot afford to stop operations that why the black market seems to be a better alternative because you get instant cash meaning no downtime,” said a miner who requested anonymity.

Cash on delivery is one aspect the government needs to get right to get more artisanal and small-scale gold miners to submit their bullion to the state entity. Timely payments will complement the recent gold buying price hike that was resoundingly welcomed by miners which may see President Mnangagwa’s 4 billion dollar mining industry being reached before 2023.

Analysts for years have been recommending the liberalization of the industry to as is the case in many other gold-producing countries.

In South Africa for example Rand Refinery is owned by five large gold mining companies, Anglogold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony, Sibanye Gold, and DRDGOLD. AngloGold Ashanti owns 42.41% of Rand Refinery shares, Sibanye Gold owns 33.15%, DRD controls 11.3%, Harmony holds 10.38%, and Gold Fields holds a relatively small 2.76%.

FPR which is currently going through an unbundling phase will be split into two business entities, that is (i) Gold refining and (ii) Printing and Minting.

According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, “the unbundling of FPR is designed to partially privatise the gold refining business by allowing private players to acquire a stake therein and in the process secure and endear the private sector’s interests in the production and marketing of gold in Zimbabwe. By being part of the decision-making process on gold trading, it is expected that the gold producers’ compliance levels in the trading of gold will significantly increase. Accordingly, the Bank shall retain 40% shareholding in FPR and dispose of 60% shareholding to both the large-scale and smallscale gold producers.

“Using a three-year average delivery of gold to FPR, the Bank will offer 50% shareholding in FPR to the large-scale gold producers, 3% to major FPR gold buying agents and a balance of 7% to the small scale producers through their representative bodies. The Bank shall continue to have 100% equity in the printing and minting business for
national security reasons,” the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s statement concluded.

Will unbundling solve the late payment challenge

Man of the moment and Afghanistan-based Eng Clever Sithole says the unbundling will partially solve FPR’s liquidity challenges.
“Fidelity Printers Refinery unbundling will partially solve its liquidity challenges. It will provide a revenue base for it to finance its debt obligations including payouts of funds to ASMs who deliver gold. A revolving fund will be able to finance any gold receipts.  Also, the clear line structure of FPR will be able to make the entity control its overhead expenses thereby creating a revenue pool for it to tap into when it intends to finance its obligations.
“Unbundling will also help FPR to pay off some of its liabilities as quickly as possible, especially the minor ones that do not have high monetary values. It will also help in negotiating longer payment cycles where some ASMs will need payment quickly while others don’t. FPR will be able to negotiate longer payment cycles with ASMs then deposit funds with financial institutions which will earn interest, and create a revenue base for any future gold deliveries,” Sithole concluded.
Mines and Mining Development Portfolio Committee Chairman Hon Edmond Mkaratigwa anticipated that once there are areas of focus improvement will then follow.
“We anticipate that once there are specific focus areas, it’s easy to equally target in terms of oversight and service improvement. So, effectively we expect it to be so, though many other factors need to be constantly addressed so that we continue to remain adaptive to our environment,” said the mining industry heavyweight.

Zimbabweans, a South African arrested for illegal chrome possession

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Zimbabweans, a South African arrested for illegal chrome possession

Three Zimbabwean men and a South African national have been arrested by police in Limpopo province who found them with three truckloads of chrome believed to have been illegally mined.

Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the four were arrested on Tuesday night along the R37 road in Apel policing area.

He said Lloyd Sithole (32), Moses Nemanganda (37), and Wilton Haruzi (34) all Zimbabweans and a local man, Joseph Hlongwane (23) will soon appear at the Sekhukhune Magistrate court charged for illegal mining.

“The determination of members of the South African Police Service in Limpopo to eradicate activities of illegal mining, led to the arrest of four suspects during disruptive operations that were conducted by members of Public Order Policing on Tuesday night along the R37 road in the Apel policing area,” said Brig Mojapelo.

“The members spotted three trucks along this road and pulled them over. The trucks were found with loads of suspected unprocessed chrome and were all confiscated. The four suspects were then apprehended”.

The value of the chrome is yet to be ascertained.

Limpopo’s Provincial police commander Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said the latest arrest would go a long way in eradicating illegal mining activities in the province.

Mining an essential service, exempted from some Lockdown provisions

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Mining an essential service, exempted from some Lockdown provisions

The mining industry in Zimbabwe is listed as an essential service and is exempted from some of the provisions of the recently introduced Statutory instrument 189 of 2021 of Public Heath containment and treatment order, 2021 (no 29).

Mining companies and employees are exempted in terms of SI200 of 2020 section 14 (1) B.

The SI was introduced by President Mnangagwa after the drastic increase in infections of the dreaded Covid-19 which has hit the world leading to millions of deaths globally.

In a statement by the Mines and Mining Development people employed in the mining operations remain exempted under SI189 of 2021.

The statement states Mining companies however must:-

  1. Operate within the parameters set by World Health Organisation regarding social distancing and other public health safety measures.
  2. Continue screening and testing staff in response to prevailing conditions.
  3. Comply with all Covid-19 regulations.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the new lockdown measures, including a 6:30 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew, on national television Tuesday. He said the restrictions were the result of a recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

“Commerce and industry are to open from 0800 hours to 1530 hours. Travellers from countries with alpha and delta COVID-19 variants will be quarantined and tested on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 10th day, at their own expense. Those deported back to Zimbabwe will be subject to self-quarantine or will be quarantined in identified places. Travellers with fake COVID-19 documents will attract custodial sentences,” said the President.

About Covid-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.

How Covid-19 Spreads

The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air, and quickly fall on floors or surfaces.
You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within close proximity of someone who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth.
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.
Most common symptoms:
  • fever
  • dry cough
  • tiredness
Less common symptoms:
  • aches and pains
  • sore throat
  • diarrhoea
  • conjunctivitis
  • headache
  • loss of taste or smell
  • a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes

ZMF, experts welcome the RBZ initiative to register gold miners

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ZMF, experts welcome the RBZ initiative to register gold miners

The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has welcomed the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s initiative to register all Artisanal Small-scale Gold miners.

This was after RBZ governor Dr John Panonetsa Mangudya told the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Tourism that all artisanal miners will soon be required to be registered as part of efforts by the government to formalise their operations, curb illegal gold dealing and protect the environment.

The ZMF President Miss Henrietta Rushwaya said the ZMF embraced the announcement and further encouraged the government to decriminalise gold possession.

“We embrace and welcome the pronouncement made by the central bank governor Dr Mangundya with regards to the registration of ASM in relation to ensuring that we live and operate within the confines of Zimbabwean law.

“As ZMF we are saying it is a welcome move and we would also further want to urge the government to decriminalize gold possession and as such by registering ASM I’m sure this will enable them to diligently help them carry out their activities without even being afraid of getting arrested by those that have been tormenting our miners out there in the bush with regards of not being in possession of requisite documentation,” Rushwaya said.

Engineer Clever Sithole – Head Gemologist, (DAI–USAID Invest/ Afghanistan) commended the move saying it promotes sustainable and responsible mining and is the key to unlocking capital funds.

“It is a very commendable move by the RBZ and government. It ensures that sustainable and responsible mining takes place. Also, it helps unlock the crucial needs of capital funds and retooling costs for Artisanal and Small Scale miners.

“ASMs usually have issues in obtaining collateral to source loans hence if RBZ intervenes through formalisation this will guarantee ASM to obtain funding from banks and other lending institutions.
“Issues to do with exploration and business continuity will be addressed. Also, ASM claims dispute resolution will be addressed via formalisation. Formalisation will also help to alleviate the issues around sustainable mining where compliance issues such as obtaining EMA certificates. Miners will be able to conduct their businesses in a more legal way,” Sithole concluded.
Rushwaya urged Miners to go in their numbers when FPR starts the registration exercise and ensure they mine safely.
“We are saying our small-scale miners should go out in their numbers when FIDELITY start the registration exercise and they should ensure that they also mine safely and should make sure that they reclaim everywhere where they will have mined and make the environment conducive for both human beings and animals,” Rushwaya concluded.
Under the new envisaged registration system, the miners’ biometric details would be captured and the miner would be issued with a registration number. Registered miners would also undergo training on environmentally friendly mining methods and land reclamation. Dr Mangudya said a statutory instrument on the requirements for registration was being crafted and would be gazetted soon.

Gold Trade Act [Chapter 21:03] prohibits gold possession without relevant permits. According to the gold trade act

(1) No person shall, either as principal or agent, deal in or possess gold, unless—
(a) He is the holder of a licence or permit; or
(b) He is a holder or tributor; or
(c) He is the holder of authority, grant or permit issued under the Mines and Minerals Act [21:05] authorizing him to work an alluvial gold deposit; or
(d) He is the employee or agent of any of the persons mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) and is authorized by his employer or principal to deal in or possess gold in the lawful possession of such employer or principal;
and deals in or possesses gold in accordance with this Act and the licence, permit, authority or grant, if any, held by him.

2) In any proceedings against a person for an offence under subsection (1), the burden shall lie upon such person of proving—
(a) that he falls within one of the exceptions provided in subsection (1); and
(b) that he dealt in or possessed gold in accordance with this Act and the licence, permit, authority or grant, if any, held by him.
(3) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a) a fine not exceeding level nine or twice the value of the gold that is the subject matter of the offence, whichever is the greater; or
(b) imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years; or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
[substituted by Act 22 of 2001, with effect from the 10th September 2002.]

This Act however is in direct contradiction with Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR)’s regulation that when selling to the latter one only needs their National Identity card with no questions asked.

The biggest deterrent to gold submissions was unregistered miners fearing arrest if they attempt to sell to the state entity leading to a thriving parallel market. The move by the RBZ will likely see more gold being channelled towards the government coffers as miners will be free to take their gold to Fidelity buying centres without fear of arrests. It will also see ASM miners operating freely without fear of losing valuable equipment from Police raids.

Caledonia to list on Vic Falls stock exchange (VFSE)

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Caledonia to list on Vic Falls stock exchange (VFSE)

Caledonia Mining Corporation is pursuing a listing on the newly established Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFSE).

Such a listing is conditional on market conditions and the implementation of positive proposals made by Zimbabwean authorities in respect of improved payments in dollars for gold produced at the company’s Blanket gold mine in the country.

The VFEX was established as a subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in 2020, with the aim of kickstarting the offshore financial services centre – which has been earmarked for the special economic zone establishment at Victoria Falls.

VFEX is open to foreign and domestic investors, and all transactions will be denominated in dollars.

Caledonia says the VFEX listing will allow the company’s shareholders and Blanket’s employees to participate more easily in the company’s stock.

The miner expects the listing to take place before the end of the year and will be effected by a placing of depositary receipts to raise about $3-million.

The proceeds of the placing will be used for general corporate purposes.

Caledonia CEO Steve Curtis says he welcomes the step towards a more liberal financial environment which is embodied in the proposed benefits attaching to a listing on the VFEX.

About Caledonia Mining Corporation

Caledonia Mining is a profitable cash generative gold producer with a strong growth profile. Caledonia’s primary asset is the Blanket Mine in Gwanda. By 2022 the Company plans to increase its annual production to 80,000 ounces.

The Company pays a quarterly dividend of 12 cents a share. The dividend has been increased 5 times and is a 75% cumulative increase from 6.875 cents announced in October 2019.

Caledonia is committed to evaluating investment opportunities and has entered into two option agreements to acquire the mining claims over Glen Hume and Connemara North in Zimbabwe.

Source: Mining Weekly additional editing by Mining Zimbabwe

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