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Investors with $10 trillion in assets pressure miners over tailings safety

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Investors with $10 trillion in assets pressure miners over tailings safety

The Investor Mining & Tailings Safety Initiative has requested that over 600 resource companies, including major miners, reveal the safety records of their waste storage facilities, following the collapse of Vale’s Brumadinho dam in Brazil in January, which killed hundreds.

Following the disaster, a group of 96 institutional investors (representing more than $10.3 trillion assets under management) have written to 683 extractive companies seeking greater disclosure on the management of tailings storage facilities.

The companies addressed, including major names in the mining industry such as BHP, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, Glencore and Vale itself, have been given 45 days to publicly disclose their dams’ size, construction methods and safety records.

The move is aimed at providing a tool for institutional investors to assess the risk from their holdings in mining companies

About 100 investors, led by the Church of England Pensions Board and Sweden’s public pension fund, expect the companies to publish the answers to 20 questions sent, covering issues such as the height and type of dams they have, their capacity, engineering records and safety checks.

Industry group the International Council on Mining and Minerals (ICMM) said in March it was working with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) to develop new standards.

Currently there are no set of universal rules defining exactly what a tailings dam is, how to build one and how to care for it after it is decommissioned.

There are about 3,500 tailings dams around the world. Unlike the ones used to build reservoirs or hydroelectric projects, tailings dams are not usually made from reinforced concrete or stone. They are mostly constructed from the waste material left over from mining operations, which — depending on the type of mine — can be toxic.

Only three countries in the world ban upstream dams — Chile, Peru, and now Brazil. Chile, the world’s No.1 copper producer, also regulates the minimum distance between dams and urban centres. But the nation still has 740 tailings deposits, only 101 of which are active, with the rest abandoned or inactive, according to data from mining agency Sernageomin._Mining.com

Movie style ‘mine robber’ appeals for bail

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Movie style ‘mine robber’ appeals for bail

Two armed robbers raided Turk Mine and robbed the mine of gold, a CCTV camera system, cellphones and a drum containing 20 litres of diesel after tying the security guards and disconnecting electricity at the mine.

This emerged when one of the suspects, Wellington Moyo (34) from Zvishavane approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial.

He is facing armed robbery charges.

Moyo allegedly ganged up with Hardlife Mazheke (29) and they armed themselves with rifles and raided Turk Mine also known as Casmyn Mine, one of the country’s biggest gold mines. 

In papers before the court, Moyo through his lawyers VJ Mpofu and Associates filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.

In his bail statements, Moyo said he was wrongfully implicated, arguing that there was no evidence linking them to the alleged offence.

“Applicant denies that he and the other co-accused Hardlife Mazheke or one or both of them unlawfully and intentionally used an unknown type of rifles to disarm the security personnel at the mine and went away with 20 litres of diesel, CCTV camera cables and digital video recorders,” argued Moyo’s lawyers.

The lawyers said the State case was weak hence it would not induce the suspect to abscond if granted bail.

“The applicant is a man of fixed abode and cooperated well with the police during investigations. The fear of abscondment expressed by the investigations officer is unsubstantiated as there has never been an attempt to do so,” said Moyo’s lawyers.

The State is yet to respond to the application.

It is alleged that on December 23 last year, Moyo and his accomplice raided Turk Mine in the early morning hours. 

The suspects, who were armed with rifles proceeded to Dawn Compound which houses Safeguard Security employees where they forcibly opened a locked door into Safeguard Security supervisor Mr Emmanuel Gwaenda’s house. They allegedly pointed a gun at Mr Gwaenda while demanding his cellphones and keys to the plant. He surrendered the keys and cellphones after which the suspects force marched him to the next room where Mr Tapfumaneyi Munetsi and Mr Anthony Chiwange who are security guards were sleeping.

The suspects took cellphones from Messrs Munetsi and Chiwange before forcing them to lie on the floor facing down.

The suspects allegedly tied the two guards’ hands to the back using ropes and gagged them with reflector bibs.

The armed robbers allegedly force-marched Mr Gwaenda to the plant supervisor, Mr Philimon Muzamba’s house.

The suspects allegedly ordered Mr Gwaenda to knock on the door and call out Mr Muzamba and pretend to him that all was well.

When Mr Muzamba opened the door, the robbers immediately pointed guns at him and demanded keys to the plant.

They ordered him to open the gates to the boilers and while inside Moyo and Mazheke used unknown objects to force open boilers in the plant and took eight pregnant wire cathodes, a container with 20 litres of diesel, CCTV camera cables and a digital video recorder.

Two days later detectives from Zvishavane CID who were on a stop and search patrol intercepted one Thulani Ishmael Nkala and recovered a Samsung cellphone that matched the description of the one stolen at Turk Mine. 

Further investigations led to the arrest of Moyo and Mazheke and recovery of four more stolen cellphones._The Chronicle

Brutal assault at mine: Litten Chikoore convicted

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Brutal assault at mine: Litten Chikoore convicted

A Kadoma businessmen captured assaulting Pedzisai Mangisi of Chief Nemangwe area in Gokwe South for stealing from him in a 45 second video that went viral, has been convicted of assault.

Litten Chikoore (35) of Waverley in Kadoma was convicted by Kadoma magistrate Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba on Friday last week after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was remanded out of custody to April 10 for sentencing.

Mr Gwazemba said Chikoore was a suitable candidate to be remanded out of custody as he had handed himself to the police in the company of his lawyer Mr Ignatius Murambasvina of Murambasvina Legal Practice.

Mrs Gracious Chaminuka for the State told the court that Chikoore assaulted Pedzisai Mangisi of Chief Nemangwe area in Gokwe South several times all over the body with a baton stick on an unknown date sometime in November  last year at his mine in Kadoma.

She said Mangisi sustained serious injuries following the assault and a medical report was produced in court as an exhibit. Mrs Chaminuka said Chikoore deserved a custodial sentence as he was a potential criminal with previous three cases at the court which were all withdrawn before trial.

The cases included a 2014 attempted murder case under CRB number 12/06, pretending to be a policeman under CRB number 12/08 and allegedly contravening the Mines and Mining Act in 2016.

Mr Murambasvina, however, pleaded with the court to give Chikoore a non-custodial sentence arguing that he was a first offender who had co-operated with the police when he handed himself and assisted them to locate the complainant.

He also said Chikoore was sole breadwinner for his two wives and six children and the complainant did not suffer serious injuries as shown by the medical report.

Mr Murambasvina said his client first handed Mangisi to the police after discovering that he had stolen 400 grammes of gold from him but they were advised to have an  out of court settlement which infuriated him leading to him assaulting the complainant. 

He further argued that Chikoore had already suffered psychological trauma as the matter had received too much attention on social, local and international media._The Chronicle

Four ZCDC armed robbers nabbed

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Four ZCDC armed robbers nabbed

FOUR suspected armed robbers, who since 2017 allegedly connived with members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and Zimbabwe Republic Police to raid the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company reserves in Chiadzwa, appeared at Mutare Magistrate’s Courts on Saturday facing 10 counts of armed robbery.

Foster Mukwada (44), from Mhandu village under Chief Marange; Amato Fanuel Zivanai (34), of Makwikwi village in Shurugwi; Munyaradzi Charakupa (43), of Kadoma; and Brian Marungamise (33), of Mutare appeared before magistrate Nyasha Kuture.

The accused persons, who reportedly got away with an undisclosed amount of diamond ore, were remanded in custody to April 17 for trial.

Prosecutor Brighton Shamuyarira told the court that on November 29, 2017, just after midnight, the accused persons entered the ZCDC premises together with six suspected soldiers, who were putting on complete ZNA uniforms and armed with AK-47 assault rifles, and about 30 illegal panners.

The accused persons cocked their AK-47 rifles and ordered the ZCDC security details to lie down and they complied.

The accused persons then used the complainant’s shoe laces to tie their hands. The suspected robbers entered into the diamond fields and loaded diamond ore into their sacks and vanished.

A report was made at Marange Police Station.

In the second count, on March 24, 2018, at around 11:45pm, Misheck Mucheche was manning portal 3 point when he was approached by about 100 panners, six suspected ZNA members and four suspected members of ZRP armed with AK-47 rifles.

Mukwada and Zivanai grabbed the complainant and tied his hands from behind.

They entered the diamonds fields and loaded their sacks with diamond ore and went away.

On count three, some of the accused persons with about 15 suspected soldiers and 40 illegal panners pounced on dog handlers at ZCDC’s portal A area.

The two dog handlers guarding the fields were ordered to hold their dogs at gunpoint as the suspected robbers looted diamond ore.

The court heard that they used the same modus operandi on several occasions.

However, their luck run out on April 4, 2019, when Mukwada and Marungamise hatched a plan to rob ZCDC of diamond ore again. Pursuant to the plan, they proceeded to ZCDC mining concession with their motor vehicles.

Police, who were on patrol, received a tip-off from a reliable source and swiftly reacted, leading to their arrest.

The suspects reportedly had US$1 320 which was meant to mobilise the illegal panners.

The duo also reportedly sold out their accomplices._NewsDay

Artisanal miner attacks, disarms ZCDC security

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Artisanal miner attacks, disarms ZCDC security

A CHIMANIMANI illegal diamond panner on Saturday appeared in court for allegedly teaming up with 15 others, still at large, to assault and disarm a Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) security guard in Chiadzwa, accusing him of routinely torturing them.

Trymore Bhasera (27) denied the robbery and assault charges when he appeared before magistrate Nyasha Kuture.

He was remanded in custody to April 16.

Prosecutor Brighton Shamuyarira told the court that on April 2, the complainant John Sarineni commenced duty at 91 portal B in Chiadzwa, Marange.

Sarineni was armed with a shotgun loaded with one round of ammunition.

At around 4pm, the accused person, who was in the company of about 15 accomplices, confronted the complainant, accusing him of torturing them in previous raids into the diamond fields.

The accused persons then assaulted the complainant with stones and sticks.

Sarineni escaped, but the accused gave chase and disarmed him. They also took away his two-way communication radio, raincoat and safety shoes.

The complainant sought refuge at a police base and was taken to a local clinic for treatment.

The accused was arrested two days later while in possession of the shotgun._NewsDay

NOIC assumes full ownership of Feruka-Harare pipeline

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NOIC assumes full ownership of Feruka-Harare pipeline

THE Competition and Tariffs Commission (CTC) has approved a deal in which State-owned National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC) assumes full ownership of the Feruka-Harare fuel pipeline after snapping up Lonmin’s 50% shareholding in Petrozim Line (Private) Limited (Petrozim/PZL).

Petrozim owns and operates the Feruka-Harare fuel pipeline and currently holds the sole and exclusive rights to transport all petroleum products imported into Zimbabwe through the pipeline.

The pipeline, built in 1966, is somewhat considered a strategic asset. It has a carrying capacity of 6,5 million litres per day and currently accounts for more than 90% of the fuel that comes into country.

Last July, Lonmin “entered into a conditional Sale of Shares Agreement to sell its 50% interest in Petrozim for $14,75 million to NOIC.

Since then CTC has been probing the transaction in line with local regulatory requirements.

“NOIC entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement with Lomnin on 30 September 1988, which detailed the formation, control, operation and objectives of a JV company — Petrozim Line. NOIC had the option to purchase all shares in Petrozim Line owned by Lonmin and is now exercising the option,” CTC director Ellen Ruparanganda told NewsDay.

“As a result of this transaction, NOIC will have 100% ownership of PZL, and thereby having sole control of the pipeline and storage facilities managed by PZL. The transaction was classified as a vertical merger and was approved subject to the condition that NOIC maintains the pumping schedules of fuel in a manner that promotes competition among fuel
retailers.”

The cash-rich miner last year indicated the transaction was done to enhance its liquidity and was in sync with the company’s thrust to dispose non-core assets.

It said its interest in Petrozim has been impaired to nil and no attributable profits were recorded in the company’s report and accounts for the year ended September 30, 2017.

Over and above the $14,75 million, Lonmin will receive $8 million in the form of special dividends from Petrozim.

Ruparanganda said by owning 100%, government had made sure that the strategic asset is not abused by private players.

“The fuel pipeline is a strategic asset which can only be best managed by government. If left in the hands of private players the fuel allocations might not be done equitably.

The expected results are that the Government of Zimbabwe, through NOIC, will have 100% ownership of a national strategic asset ie the oil pipeline. This is likely to increase
revenues as well as attracting investors into the country,” she said.

There, however, has been an outcry by industry players that Sakunda Holdings, which is owned by businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, enjoys a monopoly over the use of the pipeline after it entered into a hazy deal with government to finance the refurbishment of the facility.

Recently government blocked a plan by South African-owned mining, oil and gas services company to construct another 550km fuel pipeline from Beira to Harare, arguing that the sector was oversubscribed, but industry sources said the move was deliberate to shut out new players and maintain Sakunda’s monopoly._NewsDay

Chief Justice Malaba orders the arrest of ZANU PF stalwart for Gaika mine invasion

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Chief Justice Malaba orders the arrest of ZANU PF stalwart for Gaika mine invasion

In a move that shows President Emmerson Mnangagwa has thrown one of his lieutenants, Vongai Mupereri, under the bus, the Chief Justice, Luke Malaba has ordered the imminent arrest of the former Mbizo legislator for contempt of court.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba (Picture by John Manzongo)
Chief Justice Luke Malaba (Picture by John Manzongo)

The matter was heard under case number HC1237/18 and the applicant was DGL Investments vs Vongaishe Mupereri.

The court heard that Mupereri led a group of youths  to invade and engage in illegal mining at Gaika Gold Mine in Kwekwe.

The mine is a joint venture between China Africa Investment and Development Co.Ltd (CAIDC) and the complainants Duration Gold Limited (DGL).

Mupereri, who is the invasion kingpin, wantonly ignored a court order passed by High Court Judge Justice Moyo on March 29 2018.

Malaba has also granted the deputy sheriff the permission to attach any properties that belong to Mupereri if he fails to pay fir the damages DGL investments incurred since February 2018.

Nehanda Radio gleaned a copy of the  Writ of Personal Attachment and Committal to Prison addressed to the Sheriff of Zimbabwe, his deputy and and all constables and security forces.

The writ was witnessed by Chief Justice Luke Malaba and dated March 29 2019.

The writ orders the police to deliver Mupereri to Connemara Prison.

“Whereas an order was made by Hon Mrs Justice Moyo on 19 July 2018 commiting Vongai Mupereri of Stand 1232 Southwood, Masasa to Connemara Goal until he shall have complied with the provisions of the interim terms of the Provisional Order issued on March 6 2018 in the matter dealt in Case Number HC662/18 and that said Vongai Mupereri is still in contempt in failing to comply therewith or sentencing to 90 days imprisonment for contempt.

“Now you are further required and directed that you take the said Vongai Mupereri if he be found in Zimbabwe and deliver him to the Keeper of Connemara Prison at Kwekwe together with a copy of this writ to be kept safely,’ until further order of the High Court within 90 days from the date of delivery,” read part of the writ.

Observers said Malaba could not grant the order for Mupereri’s imminent arrest without Mnangagwa’s permission.

“For all along this has been treated as a political matter which calls for a political solution and that is why the local police were not executing their duties. What Malaba did was to seek audience with Mnangagwa before delivering his judgement,” said one analyst.

“Remember this is happening behind his backyard and some of the senior guys leading in the invasion are his top lieutenants.” Nehanda Radio

Barrick upbeat about new DRC president’s stance on mining, investment

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Barrick upbeat about new DRC president’s stance on mining, investment

Barrick Gold’s (TSX:ABX) (NYSE:GOLD) executive chairman, John Thornton, said Wednesday he was encouraged by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) newly elected president Felix Tshisekedi’s vision of attracting foreign investment and supporting the development of the country’s mining industry.

The Canadian miner, which operates the country’s Kibali mine, one of the world’s ten largest gold mines, said Tshisekedi had confirmed his intention of working with mining companies to keep expanding the nation’s gold sector.

President Felix Tshisekedi did not refer to the new mining code introduced by the previous government, which raised royalties and added taxes

“We look forward to continue making a significant and growing contribution to the DRC’s economy and to unlocking the enormous value of its mineral potential,” Thornton said following Tshisekedi’s speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

His comments come amid investor concerns regarding a new mining code introduced by the previous government, which raised royalties, added taxes and cancelled a clause that would have protected them against fiscal changes for 10 years.

Tshisekedi’s view on the new rules has been unclear. In early March, he showed support for them, but following meetings with both Glencore and Barrick’s executives, he said he would be “attentive” to the grievances of miners and called for “win-win” applications of the mining code.

Barrick and AngloGold Ashanti  (JSE:ANG) (NYSE:AU) are some of the DRC’s top investors.

The country is the world’s main supplier of battery ingredient cobalt and a key source of minerals from gold and copper to tantalum. Its public revenues from the mining sector nearly doubled in 2018, Reuters reported. 

There is no load-shedding — Zesa

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There is no load-shedding — Zesa

ZESA Holdings has said power cuts which have been experienced in some  parts of Bulawayo are not due to load-shedding but are a result of a temporary upsurge in electricity demand.

A number of Bulawayo suburbs have been experiencing intermittent power cuts lately despite the power utility saying there was enough power for local consumption. Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said if load-shedding was to be introduced, the power utility would have notified customers before taking such an exercise.

“For us to introduce load-shedding we would have to inform the customers before hand so they can make plans ahead of the power cuts. As for now there is no load-shedding though at times power cuts do occur in some areas as the demand surges and the supply is not adequate to meet that sudden increase in demand.”

The Zesa spokesperson urged members of the public to save power through turning off unused appliances.

“The customers should save power to avoid these power outages. We have always urged them to switch off lights and other electrical appliances when they are not in use so as to conserve energy,” said Mr Gwasira.

He said the power utility was producing enough electricity to meet local demand though at times there was a sharp increase in demand which causes some of the power outages.

Recently, Zesa Holdings’ subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), in its fourth quarter report indicated that the country was producing adequate electricity to meet local demand. ZPC said it was exporting surplus electricity of around 20 to 30 megawatts to Namibia following excellent power generation performance at Hwange and Kariba power stations._The Sunday News

Fatal injury at Zimplats

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Fatal injury at Zimplats

A Zimplats underground support leader whom social media were awash with news that he died, confirmed suffered serious injuries and died at Zimplats’ Mupfuti Mine in Ngezi, this is according to the company’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Alex Mhembere.

Rudairo Dickson Mapuranga

In a letter sent to the company’s stakeholders and the media, Mr. Mhembere said that investigations about the incident were still underway, however, initial reports suggest that Richard Mapuranga, a support team leader aged 42 succumbed to injuries in a fall of ground incident whilst barring down.

The Zimplats chief further went on to assure its stakeholders that the mine is committed to delivering a safe working environment.

Reports of fatal accidents at Zimplats mines are very rare, the mining firm is one of the companies in Zimbabwe that priorities safety.

The mine’s Chief Executive letter reads,

Zimplats is deeply saddened to confirm a mine fatality incident that occurred at Mupfuti Mine in Ngezi yesterday. While investigations are underway initial reports indicate that Richard Mapuranga, a support team leader, aged 42, succumbed to injuries sustained in a fall of ground incident whilst barring down. It is indeed a difficult time for the whole Zimplats team. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends. As a company, we remain committed to delivering a safe working environment for all our employees.

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