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Despite elevated global geopolitical tensions, robust demand for platinum group metals (PGMs) has been accompanied by sustained beneficial pricing support in the three months ending March 31, Implats CEO Nico Muller reported on April 24.

The third-quarter production results reflect strong operating momentum at several key mining assets and processing assets delivering well to reduce excess inventory.

"We remain firmly on track to deliver our previously provided group volume, unit cost and capital expenditure guidance for our 2026 financial year.

"We are closely monitoring the impact of events in the Middle East on our supply chains, with steps taken to buffer availability of critical consumables and spares at our operations.

"We remain focused on delivering consistent and safe production – ensuring our ability to capitalise on strong rand PGM pricing, maximise free cash flow generation and deliver value," Muller reported in a media release to Mining Weekly.

For the nine months to March 31, six-element (6E) group production volumes have been stable at 2.56-million ounces.

Managed volumes were largely unchanged at two-million ounces, joint venture production decreased 2% to 395 000 oz and third-party receipts were a 16%-higher 167 000 oz.

Implats, in emphasising that it is determined to eliminate fatalities and life-changing injuries, expressed deep regret that Monnawapula Joshua Sikhomba and Karabo Edward Pitse were fatally injured in incidents at Impala Rustenburg.

Group lost-time injury frequency rate improved by 27% to 2.83 per million person-hours worked from 3.89, while the total-injury frequency rate improved by 37% to 5.68 per million person-hours worked.

6E production was stable at 762 000 oz and tonnes milled at managed operations increased by 10% to 6.49-million tonnes on a milled grade of 3.75g/t. Notwithstanding the improvements in mined and milled volumes, 6E production at managed operations retraced by 3% to 588 000 oz but rose at JVs to a 1%-higher 122 000 oz.

At Impala Refining Services, third-party 6E receipts were 27% higher at 52 000 oz and refined 6E production a 19%-higher 851 000 oz.

The first matte was produced at the Furnace 4 rebuild in mid-April.

The period ended with 320 000 6E ounces of excess inventory, with 6E sales volumes increasing by 9% to 847 000 oz.

Group production benefitted from improved operating momentum at Impala Rustenburg and Zimplats, which offset changes in operating parameters at Marula and Impala Canada, with milled throughput at the North American operation decreasing 4% to 680 000 t, milled head grade declining 9% to 2.85g/t, and 6E concentrate production dropping 13% to 52 000 oz.

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses electrolytic hydrogen being able to enable long-term energy storage way beyond what batteries can provide; South Africa’s manganese industry calling for a good logistics future; and the key takeaways from the recent Mining Equipment M

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation.

ASX-listed Vulcan Energy has started with construction at its central lithium chemical plant Infraserv Industrial Park Höchst, in Frankfurt, which one of the largest major chemical and energy precincts in Europe.

The major construction works groundbreaking ceremony hosted Hesse State Minister-President Boris Rhein and other key government, financial and industry stakeholders, which Vulcan says underscores the high-level support for domestic lithium production in Germany and its strategic role in the European battery value chain.

The downstream central lithium chemicals plant will be used for the conversion of lithium chloride into lithium hydroxide monohydrate using electrolysis.

Lionheart, Vulcan's first phase of production, targets production capacity of 24 000 t of lithium hydroxide monohydrate, which is enough to supply 500 000 electric vehicle batteries a year.

Additionally, 275 GWh of renewable power and 560 GWh of heat will be generated every year as a co-products for local consumers over the project's estimated 30-year life.

Vulcan MD and CEO Cris Moreno says the company is delighted to move beyond preparatory works and start full scale construction at the commercial lithium chemical plant.

"This groundbreaking event follows a similar ceremony held at our upstream lithium extraction plant in Landau late last year and highlights the progress towards our construction schedule and our 2028 commercial start of production target.

"We are grateful to all our stakeholders who joined us for the event and are working with Vulcan to bring Lionheart to life," he states.

The company secured the required €2.2-billion, or $3.9-billion funding package for the project in December 2025.

Located in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field between Germany and France, Lionheart is targeted to be the first of many phases of production for Vulcan and is a lighthouse project for Europe's energy and critical raw material resilience.

At Lionheart, lithium is to be extracted from low impurity geothermal sub-surface brines using Vulcan's adsorption type direct lithium extraction technology.

Naturally heated, the brine powers production and conversion of lithium to battery-quality material by creating a renewable energy co-product for use in operations, with surplus sold into the local energy market.

Vulcan's two-step process starts with lithium extraction and is followed by downstream processing of the lithium using electrolysis at its central lithium processing plant.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation.

The refined platinum group metal (PGM) production of South Africa's Valterra Platinum increased by 78% to 778 500 oz in the first three months of 2026 compared with the first quarter of 2025

PGM sales volumes were also at a 60%-higher 791 400 oz.

However, a mobile machinery-related incident at the Mototolo PGMs mine on March 27 resulted in Michael Ramodike losing his life and during the quarter, the total recordable injury frequency rate also increased by 12%.

"The tragic loss is deeply felt across the organisation, particularly given that it occurred following a 13-year fatality-free period at Mototolo mine. We have further reinforced our resolve to eliminate fatalities across our operations. A comprehensive investigation is underway, and the findings will be fully integrated into our systems and practices to prevent a similar occurrence," Valterra CEO Craig Miller reported.

The 7%-higher first-quarter metal-in-concentrate (M&C) improvement to to 743 500 oz follows the severe weather-related disruptions at Amandelbult and also contributing to the M&C boosted refined production surge was the improved use of processing infrastructure, supported by the proactive rescheduling of planned maintenance and annual stock counts into the third quarter of 2026, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed company stated a media release to Mining Weekly.

"The realignment of processing downtime to periods of higher electricity tariffs reflects our continued focus on optimising operating efficiency and reducing cost.

"Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, our priorities are clear. We remain focused on embedding a culture of zero harm, while continuing to advance operational excellence as we unlock further efficiencies across the portfolio.

"With production stabilised and continued focus on cost discipline, we are delivering in line with our strategy. This positions us well to continue to deliver sustainable performance and long-term value for all stakeholders, despite the uncertain geopolitical landscape, which is impacting the global economic outlook and fuelling input commodity inflation," Miller commented.

Refined production for 2026 is consistent with prior estimates at three-million to 3.4-million ounces.

Cash operating unit cost guidance remains between R19 000 and R20 000 per PGM ounce.

Targeted all-in sustaining cost of $1 050 per three-element ounce is unchanged and the input costs impact from the Middle East conflict continue to be closely monitored.

Own-mined production increased by 5% to 486 200 oz compared with the prior period, owing to higher output from Amandelbult and Mototolo, partially offset by lower production at Mogalakwena and Unki.

Mogalakwena's PGM production decreased by 6% to 212 300 oz compared with the prior period on lower tonnes milled following the planned high pressure grind rolls crusher maintenance being brought forward and lower built-up head grade resulting from the strategised blending of low-grade ore stockpiles.

Amandelbult PGM production increased by 43% to 122 800 oz is broadly consistent with performances in previous years.

Mototolo's PGM production increased by 3% to 68 200 oz and continued development of Der Brochen has resulted in increased dilution.

Unki's PGM production declined by 4% to 51 700 oz while the half-owned Modikwa PGM production was a 6%-higher 31 200 oz and also formed part of the 10%-higher 257 300 oz of purchased PGM concentrate.

While first-quarter production has historically been lower owing to scheduled annual stock counts and planned maintenance, these activities have now shifted from the first to the third quarter to align reduced power consumption with higher winter tariffs, contributing to further cost savings. This change supported nicke...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation.

Australia-based manganese processing technology company Firebird Metals has been awarded a A$2-million grant from government agency the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) under its Battery Breakthrough Initiative (BBI) programme to support the development of the company's Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP).

Firebird will be reimbursed for up to A$2-million, subject to meeting agreed milestones related to various operational deliverables.

The ARENA grant follows an extensive due diligence process, including independent technical review, and represents a significant endorsement of Firebird's proprietary manganese processing technology and the strategic importance of establishing cathode active material (CAM) production capability in a Western jurisdiction.

"Batteries are critical to delivering reliable, affordable and low-emissions energy and battery manufacturing is a key part of Australia's energy transition and economic future.

"Firebird's Perth demonstration-scale facility is an important step toward building domestic capability to convert Australian manganese into battery cathode materials, strengthening supply chain resilience and supporting the growth of next-generation battery manufacturing," Arena CEO Darren Miller says.

The ADP is designed to demonstrate Firebird's fully integrated technology platform, converting manganese ore directly into high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM), precursor CAM (p-CAM) and finished CAM within a single facility and process line.

Firebird says this integrated approach removes conventional intermediate processing steps, thereby delivering significant energy, capital and operating cost advantages.

Firebird's technology platform represents a breakthrough in manganese-based battery material processing and core innovations include the company's high-efficiency kiln technology, advanced crystallisation process and cathode material formulations, which are all protected by five lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate (LMFP) battery patents exclusively licensed to Firebird for all markets outside China through to 2045.

The technology provides a fully integrated processing chain, converting manganese feedstock into HPMSM (in solution), then into p-CAM and, ultimately, into CAM, including LMFP and lithium manganese-rich (LMR) batteries.

What distinguishes Firebird's approach is its ability to collapse what has traditionally been a fragmented, multi-facility, multi-country supply chain into a single integrated process.

The technology is ore agnostic, testing has demonstrated that it can be applied across multiple manganese ore types without impacting product specifications and it is designed to be energy efficient, capital light and operationally cost competitive.

Further, this technology spans key processing steps such as hydrometallurgy, purification, p-CAM manufacturing and CAM production.

Notably, the global battery supply chain for manganese-based cathode materials remains in China, and the processing of manganese ore into battery-grade cathode materials, particularly LMFP, is almost entirely undertaken by Chinese processors.

Firebird also notes that LMFP is rapidly gaining market share as a preferred cathode chemistry.

Electric vehicle (EV) producer BYD unveiled its Blade Battery 2.0 in March, boasting improved driving performance, range and charge speed using an LMFP.

Firebird highlight that this concentration of supply represents a critical vulnerability for Western battery manufacturers, automotive original-equipment manufacturers and energy storage developers seeking to diversify their supply chains.

Moreover, governments across Australia, the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea have identified cathode material supply chain sovereignty as a str...