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Seven relatively shallow primary adjoining mining projects that focus largely on upper group two (UG2) reef and mainly mechanised mining are at various stages of development within the South African Platinum Group Metals (PGM) portfolio of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Sibanye-Stillwater.

Demonstrated by Sibanye-Stillwater EVP Head of Projects Ralph Lombard was that these projects are higher-margin projects of low capital intensity, with most of them brownfield extensions. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

The seven are the Siphumelele and Thembelani extension reserves projects in Rustenburg, the East 4 reserves project at Marikana, the Kopaneng extension resources project at Rustenburg, the East 3 extension resources project at Marikana, the Bathopele extension resources project in Rustenburg, and the Saffy extension resources project at Marikana.

All are envisaged for mechanised mining with the exception of Thembelani and all the projects are on contiguous property that is owned by Sibanye-Stillwater.

Also listed are two secondary mining PGM recovery surface tailings projects as well as two processing projects, one a PMR upgrade project and the other a smelter project to support blend optimisation.

Highlighted was that:

integration of mining across contiguous boundaries unlocks additional value;shaft connectivity improves mine planning flexibility and sequencing ; andexisting infrastructure and shared services improve economics, reduce complexity and cut production lead time.

Acquisition of 100% of the Kroondal PGM mine and its integration into the Rustenburg operation facilitates optimisation of cross boundary operational synergies and earty value from combined resources, Lombard pointed out in his presentation covered by Mining Weekly.

The Siphumelele extension in execution consolidates the Bambanani and Siphumelele operations into a single, mining complex, which allows for the full extraction of the Bambanani reserve.

The first blast in May was achieved a month ahead of plan and connection with Bambanani mine is targeted for June 2028.

Production is expected from March next year and the planned capital footprint has January 2031 as its scheduled completion date.

Value is being generated by eliminating mine boundaries and payback of the R2.8-billion capital expenditure for Siphumelele is expected in seven years.

Expected mine life extends to 2039. Net present value is R2-billion, and a 40% internal rate of return is calculated.

Mining through the old Kroopdal/Rustenburg boundary unlocks synergies between the operations and establishment of shared services reduces unit costs for both operations.

"What's quite exciting is seeing our K4 Marikana project, which in our half-year results will show a positive contribution from this year onwards, which is part of the good news as we keep on developing these projects," Lombard enthused.

Because of the mining of the Merensky reef ahead of the UG2 reef, there is significant amount of legacy infrastructure that it is again being utilised, which lowers capital cost.

"We're not trying new mining methods. We know quite well how to do mechanised low-profile mining and board-and-pillar mining, and with that also comes the benefit of an experienced workforce, which is one of the other benefits we have by operating in this brownfields environment, which can assist us tremendously as we ramp up these projects, and these crews move down dip," Lombard pointed out.

Everything shown was shallow to intermediate depth, with no deep level type of PGM mining being planned at this stage.

Key in the Rustenburg/Marikana area are the orebody declines of nine degrees to 13.5 degrees, which allows for a continuation of mechanised mining.

"We also have the...

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.

Genesis Minerals has lobbed a bid worth about A$5.6-billion ($3.9-billion) for Vault Minerals, topping an existing offer from Regis Resources, as surging gold prices fuel a consolidation wave in Australia's mining sector.

The combination would create one of the country's largest gold producers with a market value of A$12.6-billion and an annual production capacity of up to 700 000 oz.

Genesis said on Monday it estimates it will bring in some A$2-billion in synergies as its Leonora operations are just 25 km (15.53 miles) from Vault's.

This means its higher-grade ore could be milled through Vault's processing plant rather than having to expand its own.

Shares of Vault rose as much as 12.3% to A$5.12, their highest since mid-March. Genesis shares fell 8.4% to A$5.76, while the broader benchmark was largely unchanged.

Under the proposal, Genesis offered 0.7629 new shares plus A$0.475 in cash for each Vault share, valuing Vault at A$5.274 a share, a 15.7% premium to the stock's last close and nearly 6% above Regis' all-stock bid in May.

Vault said it had told Regis of the proposal and given it until Friday to match or improve its offer.

Genesis shareholders will own around 59.8% of the combined entity and Vault shareholders the remaining 40.2%. It has also proposed that its expanded board be reconstituted to include three nominees of Vault.

Regis said it was considering its position and rights under the scheme. Its shares were last up 5.6%.

Last year, Ramelius Resources took over smaller peer Spartan Resources in an A$2.4-billion deal amid a wave of consolidation in the sector driven by rallying gold prices.

Activist investor Elliott has also pushed Australia's largest gold producer Northern Star to put itself up for sale, after a prolonged period of underperformance.

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.

Being a premier base metals focused business with strong growth potential is the vision for South32 of new CEO Matt Daley.

"We've got around 55% production growth over the next handful of years in the commodities that we particularly feel are strongly structurally positioned for really strong years ahead, those being zinc, lead, silver, and copper," said an upbeat Daley who spoke to Mining Weekly after taking over the reins of South32 from outgoing Graham Kerr on July 1.

Daley had a hyperactive first day in office amid the company's major aluminium asset disposal announcement as well a copper growth announcement.

"Exciting time today and pretty honoured to step into the role of CEO," Daley commented amid Alcoa agreeing to buy South32's aluminium value chain assets for up to $5.6-billion and South32 highlighting its participation in the Sierra Gorda copper growth project in northern Chile.

"The strategy for us is really clear, and we've been articulating it today around running what is going to be a premier base metals focused business with really strong growth potential," Daley reiterated.

The ASX- , LSE- and JSE-listed South32's targeted 55% base metals uplift involves optimising existing assets and pursuing high-margin developments in tier-one jurisdictions.

"We've got a portfolio that spans Australia, South America, North America, with exploration everywhere from Chile to Southern Africa and back to Australia.

"With the Alcoa transaction, we crystallise one of those future cash flows from the aluminum value chain right here and now and pick up some of the synergies that exist in the southwest between the neighbouring Alcoa and South32 refineries and position us really well to invest in those growth base metals projects.

"My big focus is around strategic planning and operational excellence, and that goes hand in hand with safety performance for me as well. So, excited to step into the role, and I think some great days ahead for the company."

Questioned on manganese, Daley clarified that manganese is not an area of growth for South32.

What is positive for manganese is that South Africa's Wessels and Mamatwan manganese mines are performing to plan this year but higher diesel prices are impacting movement of material by road. "We're certainly working through some of those challenges and we've had quite a good year on rail again," said Daley, who regularly visited South Africa when working for Anglo American. "I was there almost every month and deeply love the place and the people."

Exceptionally high rainfalls and cyclones have dealt a significant blow to South32's manganese operation in Australia's Northern Territory.

"The site's really focused on managing water at the moment, which has had an impact on production, and we reguided the market at the end of Q3 around that reduction as a result of the water."

On capital investment prospects for manganese, Daley said: "Manganese is not an area of growth for South 32 so we're really investing growth capex into our zinc and copper businesses, so that's kind of the focus, but for us running the manganese business on plan is really important, as well as ensuring it's safe and stable."

The combined manganese output from South32's South African and Australian operations was 1.09 million-tons in the March quarter, up from 476 000 t a year earlier.

South32's South African manganese mines are found in the manganese rich Kalahari Basin, in the Northern Cape, which is home to 80 %of the world's manganese orebody.

Its two mines are part of the Hotazel Manganese Mines consortium, in which it holds a 44.4 % interest.

The Wessels mine has vertical and incline shafts and uses the mechanised bord and pillar mining method, while Mamatwan deploys the terrace mining ...

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses South32’s conditional agreement to sell Hillside Aluminium to Alcoa; Sibanye-Stillwater calling for new longer-term platinum group metal applications; and DRDGOLD’s R8-billion internally funded capital programme.

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.

TSX-listed Imperial Metals has confirmed it will receive $500-million from the government of Canada to advance the Red Chris mine block cave transition, under the Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prospectivity Agreement.

As the Red Chris joint venture advances through the internal approval process toward a final investment decision, this commitment strengthens the business case for the development of its proposed block cave copper/gold operation.

"Our joint venture partner, Newmont Corporation, is in the process of completing a definitive feasibility study for the project. The Red Chris block cave is expected to create more than 1 800 jobs during construction and sustain a total workforce of 1 500 comprising peak-season operational roles," Imperial explains.

The project is expected to extend the life of the current Red Chris mine by about 14 years and sets the foundation for decades of potential additional mining.

Imperial currently holds 30% of the Red Chris mine, while Newmont holds the balance.

"It represents a significant opportunity to create long-term value for Imperial's shareholders, strengthen critical mineral supply chains, and deliver long-term benefits for local communities, Indigenous partners, British Columbia and Canada," Imperial concludes.

Newmont in June secured crucial regulatory approvals that pave the way for a transition from openpit mining to a block cave operation.