Wednesday, June 3, 2009.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Shannon O'Donnell.

Making headlines today:

AngloGold Ashanti spokesperson Alan Fine confirmed that production at AngloGold Ashanti's Moab Khotsong mine, in the Free State, resumed on Tuesday night, following a nearly two-week shutdown.

Fine said that mine management had met with the inspector of mines on Thursday last week, at which time further information was requested.

AngloGold Ashanti had since collated the required information and on Tuesday afternoon made a second presentation to the inspector.

A mineworker, who had been carrying out his duties about 2 277 m below surface, had been killed at Moab Khotsong on May 22.

Meanwhile, Fine said that an assessment at the gold major's Savuka mine, near Carletonville was still ongoing.

The bodies of another 25 illegal miners have been brought to surface at South African gold-miner Harmony Gold's Elands shaft in the Free State province.

Spokesperson Marian van der Walt said that the total number of dead illegal miners had now risen to 61, adding that it was uncertain whether there were anymore bodies underground.

The bodies were retrieved by fellow illegal miners, reportedly after an underground fire in an abandoned area. Van der Walt said that the miners might have died from inhaling smoke and gas, but said that the police would do autopsies on the bodies to determine the cause of death.

Also making headlines:

Mozambique has approved the creation of a state mining company that will explore and market its untapped mineral resources.
Mining investment company Natasa Mining withdraws its petition for the provisional liquidation of African Copper's subsidiary, Messina Copper, in Botswana.
Nigeria is working on a pilot project to use its untapped coal deposits to fuel power plants and boost its hard-pressed electricity generating sector.
And, a dual listing on South Africa's JSE remains a goal for TSX-listed coal junior Homeland Energy.

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories please visit miningweekly.com.