Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals, metals and other geological materials from the earth, encompassing both surface and underground operations. The sector includes the exploration, development, extraction and processing of resources such as gold, platinum, diamonds, coal, iron-ore, copper, manganese and other commodities. Mining is a capital-intensive industry requiring significant investment in infrastructure, equipment and technology, with operations ranging from small-scale artisanal workings to large multinational corporations. The industry plays a crucial role in global supply chains, providing raw materials for manufacturing, energy generation, construction and technology sectors. In Africa, mining is a cornerstone of many national economies, particularly in South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it contributes substantially to gross domestic product, export earnings and employment. The sector faces ongoing challenges including commodity price volatility, regulatory complexity, environmental and social licence considerations, energy security, water availability and the need to improve safety standards. Technological advancement is increasingly important, with automation, digitalisation, predictive maintenance systems and artificial intelligence being adopted to enhance productivity, reduce costs and improve operational safety. The industry is also under pressure to demonstrate sustainable practices, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to broader socioeconomic development in host communities. Mining's significance extends beyond direct economic contribution, as it supports extensive downstream industries including smelting, refining, manufacturing and logistics.
Mining Updates
New longer-term platinum metal applications needed, Sibanye-Stillwater headlines 
By: Martin Creamer 25th June 2026 To replace declining demand for the autocatalysis that curbs emissions from vehicle exhausts, new longer-term platinum group metal (PGM)... →
Zimbabwe exploring minerals-backed deals with China to fund infrastructure, minister says
By: Reuters 25th June 2026 Zimbabwe is considering using its vast natural resources to fund road and railway construction projects with China, finance minister Mthuli Ncube... →
Sibanye-Stillwater’s mass of metal ‘probably one of planet’s biggest’
By: Martin Creamer 24th June 2026 This is an incredible endowment and we are executing a deliberate strategy to extract more value from every single square metre of our resource... →
Sibanye-Stillwater declares its South African platinum assets ‘world’s best’
By: Martin Creamer 23rd June 2026 If you gave me an option to have any portfolio of platinum group metal (PGM) assets in the world, this is the portfolio I would take – without a... →
Exxaro displays major wind, solar achievement without shrinking coal
By: Martin Creamer 22nd June 2026 Impressive renewable-energy advances were graphically displayed by coal major Exxaro during its Capital Day on Monday, June 22. The first was a... →
Happening in Parliament this week
22nd June 2026 The National Assembly (NA) concludes its second term programme on Tuesday with a sitting to consider the Appropriation Bill, a report on filling... →
Africa cannot afford fragmented voices any longer, Mike Teke points out
By: Martin Creamer 19th June 2026 Africa cannot afford fragmented voices any longer, South Africa’s mining and energy leading light Mike Teke pointed out in an address at the... →
Stuck at the start, 50 years on: Youth unemployment and exclusion in a low-growth, unequal, changing economy
By: Econ3x3 19th June 2026 On June 16, 1976, thousands of school students in Soweto took to the streets to protest against Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. But the... →
Demand for electricity to outpace economic growth and reshape investment
By: Schalk Burger 19th June 2026 Global electricity demand is set to outpace economic growth as part of a broader trend up to 2030, with electricity consumption projected to grow... →
Congo Ebola response strained a month after WHO declares international emergency
By: Reuters 17th June 2026 Health workers battling an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo lack the personnel to identify suspected cases, the ambulances to... →
