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Article written by Donna Slater at Mining Weekly While it is home to several significant iron-ore producers, amid the opportunities within the African iron-ore industry, there are also significant challenges, as all bulk material operations require reliable rail and port logistical infrastructure to transport iron-ore from mining sites to the point of sale, reports mining services provider, Ukwazi MD Jaco Lotheringen. He notes the challenges faced by the sector have affected…

By Spencer Eckstein – Director, Ukwazi Mining Studies At COP26, in Glascow 2021, the USA and certain EU members promised to provide $8.5bn over five years to support South Africa’s Just Transition. That funding now seems in jeopardy owing to a potential decision by government to extend the life of certain coal-powered stations and to…

Article written by Cameron Mackay at Mining Weekly Owing to the increasing amount of mining activity expected in Botswana – particularly amid increasing demand for minerals such as coal and battery metals – specialist mining services provider Ukwazi mining and mineral project valuator Alan Clegg stress the need for consultants to provide specialist services for…

Article written by Sabrina Jardim at Mining Weekly With the increase in demand for platinum-group metals (PGMs), specialist mining services provider Ukwazi’s PGMs-related projects have increased by about 20% since 2020. Ukwazi business development director Spencer Eckstein attributes the increase to the mining and consulting services that the company’s team provides to the PGMs industry.…

By Alan M. Clegg Pr.Eng Pr.CPM PMP FSAIMM – Chairman, Shumba Energy Ltd and Spencer Eckstein – Director, Business Development, Ukwazi Mining Studies (Pty) Ltd Socrates famously stated: “The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” Any new Coal fired power plant (“CFPP”)…

Despite obvious challenges, including energy insecurity and policy uncertainty, South Africa’s immense natural resources, coupled with current macro factors, provide ample opportunity for the country to further enhance its position on the global mining stage. One fundamental aspect hampering this progress is the lack of industry skills – skills that will be required to meet…

South Africa recently experienced flash floods in KwaZulu-Natal, causing loss of life and property, damage to homes, roads and railway infrastructure, and in cities like Gqeberha, taps have run dry. We can debate whether poor infrastructure or ineffective, local government entities are responsible, but it is clear that weather patterns have shifted significantly, some would…

South Africa is strategically poised to benefit from the growth trajectory of the platinum-group metals (PGMs) sector, as it holds about 80% of the world’s PGM resources.

Article written by Nadine Ramdass at Mining Weekly Rather than requiring fewer commodities, the green economy, and its resulting technological developments, will actually require more commodities, says specialist mining services provider Ukwazi Business Development Director, Spencer Eckstein. Consequently, mining companies, including manganese players, need to adequately position and prepare themselves to maintain a competitive advantage…

First things first, while “circular” and “green” are often used interchangeably, it is important to distinguish between them. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) defines a green economy as “one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.” A circular economy entails the recycling and reuse of…