Southern African mining trade

Reports the formal agreement date and signatories; notes that CBG, in which the Guinean state holds 49%, had previously been the main bauxite supplier to EGA and that the suspension of supply created a feedstock gap for Al Taweelah, one of the largest alumina refineries in the Middle East.

“Republic of Guinea, GAC and EGA reach agreement, restoring bauxite supply to Al Taweelah.”

Mining Weekly reports on the sulphuric acid by-product from the Kamoa-Kakula smelter, noting that 1,350 tonnes per day of acid output is sold to DRC fertiliser producers, addressing a long-standing fertiliser import dependency in the DRC agricultural sector. Describes the acid by-product sales as a secondary revenue stream and a contribution to the DRC's food security. Notes Ivanhoe's plan to expand acid output to 2,000 tonnes per day as the smelter reaches full capacity.

“Kamoa-Kakula's 1,350 t/day sulphuric acid output supplies DRC fertiliser producers, creating a secondary revenue stream and addressing a domestic import dependency.”

Contextualises the MMC Phase 1 commissioning as Africa's first battery-grade manganese processing facility; notes that South Africa's Northern Cape hosts approximately 40% of global manganese geological resources through the Kalahari Manganese Field; interviews MMC CEO who describes Phase 1 as a proof-of-concept for a planned Phase 2 expansion to 20,000 tpa HPMSM.

“MMC's June 11 HPMSM commissioning is Africa's first battery-grade manganese plant, with Phase 2 targeting 20,000 tpa.”

Reports platinum's January 26, 2026 record intraday high of $2,913/oz on the spot market, driven by Eskom load-shedding disrupting processing operations at Sibanye-Stillwater's Rustenburg operations and Anglo Platinum's Mogalakwena mine; South Africa supplies 70% of global platinum and 35% of palladium; the disruptions coincided with elevated hydrogen-sector demand.

“Platinum hit a record $2,913/oz on January 26 as South African power outages disrupted 70% of global platinum supply.”