Proceeds at De Beers’ third rough-sales cycle of the year remained sluggish compared to a year earlier but continued to see improvement despite entering a traditionally slow period for the industry. The miner brought in $445 million in April, down 18% versus the equivalent period in 2023, it said Wednesday. However, that figure is 3% higher than the $431 million the company reported at its second sight of the year, which ran from February 26 to March
Petra Diamonds’ rough prices decreased at its latest tender, as smaller goods experienced seasonal weakness. The fifth trading session, which took place in April, brought in $49 million from the sale of 362,132 carats, while like-for-like prices slipped 1% versus February, the miner reported Tuesday. Of the total, $8.2 million came from the sale of a 14.76-carat, blue diamond from the Cullinan mine in South Africa. The sales value was up 3% from February’s $48 million and
As much as 3.6 million barrels a day (mmbd) of global refinery capacity has been assessed as being under high-risk of closure, according to Wood Mackenzie’s latest refinery closure threat analysis. The report ‘Global refinery closure threat update’ shortlists 120 out of 465 refining assets at high, medium, or low risk of closure based on 2030 net cash margin (NCM) forecasts. The total global refinery capacity at some risk of closure amounts to 19.95 mmbd,
PetroSA, South Africa’s state-owned oil and gas company, is gearing up for the arrival of gas shipments from Mozambique’s ENH later this year. This move is part of PetroSA’s strategy to boost energy reserves and mitigate potential shortages. Having secured a gas trading license from regulators in March, PetroSA wasted no time in finalizing a deal for an initial 2 petajoules of gas annually, with plans to increase this to 200 petajoules in the future.
ENGIE Energy Access proudly announces the inauguration of its inaugural mini-grid project, the Dohouè MySol Grid, in the village of Dohouè in southern Benin. Equipped with 135 kWp of solar panels and 130 kWh of lithium-ion battery storage, the Dohouè MySol Grid now brings renewable energy to over 1,500 residents and local businesses, marking a significant milestone in the region’s journey toward sustainable development. In collaboration with the Beninese Agency for Rural Electrification and Energy
Botala Energy Ltd. (ASX:BTE) has partnered with AAAS Energy BV, a solar developer focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, to explore the potential for installing up to 250 MW of solar capacity at an energy hub currently under development in Botswana. Located near the town of Palapye, the Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park, operated by Botala, is envisioned as the site for this ambitious solar project. With plans to expand, the hub could eventually accommodate up
Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom and Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries have inked a pivotal agreement for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country. Set to be completed by 2025, this ambitious project aims to bolster Burkina Faso’s electricity production, with projections indicating a doubling of output by 2030. The agreement delineates a comprehensive roadmap, charting a course for the development of Burkina Faso’s nuclear energy capabilities and the establishment
Aim-listed gold producer Shanta Gold has announced promising findings in its latest exploration update for the West Kenya project, covering the fourth quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year. CEO Eric Zurrin highlighted the progress, stating, “At Ramula, the reported assays provide valuable insights for converting inferred resources to indicated category resources. Meanwhile, encouraging results from our early-mid-stage targets at both Miruka and Anomaly 22 affirm the presence of economic range
South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom is pursuing financing for its $21 billion transmission network expansion project, aiming to integrate renewable energy sources into the national grid. As the primary provider of 80% of South Africa’s electricity, Eskom’s expansion plans involve constructing 14,218 km of power lines by 2033 – a three-fold increase from 2012-2024 installations. To secure financing for this capital-intensive project, Eskom is engaging in discussions with relevant government ministries and considering potential
To ease reliance on electricity imports, Namibia has made substantial strides in ramping up its power network in recent years. The country derives the majority of its domestic power generation from the 120 MW coal-fired Van Eck Power Station in Windhoek, as well as the diesel-powered Paratus and Anixas Power Stations and Ombuvu Photovoltaic (PV) Power Station. Major developments in Namibia’s power distribution sector are poised to shift the country toward energy self-sufficiency by the end of
