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Dr. Willem Smuts's Blog (23)
Monitoring events in Mali
March 22, 2012 by Dr. Willem Smuts
Randgold
Resources said today it was keeping a close watch on developments in Mali,
where elements of the army appear to have mounted a coup attempt.
Chief
executive Mark Bristow, who is at the company’s Loulo complex in the west of
Mali some 350 kilometres from the capital Bamako, s... read more
Diamond universe central coming to Gaborone
January 31, 2012 by Dr. Willem Smuts
Over 200 sightholder representatives will be expected to visit Gaborone every five weeks from diamond centres across the world when DTC finally relocates its sights from London next year, the Director of Mineral Affairs, Nchidzi Mmolawa, told a two-day Afrimond diamond beneficiation worksh... read more
Of gold, kettles and mighty big heaps of diamonds
February 9, 2011 by Dr. Willem Smuts
The view from most gold analysts is that the steep ascent will continue this year: gold advanced some 29% from the prior year's close and scored its 10th consecutive annual increase in 2010.
If we can learn from the past, there are still a good few years left in the current advance in pric... read more
Tsodilo goes with another Atlas Copco rig
January 13, 2011 by Dr. Willem Smuts
To complete the 1st and 2nd drilling phases in the scheduled time frames, Tsodilo Resources ordered an additional Atlas Copco CT14 drill rig for its poli-metal project in Ngamiland, Botswana.
The construction of the drill rig in Sweden is near completion and it will be mounted on an ... read more
Tsodilo back on the drill
January 13, 2011 by Dr. Willem Smuts
Tsodilo Resources Limited (TSX Venture Exchange: TSD) has resumed its Phase I drilling program in northwest Botswana. Results reported to date document the presence of base and precious metals, rare earth minerals, and uranium. Drilling operations resumed in the ... read more
Eritrea joins ranks of African gold producers
January 4, 2011 by Dr. Willem Smuts
Nevsun Resources Ltd. announced on January 4th 2011 that it has poured first gold at the new Bisha Mine in Eritrea in late December as part of plant commissioning. The first pour was part of the plant commissioning process and rendered two dore bars totalling 26 kg (~ 920 ounces).
In the ... read more
To EITI or not to EITI
November 9, 2010 by Dr. Willem Smuts
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) sets a global standard for transparency in oil, gas and mining. It is:
an effort to make natural resources benefit all
a coalition of governments, companies and civil society
a standard for companies to publish what they pay and for... read more
Too little too late – let’s hope not!
September 6, 2010 by Dr. Willem Smuts
South Africa has put a six-month moratorium on all new applications for prospecting licences in the country while a review of irregularities in the administrative process is ongoing.*
Mineral resources minister, Susan Shabangu, also said that amendments would be proposed to the mining act ... read more
The jungle takes more
July 15, 2010 by Dr. Willem Smuts
On 19 June, a chartered plane with 11 people on board, among them the entire board of Sundance Resources, went missing on a flight between Cameroon and Congo.
“No sweet outcome here... methinks!” was a comment by an old Africa hand at the time. Unfortunately, he was right. The ... read more
Electrons and erogenous zones to make the world go round
June 2, 2010 by Dr. Willem Smuts
Gold peaking?
Global market strategist Don Coxe, chairman of Coxe Advisors, says he believes in "a hitherto-undiscovered erogenous zone in gold bugs: peak gold, which could be the latest ‘big thing’ since peak oil."
He goes on to blame Barrick’s clever new CEO, Aaron Rege... read more
