This year’s tenth edition of the annual iPAD DRC Mining & Infrastructure Indaba will see the launch of the DRC Mining Industry Awards during a gala dinner on 22 October at Hotel Memling in Kinshasa. “To celebrate the success and the loyalty of our event participants during the past 10 years, we are proud to launch the DRC Mining Industry Awards, recognising excellence within the mining sector and rewarding companies and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the industry,” says event director Nicole Smith. She adds: “we want to invite the public to take part in the nomination process and there…
Author: Editor
More swag, more glamour, more Big Brother Africa. The continent’s biggest reality show returns for its ninth season on Sunday, 7 September with the housemates competing for a massive prize pot of $300 000 – with more twists than ever before. AfricaMagic can reveal that the new season will be known as Hotshots. This season’s housemates have hidden talents, they adore the spotlight and will let nothing stand in the way of their pursuit of fame and fortune. M-Net Africa Regional Director (West Africa), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, says the viewers are in for almost as many surprises as the housemates. “We…
Gem Diamonds Limited has announced its half year results for the six months ending 30 June 2014 which showed revenues were up 54% from US$96.5 million in the first half of 2013 to US$148.9 million. Underlying EBITDA was up 87% to US$62.2 million, with attributable profit at US$19.7 million while cash on hand of US$113.9 million as at 30 June 2014 (US$98.4 million attributable to Gem Diamonds. On the operational front, Letšeng mine in Lesotho recovered 54 678 up by 29% from the same period in 2013 with an average value of US$2 747* per carat achieved for the first five tenders…
African Copper Plc, the AIM and Botswana listed copper production and exploration company, has announced a production and exploration update for the first quarter of its financial year to 30 June 2014. The company which owns Mowana Mine, a copper producing open pit project in Botswana, said it was happy with the work done by its contractor at Thakadu pit, which was affected by the previous mining contractor’s low levels of waste stripping. African Copper’s subsidiary Messina Copper Botswana (Pty) Ltd has then awarded a new long-term contract to provide hard-rock open cast mining services to Diesel Power Mining (Pty)…
Africa has experienced substantial growth in its middle class over the past 14 years, according to a study by Stanbic Bank Botswana parent, Standard Bank. The report, entitled ‘Understanding Africa’s middle class,’ found there are 15 million middle-class households in 11 of sub-Saharan Africa’s top economies this year, up from 4.6 million in 2000 and 2.4 million in 1990 – an increase of 230% over 14 years. However, of the total number of households across these focal economies, 86% of them remain within the broadly “low income” band, emphasizing the nascent maturation of many of the continent’s markets. The report…
Travelers have been advised that Botswana and South Africa have banned the use of emergency travel documents and temporary passports following the two countries’ decision to stop the use of such documents in 2010 and 2013 respectively. However, the two travel documents will be accepted by both countries only in cases of warranted emergencies. “The ministry of labour and home affairs would like to remind the public that emergency travel documents and temporary passports are not accepted following South Africa and Botswana governments’ decision to stop the use of such documents in 2010 and 2013 respectively,” Botswana’s Ministry of Labour…
The Botswana Insurance Company (BIC) and The Botswana Society (TSB) have signed a 3-year partnership agreement in support of TBS’ long-standing Cultural Heritage Tourism project. The agreement was signed by BIC’s Managing Director, Nziki Nganunu and TBS Honorary Secretary, Fred Morton. Under the deal, the insurance giants has undertaken to finance and equip a full-time office employee at TBS and to provide BIC volunteers, for the purposes of expanding TBS’ operations and outreach, enhancing its cultural heritage website (www.botswanabeckons.com) and bringing on-stream the new Cultural Heritage Tour of Gaborone, which is due for launch in August 2014. According to BIC…
De Beers said it will accept registrations of interest for its 2015 – 2018 Global Sightholder Sales contractual period from 25th – 29th August, 2014. Any diamond businesses interested in applying for supply from the start of the new contractual period will need a Key Individual from their Group to register at www.debeerssightholder.com/apply between these dates. General information relating to the new Global Sightholder Sales contractual period can be accessed at www.debeerssightholder.com/newcontractinfo. Applicant businesses that are not currently Sightholders will also need to submit an auditor workbook for approval by De Beers as part of the submissions process that will follow…
Botswana Insurance Company (BIC) has recognised and awarded its staff who achieved industry certifications at a recent function. When speaking at the function, the company’s Managing Director, Dziki Nganunu, placed emphasis on the importance of self development and the need for employees to continuously introspect and identify areas of growth. The outgoing MD stated that BIC is committed to developing skills and investing in its human resources, recognising the importance and contribution that staff make towards the overall growth strategy. Guest Speaker, Cheshe Dow, acknowledged that education is key and essential for success and spoke of the importance of curiosity…
Galane Gold Ltd. has announced the release of its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 which showed the total ore mined stood at 137,114 tonnes at an average grade of 1.92 grams per tonne. Of the total, 3,384 tonnes of ore came from Tau Underground at an average grade of 2.85 grams per tonne. The operations produced 7,196 ounces of gold. “Due to the failure of the SAG mill motor and the reduction in milling capacity the Company focused on mining and processing softer material,” Galane stated. “As a result less Tholo…