The world’s biggest asset manager announced last week Thursday it will leave the $60-trillion 0Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAMI), the latest Wall Street firm to depart an environmentally focused investor group under pressure from Republican politicians and, chiefly, from the return of Donald Trump to the White House. BlackRock, which manages some $11.5 trillion,…
The new year has begun on a bleak note for employees of ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa), as the steel major announced its decision to wind down its long steel business on the first Monday of 2025. This move threatens the livelihoods of approximately 3,500 direct and indirect jobs across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, with many…
In a landmark move towards sustainable transportation, South Africa has officially enacted a 150% tax incentive for the production of electric and hydrogen vehicles. Signed into law on January 3, 2025, the legislation is expected to unlock approximately $27 billion in investments, significantly boosting the country’s nascent electric vehicle (EV) industry. The ambitious initiative aims…
A global decline in lithium battery pack prices, as recently announced by BloombergNEF, could make electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable in emerging markets like South Africa. Despite struggling to attract investment from battery mega factories, South Africa is poised for a significant shift towards clean mobility. With over 13 million internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles…
Australia’s Syrah Resources saw its stock plummet by approximately 30% on Thursday after the company declared a force majeure at its Balama graphite mine due to escalating civil unrest in Mozambique following contested election results. Syrah Resources stands out as the largest graphite producer outside of China, offering one of the few non-Chinese sources of…
President-elect Donald Trump has announced a plan to expedite federal permits for energy projects and other construction initiatives exceeding $1 billion. This promise, made via a post on his Truth Social platform, includes assurances that any entity investing this amount in the United States will receive “fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but not limited…
Following its recent acquisition of a 10% stake in Vale’s copper and nickel division, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is advancing discussions to secure a significant investment in Zambian copper mines. Manara Minerals, a joint venture between PIF and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), is negotiating to acquire a 15-20% equity stake in…
The recent departure of Floyd Shivambu, a key figure in the establishment and policy narrative of the EFF, has ignited a flurry of analysis. Regrettably, most of the analysis glossed over the nuanced dimensions of his political perspective. Rather than delving deeper, some observers have opted to draw parallels between Shivambu and party president Julius…
The global manganese market is set to experience significant growth, driven by China’s reviving construction sector and supply disruptions following Tropical Cyclone Megan’s damage to South32’s GEMCO mine in Australia. Modor Intelligence reports that the global manganese market is expected to reach US$29.83 billion by 2028, up from US$24.45 billion in 2021. This is a…
Despite a decade of expansion in production and exploration, metal supply remains inadequate to meet soaring demand, BNEF’s Transition Metals Outlook 2024 reports. This supply crunch poses a risk towards the adoption of clean energy technologies. The report highlights that critical energy transition metals, including aluminium, copper, and lithium, may experience supply deficits within this…
