The Mining Wrap

This week’s Mining Wrap tracks fresh developments across Africa’s mining sector, with Malawi outlining a $5 billion critical-minerals investment plan, Awalé Resources committing $8.5 million to gold exploration in Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon’s long-delayed Minim-Martap bauxite project facing another setback. New equipment deployments in South Africa and exploration activity in the region also feature, alongside moves to strengthen responsible gold supply chains and raise capital for mining projects.

Zimbabwe Opens 2026 MineTech Innovation Challenge

Zimbabwe has opened its 2026 MineTech Innovation Challenge, giving local startups, entrepreneurs and researchers a route to develop and commercialise technology for the mining industry. The initiative is being run by UNDP, the Government of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe School of Mines, with applications targeting new technology and solutions for the mining sector.

Mine Development And Operations

Awalé Launches $8.5 Million Gold Exploration Programme in Côte d’Ivoire

Awalé Resources has launched a fully funded $8.5 million, 15-month exploration programme at its 100%-owned Odienné Gold-Copper Project in Côte d’Ivoire. The campaign includes about 71,500 metres of drilling across auger, aircore, reverse-circulation and diamond drilling, alongside more than 15,000 surface geochemical samples. Drilling at the Fremen discovery is scheduled to resume in the fourth quarter, with 5,960 metres of diamond drilling planned.

Cameroon’s First Bauxite Mine Slips to 2027

Cameroon’s Minim-Martap bauxite project has been pushed further back after A2MP Investments failed to secure the 75% acceptance threshold required for its takeover of Canyon Resources. The offer lapsed on September 21, leaving the project's financing unresolved. Canyon's Camalco subsidiary is also waiting for AFG Bank Cameroon to review the project before further funds can be released from an 82 billion CFA franc syndicated facility. The company had previously withdrawn its target for first bauxite shipments in the fourth quarter of 2026.

URU Metals Selects Drilling Contractor for Zeb Nickel Project

URU Metals has selected Zaaiman Exploration Drilling as its preferred contractor for resource drilling at the Zeb Nickel Project in Limpopo, South Africa. The programme will target Zone 2 and is intended to generate additional geological information for the project's nickel, copper and platinum-group-element mineralisation.

Heavy Mobile Equipment And OEMs

Sandvik Delivers CH662 Crushers to South African Platinum Operation

Sandvik Rock Processing is supplying two CH662 cone crushers to a platinum mining operation in Limpopo. The equipment will be used for secondary crushing as part of an underground expansion, with the machines featuring automated setting regulation, remote monitoring and digital diagnostic capabilities.

Weir Wins Modular Crushing Plant Order for Namibian Copper-Gold Project

Weir has secured an order to supply a 150-tonne-per-hour modular crushing and screening plant for Bezant Resources' Hope and Gorob copper-gold project in Namibia. The package includes ENDURON jaw crushers, a Trio vibrating grizzly feeder, vibrating pan feeder, scalping screen and conveyors. Weir's Namibian service operation will also support the equipment once deployed.

ESG And Sustainability

Rand Refinery Targets Ghana’s Artisanal Gold Supply Chain

South Africa's Rand Refinery is working with Gold Coast Refinery in Ghana to improve traceability and responsible sourcing within the country's artisanal and small-scale gold sector. The partnership aims to bring more ASM gold into formal supply chains and work towards meeting London Bullion Market Association requirements.

Malawi Maps Out $5 Billion Critical Minerals Investment Plan

Malawi plans to mobilise about $5 billion in investment for its critical-minerals sector under an Energy Transition Minerals Roadmap developed with the World Bank. The government expects the country's mineral projects could generate more than $30 billion in exports between 2026 and 2040.

Projects identified under the strategy include Kasiya, Kangankunde and Songwe Hill, covering minerals such as graphite, rutile and rare earths. The roadmap also identifies electricity supply, transport infrastructure, foreign exchange, regulation and limited local processing capacity as constraints that need to be addressed.

Strategic Deals And Capital Deployment

Harmony Gold Raises $500 Million Through Convertible Bonds

Harmony Gold has priced a $500 million convertible bond due in 2031, giving the South African gold producer additional capital for general corporate purposes. The bonds carry a 1.5% coupon and are scheduled for issue on September 29.

Lohum Plans $100 Million Investment in Zimbabwe Lithium

Indian critical-minerals company Lohum plans to invest about $100 million in Zimbabwe after securing rights to 10 lithium mining blocks. The company plans to process lithium ore into lithium sulphate in Zimbabwe before shipping it to India for further refining.

Ghana Expands Local Manufacturing Links With Mining Sector

Ghana's Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) is working with local manufacturers to increase domestic participation in the mining supply chain. MIIF recently assessed the capabilities of B5 Plus, which produces steel products and mining consumables including grinding media. The engagement covers manufacturing capacity, regulatory compliance and ESG practices.

DRC Plans Centralised Mining Investment Agency

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is preparing a centralised, one stop agency for major mining investments as part of reforms linked to its minerals partnership with the United States. The proposed agency would bring together company registration, mining licences, taxation and regulatory compliance for major projects, with the aim of reducing approval delays. Initial plans indicate that it could focus on joint-venture projects worth more than $1 billion, while remaining open to investors from the US, China, Europe and other markets. Legislation establishing the agency still needs to be formally enacted.