MTE EXHIBITIONS • happy to engage with MTE and send their ‘ troops ’ to absorb all the tech innovation that has transpired over the last two years .
A big player in this area is Kumba Iron Ore Limited , a member of the Anglo American plc group and a leading value-adding supplier of high-quality iron ore to the global steel industry . Producing iron ore at its Sishen and Kolomela mines in the Northern Cape Province , Kumba exports iron ore to customers including China , Japan , South Korea and a number of countries in Europe and the Middle East .
The iron ore industry is currently booming . Commenting on the Kumba production and sales report for the first quarter ended 31 March 2023 , Kumba ’ s chief executive , Mpumi Zikalala , said , “ Operationally , Kumba delivered a solid production performance with volumes increasing by 14 % to 9.4 million tonnes , largely driven by a strong recovery from our Kolomela mine . Sales volumes were maintained at 9.5Mt . 7
Zikalala explained at the time , “ On the marketing front , economic activity in China strengthened on the back of pro-growth policy decisions with improved demand from China expected to offset the slowdown in other markets . The demand outlook for our highquality iron ore product continues to be positive given the steel intensity of the global energy transition . We continue to collaborate with several of our steel producing customers on the advancement of low carbon steelmaking processes .”
Innovation in this sector abounds – in addition to partnering with Salzgitter , Nippon Steel and Thyssenkrupp Steel , Anglo American plc recently announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with H2 Green Steel , a Swedish hydrogen and steel producer , to study and trial the use of premium quality iron ore products , including from Kumba , as feedstock for H2 Green Steel ' s direct reduced iron production process .
The focus is to realise the world ’ s largest PGM resource [ located in South Africa ] through developing markets , that enable the growth of the PGM mining sector .
References :
1 . Visit the MTE website https :// mteexpos . co . za / and the African Mining LinkedIn page https :// www . linkedin . com / feed / update / urn : li : activity : 7055118124592865280 to see some of the highlights at the Rustenburg expo 2023 .
2 . For more information go to : https :// www . africanmining . co . za / 2023 / 05 / 03 / refrigeration-plant-for-northam-platinumszondereinde-western-extension-project /
3 . PGMS – METALS OF THE FUTURE 2023 , a presentation by Roger Baxter , CEO , Minerals Council South Africa at Resources 4 Africa PGMs INDUSTRY DAY
4 . Teke Joburg Indaba presentation : The Joburg Indaba , “ Setting the record straight – there ’ s more than meets the eye ” – Mike Teke , CEO Seriti presentation , 5 October 2022
5 . For more information go to the February issue of African Mining : The next chapter in Seriti ’ s energy story , p16 https :// joom . ag / Ir9d
6 . For more information on the MTE Richards Bay Expo article go to ‘ A port of call with a difference ’ African Mining June 2023 ( joomag . com ) https :// viewer . joomag . com / african-mining-june- 2023 / 0352606001685003805 ? short &
7 . Subject to Transnet logistics performance , guidance for the full year 2023 is unchanged .
Kumba ’ s finished stock increased in the period to 8Mt from 7.8Mt on 31 December 2022 , with 7Mt stockpiled at the mines . Average realised free on board ( FOB ) export iron ore price of USD121 per wet metric tonne equivalent to USD123 per dry metric tonne ( dmt ), compared to the average benchmark price of USD110 / wmt or USD112 / dmt .
Mining and production total waste stripping increased by 9 % to 50.9Mt ( Q1 2022 : 46.7Mt ), driven by a strong recovery at Kolomela . Compared to Q1 2022 ( comparative period ) which was hampered by extremely high rainfall , Kolomela ' s waste stripping increased by 43 % to 15.9Mt ( Q1 2022 : 11.1Mt ), due to improved rain readiness capability and equipment reliability . At Sishen , waste stripping decreased by 2 % to 35.0Mt ( Q1 2022 : 35.7Mt ). Improved feedstock availability at Kolomela underpinned a 25 % increase in production at the mine to 3.1Mt ( Q1 2022 : 2.5Mt ). However , Kolomela ' s feedstock quality was impacted by the waste mining challenges experienced in 2022 , which depleted buffer stockpiles , resulting in a lower overall average product Fe quality of 63.1 %. This is expected to improve in the second half of 2023 . Sishen has continued to perform well , with production increasing by 9 % to 6.3Mt ( Q1 2022 : 5.8Mt ). Overall , production volumes increased by 14 % to 9.4Mt ( Q1 2022 : 8.3Mt ).
“ If Kumba ’ s performance is anything to go by , the Northern Cape MTE combo shows promise to be an exciting hub of activity . If you are a mining player in the area , remember entrance to the show is free of charge and our suppliers are ready to share their latest technical advances and solutions ,” concludes Macnamara . •
www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • July 2023 • 29