Diversified South African-based resources group Exxaro Resources – the country’s fourth-largest coal producer – has commissioned its new Inyanda coal mine near Witbank in Mpumalanga.

South Africa’s total gold production increased by 9% to 56 933 kilograms in the second quarter of 2008, compared to the previous quarter. On a year-on-year basis, however, gold production was down by 10.4% in the second quarter, illustrating the continued impact that the electricity supply curtailment has had on the sector.

Orezone Resources Incorporated – an emerging Canadian explorer and intermediate gold producer – has closed a US$40 million (R300 million) debt facility with The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, and increased its interest in the Bombore project in Burkina Faso from 50% to 100%.

South Korean trading company Daewoo International Corporation may invest about US$300 million (R2.25 billion) in a coal- fired power project in Madagascar – the company's second electricity-generating venture in the country.

Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) – the largest single export coal terminal in the world, currently exporting more than 68 million tonnes of coal a year – increased its shipments by 6.2% in August compared to the same month last year which was affected by bad weather.

Great Basin Gold Limited (GBG) – an emerging mid-tier gold producer listed on the Toronto and American stock exchanges – has reported additional high-grade intercepts from its surface exploration drilling programme at the Hollister Project in Nevada.

Tin exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – Africa's biggest producer of the metal – are expected to resume in the wake of a tax dispute which has halted shipments of the product for two months.

Lonmin plc – the world's third- largest platinum producer – has come out strongly again against Swiss-based Exstrata plc’s US$10 billion (R75 billion) hostile takeover bid, insisting that it is too low, and urging investors to reject it.

ArcelorMittal – the world’s largest steelmaker – has finalised an agreement with Kalagadi Manganese to develop its managanese deposits in the Northern Cape.

Emerging new generation platinum miner Wesizwe Platinum Limited has announced its intention to acquire Anglo Platinum Limited’s entire 37% stake in the Western Bushveld Joint Venture (WBJV), which is held through its wholly owned subsidiary Rustenburg Platinum Mines Limited. Wesizwe will pay Anglo Platinum and amount of R1.162 billion in the form of 211,850,125 new shares in Wesizwe.

Gippsland Limited – an Australian-based international resource company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and the AIM – has doubled the ore reserves at its US$90 million (R675 million) Abu Dabbab tantalum-tin-feldspar project in Egypt.

Riversdale Mining Limited – an Australian-listed mining company focused on growth through investment in suitable Southern African mining opportunities – has announced two significant developments at the company’s US$800 million (R6 billion) Benga hard coking thermal coal project in Mozambique.

Emerging South African resources company Simmer and Jack Mines Limited (Simmers) has announced that a seismic event at its Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in the North West Province has claimed the life of one mineworker and injured another.

First Uranium Corporation – which is focused on the development of its South African uranium and gold mines – has entered into an exclusive agency agreement with the Traxys Group – a global metals, minerals and energy marketing company.

Guinea – the world’s biggest exporter of aluminium ore bauxite – is prepared to work with foreign investors in the mineral-rich West African country as long as they comply with its mining code.

South African diversified mining group African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) has almost tripled headline earnings, increased dividends by 167% and is exceeding its 2005 objective of doubling production by 2010.

Assmang Limited – which is jointly held by African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and Assore Limited – says approval has been received for the start-up capital programme for the additional 6-million-tonne expansion project at its Khumani Iron Ore Mine in the Northern Cape Province.

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) – the fifth largest gold producer in the world – says two mineworkers have lost their lives in an incident at its Elandsrand mine, and work has been halted until further notice.

Gem Diamonds Limited – a global diamond producer pursuing an accelerated growth strategy through targeted acquisitions and the development of existing assets – is moving downstream in the diamond business through the establishment of its own cutting and polishing operation.

The review by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of all its mining contracts with foreign and local companies will finish on 30 September.