The MiningWrap BriefNo. 21
Swakop Uranium plans N$235m Husab drilling push for 2026
The week in African mining — 7 May 2026.
1UraniumSwakop Uranium plans N$235m Husab drilling push for 2026Swakop Uranium plans to spend N$235-million drilling about 100,000 metres at its Husab uranium mine in 2026, intensifying exploration across five known deposits after a 41% jump in drilling in 2025.
2GoldLoulo-Gounkoto mining contractor to exit Mali, with more than 600 jobs at riskGounkoto Mining Services, the Bouygues-linked contractor that mined the Gounkoto and Yalea North pits at Barrick's Loulo-Gounkoto complex, is winding up in Mali and has issued termination notices to more than 600 workers.
3MarketsSibanye-Stillwater prices $500m bond to cut debt and push out maturitiesSibanye-Stillwater priced an oversubscribed $500m senior notes offering on 8 May 2026 and used the proceeds to tender for older, higher-coupon Stillwater notes due 2026 and 2029, cutting group debt.
4Energy & InfrastructureHarmony Gold's solar programme heads toward 456MW as Sungazer 2 takes shapeHarmony Gold is expanding its Sungazer solar programme with a 100MW plant under construction at Moab Khotsong, part of a roughly R2bn plan to add wind, solar and PPA capacity across its South African mines.
5Iron OrePay strike halts mining at Baowu-led Simandou blocks in GuineaMining at the Winning Consortium Simandou blocks in Guinea stopped from 28 April after an estimated 3,000 workers struck over pay, the first strike at the Baowu-led venture. Rail and port operations continued.