The MiningWrap BriefNo. 39
Zambia's refined copper exports rise 7.4% in first half while mine output stalls
The week in African mining — 10 September 2026.
1CopperZambia's refined copper exports rise 7.4% in first half while mine output stallsZambia exported 446,100t of refined copper in the first half of 2026, up 7.4%, while national mine production grew only 0.45% to 447,200t, official and company data show.
2GoldPan African puts Soweto tailings project at R3.68bn and targets a December investment decisionPan African Resources has completed a definitive feasibility study on its Soweto Cluster tailings retreatment project, pricing it at R3.68bn and pencilling in a final investment decision for December 2026.
3LithiumZimbabwe anti-graft body arrests Chinese director in 720-tonne lithium smuggling caseThe Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested a director of Orequest over an alleged scheme to smuggle more than 720 tonnes of raw lithium ore to Mozambique using fraudulent export papers.
4PGMTharisa prices $300m bond to complete Karo Platinum in ZimbabweTharisa has secured a $300m five-year bond at an 11% coupon to fund the balance of its $545m Karo Platinum project, where first ore to the mill is now expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.
5Safety & ESGPetra Diamonds retrenchments put 1,800 jobs at risk at Finsch and CullinanAround 1,800 jobs are at risk at Petra Diamonds' Finsch and Cullinan mines, part of a wave of South African mining retrenchments that Solidarity says could total more than 4,000 positions in 2026.
Where prices closed
Gold $4,364.50/oz · Platinum $1,797.10/oz · Copper $14,257/t