The MiningWrap BriefNo. 20
Zimplats pushes on with 45MW solar expansion to cut Zimbabwe grid risk
The week in African mining — 30 April 2026.
1Energy & InfrastructureZimplats pushes on with 45MW solar expansion to cut Zimbabwe grid riskZimplats has spent $34m so far on a 45MW Phase 2A solar plant, on track for completion in the first half of its 2027 financial year, doubling its installed solar capacity to 80MW.
2MarketsIvanhoe Mines closes $700m bank facility for Platreef phase twoIvanhoe Mines reached financial close on 30 April 2026 on a $700m senior project finance facility, arranged with Societe Generale, Absa and Nedbank, to fund Phase 2 of its Platreef mine in South Africa's Limpopo province.
3ExplorationKoBold Metals breaks ground on Zambia's $2bn-plus Mingomba copper mineAI-driven explorer KoBold Metals has broken ground on shaft construction at its Mingomba copper project in Zambia, targeting first output in the early 2030s.
4PGMSouthern Palladium doubles expected chrome recoveries at BengwenyamaSouthern Palladium said metallurgical test work had more than doubled expected chrome recoveries at its Bengwenyama PGM project to 65%, though incorporating the improvement delayed its feasibility study to the fourth quarter.
5LithiumHuayou ships Africa's first lithium sulphate from ZimbabweZhejiang Huayou Cobalt has exported the first consignment of lithium sulphate produced in Africa from its Arcadia operation in Zimbabwe, a milestone for the country's beneficiation drive.