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The article reports on the growth of mid-tier and junior mining companies carrying out platinum mining projects in South Africa. Among the companies include Aquarius Platinum Ltd., African Rainbow Minerals Ltd., and Xstrata which result to the development of Platinum Group Metal (PGM) producers in the country. According to a study conducted, the realization of the platinum mining projects by mid-tier and junior groups will help the country increase platinum production by 3 million ounce (oz) by 2014. The projects include Anglo Platinum Ltd.'s Amandwlbult East Upper platinum project, Impala Platinum Ltd.'s facility expansion which aims to produce 2.8 million oz of the metal by 2012, and the mining operations carried out by Impala and African Rainbow at the Two Rivers mine.

The article reports on the competition between mining companies Xstrata Coal and Rio Tinto PLC in buying 12.5 million metric ton a year Optimum South African coal mine from BHP Billiton. BHP Billiton has declined to name the parties with which it is in talks with. Xstrata offered to take Optimum in exchange for its 16% of Douglas Colliery Services Ltd. On the other hand Rio Tinto has also offered BHP Billiton a deal involving asset swaps, to exchange equity in U.S. or Australian coal operations for Optimum.

The article reports on the corporate development planned by mining company Anglo Platinum. The company will be adding 100,000 oz/y of production capacity at its Amandelbult platinum operations near Rustenburg, South Africa. The expansion will increase its capacity to 700,000 oz/y of equivalent refined platinum. In addition, the expansion project will focus on an additional mine production from the UG2 reef and an increase in milling capacity. Furthermore, the expansion project will begin in 2007.

The article reports on the development of the plan of mining company Alcan for aluminum smelter projects in South Africa and Canada. The plans for aluminum smelter projects outlined by the company during November and December 2006 will absorb investments totaling $4.5 billion. The company has secured a long-term power sup- ply agreement for the proposed $2.7 billion, 720,000 mt/y Coega aluminum smelter in South Africa. On the other hand, the company will build a $550 million, 60,000 mt/y pilot smelter in Canada.

The article presents a discussion on the plan of the De Beers to establish a new diamond mine in South Africa. The cost is estimated to be approximately $172 million, the cost covers the expenses in building the mine and the recovery plant. The mine was acquired by Da Beers from Voorspoed Diamond Mining Co. (VDMC) in 1912 from which 4.2 million metric tons of diamond were recovered. The establishment of the new mine will generate 700 new jobs during development and an additional 400 jobs will be available when the mine reaches full production.

The article reports on the Xstrata-Merafe Chrome Venture, a joint venture of the mining companies Xstrata PLC and Merafe Resources Ltd. that will construct a new chrome ore agglomeration facility in South Africa. The chrome venture is the world's largest ferrochrome producer, with six mines and four metallurgical complexes, and incorporating 18 furnaces. The venture includes two parallel sintering and pelletizing lines that will produce of about 1.2 million metric tons per year. The project is budgeted at about 125 million dollars. Construction of the agglomeration plant is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2006. The plant is projected to reach full capacity by the end of 2007.