South32 expects further production growth in H2; flags $100m build in working capital

South32 expects further production growth in H2; flags $100m build in working capital: Diversified miner South32 achieved a 12% year-on-year increase in group copper equivalent production for the first half of the 2023 financial year on the back of recent investments in copper and low-carbon aluminium capacity. 'Group copper equivalent production increased . . . as we benefitted from transactions that have repositioned our portfolio toward metals critical for a low-carbon future.

2023 LIKELY TRENDS and ACTIONS to take !

  The explosive 2022 ,what with continuinng Covid and then Russian invasion of Ukraine which turned into an almost full scale war much to the surprise of every one including Russia that miscalculated the response of the world to their invasion attempt! 

This     caused  stock markets to plunge world wide to their lowest points for the last eight years. Then a slow recovery started of share prices. There is still an average fifteen percent shortfall on our local market. Prices are now paused as we do not know if there is the will to seek a compromise or barrel on to a full scale nuclear war! 

   China has taken the side of Russia as they see this as an opportunity to seize Taiwan,but are hesitating about invading right now as the world punishes modern Russia threatening to turn into a stone age country if it turns to nuclear weapons!

    Of course many African and Asian countries favour Russia who over the last couple of decades has supplied them with  weapons of war, as they are mostly corrupt and plunge deeper into chaos.

    At this stage it is difficult to judge if this is a buying opportunity as the world teeters on armageddon! Athhough there seem to be plenty of great  stocks at very reasonable prices,our opinion only is not to invest right now except perhaps to buy physical amounts of precious minerals and metals and keep them in diffferent countries and places.We realise these are dire  ideas.

   Southern Africa has many strategic minerals at its disposal as well and unfortunately could find itself in the middle of this armed struggle if this war escalates , therefore we should all pray for peace and take every step to encourage at every step the protagonists to reach an understanding that will bring the war to an equitable end.

SEE THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON STOCKS AND SHARES

Nersa given until Jan 12 to make a final decision on Eskom revenue application

Nersa given until Jan 12 to make a final decision on Eskom revenue application: The High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division) has granted the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) an extension, to January 12, to make the final decision on Eskom’s revenue application for the 2023/24 financial year. The regulator was previously required to make a decision by December 24.

Gordhan describes Mantashe’s comments as ‘unfair and uncalled for’ as he praises outgoing Eskom CEO

Gordhan describes Mantashe’s comments as ‘unfair and uncalled for’ as he praises outgoing Eskom CEO: Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan responded with an “emphatic no” to a question as to whether government considered outgoing Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to be a traitor, as implied in a recent statement by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, who said “Eskom, by not attending to loadshedding, is actively agitating for the overthrow of the State”. Gordhan was speaking during a briefing convened by Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana after De Ruyter’s resignation – submitted at 7:30 on Monday December 12, only days after Mantashe’s comments – was confirmed by Eskom on December 14, following a media leak.

The year that was!

     A very bruising year indeed ,was 2022. What with the devastating after effects of covid and still cases recurring as vaccines are not all that effective. 

Aids syndrome has been tackled with better results but still lingers as does monkeypox!

Then the quite sensless, but deadly Russian war. Shows how bad it is to have no scruples in achieving their communist goals of reuniting their former slavic country. 

We must remember that their socialist state ran out of money two decades ago then invited in the West to refinance them and many of their forced amalgamations managed to escape their clutches.Seems as if they have learned nothing from that experience!

All this has had a devestating effect on all stock exchanges world wide as the threat of nuclear weapons being used is always there in the background!

NATO waits for Russia to use a more lethal weapon upon Ukraine then tries to counter it.

At the same time thousands of innocent people are dying in that country. From a think tank that I follow the only way to stop this pattern would to take the lead and laying down red lines and stickingt to them can the West force  the Russians to the negotiating table!

 

Opinion: African minerals are critical for the green energy transition

Opinion: African minerals are critical for the green energy transition: In this article, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung – South African Institute of International Affairs scholar Danielle Marais writes about the importance of Africa's mineral resources for the global green energy transition.

BVian's SOUTHERN AFRICAN MINING AND RESOURCES NEWS: Green hydrogen truck trials going well – Anglo

BVian's SOUTHERN AFRICAN MINING AND RESOURCES NEWS: Green hydrogen truck trials going well – Anglo: Green hydrogen truck trials going well – Anglo : The 500 t world-first haulage truck powered by green hydrogen last week underwent fully loa...