Alfred H Knight has opened a new metals and minerals laboratory in Maputo, Mozambique, providing local sample preparation and analytical testing for iron ore, chrome ore and other key commodities moving through southern Africa’s export corridors. The facility brings independent assay capability closer to mine sites and ports on the Indian Ocean, reducing turnaround times compared with sending samples to overseas labs. For operators, nearer real-time grade control and shipment certification should tighten quality assurance on bulk cargoes and support contract compliance.

Cementation Africa has completed Thungela Resources’ Zibulo North Shaft decline under demanding underground conditions, using a continuous miner for a critical phase of advance rather than conventional drill-and-blast. Project Manager Peter Mazibuko credits the team’s underground coal expertise and close collaboration with the client for enabling safe deployment of the continuous miner in a constrained decline environment. For mine developers, the project signals growing confidence in mechanised decline development to accelerate schedules where geology and layout permit.

Komatsu has appointed M+C Saatchi Performance to run a US-wide talent awareness and acquisition campaign targeting its mining business, aiming to reach candidates beyond traditional engineering and operator pools. The partnership will use performance marketing and data-driven audience segmentation to promote roles linked to Komatsu’s autonomous haulage systems, electric drive trucks and mine automation technologies. For mine operators and contractors, this signals continued competition for skilled labour in areas such as fleet maintenance, control-room operations and digital support functions.