2026 – Are you ready to fire on all cylinders? H aving struggled through 2025, are you ready for the Year of the Fire Horse, which, according to the Chinese astrology, is expected to bring sweeping changes,
and technology to renewable energy and aerospace. As the world increasingly seeks stable and secure mineral supply chains, the growth of these industries means antimony’s strategic importance is only increasing (pg 10). Precious metals consultancy firm, Metals Focus, recently published Precious Metals Investment Focus 2025/2026, its flagship annual report on investment in gold, silver and platinum group metals. It advises that gold prices are expected to continue rising in 2026, with the metal likely to challenge the $5 000 level and silver set to benefit from many of the same drivers as gold, including policy uncertainty and robust investment demand. Moreover, platinum has rallied over 80% year-to-date, with the market expected to record a fourth consecutive deficit in 2026. Palladium price strength has been boosted by tariff risks. In early 2026, palladium is expected to experience a temporary spike to around $2 000, before fundamentals reassert – all of which bode well for the local mining industry (pg 12). The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA), our cover story for January 2026, marks 30 years of empowering South Africa’s mining workforce. With mining contributing 7% to South Africa’s GDP, the sector remains a cornerstone of the economy — and the MQA’s work is central to sustaining its competitiveness, innovation and transformation. “More than a celebration of the past, it’s a reaffirmation of our role in shaping the future of mining skills in South Africa,” says Dr Thabo Mashongoane, CEO of the MQA (pg 8). located in north-west Tanzania and Omico Mining’s Omitiomire Copper Project, in Namibia; Ivanplats’ Platreef mine, which was officially opened by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 18 November; De Beers’ Venetia mine, which operated as an open-pit mine from August 1992 to December 2022, before transitioning to underground mining and Debmarine Namibia’s Benguela Gem diamond recovery vessel, recently deployed the next generation of crawler design and capability. Also of note is our Top Projects feature, which focuses on key projects at varying stages – early- stage projects such as Lifezone Metals’ Kabanga Nickel project,
rapid developments, and a strong push for liberation, innovation, and self-expression. It is a year associated with passion, boldness, and giant leaps. For the global economy, one can expect dynamism, innovation, and rapid, potentially volatile, change. In 2026, South Africans can anticipate potential economic and personal growth opportunities, driven by a cautiously improving economy, the potential for a stronger Rand after exiting the Financial Action Task Force Grey List, and interest rate cuts. While the IMF pegs South Africa’s economic growth rate at 1.2% year-on-year, for 2026, financial services firm, Investec, is more upbeat forecasting a growth rate of 1.5% year-on-year - this on the back of anticipated alleviations in the domestic freight crisis, driving faster export- led economic growth domestically. Global financial holding company, Moody's, is even more positive, forecasting growth to double to 1.6%, driven by ongoing structural reforms, particularly in logistics. Locally, consumers are adapting to economic changes and expecting household situations to improve, while the mining sector may benefit from opportunities in critical minerals. South Africa's mining sector performance in 2026 and 2027 is expected to be largely influenced by the global demand for critical
Nelendhre Moodley.
‘green minerals’, ongoing efforts to address persistent infrastructure
and energy constraints, and commodity price volatility. South Africa has abundant critical minerals, including platinum, manganese and chrome ore, which are vital for the global
Editor: Nelendhre Moodley e-mail: mining@crown.co.za Advertising Manager: Rynette Joubert
e-mail: rynettej@crown.co.za Design & Layout: Ano Shumba Publisher: Karen Grant
Locally, consumers are adapting to economic changes and expecting household situations to improve, while the mining sector may benefit from opportunities in critical minerals.
Deputy Publisher: Wilhelm du Plessis Circulation: Brenda Grossmann and Shaun Smith Published monthly by: Crown Publications (Pty) Ltd P O Box 140, Bedfordview, 2008 Tel: (+27 11) 622-4770 Fax: (+27 11) 615-6108 e-mail: mining@crown.co.za www.modernminingmagazine.co.za
transition to a low-carbon, technologically advanced economy. Other key minerals include vanadium, rare earth elements, cobalt, lithium, gold, and iron ore, amongst others. In this edition On the topic of critical minerals, our
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The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher.
commodities outlook highlights the growing strategic importance of antimony. Antimony plays a key role in many industries that drive modern economies, ranging from defence
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2 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | DECEMBER 2025 - JANUARY 2026
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