Sishen mine
{{Short description|Iron ore mine in Kathu, Northern Cape, South Africa}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Sishen mine
| image =Panorama Sishen Mine ZA 2010.jpg
| width =
| caption =Panorama of Sishen Mine (2010)
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| coordinates =
| place = Kathu
| subdivision_type =
| state/province = Northern Cape
| country = South Africa
| owner =
| official website =
| acquisition year =
| products = Iron ore
| financial year = 2019
| amount = 29.2 MT
| opening year = 1953
| closing year =
| production =
}}
The Sishen mine is a large iron mine located in central South Africa in Kathu, Northern Cape. Sishen represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in South Africa and in the world having estimated reserves of 2.43 billion tonnes of ore grading 58.6% iron metal.{{cite web|url=http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/sishen-mine-northern-cape/|title=Sishen Mine, Northern Cape, South Africa|year=2012|publisher=mining-technology.com|accessdate=2013-06-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kumba.co.za/reports/kumba_ar07/rr_resource_incl.php|title=Kumba's mineral resources including ore reserves|date=2012|publisher=kumba.co.za|accessdate=14 June 2013}}
The Sishen mine has a geological structure producing a high-grade hematite ore, similar to those at the Beeshoek mine. There has been an investigation into a region known as the Sishen South exploration project which is 65 km south of the Sishen mine.{{Cite journal|last1=Carney|first1=M. D.|last2=Mienie|first2=P. J.|date=2003-04-01|title=A geological comparison of the Sishen and Sishen South (Welgevonden) iron ore deposits, Northern Cape Province, South Africa|journal=Applied Earth Science|volume=112|issue=1|pages=81–88|doi=10.1179/0371745032501171|s2cid=128539593 |issn=0371-7453}} Hematite mineralization occurs along a strike length of 14 km, with a width of 3.2 km and a maximum vertical extent of 400 m below the original topographic surface.{{Cite journal|last1=Stoch|first1=B.|last2=Anthonissen|first2=C. J.|last3=McCall|first3=M-J.|last4=Basson|first4=I. J.|last5=Deacon|first5=J.|last6=Cloete|first6=E.|last7=Botha|first7=J.|last8=Britz|first8=J.|last9=Strydom|first9=M.|date=2018-08-01|title=3D implicit modeling of the Sishen Mine: new resolution of the geometry and origin of Fe mineralization|journal=Mineralium Deposita|language=en|volume=53|issue=6|pages=835–853|doi=10.1007/s00126-017-0784-y|issn=1432-1866|bibcode=2018MinDe..53..835S|s2cid=133813594 }}
The Sishen mine was opened in 1947, and produced 30.9 million tonnes of iron ore in 2013.{{Cite web |url=http://www.financialmail.co.za/moneyinvesting/2014/03/13/iron-ore-seeking-a-second-sishen |title=Iron ore: seeking a second Sishen |website=Financial Mail |access-date=2016-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316230348/http://www.financialmail.co.za/moneyinvesting/2014/03/13/iron-ore-seeking-a-second-sishen |archive-date=16 March 2014 |url-status=dead}} In 2015, the mine produced far less and quarter on quarter results in 2016 show a decline in output.{{Cite web|url=http://www.miningweekly.com/article/kumba-iron-ore-sales-down-2016-04-21|title=Kumba Iron Ore sales down|last=Creamer|first=Martin|access-date=2016-07-21}} In 2016, Kumba Iron Ore began the process of cutting nearly 4000 jobs in an attempt to restructure the Sishen mine and ensure profitability.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mining-technology.com/news/newskumba-iron-ore-to-cut-3933-jobs-in-south-africas-sishen-mine-restructuring-process-4796785|title=Kumba Iron Ore to cut 3,933 jobs in South Africa's Sishen mine restructuring process|website=Mining Technology|access-date=2016-07-21|date=2016-01-28}}
The Sishen–Saldanha railway line that moves ore from the mines to international markets at the port of Saldanha is notable for the length of the 3,780 meter long trains that carry the ore.
Local Geology
Mine Ownership
The Sishen mine is owned by Kumba Iron Ore, which has a 73% interest in the Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited (SIOC).{{Cite web|url=http://www.angloamericankumba.com/our-business/operations.aspx|title=Operations|website=www.angloamericankumba.com|access-date=2016-07-21}} Anglo American plc has a 64.3% stake in Kumba Iron Ore.
Other stakeholders in the Sishen Iron Ore Company include Exxaro Resources Limited and ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa).
In 2009, Sishen Iron Ore, applied to take over the remaining 21% of Sishen Mine from ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) who failed to convert their mining rights before 30 April 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.financialmail.co.za/features/2013/12/19/mining-rights-sishen-wins-battle-for-control|title=Mining rights: Sishen wins battle for control|website=Financial Mail|access-date=2016-07-21}} The South African Department of Mineral Resources instead granted the rights to ICT, a hitherto unknown mining company with alleged political ties to the government.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/e026a344-272a-11e1-b9ec-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false.html?siteedition=uk&_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2Fe026a344-272a-11e1-b9ec-00144feabdc0.html%3Fsiteedition%3Duk&_i_referer=&classification=conditional_standard&iab=barrier-app|title=South African judge overrules ICT rights award|last1=England|first1=Andrew|date=2011-12-15|last2=MacNamara|first2=William|newspaper=Financial Times|issn=0307-1766|access-date=2016-07-21}}{{Cite web|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2011-12-15-sishen-rivals-braced-for-verdict|title=Sishen rivals braced for verdict|last=Faull|first=Lionel|access-date=2016-07-21}} In 2011, this award was overturned by the courts but in 2013, the overturned judgement was taken to the constitutional court.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-03/kumba-dispute-on-sishen-ownership-returns-to-south-african-court|title=Kumba Dispute on Sishen Ownership Returns to S. Africa Court|last=Andre Janse van Vuuren|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2016-07-21}} The final ruling was in favour of Kumba Iron Ore.{{Cite web|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2013-12-20-end-of-sishen-saga-cast-in-iron|title=End of Sishen saga cast in iron|last=Steyn|first=Lisa|access-date=2016-07-21}}
In 2015, despite being awarded the 21.4% stake by South African Department of Mineral Resources, Kumba again sought legal recourse due to conditions attached to the ruling.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mining.com/kumba-becomes-the-sole-owner-of-sishen-mine/|title=Kumba becomes the sole owner of Sishen mine {{!}} MINING.com|date=2016-10-13|newspaper=MINING.com|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-25}} Kumba released a statement in October 2016 announcing their 100% ownership of Sishen mine.{{Cite web|url=http://www.angloamericankumba.com/media/press-releases/2016/13-10-2016.aspx|title=Kumba granted residual 21.4% mining right for Sishen mine|website=www.angloamericankumba.com|access-date=2016-12-25}} Kumba is expected to resume payments to shareholders in 2017 following a rise in iron ore price and employee cutbacks - Nearly 4,000 jobs were cut at Kumba's flagship Sishen Iron Ore mine in 2016. As a result, Sishen generated R4.5bn, enough to cover existing debt.{{Cite news|url=http://www.miningmx.com/top-story/28679-omens-good-anglo-2017-iron-ore-diamonds-turn/|title=Omens good for Anglo in 2017 as iron ore, diamonds turn up - Miningmx|last=McKay|first=David|date=2016-12-21|newspaper=Miningmx|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-25}}
References
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External links
{{Commons category-inline|Sishen Mine}}
{{coord missing|South Africa}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sishen Mine}}