Consulting engineering company, SRK, raised the risk that South Africa's platinum firms may start to run short of water next year if the country's drought persisted.

Wesizwe Platinum said it had an empowerment plan if required by government to lift its BEE holding to beyond the current 13%.

The fog hanging over the South African assets of Continental Coal may clear in the next few days in the wake of 'offers' for the mines.

Rockwell Diamonds replaced a lapsed empowerment deal and said it may yield asset growth whilst plans were also afoot to double the firm's mining rate.

West Africa’s iron ore sector has been characterised by a flurry of investments from majors and minors alike.