State-owned Central Energy Fund has agreed to buy the 180,000-barrel-a-day Sapref plant for a symbolic price of one rand.

Such an outflow, if a deal goes ahead, could weaken the rand.

Anglo American was encouraged by key shareholders to continue engaging in talks with BHP over its proposed $49.18 billion mining merger.

The bodies of five miners have been recovered from the Hillo artisanal mine, and another three people were unaccounted for.

Production at its Bou Azzer mine in the Atlas mountains has been reduced "to preserve resources," amid low prices.

Of the investors that Bloomberg spoke to this week, some suggested that BHP should provide a commitment to cover any lost value suffered by the subsidiaries’ new owners.

Kuvimba has identified a lithium ore resource of 38 million tons at Sandawana, the site of a mothballed emerald mine formerly run by Rio Tinto.

South32 has been one of the most active miners in buying and selling assets.