Napo Ramodibedi

Founder and CEO: Mendi Group, SA Top 40 under 40, Top 200 Young South Africans 2014 ( Future Leaders (Maritime) 2013

[Robert Friedland @robert_ivanhoe]

We need to mine as much copper in the next ~20 years, just to maintain 3% global GDP growth, as we've mined in all of human history... No small feat.

[Dr. Copper🔋🌎⛏️ @CopperBullish]

#Copper - UBS expects the copper market deficit to widen from 219,000 tonnes this year to 379,000 tonnes in 2027, and sees prices reaching $15,500 a tonne next year.

[Robert Friedland @robert_ivanhoe]

Approximately half of Kamoa-Kakula’s copper exports and Kipushi’s zinc exports currently leave the African continent via the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam.

As more export routes become available, the cost of transporting mineral products across the African continent will continue to fall… and in turn this will lower the cut-off grade of what is economic to mine and process.

@IvanhoeMines_ @kamoa_copper_sa

[Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish]

BREAKING: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has confirmed that the 'peace deal' with the US has been signed electronically by both sides, according to Iran's state broadcaster. 

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/n25U0fGzSI

[Mining Zimbabwe @Mining_Zimbabwe]

Minerals found in Zimbabwe and areas of verified deposits...

Full list>>> https://t.co/NItgh4jSb0

#ZimbabweMining #MiningZimbabwe #Minerals #Lithium #Gold #Platinum #MiningAfrica #ResourceRich #InvestInZimbabwe

[Carlos Lopes @LopesInsights]

"The Democratic Republic of Congo has transferred management of its strategic mineral reserve to the markets regulator, which will acquire, hold and market critical resources. The decision was approved by the Council of Ministers on April 10, 2026. It grants the Autorité de Régulation et de Contrôle des Marchés des Substances Minérales Stratégiques (Arecoms) powers to manage a strategic reserve aimed at stabilising markets, supporting development and strengthening economic sovereignty."

https://t.co/BBmSm92gUF

[Zimbabwe Economic Review @ZimbabweReview]

Zimbabwe–Zambia Sign US$2bn Rail Deal: 311km Line, 445km Rehab, Routes Cut by Up to 1,000km.

Zimbabwe and Zambia have signed an MOU for the Lion’s Den–Kafue railway, a project valued at over US$2 billion. The new line will span 311km (217km in Zimbabwe, 94km in Zambia) and include 445km of rehabilitation works.

The corridor will cut freight distances by ~800km to Beira, 1,000km to South Africa, and 500km to Dar es Salaam, significantly improving regional trade efficiency.

[Seyed Abbas Araghchi @araghchi]

Statement on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran:

[Al Jazeera Breaking News @AJENews]

Iranian state TV announced a ceasefire with the US, framing it as a victory as crowds gathered in Tehran.

In the broadcast, it said Washington had accepted demands including non-aggression, sanctions relief and a US troop withdrawal from the region.

[Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz]

With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.
Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability. We earnestly hope, that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!

@realDonaldTrump
@JDVance
@SecRubio
@SteveWitkoff
@SEPeaceMissions
@drpezeshkian
@mb_ghalibaf
@araghchi

[Sarvesh Shrivastava @bloggersarvesh]

https://t.co/fTHrl4rFqG

[Zimbabwe Economic Review @ZimbabweReview]

Zimbabwe Sets Strict Conditions to Lift Lithium Export Ban, Pushes for Local Beneficiation.

The Government of Zimbabwe has outlined a comprehensive and stringent framework for lifting its ban on lithium concentrate exports, signaling a decisive shift toward value addition, regulatory compliance, and sustainable mining practices.

In a letter addressed to the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and copied to all lithium producers, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite Kambamura detailed the prerequisites that mining companies must meet before export restrictions can be eased.

Strategic Shift Toward Beneficiation.

At the core of the policy is a firm requirement for local beneficiation. Mining companies must provide written commitments to establish facilities that enable the separation and processing of all economic minerals within Zimbabwe prior to export. This aligns with the country’s broader industrialisation agenda, aimed at capturing more value from its vast lithium resources rather than exporting raw materials.

In addition, firms are required to commit to building lithium sulphate plants by 1 January 2027, with specifications subject to ministerial approval. This move is expected to anchor Zimbabwe’s transition into a more advanced player in the global battery minerals value chain.

Strengthening Transparency and Compliance.

The Government is also tightening oversight on revenue flows and mineral accountability. Companies must:
-Declare all minerals contained in export consignments for tax compliance.
-Fully acquit export proceeds.
-Publish annual financial statements starting from 31 December 2025.

These measures are designed to enhance fiscal transparency and ensure that the State captures its fair share of mineral revenues.

Fiscal Measures and Export Controls.

A 10% beneficiation (export) tax will be imposed on all lithium concentrate exports. Additionally, export quotas will be allocated individually to producers, giving Government tighter control over volumes leaving the country.

Infrastructure and Industry Standards.

To support sector-wide quality assurance, mining firms must commit to establishing:
-Two internationally accredited laboratories serving the entire mining industry.
-On-site assay laboratories at each producing mine within three months.

These requirements aim to standardize mineral testing, improve credibility in international markets, and reduce reliance on external facilities.

Labor and Social Responsibility.

The policy also introduces strong social and labour provisions. Companies are required to:
-Build adequate accommodation for local employees.
-Align salaries with the minimum standards set by the National Employment Council (NEC) for the mining industry.

This reflects a broader push to ensure that mining activities translate into tangible socio-economic benefits for workers and local communities.

Environmental and Safety Compliance.

Mining operators must establish dedicated Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) departments at each site to address occupational hazards and environmental impacts. This underscores Government’s intent to enforce responsible mining practices alongside economic objectives.

Monitoring and Accountability.

A ministerial committee will be established to oversee compliance, with companies required to submit monthly progress reports on their commitments. This introduces a continuous monitoring mechanism to ensure timely implementation.

Case-by-Case Approach for New Investments.

The Government clarified that new and future investments in the lithium sector will be assessed individually, with conditions applied on a case-by-case basis. This allows flexibility while maintaining regulatory rigor.

[Business Insider Africa @BusInsiderSSA]

South Africa🇿🇦 emerges as a major player in the U.S.🇺🇸 critical minerals supply chain

Africa is playing an increasingly strategic role in supplying the United States with critical minerals essential for advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and defense technologies, with South Africa emerging as a dominant player across key resources.

[Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish]

The US-Israeli war on Iran is disrupting fuel supplies to Africa, pushing countries like Ghana, South Africa and Kenya to seek relief from Nigeria’s huge Dangote Refinery, but one plant may not meet soaring demand.

Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris reports from Lekki in Nigeria.

[Napo Ramodibedi @BlackOnasis]

@BoucherNicolas Claude

[Businessfront Finance @financeinafrica]

Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM have suspended Suez transits.

Ships are rerouting via the Cape — driving longer delivery times and higher fuel costs.

What this means for African trade and import-dependent economies →

[Bret Taylor @btaylor]

Today, Sierra is releasing Ghostwriter, our agent for building agents. With Ghostwriter, you can create an AI agent for your customer experience — one that can chat, pick up the phone, speak dozens of languages, take action on your systems of record, and be protected with industry-leading guardrails — simply by having a conversation. No clicking, no forms, no menus.

Codex and Claude Code have transformed how we build software, making it possible for software engineers to orchestrate and review the work rather than doing all the work themselves. We think the same transformation will happen for all software. Rather than every enterprise app having a web app for humans and an API for automation, every software platform’s UI will be an agent that can do the work on your behalf.

I recorded a demo of my building and optimizing an agent with Ghostwriter so you can see how powerful and easy it is to use. It’s completely changed the way our early adopters build agents, and it’s changed the way I think about the software industry. Let me know what you think, and, if you’re interested in trying it out at your business, please reach out directly.

[PortHarcourt Sailor @PHSailor1]

The best thing you’ll watch today 🚨 ‼️

Many of us have heard about Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and some of us may even use it as a source of energy. More commonly, we’re familiar with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), the cooking gas used in many homes.

But have you ever wonder how these gases are transported?
This video shows how they are carried across the seas on an LNG ship.

Please retweet.

[Glencore @Glencore]

Glencore has reached an agreement with our partner Gecamines S.A. on land access for KCC, securing a comprehensive package of long-term mining titles and leases. This enables a life-of-mine extension and supports our long-term copper production targets. Learn more.