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Thursday, September 10, 2009.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Shannon O'Donnell.

Making headlines today:

Aim-listed African Copper has restarted operations at the Mowana mine, in Botswana. The mine was placed on care-and-maintenance in early 2009.

The operational team on site has mobilised a new mining contractor and has recommissioned the concentrator with the assistance of a team of specialist metallurgical and engineering personnel from African Copper's main shareholder, Zambia Copper Investments.

African Copper reports that teething problems have been encountered during the recommissioning of the concentrator as it came out of a period of extended care-and-maintenance.
Mowana is likely to advance to steady state nameplate production through the coming quarters.

The National Union of Mineworkers says that its 500 members at South African-miner Petra Diamond's Sedibeng operations, in Kimberley, will continue with strike action until their demands are met.

The strike entered its second day on Wednesday.

The strike follows a dispute over wages and other conditions of employment. The NUM said in a statement that workers were demanding a salary increase of R1 050 a month as well as a housing allowance of R1 000 month. Petra Diamonds was offering a 5% wage increase.

Also making headlines:

Barrick Gold hikes its offering to as much as 4-billion-dollars on strong investor demand.
Hecla Mining improves its output and cost forecasts.
Diamond producer Debswana says that world diamond prices are starting to recover.
And, TSX-listed Inmet Mining holds talks with Korea Resources Corporation on possible transactions.

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories please visit miningweekly.com.