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Friday, September 18, 2009.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Shannon de Ryhove.

Making headlines today:

The New South Wales government has reached an agreement with a group of 14 coal producers, which will support 5-billion-Australian-dollars worth of investment in new port and rail infrastructure over the next four years.

Diversified giant BHP Billiton is one of the signatories on the agreement reached with the NSW government, over future long-term access to the Newcastle Port, where export capacity is expected to double to 180-million tons over the next six years.

Premier Nathan Rees says that NSW is set to reap an investment and jobs bonanza with the Hunter Valley's coal producers agreeing to the government's long-term coal export plan.

JSE- and TSX-listed First Uranium has reported a fatality at its Ezulwini mine, in South Africa.

First Uranium spokesperson Bob Tait says that there was an unexpected fall of ground in the area where underground crews were installing permanent supports in a stope on the 45 level of the Middle Elsburg Reef horizon, which is the uranium and gold ore body at the Ezulwini mine.

First Uranium CEO Gordon Miller says that the company views the incident in an "extremely serious light" and is reviewing the situation with representatives of South Africa's Department Mineral Resources and organised labour.

Also making headlines:

Rio Tinto says its Zimbabwe diamond output could be higher.
DRDGold's wage strike continues.
Implats reports a second fatality after a methane explosion earlier this month.
And, Pamodzi Gold founder Ndaba Ntsele throws in the towel.

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