New bottom-discharge container for mining industry

Materials handling company Versatile Container Handling has introduced a new product onto the African market, the Rocket Rail Loading and bottom discharge bulk container system. “It is new technology and it is the first time that bottom...

Indian iron-ore users, traders to register with government

In a bid to curb illegal mining, the Indian Mines Ministry has directed mining regulator, the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), to mandatorily register all traders and end-users of iron-ore. The regulator has some 9 000 mining leases registered,...

NMDC fast-tracks $900m investments during 2012/13

India’s largest iron-ore miner NMDC Limited has decided to fast-track investments worth $900-million during 2012/13 in an effort to better invest the company’s free cash reserves of almost $3.6-billion. The investments would be aimed at...

BHP, Rio agree to pay A$1.9bn extra in WA iron-ore royalties

The Western Australian coffers would benefit from a A$1.9-billion increase to the state’s royalty earnings on iron-ore fines, over the next three years. Premier Colin Barnett on Thursday introduced changes to the state Parliament for 13 state...

Will China replicate in Africa Australia-type 2007-2010 resources M&A?

A replication of the Chinese resources acquisitiveness that took place in Australia from 2007 to 2010 will repeat itself in Africa over the next two to three years, says China-focused advisory firm Beijing Axis founder and MD Kobus van der Wath,...

Company secures significant pipeline licence

Brazilian iron-ore mining company Ferrous Resources has been awarded the preliminary licence (PL) for its 400 km slurry pipeline.

Australia’s planned resources capex at record A$173,5bn

Projected capital investment in Australia’s resources sector has reached an all-time high of A$173,5-billion, the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (Abares) reported on Thursday. At the end of April, there...

DMR defends Sishen rights adjudication, welcomes legal actions

South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has rejected allegations of bias in its adjudication of iron-ore mining rights applications in the Northern Cape, and reiterated its position that the Sishen Iron Ore Company’s (SIOC’s)...

Moly Mines sees progress at Spinifex Ridge

TSX- and ASX-listed Moly Mines has now started iron-ore mining at its Spinifex Ridge project in Western Australia, and expects to send the first shipment in mid-December, the firm said on Wednesday. The company is mining at an annualised rate of...

SA mine may make small, but significant, dent in China’s rare-earths market dominance

Earlier this year the increasingly tight rare earths supply situation prompted one environmental journalist in the US to exclaim that we should all kiss our wind turbines goodbye.

BHP, ArcelorMittal scrap plan to combine West Africa iron-ore assets

Diversified miner BHP Billiton and steel group ArcelorMittal have dropped plans to merge their iron-ore interests in Liberia and Guinea into a joint venture. The two companies announced on Wednesday that they were unable to reach a commercial...

Marampa iron-ore project remains on schedule – London Mining

The development of Aim-listed London Mining’s flagship Marampa iron-ore project, in Sierra Leone, was on schedule for first shipments to be dispatched in the second quarter of 2011, CEO Graeme Hossie said on Thursday. In an update to...