Universal could be looking for strategic partner in SA

South Africa-focused coal developer Universal Coal on Monday reported that it could possibly start a search for a strategic investor to assist in developing its coking coal projects. The ASX-listed Universal said in a statement that it was...

Lucara says SA strike affecting Botswana diamond project

Lucara Diamond Corp, building the AK6 mine in Botswana, said on Friday strike action in South Africa’s steel sector was delaying deliveries to the project, though it did not yet know the full impact on the mine's schedule. AK6 was on track so...

Indian co's on the prowl for steelmaking resources

Executives from top Indian steel and iron-ore companies told delegates at a Toronto conference on Tuesday that they are looking to aggressively invest in coking coal and iron-ore deposits around the world. India currently has a steel production...

Verdict on China Rio trial on Monday, Australia says

Australia said on Thursday it had been told by China that the verdict in the trial of four Rio Tinto executives charged with bribery and stealing commercial secrets will be handed down on Monday. The case in Shanghai has raised tensions between...

China iron-ore price hike report seen as 'posturing'

Global miners are offering Chinese steel mills a 50% rise in iron ore prices, the China Daily said Thursday, but analysts dismissed the report as posturing and predicted a rise of 65% to 70%. China has by far the world's largest steel sector,...

Daily podcast – June 2, 2009

In today's podcast: Chinese steel mills are to offer a new proposal in benchmark iron ore price talks; and criminal charges have been laid against 294 illegal miners at one of South African gold major Harmony Gold's old shafts.

Steel sector unlikely to recover significantly until late 2009 – Deloitte

Governments worldwide have plans to spend billions of dollars to stimulate local economies. From incentives to encourage consumer spending to massive infrastructure programmes, many of these measures hold the potential to significantly affect the...

Zim central bank moots major overhaul of mining sector

Zimbabwe’s central bank has proposed sweeping reforms to the country’s mining sector which will leave the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) as the sole “explorer and discoverer” of minerals and also include strict monitoring...

Zimbabwe proposes sweeping mining industry reforms

Zimbabwe’s central bank has proposed sweeping reforms to the country’s mining sector which will leave the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation as the sole ‘explorer and discoverer’ of minerals, a strict monitoring of the production and...

Customers bear brunt of soaring Asia freight costs

Record shipping costs fuelled by China's ravenous appetite for commodities have pushed up prices for metals, raw materials and farm products across Asia - but done little to dampen demand.

Three producers account for 70% of iron-ore – study

The global iron-ore landscape has become the domain of giants, with the top three producers now accounting for over 70% of world seaborne iron-ore trade, says AME Mineral Economics in its latest study.

China zinc offshore prices fail to tempt exporters

China is reluctant to raise zinc exports despite rising global prices, preferring to sell the metal domestically where demand from the booming steel sector is strong, industry officials said on Wednesday.