Global furnace group boasts numerous projects

Local furnace supplier Tenova Pyromet is undertaking the design and supply of components for two ferrochrome furnaces for use at the Xstrata-Merafe Lion ferrochrome complex, in Limpopo.

Two-million LTI-free hours achieved by firm

Smelter engineering firm Metix has passed a safety milestone by achieving its highest number of loss-time-injury- (LTI-) free hours on a number of projects undertaken between November 2008 and March 2012, says Metix project director Wynand Moolman.

Latin America key to Xstrata 60% copper growth target

Swiss-listed diversified miner Xstrata said on Tuesday that the expansion of its copper projects in Latin America would be fundamental to achieving its 60% copper-output growth over the next three years. Speaking at the first day of the 2012...

West Africa emerging as the new Pilbara – West African Minerals

West Africa is emerging as the next significant iron-ore province after Australia’s rich Pilbara and is attracting the attention of global majors and the Chinese, says the London-Aim-listed West African Minerals. Major diversified miners are...

Anglo's struggle over platinum showcases sector woes

Miner Anglo American has made a priority of its struggling platinum business, admitting earlier this year that the world's largest primary producer is underperforming in the face of soaring costs, imposed safety stoppages and weak demand. But...

Environmental impact weighs heavy on opencast mining operations

Opencast mining has become increasingly unpopular with nongovernmental organisations and government authorities owing to its high environmental footprint, but the method is still the most economical option for mining houses, says minerals industry...

Xstrata sinks new shaft at Ernest Henry

The copper division of diversified miner Xstrata on Thursday started construction work to sink a new hoisting shaft at its Ernest Henry operation, in Queensland, that would enable underground mine production to double from 2013. The hoisting...

Glencore under fire over Congo as investors meet

Commodities trader Glencore faced calls for greater transparency around its deals in Congo, one of its most promising but most controversial jurisdictions, as it prepares for its first shareholder meeting since listing. Anti-corruption campaign...

Appetite for mining deals remains strong despite Q1 decline

While the volume and value of mining merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions declined in the first quarter, advisory firm Ernst & Young (E&Y) said on Tuesday that the appetite for deals remained substantial. The volume of M&A transactions fell...

RBCT coal exports down to 5.17Mt in April

South Africa exported 5.17-million tons of coal from the Richards Bay Coal Terminal in April, down from 6.24-million tons the previous month, data showed on Monday. Africa's biggest economy - a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe...

Miners will battle resource grabs - Glencore

Mining companies will fight growing resource nationalism and could pull out of countries where governments are demanding too large a share of the pie, commodities giant Glencore warned on Friday, a day after Argentina nationalised the country's...

Xstrata spends A$87m on Australian zinc

Swiss-listed diversified miner Xstrata would invest some A$87-million in its Australian zinc operations to increase yearly production by 5%, or 25 000 t. The company’s zinc division would accelerate production from the Lady Loretta underground...