American Chemistry Council president and CEO Cal Dooley released a new report today on the potential benefits of shale gas to the Louisiana petrochemical industry, and the US in general.

"Access to untapped supplies of natural gas is one of the most important domestic energy developments in 50 years,” he said. “One-third of US natural gas reserves are comprised of shale gas reserves almost impossible to extract just five years ago. Shale gas promises an industrial renaissance, here in Louisiana and in America."

Ireland’s Providence Resources has announced its intention to commence drilling operations on its 48/24-JBarryroe well in mid-November.

The company has been awarded an exploration licence for Barryroe for a period of up to six years, split into two three-year phases.

The well location and programme have been finalised using new fast-track 3D seismic data.

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited is suspending mining operations and gold production at its Goldex mine in Val d’Or, Quebec, with immediate effect.

The decision follows a report from a second rock mechanics consulting firm recommending that underground mining operations be halted until the situation is investigated further.

South Africa’s Steinhoff International is to swap several of its industrial assets for a bigger stake in manufacturer KAP International in a deal worth R8.9 billion.

Steinhoff will exchange PG Bison and Unitrans, along with its raw materials assets, for an increase in its shareholding in KAP from 34 per cent to 88 per cent, giving it control of the manufacturer.

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Osisko Mining Corporation has deposited $22.1 million with the Quebec Government, representing 50 percent of its financial guarantee to cover the entire future cost of rehabilitating its new Canadian Malartic mine site in the Abitibi region of Quebec.

The balance of the guarantee will be remitted as two subsequent payments of $11.05 million each, to be made on or around September 1, 2012 and September 1, 2013.

There is huge potential for the spread of mobile and internet-based telecommunications services in Africa. Regional market leader Uganda Telecom Ltd is required to invest heavily in management, infrastructure and technology improvements to increase its share of the market.

As the first government owned corporation in the Northern Territory and the only combined utilities company in Australia, Power and Water Corporation is a trendsetter in a challenging environment, as Jane Bordenave reports.

The growth potential of Sub-Saharan Africa may be enormous, but unlocking it requires a sound grasp of a very different set of business drivers and challenges. Johan Van Zyl, manufacturing director of Kraft Foods Sub-Saharan Africa, talks to Jane Alverca.

While the West remains mired in gloom and recession, Africa’s economic star is rising. The World Bank and the IMF concur that the continent will play host to some of the world’s fastest growing economies over the next decade, driven by Africa’s immense mineral and natural resource wealth.

Sam Howard speaks to Willie Wood, senior sustainable horticulture manager at CFL to find out how partnerships with producers and growers worldwide are impacting the products found on UK supermarket shelves.

Part of the AG Thames group of companies, Chingford Fruit Limited (CFL) was founded in 1966. Over the last forty four years AG Thames has continued to grow through the acquisition of companies within key areas of its business. The group now employs 480 people with offices in South Africa, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and Chile.