Mining and Exploration

Fortescue Founder and Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest AO and Chief Executive Officer, Ms Elizabeth Gaines celebrated the official opening in Perth with:

        Hon Bill Johnston MLA, Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Energy; Industrial Relations

        Matt Keogh, Shadow Minister for WA Resources

        Hon Bill Marmion MLA, Deputy Leader; Shadow Minister for Mines and Petroleum

        Patrick Gorman, Federal Member for Perth

The history of the Mexican state of Zacatecas is inextricably linked to that of mining. In the early 18th century, it is estimated that the state was responsible for as much as a fifth of the world’s silver output. At different stages of Mexican history, its minerals have contributed over half of the country’s export volume in monetary terms. In short, this is a region which knows its silver mining.

In 2017, the African country of Mozambique celebrates the proud landmark of 25 years of political stability and democracy. With stability has come significant progress on a number of levels. A recent indication of this was seen with the establishment of the Balama Graphite Project, some 300km west of the port city of Pemba.

Business Excellence first visited the Sierra Gorda mine almost seven years ago, when it was still under construction. Its new owner, Polish mining giant KGHM, had recently invested over US$5.2 million to acquire the mine, making it the biggest foreign investment ever by a Polish firm outside of Poland.

When Business Excellence first visited Codelco’s Chuquicamata mine all the way back in 2013, what stuck out most was the sheer scale of the operations. As the biggest copper mine in the world, the vital statistics of Chuquicamata are quite staggering; at the time, before a modernization of the mine had begun, it was already producing 366,000 tons of fine copper per year and proven mineral resources totaling 4,200 million tons.

The importance of mining to the economy of the Dominican Republic cannot be understated. Figures recently released by the consulting firm Analytica bear this out; over the past 8 years, mining has represented 17% of the country’s FDI (foreign direct investment), 36% of its exports, and 17% of its receipts from direct taxes owing to employment.

Canada’s abundant mineral resources have led to an economic surge over the past decade, with shale oil occupying most of the newspaper columns. However, its coal resources - coming to the fore again after recent legislation changes in the neighboring US - are also enormous. By some estimates, the Peace River and Kootenay coalfields alone are estimated to hold more than two billion tonnes of coal.

The Alentejo district of Portugal is sometimes referred to as the ‘bread basket’ of Portugal thanks to its rich food reserves. However, ever since Swedish firm Lundin Mining acquired the Neves-Corvo mine back in 2006 as part of its merger with EuroZinc mining, the region’s land has become famous internationally outside the traditional areas of agriculture and cork.

Depending on which version of history is to be believed, the small Central American republic of Panama takes its name from a word meaning ‘an abundance of fish,’ or ‘an abundance of trees.’ Whichever version is taken, what’s clear is that Panama from the earliest times has been a country rich in natural resources.

Chile’s huge mining industry has taken flight over the past 40 years, creating thousands of skilled jobs and huge export markets and generating one of the world’s economic success stories in the process. Currently, the country’s mining industry employs close to a quarter of a million people and Chile ranks as the number one copper miner in the world.