Mining and Exploration

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.

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.

Canadian gold producer Agnico-Eagle Mines and Grayd Resource Corporation announced jointly today that Agnico-Eagle has formally commenced its $275 million take-over bid to acquire Grayd.

Agnico-Eagle is a long established gold producer with operations in Canada, Finland and Mexico and exploration and development activities in Canada, Finland, Mexico and the United States.

Exxaro Resources is South Africa’s largest listed empowerment enterprise by a long way, a position it has consolidated in just five years of operations; and its mid to long term strategy is nothing short of visionary.

London, UK-based Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) has announced plans to acquire the shares of Kazak thermal coal producer Shubarkol Komir that it does not already own.

ENRC, which currently owns 25 per cent of Shubarkol, said that its directors have unanimously approved to exercise rights to acquire the 2,638,103 outstanding shares for up to $600 million, plus assumed debt of $50 million.

Dubai-based Dragon Oil has announced the signing of a deal through which it will earn a 55 per cent interest in the Bargou Exploration Permit offshore Tunisia.

The farm-in agreement, which has been signed with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Perth, Australia-based Cooper Energy, will also give Dragon Oil operatorship of the permit in any development phase.

The Bargou Exploration Permit is located in the Gulf of Hammamet in the Mediterranean Sea, covering an area of 4,616 square kilometres with predominantly offshore exploration prospects.

Ivanhoe Mines, Rio Tinto and the government of Mongolia have reached an agreement on the stakeholding of the Oyu Tolgoi project in the Asian country.

The government was seeking to raise its stake in the mine, which is expected to go into production during the third quarter of next year, from 34 per cent to 50 per cent.

The government has now agreed for its stake to remain at 34 per cent.

Premier Oil is to acquire EnCore Oil for approximately £221 million, the two companies have announced.

London, UK-based Premier said the acquisition is in line with its strategy of acquiring high quality assets. The deal will increase its interest in UK Licence PL1430, including the Catcher field, by 15 per cent, taking its overall interest to 50 per cent. It will also provide Premier with operatorship of the Catcher area.

Catcher is one of the largest discoveries in the UK North Sea in recent years.

Turkey is something of an unknown and misunderstood place; but as Alan Swaby learns, there is at least one mining entrepreneur who has complete faith in its future.

Considering the amount of exploration that’s taken place in some of the most obscure corners of the world, it’s something of a surprise that Turkey’s mineral resources are so underdeveloped. At least it is to Alan Clegg, founder and CEO of Red Crescent Resources (RCR)—although he’s not complaining too much, as it leaves the field wide open for RCR at the moment.

Platinum producer Lonmin has agreed to sell a controlling stake in its Limpopo Baobab mining division to black empowerment group Shanduka.

Lonmin said the deal will enable it to work with Shanduka to develop Limpopo on a manageable scale, as well as furthering Shanduka’s strategy of operating mining assets in chosen commodities.