Rod Bridges tells Andrew Pelis about the changes he has implemented at the Curragh mine and how these have resulted in big savings.

Global demand for coal continues apace, with mining companies across Australia enjoying something of a boom period. For a business like Wesfarmers Curragh, the key has been to implement cost-effective mining processes to make the most of buoyant market prices.

Already a trusted partner to the world’s major ocean carriers, Maher Terminals has kept its sights set on growth, using the economic slowdown to further improve its operations and prepare for a longer-term phased expansion of capacity as necessary, Keith Regan learns.

Nordic Mine Technology is pushing the boundaries in customised rail haulage systems for the mining sector. Philip Brown talks to Gay Sutton about innovation and growth.

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods rose 0.8 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, according to figures released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The following is a selection of the most relevant findings in the report.

The West African nation of Ghana is due to pump its first oil today following the discovery of the offshore Jubilee Field three years ago.

A consortium led by UK-based Tullow Oil hopes to produce 55,000 barrels per day increasing to 120,000 barrels in six months, with Ghana expected to earn around $400 million (£254 million) in the first year. Ghana’s government has forecast a boost to the country’s economic growth rate of up to seven per cent in the space of a year—from five per cent to 12 per cent.

The Mansfield City Council has approved an economic development agreement with leading American tool manufacturer Klein Tools for the location of its new Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center (AMTEC) in the city.

The performance-based agreement could result in the creation of 585 jobs and a $76 million investment by the Chicago, Illinois-based company.

The net economic impact to Mansfield has been estimated at more than $7.6 million over the first 10 years, with a $4.5 billion economic impact over 10 years to the State of Texas.

UK chemicals company Yule Catto has agreed to acquire its German rival PolymerLatex for €443 million (£376 million).

PolymerLatex, which makes a range of rubber-based products similar to Harrow-based Yule Catto’s, is currently owned by private equity house TowerBrook Capital Partners.

Under TowerBrook’s ownership, the company built a €60 million plant in Malaysia and created a new R&D facility near Dusseldorf, Germany.

Eagle Oil Holding Company, Inc announced today that it has concluded a new drilling study to further develop the W H Siler Lease in East Texas.

The program will incorporate the new technologies that use "directional" drilling or "radial" drilling being offered as solutions for older field development in the industry. The program is being geared for use in the less developed East side of the field, with startup in mid 2011.

Canadian Solar Solutions Inc., one of the world's largest solar companies, and SkyPower Limited, one of Canada's largest owners and developers of solar energy projects, today announced they have signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement to commission two solar parks with a nameplate capacity of 18.5 megawatts (MW) in Ontario.