Mining and Exploration

As the vast majority of experts, analysts and economic observers will attest, the mining sector offers the African country of Kenya the highest immediate growth potential, with its development expected to contribute significantly to driving economic growth in various industries including energy, construction, transportation and finance.

The rare stone was recovered by Petra Diamonds at its Cullinan mine, located to the north-east of Pretoria, which is famed for its production of blue diamonds.

Experts believe that the diamond could be worth more than $10 million. Similar finds at the mine in recent years have commanded similarly high prices and the news of the latest discovery has resulted in Petra Diamond’s share price rising.

The news was made official after Glencore agreed to sell its stake in Xstrata's copper mining project in Peru, thus clearing the final hurdle in the completion of deal that will form one of the world's biggest metals and commodities firms.

For its part, Glencore also agreed to terms that state that it must supply a minimum volume of copper concentrate to China for a period of eight years.

How has financing evolved in the last three to five years?

As the Mining division of IHC Merwede, IHC Mining focuses on integrated solutions for mining houses in onshore, near shore and deep-sea mining. It offers advisory services to determine overall technical and economic project viability. It designs, builds and supplies innovative mining vessels and advanced equipment. During operations the company provides its clients with life cycle support.

Hot on the heels of achieving the long awaited approval from the federal government of Australia to proceed with its Wiluna uranium mine Toro Energy has entered talks with seven potential partners in Japan, China and South Korea. Though Australia does not generate nuclear power domestically it is an extremely attractive source of nuclear fuel to Asian countries that do – politically and economically stable and geographically accessible.

Solid demand from the aerospace and auto markets has resulted in the company’s net income nearly doubling to $121 million. In announcing the results Alcoa highlighted productivity improvements and higher volumes in its downstream business as factors that help partially offset higher pension and maintenance costs.

It was in 1988 that BF Goodrich, the company that first discovered how to bond rubber to steel, decided to divest the industrial businesses it had accrued and focus on its aerospace assets. The US rubber lining business was sold to RJF International Corporation, while its Canadian operations to Epton Industries Incorporated. In 1996, Peter Snucins purchased the assets and intellectual property of Epton Industries and created Polycorp Ltd in Elora, Ontario.

Located on the southeast coast of Africa, Mozambique is the world’s 35 largest country and has become recognised as a favourite hot spot for countless mining companies, particularly those interested in coal. With coal found in the country having garnered a reputation for its purity, Mozambique has earned the moniker of being the “natatorium of coal mines”. 

When we last spoke to Harry Anagnostaras-Adams, Managing Director of EMED Mining, it was late 2009 and he had been hoping to get the company’s flagship project, Rio Tinto open-pit copper mine near Seville in Spain into operation by 2010. That was at any rate the original objective of the company, which in 2005 had been floated on London’s AIM market by a group of Australian mining specialists who saw a real opportunity across Europe and the Middle East.