Mining and Exploration

A global business in every sense of the word, DORCE plans to build upon all that it has achieved to date. Deputy general manager Dr. Ferzat Mercan discusses how it intends to do so.

First announced in February, the merger looks to have cleared its final hurdle with Qatar Holdings releasing a statement saying that it will vote in favour at a meeting next week. This shareholder decision comes in the wake of Glencore increasing the amount it will pay for each Xstrata share.

The merger does still need to receive competition approval from the European Commission and there are reports that, in a bid to secure this, Glencore has proposed to sell part of Xstrata’s German operations.

A new report from Roskill offers an insight into the dynamics driving the iron ore market, and a market outlook to 2020.

With the disruption of supplies from India, concerns over slowing economic growth in China, and the effects of large stockpiles forcing the price of iron ore through a series of supposed "price floors", the iron ore industry has faced a turbulent time during 2011 and 2012.

Nobody’s perfect. What quality or ability do you wish you had?

Patience, I am impatient. I also wish I was more in touch with my emotional side which would help me express feelings such as sympathy, etc.

What is the best business book you have ever read, and why?

Chief executive officer Harri Natunen explains how the company is using bioheapleaching technology to get the most from its low grade nickel deposits.

Though it is perhaps not the first country that one associates with the industry, Finland’s mining history in fact dates back to 1540. Today the raw material base for its metal industry is made up from the exploitation of nickel, copper, cobalt, zinc and lead ores, as well as chromium, vanadium and iron deposits.

Kudumane Manganese Resources is developing its mining operation in one of South Africa’s poorest regions, and is keeping simplicity and the local community at its core.

In the deal which is valued at $500 million, BHP will sell its Ekati mine in Canada as well as its diamond marketing operations. The mine in question has produced in excess of three million carats of rough diamonds per year for the last three years.

Business manager Roberto Luna discusses the on-going development of the Sierra Gorda open pit copper mine project.

As well as having the distinction of being known as the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile is home to the Sierra Gorda project. “A large tonnage, open pit copper mine development,” explains business manager Roberto Luna, “it boasts deposits that total up to 2.2 billion tonnes of measured and indicated resources, and reserves amounting to some 1.3 billion tonnes.”

Chief executive officer Roderick Webster explains how the company’s operation in Namibia can be a springboard to greater success for not only China Africa Resources, but its parent companies as well.

Dust control is an issue in the mining industry, but also in agriculture, railways, roads and even the military. Bruce Coulthard, president of PZS Stabilization, talks about the revolutionary dust control product PennzSuppress D.