Mining and Exploration

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended approval for Western Australia’s first uranium mine.

Toro Energy Limited has been advised by the EPA that approval has been recommended for the company’s Wiluna Uranium Project. The EPA has presented a report to WA’s state minister for environment stating that the Wiluna Project meets environmental approval requirements and should be approved and allowed to proceed, subject to stated conditions within the report.

Barrick Gold holds some of the world’s most exciting gold projects in its South American portfolio, and is determined to lead the mining industry in responsible mining. Julia Smith reports on its contribution to sustainable development and environmental best practice.

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company; and in West Africa, demand for its services is as high as ever, as Alan Swaby discovers.

Anyone working or simply taking an interest in gold mining will know full well that nothing can be said to potential investors about the value of a prospect that isn’t backed up by independent verification. In fact, as service providers go, there can’t be many that are as busy as those involved with testing and certification.

Osisko Mining Corporation has updated its assessment of fire damage incurred last week at the Canadian Malartic Mill and the preliminary time estimates for the recommencement of production.

Civil engineering inspections have been conducted on the mill floor and roof areas affected by the fire, and safety concerns in the area of the Number 4 cyclone bank have been addressed. Clean-up and repair work has commenced.

A major natural gas discovery has been made offshore Mozambique in the deepwater Rovuma Basin.

The discovery was made by London, UK-based Cove Energy together with its partner, Houston, US-based Aanadarko Petroleum, nearly 20 miles north-west of the Prosperidade complex.

The Golfinho discovery well encountered more than 193 net feet of natural gas pay in two high-quality Oligocene fan systems. The well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 14,885 feet in water depths of approximately 3,370 feet.

Osisko Mining Corporation reported record production in its Q1 2012 results today, but also issued a warning after a fire at its Canadian Malartic Mill in Quebec, Canada.

A fire occurred in the cyclone separator portion of the mill just before midnight on Wednesday 9 May, most likely started by welding near to the number four cyclone area, and then spread to the mill roof of that sector.

Coal of Africa Limited (CoAL) has completed its acquisition of Rio Tinto and Kwezi Mining’s shares in both Chapudi Coal and Kwezi Mining and Exploration (KME).

The acquisition has been carried out by Keynote Trading & Investment 108, a subsidiary of CoAL.

Chapudi and KME hold the prospecting rights for the Chapudi Coal Project and related exploration properties in South Africa’s Soutpansberg coalfield in the Limpopo Province. CoAL originally agreed to acquire the Chapudi coal assets from the previous owners in November 2010.

The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) seeks to transform global gold production by integrating and formalizing the position of countless artisanal and small-scale miners. Executive director Lina Villa Córdoba talks to Jayne Flannery about ARM’s vision for the human face of the industry.

Exploration companies GTA Resources and Balmoral Resources have just announced an exciting set of drilling results for their Northshore Gold joint venture. Peter Clausi and Darin Wagner talk to Gay Sutton about relationships and teamwork in this rapidly developing story.

Tullow Oil has announced the discovery of further oil at one of its wells in the Kenya Rift Basin.

The Ngamia-1 exploration well, located onshore Kenya in Block 10BB, has been drilled to an intermediate depth of 1,515 metres, with the total net oil pay encountered so far increasing to more than 100 metres across multiple reservoir zones.