Mining and Exploration

Morano Resources has entered into an option agreement to purchase Zarmadan Resources Corporation and its Rumri gold project in Tajikistan, it has been announced.

The Rumri project is located in the Tavildara region of Tajikistan, about 250 kilometres east of Dushanbe, near the village of Sangvor in the southern Tien Shan gold belt. The belt hosts a number of world-class gold deposits and globally significant gold producers.

Lindsay Shankland, managing director of Manitou Southern Africa, talks to Gay Sutton about building a materials handling brand for the mining sector and taking those products worldwide.

It’s not everyone who can say they truly love the business they are in; but Alan Swaby talks to one such manager currently working deep in the African bush.

In its first partial year of production, Osisko Mining Corporation has reported net profit of $37.8 million for Q4 2011.

The Canadian Malartic mine reached commercial production on 19 May, 2011, contributing to a net profit of $18 million for the year, compared to a loss of $17.8 million in 2010.

Mine operating profits during the fourth quarter totaled $39.5 million, and $79.5 million for 2011.

Brazil imports 50 percent of the phosphates it needs for agricultural production: MBAC has the ability to become the second largest domestic producer of single superphosphates within the next five years, with a valuable sideline in rare earth elements.

Agriculture in many parts of Africa is still struggling to fulfil its potential. Anup Modha, general manager of Tanzania-based Minjingu Mines & Fertiliser, explains how the company has been using environmentally friendly local resources to achieve food security and poverty reduction.

Shell Exploration & Production (Shell Bidco) has made an offer of £992.4 million for East Africa-focused Cove Energy.

UK-based Cove's primary asset is its 8.5 per cent stake in the Rovuma Offshore Area 1 in Mozambique, where operator Anadarko has found over 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The Rovuma offshore basin is a frontier exploration area, holding large resources of natural gas reserves suitable for LNG projects.

US-based Select Energy Services has entered the Canadian market with the completion of its purchase of WTR Transfer Services Ltd. (WTR).

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Select Energy Services provides engineered water solutions to the oil and gas industry, and well-site services to energy producers.

WTR performs water transfer services for the shale drilling industry in western Canada, specializing in high volume water transfer through a "no leak" water transfer system.

Estrella Gold is a prospect generator company, focused on gold in Latin America and growing its inventory of gold resource ounces. CEO Keith Laskowski tells John O’Hanlon why he placed his 30 years’ experience in gold exploration at the service of a junior company.

Toronto-based exploration company Unigold is poised to begin an exciting phase of exploration and development in the Dominican Republic. CEO Andrew Cheatle talks to Gay Sutton about the latest gold discoveries.