USA and Canada

General Motors today announced a $30 million investment in new equipment for its stamping plant in Pontiac, Michigan, to make sheet metal for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano being built at GM’s nearby Orion Assembly Plant.

The investment will upgrade three conventional press lines already operating at the plant and add two additional presses.

Pontiac Stamping has provided parts for GM vehicles since 1932.

Cruise ships are important to the economies of Caribbean islands, but the Port Authority in Trinidad & Tobago has seen a huge growth in cargo in recent years, as Jeff Daniel discovers.

For those of us yet to enjoy a Caribbean visit, Trinidad & Tobago are right at the bottom of the chain of islands that make up the West Indies, almost within hailing distance of South America; at certain points the seas between Trinidad and Venezuela divide the two nations by no more than about seven miles. 

BAT Caribbean and Central America is operating in one of the most sensitive and spectacular locations. Federico Jenkins talks to Gay Sutton about protecting this natural environment and working to relieve poverty in the local communities.

Agnico-Eagle’s first venture into Mexico’s legendary Sierra Madre gold and silver belt is helping to deliver record results.

Interim CEO Jay Richardson talks to Gay Sutton about four months of change and improvement at Liberty Mines, and why the time is right for a new CEO to take the business forward as a successful nickel exploration and mining operation.

Taseko Mines Limited is about to embark on the third phase of modernisation at Canada’s second largest open pit copper mine. VP of Operations Dave Rouleau talks to Gay Sutton about future-proofing the mine against the cyclical nature of commodity prices.

Goldcorp’s Red Lake mining complex is one of the world’s richest gold resources. General manager Mike Lalonde talks to Gay Sutton about integrating a portfolio of traditional mines into a single forward looking identity.

Lithium Americas Corporation was set up last year after the discovery of the third largest lithium bearing brine deposit in the world. Its 64,572 hectare Cauchari-Olaroz discovery in Argentina will come on stream just in time to feed escalating demand from the manufacturers of electric vehicles.

Weir Oil & Gas today announced a $65 million expansion of its Weir SPM manufacturing and service facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

The investment is part of the company's strategy to keep up with growing industry demand for drilling and hydraulic fracturing following a rise in the numbers of horizontal rigs supported by oil and liquid rich shale in North America.