Africa’s natural resources key to powering prosperity

By Achim Steiner, Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya

Africa’s leaders looking to economic priorities for the continent should be putting the environment high on the list. Report after report is now demonstrating that sustainable management of Africa’s natural resources is one of the keys for overcoming poverty. Sensitively, creatively and sustainably harvested and fairly shared, these resources can assist in meeting – and going far beyond – the internationally agreed development goals.

The 20th century was an industrial age – the 21st century is becoming increasingly a biological one. Africa, with its natural wealth or “nature capital” residing in its ecosystems – from forests to coral reefs – can be a leading player on this multi-billion dollar stage. Africa’s wealth of natural resources has always been an asset and has sustained its people during good and hard times. But their true value, the sheer scale of the wealth from Africa’s freshwaters and landscapes to its minerals and marine resources, has been invisible in economic terms. Only now are we getting glimpses, only now are the real economic figures coming to the fore. Read more here...

Malawi, Brazil's Vale ink $1bn rail line deal

LILONGWE – Malawi has signed a $1-billion deal with Brazil's Vale (Homepage) for the construction and rehabilitation of a rail line that will transport 18-million ton of coal from Mozambique, government officials said on Wednesday.

Vale Logistics, a subsidiary of mining giant Vale, will build a new 138.5 km (86 mile) line from Chikhwawa in the south, to meet an existing line at Balaka. It will also rehabilitate 98.6 km of the existing link between Nkaya to Nayuchi. Read more here...

Exxaro faces strike at Arnot coal mine

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Wednesday that about 1 000 of its members would down tools at diversified miner Exxaro’s Arnot coal mine near Witbank on Friday.

This follows the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration issuing a certificate of nonresolution regarding a dispute over conditions of employment.

“When Eyesizwe and Kumba merged to form Exxaro, which took over Arnot as one of its operations, Eyesizwe had a long-service award that Exxaro promised it would not tamper with. Read more here...

Firm to dump ‘traditional’ SA shaft sinking approach in favour of Canadian model

Mining contracting company Murray & Roberts Cementation is poised to abandon the traditional South African approach to shaft sinking in favour of a Canadian model.

The Canadian model undertakes all activities in the shaft-sinking cycle in-line, with no two jobs taking place simultaneously.

“Contrary to the assumption that this will slow down the entire cycle, with the full combination of changes we’ve engineered, this approach will improve productivities across the board,” says Murray & Roberts Cementation business development executiveAllan Widlake. Read more here...

Cyclone shuts Australian iron-ore ports, oil fields

SYDNEY/PERTH - A tropical cyclone bearing down on west Australia forced the closure of some of the world's largest iron ore ports and several offshore oil fields on Wednesday, the first major series of shutdowns in what is forecast to be a tempestuous summer.

Ports serving the enormous iron ore mines of northwest Australia began closing on Tuesday night as Cyclone Heidi, packing winds of more than 100 kph (60 mph), swept across the Indian Ocean toward a stretch of coast where nearly two-thirds of the world's seaborne-traded iron-ore is handled. Read more here...

Anglo American Sur dispute continues

The ongoing dispute between Anglo American plc and Chile's Codelco has continued at full steam into the new year, after the state-owned copper producer said it would proceed with an attempt to acquire 49% of Chile-based Anglo American Sur (AAS) from Anglo.  Read more here...

Peru Government outlines changes following mining protests

Cabinet Minister - Oscar Valdez

The government of Peru has announced proposed changes to its mining framework, in the wake of a series of protests against mining projects last year.

In an address to the national congress, cabinet chief Oscar Valdes said that mining companies will be required to establish an environmental conservation fund as a part of future contracts. Read more here...

Kansanshi resumes - FQM

Copper producer First Quantum Minerals Ltd has resumed operations at its Kansanshicopper-gold mine in Zambia, following a stoppage caused by workers on strike.

Production at Kansanshi, Africa’s largest copper mine, had been halted after workers barricaded entrances to the operation on January 3.

The Zambian Minister for Mines, Wylbur Simuusa, had intervened to arrange an emergency meeting with those striking, in the hope of endingthe stoppage that had threatened lost production of approximately 700t of copper ore each day. 

First Quantum owns 80% of Kansanshi, with the remaining 20% owned by the state-controlled ZCCM Investments Holdings - Zambia earns approximately 80% of its foreign currency in copper exports. The mine employed 1,512 people during 2010.

The company said talks were continuing with the labour unions. 

ENRC settles Congo claim with $1.25bn deal

Kazakh miner ENRC said it agreed a $1.25 billion settlement with Canada's First Quantum Minerals to end a long-running dispute over ownership of the Kolwezi project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The company said it will pay $750 million plus a deferred consideration of $500 million as part of the settlement with First Quantum, the former owner of Kolwezi until its licence was revoked by the DR Congo in 2009. Read more here...

First Uranium climbs on water appeal's dismissal

TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Shares in First Uranium surged 13% higher on Thursday morning, after the gold and uranium producer said the South African Water Tribunal dismissed an appeal an environmental group lodged against one of its major subsidiaries.

The Toronto- and Johannesburg-listed company said the dismissal vindicated its decision to continue operating the Mine Waste Solutions (MWS) project since the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) lodged the appeal in March. Read more here...

Rio+20

“Rio+20” is the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012 – twenty years after the landmark 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. Rio+20 is also an opportunity to look ahead to the world we want in 20 years.

At the Rio+20 Conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from the private sector, NGOs and other groups, will come together to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet.

The official discussions will focus on two main themes: how to build a green economy to achieve sustainable development and lift people out of poverty; and how to improve international coordination for sustainable development.

It is a historic opportunity to define pathways to a sustainable future – a future with more jobs, more clean energy, greater security and a decent standard of living for all.

“Rio+20 will be one of the most important global meetings on sustainable development in our time.”

– UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Rio+20 Homepage (Link)

Third National Civic Forum and CEO Summit on Building Corporate Social Responsibility

David Mitrovica

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a big buzzword in mining, as companies strive to meet increasingly stringent environmental and social obligations, while remainining profitable.

Here we a look back at the conference with a quick word with conference organizer David Mitrovica. Click here for audio Interview

Scientists worry about a greenhouse feedback loop as the permafrost warms up

Given that the earth’s temperature is rising, sciencetists are investigating if gases trapped in the permafrost are going to be released and what effect it will this have on the climate.

Announced last month by the U.S. Government,  the Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments will analyze how permafrost melting is leading to more methane being released into the atmosphere. Read more here...

Zambia union calls off First Quantum mine strike

Workers at First Quantum Minerals' flagship Zambian copper mine have resumed work after a two-day strike, the mine workers' union and company said on Thursday.

Workers at the Kansanshi mine, Zambia's largest copper mine which produced 231,000 tonnes of the red metal in 2010, downed tools on Tuesday demanding 100 percent pay rises. Read more here...

China aims to triple coalbed gas output by 2015

China aims to produce 30 billion cubic metres of coalbed methane gas in 2015, more than triple the about 9 bcm produced in 2010, the National Development and Reform Commission said as part of a five-year plan for the industry. Read more here...

Featured Company - Safety Practices - Minera Panama (Inmet)

Minera Panama is a wholly owned subsidiary of TSX listed Inmet. Based in Panama this is a $5bn dollar investment. A lot of effort has been put in by the company to ensure the safety and well being of its workers, the surrounding communities and the Environment in which the asset is placed. Visit the following Link to find out more Minera Panama - SECA

Fatal accident at Savuka Mine

AngloGold Ashanti (Homepage) has announced the death of an employee in a fall of ground accident at Savuka mine near Carletonville on January 4. The fall of ground was triggered by a seismic event which occurred at about 12.20 pm during drilling operations.

A team from the Department of Minerals Resources inspectorate is scheduled to carry out an inspection of the accident site on Thursday. Production operations at the mine have been halted

Worker dies at Harmony's Doornkop mine

TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s third-biggest bullion producer, Harmony Gold (Homepage), said on Wednesday a worker died following a mud rush at its Doornkop mine, about 40 km west of Johannesburg. Read more here...

China iron-ore prices set for 20% decline in 2011

Iron ore prices in China, the world's biggest market, are headed for a 20 percent decline this year because of a government-mandated credit crunch as well as uncertainties about steel demand at home and overseas, and few analysts see them recovering soon.

Rising interest and reserve requirement rates over the year made it difficult for traders and steel mills to find the funds required to make large purchases.