Frik Els , Editor

Billions hacked off mining majors after BHP’s China comments

"The big infrastructure build clearly will come to some end," Ian Ashby, BHP's chief of iron ore said on Tuesday.

Frik Els | March 20, 2012 | 4:54 pm

Big G family feud is bringing the taxman, regulator and lawmakers down on Hancock Prospecting

While the sordid details emerging from the proceedings are humiliating enough there may be some serious financial implications for Gina Rinehart – mining's 4th richest person with a fortune pegged at around $18 billion – as well. On top of the tax loopholes in family trusts exposed by the Rinehart saga, it has also emerged that Hancock Prospecting has not submitted annual financial statements for the past two years.

Frik Els | March 13, 2012 | 6:08 pm

China gives miners another scare as $58 billion monthly swing hands it largest trade deficit in 12 years

MarketWatch quotes  Nomura economist Zhiwei Zhang as saying:  "Overall, economic conditions are getting weaker at a fast pace. The slowdown is happening faster than the government expected."

Frik Els | March 13, 2012 | 12:10 am

Indonesia’s Rule No. 24 likely to embolden other nations to grab more from mining

Indonesia surprised the global mining community last week after a new rule – Government Regulation No. 24 of 2012 – was quietly announced on the mining ministry's website. A growing list of nations – and not just radical fringe territories such as Zimbabwe or Venezuela – are pushing for greater control and ownership of the resource sector on top of higher taxes and royalties.

Frik Els | March 11, 2012 | 7:15 pm

Gold traders most bullish in four months as bullion fund holdings set new record

Bloomberg's weekly survey of gold traders shows they are the most bullish since November 11 with 16 out of 23 predicting that the precious metal will gain this week after investors up their holdings of bullion backed funds to a record $131 billion.

Frik Els | March 11, 2012 | 12:30 am

Euphoria over Molycorp deal may soon turn to despair. China’s grip is as strong as ever and rare earth prices are still dropping

Molycorp's mould-breaking deal with Neo Material Technologies sent its shares rocketing in New York on Friday and some industry observers say the tie-up creates a vertically integrated company that will transform the industry. Others see REE prices continuing to drop with some already down 70% and China's grip on the market undiminished – exports could double this year and domestic production continues to ramp up.

Frik Els | March 9, 2012 | 11:50 pm

South Africa’s standalone state mining company a step closer, already hunting for deals

South Africa took a step closer on Thursday to create a standalone mining company that will take charge of the government's role in the country's rich resources and with ambitions of becoming involved in the continent's mining sector.

Frik Els | March 9, 2012 | 9:50 pm

Xstrata pays top dollar for BC met coal field

Xstrata's relentless appetite for coal, particularly the metallurgical variety, was again evident on Thursday after it bought Talisman's Peace River deposit for $500 million.

Frik Els | March 9, 2012 | 4:30 am

Mongolian politics pushes stake sale of massive coal mine further out

Mongolia's plans, first mooted in 2010, to sell a stake in its Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi coal-mining company  to the public faces more delays over politics and regulatory problems while talks with companies to developed the western block of the largest coking coal deposit on the globe are also on ice.

Frik Els | March 9, 2012 | 1:29 am

Ivanhoe Australia turns into nice little earner earlier than scheduled, still on the chopping block

Ivanhoe announced on Thursday its Australian project is producing copper and gold ahead of schedule. Last week the company said Ivanhoe Australia is on the chopping block as its mega-mine in Mongolia requires all its financial resources.

Frik Els | March 8, 2012 | 11:55 pm

• First
• 352
• 353
• 354
• 355
• 356
• 357
• 358
• Last