Central Europe’s biggest hard coal mining company OKD says it is sticking to a low-risk production portfolio in spite of ‘booming demand’ for coke to make steel. General Manager Klaus-Dieter Beck told a press conference on Monday that two years ago the company could hardly sell its coking coal, largely used for steelmaking. Now, it can barely keep up with demand. OKD last year produced jut over 6 million tonnes of coking coal, or 52% of total production.

Northam CEO Glyn Lewis says that the JSE-listed platinum-group-metals (PGM) producer is taking the step to provide its “growing” US shareholder base with a more visible profile. Recent corporate developments have resulted in improved liquidity in the Northam stock, with the free float increasing to 64%.

Dow Jones reports a recovery in global auto and aerospace demand and continued strength in emerging markets should underpin a sharp rise […]

The Canadian Press reports a group of shareholders in copper, nickel and platinum junior miner Ursa Major Minerals is looking to gather support for a bid to oust the company's board over the underperformance of its stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Merchant bank Forbes & Manhattan Inc. and Inspiration Mining Corp., which is Ursa Major's largest shareholder, said Tuesday they have filed a dissident proxy circular seeking backers for a move to elect new directors at an annual meeting June 23. Ursa Major was trading up 7.4% on the TSX by mid-day Tuesday.

Columbus Gold Corporation announced on Friday the acquisition of three new projects in the Greater Mahogany Hills, bringing its total gold property portfolio in Nevada to 26, covering approximately 37,000 acres. Columbus Gold plans to complete mapping and further sampling with plans to drill target areas in late 2011 and 2012. Columbus Gold is a gold exploration and development company operating in French Guiana and Nevada. In French Guiana, Columbus Gold recently acquired an option to earn a 100% interest in the Paul Isnard gold project, which has a 43-101 compliant 1.9 million ounce inferred gold resource and substantial expansion potential.

London Stock Exchange Group and its takeover target, TMX Group, said Friday Canadian competition authorities won't challenge the proposed combination of two exchange operators. The issuance of the no action letter satisfies a condition of a Feb. 9 agreement by LSE and the company that operates the Toronto Stock Exchange to join forces in a $3 billion deal. A consortium of nine major Canadian banks and investment funds called Maple Group Acquisition Corp has made a hostile offer for TMX worth C$3.6 billion ($3.7 billion). The LSE proposal was not expected to raise any red flags from Canadian competition authorities, unlike the Maple bid.

Adroit Resources listed on the TSX Venture exchange on Monday announced the receipt of a Mobile Metal Ions Process Soil Geochemical Survey report on the Grassy Lake portion of the Red Vein Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) property. President's comments: "I am very pleased with the contents of the MMI Report. The report strengthens management's belief that this property will yield a valuable commercial discovery. The detection of a geochemical signature for Platinum Group Mineralization has certainly come as an exciting surprise."

South African coal miner Exxaro Resources has agreed to pay AUD$123 million for Territory Resources with the goal of producing 10 million metric tonnes of iron ore a year, Bloomberg reported Monday: Exxaro offered A$0.46 a share for the iron-ore miner based in Perth, Western Australia, the companies said in a statement today. The bid, at a 64 percent premium to the closing price on May 20, was recommended by Territory’s board, they said.

On the same day the premiers of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia toured a potash mine in Penobsquis, NB's mining commissioner began hearing from residents of a nearby town who blame the mine, operated by Potash Corp. for a loss of 60 water wells about six years ago. The mining company initially provided the residents with bottled water, but the provincial government has since installed a municipal water system.

Australia needs every worker it can get if it intends to take advantage of its current mining boom, but Melvin Mansell of The Advertiser argues that a proposal to fast-track apprentice training could lead to cut corners and underskilled workers.

If industry has a strong, influential role in the process, a new system which delivers well-skilled employees in shorter time-frames might be achievable. It is imperative though, that quality, and most importantly safety, is not compromised.