July 12, 2013 – Republic of Mining

[Mining Documentary] Pandora’s Promise rethinks nuclear power: review – by Linda Barnard (Toronto Star – July 12, 2013)

April 5, 2015July 12, 2013

(Above) Pandora’s Promise – Official Clip #1 (HD) Documentary

The Toronto Star has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

Pandora’s Promise makes some compelling points about how a global acceptance of nuclear power could save the environment.

The “beginning of a movement,” heralded at the end of director Robert Stone’s Pandora’s Promise, won’t be one to make some environmentalists smile, but it will certainly spark a lively debate on both sides of the nuclear power issue.

In that regard, Oscar-nominee Stone (for 1988’s Radio Bikini, about nuclear bomb tests at Bikini Atoll) has achieved a documentarian’s aims. But there’s not much in the way of balance in this often bone-dry documentary about the bum rap nuclear power has gotten thanks to misinformed, if well-meaning, environmentalists and energy experts.

Global Iron Ore Shortage Looms Due to Rio Tinto’s Delay in WA Mine Expansion – by Vittorio Hernandez (International Business Times – July 12, 2013)

July 12, 2013

http://au.ibtimes.com/commodities/

JPMorgan warned of a global iron ore shortage because of Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) plan to delay the expansion of its $5.4-billion iron ore mine in Western Australia. The bank reviewed Rio’s plan to boost its yearly production of the key steelmaking ingredient commodity by 70 million tonnes.

Although the second-largest global miner has began building the port and rail capacity, it has not yet committed to the mine expansion, which would delay the iron ore ramp-up by three years from the current 2016 target.

As it is, Rio is expected to report this week a 2-million-tonne shortage of iron ore production for Q2 due to the rains and conveyor belt problems. The delay in expansion plans is because Rio, like the other large miners, are reducing spending and cost due to lower demand and commodity prices in the international market.

Besides delaying expansions and slashing costs, mining companies are also reducing the compensation packages of their executives. Rio’s new iron ore chief executive, Andrew Harding, axed about 50 middle management position at the company’s iron ore office in Perth.

The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2013 – by Mycle Schneider and Antony Froggatt (July 2013)

April 5, 2015July 12, 2013

(Above) Pandora’s Promise – Official Clip #1 (HD) Documentary

For the full report, click here: http://www.worldnuclearreport.org/IMG/pdf/20130712msc-worldnuclearreport2013-lr-v2.pdf

Foreword by Peter A. Bradford, Adjunct Professor, Vermont Law School, teaching “Nuclear Power and Public Policy”, former commissioner U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Co.

Nuclear power requires obedience, not transparency. The gap between nuclear rhetoric and nuclear reality has been a fundamental impediment to wise energy policy decisions for half a century now. For various reasons in many nations, the nuclear industry cannot tell the truth about its progress, its promise or its perils. Its backers in government and in academia do no better.

Rhetorical excess from opponents of nuclear power contributes to the fog, but proponents have by far the heavier artillery. During the rise and fall of the bubble formerly known as “the nuclear renaissance” in the U.S. many of their tools have been on full display.

Opportunity Knocked: Is Ontario Compounding the Challenges Faced by Explorers and Miners? (Stockhouse.com – July 12, 2013)

July 12, 2013

http://www.stockhouse.com/

Opportunity Knocked: Is Ontario Compounding the Challenges Faced by Explorers and Miners?

Working in Ontario has become a competitive disadvantage, according to at least one CEO. Explorers have already expressed widespread disenchantment with new mining regulations that took full effect last April. Then Cliffs Natural Resources partly blamed government intransigence for the company’s decision to suspend its Ring of Fire chromite project. Now Northern Graphite (V.NGC) CEO Gregory Bowes has slammed the province’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines for what he says are unaccountable delays.

In a July 8 news release, Bowes said his company submitted a mine closure plan for its Bissett Creek project to the ministry on October 31, 2012. “This ‘45-day approval process’ has been ongoing for over seven months despite Bissett Creek being a relatively benign operation with no major environmental issues. It has strong community support and first nation consultations have been positive and constructive,” the news release stated.

According to the company, the ministry completed its review but must issue a mining lease before it can approve the project. The company applied for the lease in October 2011. The following July, the company stated, it was ordered to “redo” a government survey. “The survey was submitted to the surveyor general’s office in November 2012 for a 30-day approval process but a mining lease has still not been issued. The company believes approval is imminent but cannot provide further guidance and suggests any interested parties contact the MNDM directly.”

Bruised by purity rule, Indonesia tin exporters face trading overhaul – by Michael Taylor and Yayat Supriatna (Reuters India – July 12, 2013)

July 12, 2013

http://in.reuters.com/

JAKARTA, July 12 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s plans to force tin producers to trade through a domestic exchange could be a new source of disruption for shipments by the world’s top exporter, coming just as firms are trying to meet new tin purity rules, industry sources said.

The Southeast Asian nation has been trying to boost its profile in commodities markets in the hope of setting its own price benchmarks, but so far has faced an uphill task to attract enough liquidity to challenge benchmarks on overseas exchanges.

Under the new rules, all 51 registered tin exporters must trade on a domestic exchange after August 29. The trading plan is in addition to new rules brought in this month to raise minimum purity levels for tin exports to 99.9 percent, which are already expected to slash exports over the next few months, potentially lifting tin prices.

The Indonesia Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (ICDX) launched the country’s only physical tin contract last year, although it has struggled to challenge the dominant London Metal Exchange (LME) contract. “The new trading rules will promote sustainable tin mining, (and) will be good for producers and Indonesia,” said Megain Widjaja, ICDX’s chief executive, assuring there could be a transparent market with a fair price for producers and buyers.

Wary of trade war, Asian steelmakers curb exports – by Manolo Serapio Jr and Yuka Obayashi (Reuters U.S. – July 12, 2013)

July 12, 2013

http://www.reuters.com/

SINGAPORE/TOKYO, July 12 (Reuters) – Asian steelmakers have begun cutting exports in the face of growing cross-border trade disputes, raising the prospect that they may be forced to curtail production as they grapple with weak domestic demand and overcapacity.

The protectionist steps taken by steel-importing countries could hit steelmakers from major exporters Japan and South Korea. But China, which produces nearly half the world’s steel, may only be pushed to curb output if domestic demand shrinks.

From the United States to Indonesia, countries are trying to stem the flood of imports by slapping anti-dumping duties and confronting companies deemed to be taking business away from local producers.

Last week, a group of U.S. steel pipe makers led by United States Steel Corp, launched one of the biggest steel trade cases in years, asking the U.S. International Trade Commission to stop what it claimed is a deluge of unfairly traded steel products from nine countries.

Japan, the world’s No.2 steel producer, exporting nearly 40 percent of its output, is worried the situation may erupt into a trade war, and is among major producers taking steps.

Nickel Leads Drop in Industrial Metals for 2013 as Supplies Grow – by Agnieszka Troszkiewicz (Bloomberg News – July 10, 2013)

July 12, 2013

http://www.bloomberg.com/

Nickel is leading declines of the main industrial metals on the London Metal Exchange this year, with surpluses dragging down copper to aluminum and zinc.

Nickel production will exceed demand by 68,000 metric tons this year, and copper will have its first surplus since 2009, according to Standard Bank Group Ltd. Inventories of nickel in warehouses monitored by the LME rose 85 percent in the past year to a record, according to bourse data today. Aluminum and nickel are near four-year lows and copper last month was the cheapest in three years.

“2013 has been a tough year for global commodity markets,” UBS AG in London said in a report dated yesterday. “While demand growth for key markets such as iron ore, the coals and copper is actually positive and robust, they continue to be overwhelmed by even stronger supply growth.”

Industrial metals have slumped this year amid signs of economic slowdown in top user China and on speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve will taper bond purchases. Nickel, along with aluminum, zinc and copper, will be in surplus this year, according to Barclays Plc. Aluminum will have a seventh consecutive surplus, Morgan Stanley estimates show.

The History of KGHM International Ltd.

July 21, 2013July 12, 2013

This historical overview is from the 2013 KGHM International Corporate Social Responsibility Report, click here: http://www.kghm.com/files/doc_downloads/WEB_KGHM%20CSR%202013%20English.pdf

KGHM International Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., the 7th largest copper producer and the largest silver producer in the world based in Lubin, Poland. The KGHM International story is one of rapid growth, from a junior mining company to a global industry player.

The Early Years

KGHM International, formerly known as Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. (“Quadra FNX”), was formed as the result of a merger between two equals: Quadra Mining Ltd. (“Quadra”) and FNX Mining Company Inc. (“FNX”). Both were incorporated in 2002, and later listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, with the goal of becoming mid-tier base-metal producers.

The Quadra strategy: to grow through acquisitions

Quadra acquired its first asset, the Robinson Mine located near Ely, Nevada, in April 2004 and restarted production in December 2004. Quadra continued to grow through a series of acquisitions; in 2004, the company acquired the Sierra Gorda property in Chile through option agreements, and in 2005, added the Carlota Project near Globe, Arizona to its portfolio of assets.

New Caledonia weighs up impact of nickel mining – by Johnny Blades (Radio New Zealand International – July 12, 2013)

July 12, 2013

http://www.rnzi.com/index.php

Nickel mining is being blamed for New Caledonia’s soaring carbon emission rate and a nagging problem with pollution in the capital, Noumea, Nickel represents over 90 percent of New Caledonia’s overall exports and is the bedrock of the economy.

But as Johnny Blades found out, questions are being asked whether the territory’s heavy reliance on nickel mining is hindering its prospects of a sustainable future.

For a first time visitor to Noumea, it hits you as you drive towards the city. It’s different from many capitals in the Pacific region. You’re driving a multi-laned sealed motorway, being overtaken by BMW SUVs and Audis, passing lots of big buildings, housing developments. Signs of money are everywhere, and as you near the city itself, an explanation as it why there’s so much money floating around seems to present itself. The motorway winds around a large industrial complex with several tall chimneys belching dirty smoke into the air. So I pulled off the road to get a better look at it. It’s the power plant and smelter facility of SLN, Societe Le Nickel.

DOMINIQUE NACCI: The state-controlled mining company, SLN. SLN was owning over 70 percent of the tenements of New Caledonia, so it’s very important. And also New Caledonia owns about 25 percent of the world resource of nickel.

South African health minister: Canada should join us to fight TB in mines – by Aaron Motoaledi (Globe and Mail – July 11, 2013)

July 12, 2013

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

As South Africa’s Minister for Health, it may be surprising that many of the meetings I will have during my visit to Canada this week are not with health officials or medical personnel, but with representatives from mining companies.

Our mining industry has recently been the subject of intense international and national media scrutiny due to industrial unrest. As government, we have placed a high premium on returning stability to the industry and our deputy president has been tasked with managing this process. It is important that we succeed because mining is one of the driving forces of the South African economy, contributing around 20 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product and being a major employer.

What is less well known, and so far has not been subject to the same degree of media attention, is the devastation caused to miners and their families by tuberculosis (TB). The disease, which was the number one killer of Canadians in the early 20th century, remains the leading cause of death in South Africa today. It is an airborne disease, spreading through the air when people who have it cough or sneeze, and is often fatal if left untreated.

North America leads great oil glut – by Yadullah Hussain (National Post – July 12, 2013)

July 12, 2013

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

North American producers may fret about market access, but they are not showing any signs of slowing down their production cycle.

A new report by the International Energy Agency notes American and Canadian oil fields will lead the non-OPEC brigade next year to crank up a record 1.3 million barrels per day of new production — its highest combined effort in 20 years.

“North American production will remain robust in 2014 with U.S. crude production forecast to add 530,000 bpd and oil sands projected to add 140,000 bpd,” the IEA said in its monthly report published Thursday.

Key Canadian projects expected to come on stream over the next 18 months include Brion Energy’s (formerly Dover) 100,000-bpd Mackay River Commercial project, the 45,000-bpd first phase of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd’s Kirby project and Korean National Oil Corp.’s first Canadian oil sands venture of 30,000-bpd.

Other non-OPEC producers are stepping up too, with Brazil expected to add more than 200,000 bpd and Kazakhstan and South Sudan ramping up production in 2014. Even OPEC is resigned to the rise of its rivals, and is expecting a 300,000 bpd decline in demand for its crude in 2014, on top of the 400,00 bpd decline it expects this year.

Oil by rail: Canada’s way out west? – by Yadullah Hussain (National Post – July 12, 2013)

July 12, 2013

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

Even as the town of Lac-Mégantic picks up the pieces after a fatal disaster involving oil-laden trains, there are few signs the crude-by-rail expansion will start to slow. In fact, rail is finding new pockets of opportunities and may even facilitate the transfer of Canadian crude to Asian markets – if regulations allow.

Nearly a dozen plans to accelerate oil shipments via rail to the North West United States are focused on sourcing North Dakota and Alberta oil shipments to a string of refineries dotted along or near the U.S. western coastline, according to a report by Seattle-based Sightline Institute.

“In Oregon and Washington, 11 refineries and port terminals are planning, building, or already operating oil-by-rail shipments,” Eric de Place, an analyst with Sightline Institute, said in an interview. “The projects are designed to transport fuel from the Bakken oil formation in North Dakota, but the infrastructure could also be used to export Canadian tar sands oil.”

The combined oil-by-rail projects could add up to 720,000 barrels per day — that’s more oil capacity than Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway pipeline or Kinder Morgan Inc.’s Trans Mountain expansion, both of which are proposing the West Coast access for Alberta crude.

Aboriginal sessions popular at PDAC convention – by Glenn Nolan (Onotassiniik Magazine – Summer 2013)

July 12, 2013

Onotassiniik, Wawatay’s Mining Quarterly, sets out to provide knowledge and information about the mining industry in northern Ontario to First Nations communities, individuals and leaders throughout the region.

Glenn Nolan is the President of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada

In the last decade, positive relationships have grown between Aboriginal communities and the mineral exploration and development industry. I am a member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation in northern Ontario. My father worked at a nearby mine. I saw first-hand the benefits of this important industry, not only in my own life, but in the lives of my community members.

Since that time, the awareness by industry about what should be done to engage communities in a proactive and respectful way has grown tremendously, and that is very encouraging. We have made progress; more than 200 agreements have been signed between mining companies and Aboriginal communities in Canada. These projects range from grassroots exploration activities to producing mines across the country, with many resulting in employment and business opportunities for local Aboriginal communities. This is an exciting time for our communities, and for this sector.

As president of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), I am pleased to be in this role at such a dynamic time for our industry. I believe there is tremendous opportunity for Aboriginal communities and companies to work together in a respectful and collaborative manner.

Building a skilled First Nations mining workforce – by Shawn Bell (Onotassiniik Magazine – Summer 2013)

July 12, 2013

Trades training, life skills education help Webequie students chase dreams

When the instructor leaves the trailer, the four young men from Webequie First Nation huddle around the heavy diesel engine. They have been instructed to put it back together, after spending the morning taking it apart.

In quick Oji-Cree, mixed with lots of laughter, there is a debate going on. The pile of nuts and bolts on the bench fit somewhere. There is no consensus where.

Eventually Simon Shewaybick grabs a foot-long combination wrench and starts tightening the bolts. The others follow suit.
When the pile of bolts is gone, the four of them pause for a moment. They are still not sure, but there is nothing left to attach. When they flip the engine upright, a single bolt falls to the floor with a crash. Everyone laughs.

The engine is flipped over again, and it is back to work. Later that day Edgar Jacob says this is the sort of hands-on experience he was looking for when he signed up for Oshki-Pimache-O-Win’s Mining Essentials Program.

South African gold output continues to fall – how much further? – by Lawrence Williams (Mineweb.com – July 12, 2013)

July 12, 2013

http://www.mineweb.com/

South Africa’s vitally important minerals sector saw further production falls in May with the once dominant gold sector declining by a further 14.6% year on year.

LONDON (MINEWEB) – How the mighty have fallen! Not so long ago South Africa dominated global gold output with the rest coming nowhere in comparison, but the country’s gold output has been on the decline since the 1970s.

It fell to fifth largest gold producer in 2012 when it was overtaken by Russia and on the latest output figures the country has drifted downwards towards being now only the world’s sixth largest gold producer, having been overtaken by Peru as well – however that is on production so far this year.

In yesterday’s publication of minerals output and revenues, Statistics South Africa noted that the country’s gold output fell again in May commenting that its ‘overall mining production decreased by 0.7% year-on-year in May.The largest negative growth rates were recorded for ‘other’ metallic minerals (-32.3%), diamonds (-19.7%) and gold (-14,6%). The main contributor to the 0.7% decrease was gold (contributing -2.4 percentage points). Manganese ore (contributing 1.5 percentage points) was a significant positive contributor.’