A Blog for Browsing Mining, Mineral Processing, and Metals Info

A unit of #China steel producer #Tsingshan Group is set to triple its capacity to produce #NickelPigIron in #Indonesia as soon as May, an executive said, as the #Southeast #Asian nation pushes to win more profit from its mineral wealth.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/14/metals-lmeweek-indonesia-nickel-idUSL8N12D0TC20151014

#RareEarthMetal demand will grow as the #Chinese government recently unveiled new policy stimulus targeting new #EnergyCar market.

http://www.metal.com/newscontent/79229_rare-earth-demand-to-benefit-as-china-unveils-new-policy-for-new-energy-car

#Codelco, the world’s biggest #Copper producer, rained on all the metal bulls’ parade Tuesday, as the company said it plans to keep output targets and warned investors not to expect any dramatic changes to its $25 billion investment plan.

Read more at: http://www.mining.com/codelco-vows-not-to-cut-copper-output-even-if-prices-keep-falling/

#Molycorp Inc.’s biggest shareholder, #Chile’s #Molibdenos y #Metales SA, is planning to bid on some or all of the company’s assets in bankruptcy, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-13/molycorp-shareholder-molymet-said-planning-bid-on-miner-s-assets

#Argentina, #Chile and #Bolivia hold 70 percent of the world’s reserves of the soft, silvery metal, #Lithium.

Read more at: https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/argentinas-mine-industry-doubles-down-lithium-015218114–sector.html

#GeneralElectric Co is in advanced talks to sell a specialty finance portfolio, worth more than $30 billion, to #WellsFargo & Co,  according to a person familiar with the matter, as the industrial conglomerate returns to its roots.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/09/us-gespecialtyfinance-m-a-wellsfargo-idUSKCN0S32LZ20151009

#Jakarta: #Indonesia plans to amend its rules on #Mining contracts by the end of the year, a government official said, allowing #US miner #FreeportMcMoRan to apply for an extension of its contract at the Grasberg #Copper and #Gold mine.

Read more at: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/indonesia-plans-new-mining-contract-renewal-rules-year-end/

India’s only #Monazite processing plant (MOPP) at #Orissa Sands Complex (OSCOM), a unit of #IndianRareEarthsLimited (IREL), a wholly owned PSU under the #DepartmentOfAtomicEnergy (DAE), has kicked off its commercial production recently.

The 10,000 tonne per year monazite processing plant is designed to produce around 11,000 tonne of mixed #RareEarthChloride and 13,500 tonne of tri-sodium phosphate, sources said.

Present stock piling of #Thorium has assumed significance as the country has projected that about 30 percent of its energy demands would be met through non-carbon sources by 2030. Presently #India has the installed capacity to produce 5,780- MW nuclear power. At present #Uranium is used for nuclear power generation in #Power#Plants. The uranium based power reactors will be augmented by thorium-based nuclear power reactors and the demand of thorium would be increased in future, sources added.

Read more at: http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/countrys-only-monazite-processing-plant-goes-on-stream-115100900778_1.html

#OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Oct. 8, 2015 – The #DepartmentOfEnergy’s #OakRidgeNationalLaboratory and #Strangpresse LLC of #Youngstown, #Ohio, have signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement on a portfolio of #ORNL #Patents related to large-scale #Additive#Manufacturing.

Read more at: http://www.newswise.com/articles/ornl-strangpresse-llc-sign-additive-manufacturing-patent-license-agreement

Tumbling #Nickel prices are eating into #Miner profits with about 60 per cent of global producers now losing money — but one investment bank believes there is a turnaround in sight.

Read more at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-08/tumbling-nickel-prices-eat-into-miners-profits/6838974