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

As most of the Western world plans sanctions against Russia, Europe has a big problem. For example, it gets about 30% of its natural gas from the energy rich country. But where would Russian oil and gas go if not to the Western world? How about East to China. And if more fuel is going to China, Canada might find its oil sands look increasingly vital.

Read more at: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/06/would-you-have-bet-that-canada-and-china-will-bene.aspx

A dispute between the Mongolian government and its biggest foreign investor over the expansion of one of the world’s largest copper mines has added to concerns over the country’s faltering economy.

A financing deadline to expand the vast Oyu Tolgoi copper project passed last week without an agreement between developer Rio Tinto and the government in Ulan Bator. The delay is the latest twist in a long-running saga that has become a test for the investment climate in the country.

Read more at: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/c319473c-b983-11e3-b74f-00144feabdc0.html?siteedition=intl#axzz2y6xYyOkv

China is Indonesia’s second largest trade partner. Laterite nickel, the mineral most affected by Indonesia’s ban on dry bulk shipping companies, is used to produce nickel pig iron, which in turn is used to produce stainless steel at cheaper costs than pure nickel. But regardless of whether the ban would have been imposed or not, China imported a large amount of nickel from Indonesia in 2013 in anticipation of a ban.

Read more at: http://marketrealist.com/2014/04/nickel-ore-imports-in-february-shows-impact-of-indonesia-ban-taking-place/

The Central Eyre Iron Project has been granted major project facilitation status by the federal government.

It’s expected to be a big boost for the SA economy – eventually bringing in up to $3 billion a year – earned from exports to Asia.

Employment prospects are also positive – the project looks to eventually hire around 2000 people for the mine’s construction.

Managing director of Iron Road, Andrew Stocks, will be joining Prime Minister Tony Abbott on his trip to Asia to promote trade with Australia.

Read more at: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/04/05/45-billion-mining-project-receives-federal-approval

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) – Any worsening of tension between Moscow and the West that leads to stiffer sanctions would do systemic damage to Russian companies by deterring investors and making borrowing more difficult, a Norilsk Nickel executive said.

Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-ukraine-crisis-norilsk-20140404,0,2687088.story

A conflict-free minerals program that Pact implements in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda is expanding to a third Central African country, Burundi.

The iTSCi Programme, a member-supported initiative of ITRI, aims to improve the market for Burundi’s tungsten production by ensuring a conflict-free minerals supply chain that satisfies Dodd-Frank Act regulations and international buyers.

– See more at: http://www.pactworld.org/news/conflict-free-minerals-initiative-expands-burundi#sthash.ujjWviaU.dpuf

General Electric (GE) is preparing for the next industrial revolution. The company, which had a turnover of $146 billion in 2013, is in the process of redefining the rules of manufacturing through additive manufacturing (popularly known as 3D printing). In 3D printing, complex shapes are built up in layers from their constituent particles of plastics or metal, allowing for the creation of parts and products on a “one-off” basis much more cheaply than traditional production methods.

In an interview with Business Line, Mark Little, Senior V-P, Director of GE Global Research and Chief Technology Officer, talks about the way manufacturing is changing.

Read more at: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/3d-printing-will-transform-industries/article5872485.ece