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

As investors and economists worry about global spillover effects on commodities by a slowing Chinese economy, one key resource is bubbling under the radar—stockpiles of rare earth metals in neighboring North Korea.

The category of minerals called rare earth is a misnomer. The chemical elements are available throughout the world, and have tongue-twisting names such as cerium and lanthanum. But rare earth minerals are key to everyday tech gadgets and growing innovations, such as smartphones, high definition TVs, hybrid cars, missiles—even the extraction of natural gas known as fracking.

Read more at: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101418459

PHI Group, Inc.  a company focused on energy and natural resources, today provided highlights of the 3rd Annual Indonesia Mining Conference that was held on February 16-19 in Bali, Indonesia by Clariden Global.

The conference, sponsored by Epicor, CGG, Outotec, Chitra Paratama and many more, featured four days of presentations, panel discussions, training sessions, meetings and networking opportunities for mining operations, funding opportunities, onshore processing and smelting, Indonesian mineral policy updates and a plethora of important and timely topics that address recent changes in the international mining landscape, especially the effect of the new mining law in Indonesia.

The conference went well and overall, the event participants found the conference value added in gaining a better understanding about the opportunities, on-the-ground realities, and potential strategies to navigate regulatory uncertainties as well as connecting with potential partners in Indonesia’s mining industry. It brought forth an expert speaker faculty comprising of mining industry leaders and decision makers from both the coal and non-coal sectors and was filled with quality content.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/phi-group-reports-on-3rd-annual-indonesia-mining-conference-2014-02-21?reflink=MW_news_stmp

ZIMBABWE has shortlisted two firms to build a new platinum refinery and is looking to resolve a dispute with miners over a 15% levy imposed on unrefined exports of the metal last month, the Mines Minister said on Tuesday.

Mining Weekly

The Southern African country had the world’s largest platinum reserves after South Africa and President Robert Mugabe last year gave miners two years to establish a refinery.

Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa told reporters nine companies had submitted refinery plans and two had been shortlisted. The government would conduct due diligence soon.

Read more at: http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2014/02/21/new-platinum-refinery-zim/

HONG KONG, Feb 21 (Reuters) – Global commodity trader Trafigura said it would buy 30 percent of Jinchuan Group’s copper smelter in southern China, the first time a foreign firm has taken a major stake in such a facility in the world’s top consumer of refined copper.

The deal, for an undisclosed amount, comes as the Switzerland-based company looks to get a leg up on international rivals such as Glencore Xstrata and Louis Dreyfus Commodities indoing business in the world’s No.2 economy.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/trafigura-jinchuan-idUSL3N0LQ0XH20140221

China’s Long March Capital Ltd., which partners with Citic Group Corp., is considering buying South African platinum assets after their value was depressed by strikes, the company’s Managing Partner Clement Kwong said.

The company is now reviewing a decision to hold off on purchasing South African platinum assets because of the labor issues, Kwong said in a Feb. 19 interview in Johannesburg. Long March last year partnered with Citic unit Baiyin Non-FerrousMetal Group Co. Ltd. and China-Africa Development Fund to complete their buy-out of Perth-based Gold One International Ltd. and indirectly acquired a stake in Westonaria, South Africa-based Sibanye Gold Ltd.. (SGL)

Read more at: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-02-20/chinese-group-considers-south-africa-platinum-bids-amid-strikes

Nickel headed for a third weekly advance on speculation that a global surplus will shrink amid a ban on exports of unprocessed ore in Indonesia and as U.S. manufacturing beat estimates.

The contract for delivery in three months on the London Metal Exchange added 0.3 percent to $14,410 a metric ton at 11:39 a.m. in Tokyo. The metal has risen 1.1 percent this week. Futures touched $14,652 on Feb. 19, the highest since Jan. 24.

Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of the ore from mines. Chinesegovernment agencies and domestic producers met last week to consider ways to counter the impact of the Jan. 12 ban, which is choking off supply to its nickel pig iron smelters. The Markit Economics preliminary index of U.S. manufacturing increased to 56.7 in February, surpassing economists’ estimates.

Read more at: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-02-20/nickel-set-for-3rd-weekly-rise-on-indonesia-u-dot-s-dot-manufacturing

The Global Lithium-Ion Battery Market Expected to Experience Strong Growth and Reach $24.2 Billion by 2018

Lithium-ion battery is used in a variety of markets, such as consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial. The prime drivers of the market are growing demand of electronic products, automotive vehicles, etc. Trends are favorable for growth across the industry; however, significant differences in growth potential among the application markets and regions exist.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/research-and-markets-idUSnBw206320a+100+BSW20140220

Feb 20 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s trade ministry said on Thursday miners Vale Indonesia and state-owned PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) were among the first group of firms allowed to export processed mineral ore and refined metal under a new mining law.

Bachirul Chairi, director general of foreign trade, said PT Indoferro and PT Global Multi Tambang were also included on a list of nine companies.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/indonesia-minerals-antam-idUSL3N0LP3S320140220

Feb 20 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s trade ministry said it had approved permits for six companies to export processed mineral ore and refined metal, the first group of firms to be allowed to ship under a new mining law that took effect last month.

“As of today, there are six companies that have received acknowledgement from the trade ministry as processed mineral and refined metal registered exporters,” Bachrul Chairi, director general of foreign trade at the ministry, told reporters on Thursday.

Read more at:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/indonesia-minerals-permits-idUSL3N0LP33I20140220

HONG KONG, Feb 20 (Reuters) – Beijing is organising a delegation of Chinese companiesthat have plans to build metals plants in Indonesia, in a first sign the government may be concerned over ore supplies because of the Southeast Asian country’s mineral ore export ban.

China’s Ministry of Commerce is planning the trip to visit Indonesian government officials to seek clear policies for planned and potential China-led investments, though the timing of the visit has not been decided, industry sources said.

Read more at: http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/china-metals-indonesia-idINL3N0LP1HM20140220