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BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil–Brazilian mining giant Vale SA (VALE, VALE3.BR) will “probably” sell more assets by the end of the year as it has continued shopping for buyers of its stake in several non-core businesses and is also working on a deal that could “surprise” the market, Chief Executive Murilo Ferreira said Tuesday.

Among the businesses from which the company could divest are its 22% stake in aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA (NHYDY, NHY.OS), its 40% stake in Brazilian bauxite miner Mineracao Rio do Norte SA and its remaining oil and gas assets.

“There’s also a surprise that I’m not going to talk about to keep you all curious,” Mr. Ferreira told reporters on the sidelines of Exposibram, the annual congress of Brazil’s mining institute.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130924-707418.html

“In three weeks, the price has increased from $20,000 to $23,000. So that really reflects that we are able to crystallize the value.”

“We have to see this policy in a long-term context that is for us to be able to increase value-added products domestically,” said Wirjawan. “The essence is that, if this succeeds, this can be an example for other products,” he said, without listing other commodities. The country is the biggest exporter of palm oil and largest mined-nickel producer.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-09-23/indonesia-vows-to-stick-with-tin-trade-policy-as-prices-rally

Singapore (Platts)–23Sep2013/735 am EDT/1135 GMT

Brazilian mining giant Vale sold at $132.50/dmt CFR China through a spot tender blended iron ore fines for the first time from Sohar, Oman, customers of the miner said Monday.

“This is the first time I have seen Vale offering this new fines blend from Sohar. Previously, it has only offered Iron Ore Sohar fines (IOSO) from Sohar, so this is a totally new blend that we’ve not seen before,” a Shanghai-based customer said.

http://www.platts.com/latest-news/metals/singapore/brazils-vale-sells-new-iron-ore-fines-blend-from-26299434

Mining companies have been permitted to drill at the doorstep of the Grampians National Park, and the area could become ”a new copper belt” in Australia, according to one mining executive.

Since December, the Department of State Development, Business and Innovation has pushed through three exploration licences that allow companies to drill on either side of the Grampians, after geological surveys showed the area was ”highly prospective” for copper.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/copper-mine-belt-to-ring-grampians-20130921-2u6w3.html#ixzz2fiZ1Jkwv

Northam Platinum Ltd. (NHM), operator of the world’s deepest platinum mine, will raise 1 billion rand ($103 million) from selling shares and bank loans as it seeks to offset strike action and repair equipment.

The company, which posted a 70 percent rise in annual profit last month, said it has fully drawn down its current 1 billion-rand revolving credit facility.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-20/northam-platinum-to-raise-103-million-to-offset-strike.html

(Reuters) – Global miner Southern Copper expects to start work on two delayed copper projects in Perunext year and could see production from them as early as 2016, the company’s chief executive said on Wednesday.

Chief Executive Oscar Gonzalez said in an interview that if copper prices remained around current levels of $3.20 to $3.25 per pound as he expects, the company should have no problem moving forward with investment plans in Peru and Mexico.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/18/southerncopper-peru-idUSL2N0HE1OS20130918

Mr. Wibowo is Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and other international organizations in Geneva.

He will serve as President of the Trade and Development Board for a year.

http://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?OriginalVersionID=602&Sitemap_x0020_Taxonomy=UNCTAD%20Home

Mongolia will take a stake in a domestic uranium venture led by France’s Areva SA (AREVA) and support its development, signaling the nation’s willingness to revive foreign investment, said Prime Minister Norovyn Altankhuyag.

“Through this we see that foreign investors are continuing to invest in Mongolia,” Altankhuyag said in an interview in Tokyo on Sept. 14, at the end of a four-day visit.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-17/mongolia-to-take-areva-uranium-stake-to-help-revive-investment.html