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“Sherritt said the ramp-up at its Ambatovy nickel mine in Madagascar is progressing, with full commercial production expected in early 2013. The project, which is a joint venture with Sumitomo Corp and Korea Resources Corp, is on track to remain within its $5.5 billion capital budget.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/31/sherritt-earnings-idUSL1E8LV2DV20121031

Profit at Vale Indonesia, the country’s largest nickel producer, plummeted 91 percent in the first nine months this year from a year earlier amid falling commodity prices.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/business/vale-profit-falls-91-on-nickel-price-decline-furnace-troubles/553326

Namibia Rare Earths Inc. (NRE.TO) has filed a National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource report for the heavy rare earth enriched deposit in Area 4 on the Lofdal Rare Earth Project in northwestern Namibia.

http://community.nasdaq.com/News/2012-10/namibia-rare-earths-files-technical-report-for-initial-mineral-resource-of-lofdal-project.aspx?storyid=185652#.UJEvOW_A8l8

BUKAVU – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will seek to raise its stake in new mining projects to 35% in a revised mining code, up from 5% now, the country’s top mining official said on Tuesday.

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/drc-seeks-bigger-stake-in-mine-projects-2012-10-30

Oct 26 (Reuters) – Madagascar’s crisis-hit economycould grow 2.6 percent next year as inflation slows and it begins work on one of the largest nickel mining projects in the world, the World Bank said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/madagascar-economy-idUSL5E8LQ3UQ20121026

LONDON – BHP Billiton, the world’s largest miner, called on governments on Thursday to support the industry’s efforts to slash costs in the face of cooler demand, asking them to rein in demands on royalties, taxes and regulation.

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/bhp-calls-on-governments-to-help-with-cost-cutting-2012-10-25

“Vale might look to divest itself of its New Caledonia Nickel project, whose start up has been delayed due to technological issues”.

http://www.amm.com/Article/3108777/Nonferrous/Vale-to-divest-non-value-adding-nickel-assets.html