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Andrew Harding, Chief Executive – Iron Ore, Rio Tinto has been confirmed to give a keynote address at the upcoming 17^th annual AJM Global Iron Ore & Steel Forecast conference and exhibition. He joins BHP Billiton President, Iron Ore, Jimmy Wilson, James Harman of Anglo American and a senior representative from Fortescue Metals Group.

Read more at: http://www.metal.com/newscontent/56835_bhp-rio-anglo-american–fmg-to-speak-at-the–17th-annual-global-iron-ore–steel-forecast

Jilin Jien Nickel Industry Co was up by 18.98 percent from a week ago while Chengtun Mining Group Co gained by 21.63 percent.

Read more at: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/838315.shtml#.Utwx4tIo74Y

Analysts fear the newly imposed restriction on mineral exports will not only hurt the industry, but the whole economy, as its chaotic conception and implementation turn investors off the country.

Read more at:  http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2014/01/19/2003581596

Aluminum producer PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum), now a state-owned enterprise, will gradually increase production to 650,000 tons per year from the current 260,000 by expanding the development of stoves, new power plants and other supporting facilities.

“We are committed to realizing our corporate strategic plans within the next five to 10 years by, among others things, trying to boost production and diversifying products,” said Inalum president director S S Sijabat in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Read more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/01/19/inalum-boost-production-650000-tons-year.html

Mining companies are extending massive cuts in exploration budgets for a second year, setting up the next price boom as China continues its relentless pursuit of metals and energy.

Exploration spending plunged 30 per cent or US$10 billion last year, squeezing budgets to search for minerals and sustain supplies, according to MinEx Consulting, whose clients include top miner BHP Billiton. Payments might drop a further 10 per cent this year for geologists, drilling exploratory holes and analysing mineral specks to unearth the next copper, iron ore or gold El Dorado, MinEx said.

Read more at:  http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1408001/big-cut-mining-firms-budgets-spark-metal-price-boom

The price of imported nickel ore in China could jump more than 50%, following Indonesia’s export ban on the product which took effect January 12, Macquarie Commodities Research said in a report Tuesday.

Nickel ore stocks in China are partly held by trading companies, which are likely to immediately mark up ore prices, Macquarie said, adding that CFR China nickel ore prices are currently around $45-50/mt.

“We would not rule out a potential [more than] 50% rise in ore prices …,” it said, adding that the breakeven price to produce nickel pig iron by rotary kiln/electric furnace would increase from $12,000/mt to more than $15,000/mt.

Read more at: http://www.platts.com/latest-news/metals/singapore/chinas-nickel-ore-prices-may-rise-more-than-50-27826731

There’s been speculation that Australian companies could enter that Chinese market, but Mark Pervan, of ANZ Bank, says it’s far too soon to make that connection.

“Indonesians aren’t always fully committed to these types of events and commitments, so the market still has a fairly healthy level of scepticism that the ban on nickel and bauxite exports it will be fully adhered to.

Read more at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-15/indonesia-minerals-ban-reality/5201294

HONG KONG, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Chinese firms are speeding up plans to build refineries inIndonesia to produce nickel pig iron, a substitute for higher grade refined nickel in stainlesssteel, after Jakarta banned exports of unprocessed ore.

However, plans by Chinese firms to build more expensive alumina refineries were proceeding less quickly, due to the much bigger investments required and caution over policy flip-flops in the Southeast Asian country, industry sources said.

Seeking to force miners to build processing plants in Indonesia, the country on Sunday banned exports of nickel ores and bauxite, the ore for alumina production, hurting its biggest buyer China.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/15/china-nickel-indonesia-idUSL3N0KO1L520140115

JAKARTA, Jan 14 (Reuters) – U.S. miner Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold will be forced to lay off workers from the world’s fifth-biggest copper mine in Indonesia to offset an unexpected increase in export taxes, a union official said on Tuesday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono rushed through a last-minute regulation on Saturday giving copper miners Freeport and Newmont Mining Corp a reprieve from a controversial mineral export ban, but imposed an escalating tax to limit the amount of mineral concentrate exports over the next few years.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/14/indonesia-minerals-freeport-idUSL3N0KO2H820140114

Japan will lend Mozambique 70-billion yen over five years, Prime Minister Shinzo Abesaid on Sunday, as the Asian nation seeks to secure access to the Southern African country’s rich coal and gas reserves.

The former Portuguese colony has seen a spike in foreign investment since it hit on huge gas reserves and hopes to use its mineral findings to develop industry and boost its economy, still scarred by the civil war which ended two decades ago.

Read more at:  http://www.miningweekly.com/article/japan-loans-mozambique-672m-to-develop-access-to-resources-2014-01-13