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

Outotec has signed a contract with Norilsk Nickel for the delivery of minerals processing technology and equipment to the second phase expansion of the Talnakh copper-nickel concentrator in the Krasnoyarsky Region in Russia. The value of comparable deliveries is typically €60-80 million. Outotec will deliver a fully automated flotation complex with performance guarantees including Outotec TankCell^® flotation cells in different sizes as well as Outotec^® High Rate thickeners, electrification and a process control system. In addition, Outotec provides plant commissioning services and spare parts for two years.

Read more at: http://www.im-mining.com/2014/01/06/outotec-to-deliver-minerals-processing-technology-to-norilsk-nickel-in-russia/

Brazilian mining giant Vale said Monday it had suspended with immediate effect force majeure on iron ore shipments contracts.

The world’s main producer had declared force majeure — limiting its liabilities owing to circumstances beyond its control — on December 27 after bad weather in Brazil’s southeast disrupted operations and shipments.

Read more at: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140106/vale-suspends-force-majeure-iron-ore-shipments

Minmetals Development Co. (600058), a Chinese importer and exporter of metals and minerals, plans to buy iron-ore assets for 9.9 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) from its controlling shareholder.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-03/minmetals-development-to-buy-iron-ore-units-for-1-64-billion.html

Chilean lawmakers have presented a bill that would force mining companies including Anglo American Plc and BHP Billiton Plc to run all of their copper mines in Chile using desalinated water from the Pacific Ocean.

The lower chamber of deputies’ measure that was introduced last month would require mines using more than 150 liters (40 gallons) of water a second to incorporate seawater in their operations, according to a statement on the Congress website. A third of the world’s copper supply comes from Chilean mines.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-02/chile-debates-bill-making-mines-use-desalinated-seawater.html

Coal and mineral production plan (in tonnes)
                             2014         2012   change          2013
                         (target)  (full year)    (YOY)       Jan-Nov
              Copper      370,000      448,000     -17%       370,000
                Gold           63           75     -16%            39
                 Tin       42,000       95,000     -56%        44,000
              Nickel    9,000,000   41,000,000     -78%    47,000,000
             Bauxite    1,000,000   30,000,000     -97%    47,000,000
            Iron ore   10,000,000   10,000,000       0%    15,000,000
                Coal  397,000,000  407,000,000      -2%   421,000,000
      Coal (exports)  324,000,000  304,000,000       7%   293,000,000
  Coal (consumption)   73,000,000   90,000,000     -19%    89,000,000
      Coal (domestic   95,600,000   67,300,000      42%    55,000,000
  market obligation)

Among the 178 companies, 25 have completed between 80 and 100 percent of
construction, and the rest are still carrying out feasibility studies,
environmental impact assessments and construction.

The total investment committed for these more serious projects reached $17.4
billion, he said, of which around $6 billion has been realised already.
    
The following table shows targetted production for various minerals for 2014
compared with realised output for 2012 and the first 11 months of 2013.
Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/27/indonesia-metals-idUSL3N0K61W920131227

Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Indonesia plans to review its coal and mineral mining Law Number 4 of 2009, which has triggered restlessness in the country.

In this regard, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono invited former justice minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra to his office on Tuesday.

http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/91927/indonesia-to-review-coal-and-mineral-mining-law

LONDON, Dec 10 (Reuters) – BHP Billiton, the world’s largest miner and a top investor in U.S. onshore oil and gas, said on Tuesday its U.S. shale business should generate cash from 2016, contributing almost $3 billion a year to the group by the end of the decade.

BHP, one of the largest producers outside the major integrated oil companies, plans to spend around $4 billion a year to expand its U.S. onshore oil and gas production.

Read more at:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/10/bhpbilliton-petroleum-idUSL6N0JP3AO20131210

JAKARTA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) — The Indonesian government and the Japanese consortium Nippon Asahan Aluminium (NAA) on Monday clinched a deal to terminate a contract that allows the latter to run PT Inalum (Indonesia Asahan Aluminium), thus paving the way for Indonesia to solely own the only aluminum smelter in the region.

Read more at: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/131209/indonesian-govt-japanese-consortium-agree-terminate-smelter-