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Gecamines, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s state-owned mining company, may sell its 20 percent stake in Glencore Xstrata Plc (GLEN)’s Kamoto Copper Co. to raise money for other projects, said Chairman Albert Yuma.

“We’ve been in discussions with 14 groups who’ve gone through a tender and the process is ongoing,” Yuma said in an Oct. 3 interview in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. Glencore’s Katanga Mining Ltd. (KAT), which owns 75 percent of KCC, would have right of first refusal of any sale, he said.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-10-06/gecamines-of-congo-studies-selling-stake-in-glencore-copper-mine

Santo Domingo.- President Danilo Medina will meet in the National Palace Monday morning with workers’ representatives of the miner Xstrata Nickel Falcondo, after it announced Wednesday that it will temporarily shutter operations in Dominican Republic.

Presidency Administrative minister Jose Ramon Peralta stated the government’s concern with the situation facing the mining company’s workers.

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2013/10/4/49174/Medina-to-meet-with-Xstrata-Falcondo-workers-as-mine-concern-grows

The company will focus on developing assets in Russia, mostly its Arctic projects, while it plans to sell assets in Africa and Australia, it said in a presentation on strategy to investors in London today.

Annual capital spending for 2014 through 2016 will be about $2 billion, including as much as $2 billion over the period to develop existing assets and as much as $3.2 billion of “stay-in-business” expenses, it said. It will spend as much as $1.2 billion on new projects in the period.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-10-04/norilsk-plans-10-billion-investments-by-2018-to-boost-output

(RTTNews.com) – BHP Billiton (BHP.AX, BLT.L, BBL, BHP) outlined its productivity agenda to capitalise on the next phase of the Asian growth cycle. The company said the commodities that would feed future China growth would require Australia’s resources industry to continue to improve its competitiveness. As China transitions to a more consumption based economy, the company expects that commodities supporting the production of food, energy and consumer goods will see more durable demand growth over an extended part of the economic development curve.

http://www.nasdaq.com/article/bhp-billiton-provides-update-on-next-phase-of-asian-growth-cycle—quick-facts-20131003-00013#ixzz2gkrjeKmt

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified major Rio Tinto has completed the first phase of the expansion of its Pilbara iron-ore operations, with the miner officially opening its Cape Lambert wharf B on Wednesday.

The wharf would assist in bringing Rio’s overall iron-ore capacity to 290-million tonnes a year, making it the largest iron-ore operation in Australia and the second largest in the world.

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/rio-launches-new-wharf-2013-10-02

“We expect a smaller decline next year but still a decline,” Schulz said.

Schulz said the downturn in the mining industry, which he describes as a part of a normal 10-yearbusiness cycle, started last year and has intensified this year. He said mining capex would bottom out towards the end of 2014 and begin to rise the following year.

The downturn has hit the demand for new mining equipment for both greenfield and existing mines.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/01/us-nordic-investment-flsmidth-idUSBRE9900MM20131001

Bonao, Dominican Republic.- Hundreds of workers of Xstrata Nickel’s Falcondo mine and their relatives held a candlelight vigil in front of the Fatima Church to demand  exploitation of Loma Miranda, declared a National Park by the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday.

The protesters demand that the Government guarantee what they affirm are more than 2,500 jobs the mine would provide for residents of Bonao and La Vega (central). They said Falcondo has conducted the required study which ensures that the mine won’t harm the rivers in the long term.

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2013/10/2/49149/In-a-switch-hundreds-protest-for-Xstrata-Nickel-Dominican-Republic-mine

Barrick Gold, the world’s largest producer of the metal by sales, is in talks to sell more assets as it seeks to reduce operating costs and focus on its most efficient mines.

The company, which last month agreed to sell three Australian mines, is in talks about selling additional assets in the country, chief executive Jamie Sokalsky said at the Denver Gold Forum.

The Toronto-based company is mulling over the sale of other assets around the world and would consider a joint venture with US competitor Newmont Mining in Nevada to reduce costs.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/barrick-gold-in-talks-to-sell-off-smaller-australian-mines-20130925-2uei0.html#ixzz2g1kHtyQ4