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CHENNAI: India has made its first ever claim before the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the exploration of poly-metallic sulphide from the Mauritius seas.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-28/india/43461248_1_international-seabed-authority-indian-ocean-isa

Russian mining major MMC Norilsk Nickel (Norilsk) has revealed that it is to sell its Southern African and all its other international assets by the end of 2016.

This process, which will start next year, is part of the group’s new strategy, which will see it focus on ‘Tier 1’ assets. The new strategy will also see a clear focus on nickel and the associated copper and platinum-group metals (PGMs).

Currently, Norilsk Nickel Africa embraces two main operations – Tati Nickel, in Botswana, and Nkomati Nickel, in South Africa. Norilsk owns 85% of Tati (the other 15% is held by the Botswana government) and 50% of Nkomati, which is a joint venture with South African group African Rainbow Minerals, which has management control. Both Tati and Nkomati also produce copper, palladium and platinum as by-products. Further, Norilsk has a 6% shareholding in Botswana mining company BCL, the remaining 94% belonging to the Botswana government.

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/russias-norilsk-unveils-new-strategy-and-technology-2013-10-25

At a breakfast in Perth this morning, the president of BHP Billiton Iron Ore, Jimmy Wilson, will announce an extension of the company’s three-year partnership with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation that will more than double its investment in scholarships for West Australian indigenous students.

The AIEF provides scholarships to indigenous high school students around the nation to attend private boarding schools and also helps students after they leave school, supporting them to study at university or as they undertake an apprenticeship and further training or a job.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/bhp-investing-in-185-futures-and-then-some/story-fn9hm1pm-1226741994312#sthash.oBSxQyNH.dpuf

Copper output in China is set to remain at record levels for the rest of 2013 as high treatment fees encourage smelters in the biggest producer to run at full capacity.

Monthly production in the fourth quarter may be about 560,000 metric tons, matching an all-time high in August and above average output of 534,112 tons for the first eight months, said Yang Changhua, an analyst at Beijing Antaike Information Development Co.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-17/record-copper-output-in-china-seen-by-antaike-on-smelter-fees.html

Global resources giant BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) has resumed operations at its Cerro Matoso nickel mine in Colombia following the suspension of activities last week due to indigenous protests, a company spokesperson confirmed to BNamericas.

“Operations at Cerro Matoso have been resumed following a partial suspension of activities… due to ongoing demonstrations by members of the local indigenous community,” the spokesperson said.

http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/bhp-billiton-resumes-operations-at-colombias-cerro-matoso-nickel-mine

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 14, 2013--

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:ATI) today announced a restructuring of its Engineered Products segment and commented on third quarter 2013 business conditions.

ATI has restructured its Engineered Products segment as a result of the previously announced pending sale of its tungsten materials business, and the integration of the previously standalone specialty steel forgings business into ATI Ladish’s forgings operations. In addition, to improve operating efficiencies and reduce costs ATI has integrated its precision titanium and specialty alloy flat-rolled finishing business into ATI Allegheny Ludlum’s specialty plate business. As a result, effective with the reporting of the third quarter 2013 results, ATI will report the results of its tungsten materials business as discontinued operations; the specialty steel forgings business will be included in ATI’s High Performance Metals segment and the precision titanium and specialty alloy flat-rolled finishing business will be included in ATI’s Flat-Rolled Products segment.

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20131014-904143.html

Australia’s “big three” iron ore miners are set to unveil a boost in third-quarter production and will mine even more in the fourth quarter, ignoring forecasts of a looming supply glut in favour of capturing greater economies of scale.

Rio Tinto this month upped annualised output of the steel-making raw material by 20 per cent to 290 million tonnes, while BHP Billiton and Fortescue Mining are in the midst of robust expansion work.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/big-three-to-boost-iron-ore-production-20131014-2vhi7.html#ixzz2hiQtpLjw

Rep. Francisco Matugas (1^st district Surigao del Norte), has re-filed his bill “Promoting the development of mineral processing and in the process of banning the export of iron, nickel, chromite, manganese, and other metallic ores and for other purposes.”

The bill was filed in the 15th Congress but didn’t reach the Senate, said Matugas, now chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources.

“The Philippines has not developed the downstream mining industry to focus on the final stages of the minerals value chain and encourage the establishment and development of processing plants that use new process in manufacturing mineral ores,” he said.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2013/10/13/locals-want-ban-on-export-of-mineral-ore/