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The Steering Committee of Russian mining major MMC Norilsk Nickel (Norilsk) recently approved the action plan of its Botswana subsidiary, Tati Nickel Mining Company (Tati Nickel). Norilsk owns 85% of Tati Nickel, the other 15% belonging to the government of Botswana. The action plan is intended to improve the Southern African operation’s performance at the current nickel price levels. Tati Nickel also produces copper, palladium and platinum as by-products.

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/norilsk-agrees-plan-to-keep-its-botswana-subsidiary-operational-2013-07-12

The limit for lead was increased to a maximum 0.030 percent from 0.010 percent, according to a regulation signed by Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan on June 28 and published on the ministry’s website. The iron limit was unchanged at a maximum 0.005 percent, while other metals such as cadmium and aluminum were removed from the regulation, it said. Tin purity was increased to 99.9 percent from 99.85 percent as planned, the decree stated. The new rules took effect on July 1.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-08/indonesia-eases-regulation-on-lead-content-for-tin-shipments.html

OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel has launched a project to help mitigate the environmental impact of nickel production in the Murmansk region of north-west Russia.

The RUB 1.5 billion (US$500 million) project will focus on reducing the negative effects of disposing nickel-refining acidic effluents at Norilsk’s Kola MMC division in Monchegorsk.

http://www.mpe-magazine.com/enviromine/norilsk-launches-us$500-million-murmansk-environmental-project

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Precious metals producer Pan African Resources has started production at its Barberton tailings retreatment project (BTRP), with the first gold poured on Friday.

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/pan-african-pours-first-gold-at-barberton-tailings-project-2013-07-01?

In a move designed to bring advanced risk-management capabilities to America’s energy industry, the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions and the NASA Johnson Space Center have entered into a strategic alliance to offer services to oil and gas companies.

http://www.ogfj.com/articles/2013/06/deloitte-nasa-partner-to-bring-spaceage-risk-management-to-oil-and-gas-industry.html

Indonesia started a fund to finance the exploration of geothermal energy resources as the
nation seeks to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for electricity.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-18/indonesia-allocates-302-million-to-back-geothermal-exploration.html

(Reuters) – Russia’s Norilsk Nickel , the world’s largest nickel and palladium producer, said on Friday it had signed a five-year syndicated loan deal for $2.1 billion.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/14/russia-norilsk-loan-idUSL5N0EQ0HT20130614