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POLITICAL ECONOMY

MINE DEATHS DROP

Union demands release of SA Presidential mine safety audit

Wednesday , 31 Dec 2008
Solidarity trade union says the findings of the SA presidential mine safety audit is important to attain international safety standards. It is planning legal action to force its release.

COPPER DOWN 27 PERCENT

Coal output up but most metals down in Indonesia in 2008

Tuesday , 30 Dec 2008
Indonesia, which has a globally significant mining sector, reports coal output rising in 2008, but most metals output fell due to low metals prices and technical problems at Freeport's Grasberg mine.

HUGE POTENTIAL

Guinea coup brings new uncertainty to the country's mining sector. Gold mining suspended

Sunday , 28 Dec 2008
Guinea's new leader, following a virtually bloodless military coup, has promised to review all the country's mining and metals development agreements and temporarily shut down the gold mining industry.

14 WVA MINE FATALITIES IN 2 WEEKS

Massey subsidiary agrees to $4.2m in fines stemming from Aracoma Alma coal mine deaths

Wednesday , 24 Dec 2008
The deaths of two Massey Energy coal miners helped focus the media spotlight on West Virginia coal fatalities in January 2006, resulting in meaningful change for U.S. mine safety enforcement.

XSTRATA’S TAMPAKAN

Copper/gold project mineworker shot and killed in Philippines, two more injured

Monday , 22 Dec 2008
A mineworker was killed at Xstrata’s Tampakan copper/gold mining project in the Philippines, while a nickel operation has also been attacked and equipment and buildings destroyed by Communist rebels.

ROYALTIES MAY BE INCREASED FOR SOME

Now it's Indonesia looking at a mining contract review

Monday , 22 Dec 2008
Following the passage of a new mining law last week Indonesia says it will evaluate existing mining contracts to see whether should be ‘adjusted'

COMMUNICATIONS CONFUSION?

Kasongo DRC comments on mining contract negotiations denied by cited companies

Sunday , 21 Dec 2008
So far three of the six companies accused by DRC Deputy Mines Minister Victor Kasongo as having ‘walked away' from contract renegotiation talks have denied the accusations.

NEED TO CUT COSTS TO AVOID CLOSURES

Zambian Government asked to cut mining taxes, energy prices by foreign miners

Sunday , 21 Dec 2008
Zambian copper miners have asked the government to cut fuel prices and mining taxes introduced this year to help them survive a commodities downturn.

OPTIONS ON OPTION

Enami cedes $3.5 bn Anglo American copper option rights to Codelco

Saturday , 20 Dec 2008
Chile's Enami has ceded its rights to purchase up to a 49 percent stake in Anglo American's Sur properties, which include the Los Bronces and El Soldado mines and the Chagres smelter, to Codelco.

EXPERTISE IN WESTERN MINING REGULATION

Obama to nominate Colorado Senator Salazar as U.S. Interior Secretary

Wednesday , 17 Dec 2008
With the anticipated nomination today of Colorado Senator Ken Salazar as U.S. Secretary of the Interior, President-elect Obama's Green Team is complete. However, Salazar is not considered to be anti-mining.

PROCESSING TO METAL WILL BE REQUIRED

All existing mining contracts will be upheld under new Indonesian mining law

Thursday , 11 Dec 2008
Existing mining contracts will be upheld under Indonesia's new mining law, which has been a long time in the making, but it will demand that raw ore and concentrates be smelted/refined in the country within five years.

TREND TO REVERSE

Australian mine output still rising in Q3 against the trend

Wednesday , 10 Dec 2008
Output from Australian mining operations continued to rise overall during the third quarter but could be facing a downturn as the lower prices and demand really begin to bite.

NWMA CONVENTION

Mining project veto power will top U.S. House hardrock mining agenda

Monday , 08 Dec 2008
Another tough mining law reform bill is probably a fait accompli in the U.S. House next year.

NWMA CONFERENCE

Tough times ahead in Congress for U.S. miners

Monday , 08 Dec 2008
The loss of key Republicans on energy and resources committees could mean tough going for U.S. miners in the upcoming Congress, advises Natural Resources Committee staff member Kathy Benedetto.

LOSSES WILL RISE

Heavy job losses ahead as SA mining sector contracts

Thursday , 04 Dec 2008
How many are likely to be affected by mining job losses? Could it be 10,000, perhaps 12,000? More like 70,000.

NEEDS TO IMPROVE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT

Mining key as Mongolia seeks to attract more foreign investment

Wednesday , 03 Dec 2008
A revised minerals law is under development as the country seeks to benefit from its extensive and very large mineral resources and should betabled by mid 2009, if not before.

OYU TOLGOI STATE OWNERSHIP TO INCREASE

Mongolian Parliament considering draft mining law changes

Monday , 01 Dec 2008
Mongolia’s windfall profits tax cut-off on gold will be increased by $300/oz under draft resolutions submitted to the nation’s parliament.

CRIMINAL LIABILITY

SA miners call new safety laws punitive

Thursday , 27 Nov 2008
South Africa’s Chamber of Mines says that new safety law would drive away managers to other parts of the world, where such punitive laws were not in force.

NEW LEGISLATION

Protest generating Peruvian mining royalty distribution law signed

Wednesday , 26 Nov 2008
A mining royalty distribution plan which generated serious unrest in the southern Peruvian province of Tacna has now been signed into law by President Alan Garcia.

ANALYSIS

Chavez political allies win Venezuelan vote, but opposition scores some gains

Monday , 24 Nov 2008
Sunday's regional Venezuelan elections outcome may help President Hugo Chavez gain even more political strengths, despite some crucial seats captured by his opponents.

ANALYSIS

Mining will face formidable foe in Energy and Commerce Chair Waxman

Monday , 24 Nov 2008
Emerging victorious is his battle to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, staunch environmentalist Henry Waxman has taken on U.S. uranium, coal and hardrock mining.

CAPERTON V. A.T. MASSEY COAL

Massey Energy campaign contributions focus of U.S. Supreme Court case on judicial recusals

Monday , 17 Nov 2008
Although campaign contributions to elect judges are an accepted practice, Massey Energy’s contributions to elect a West Virginia Supreme Court justice are the focus of a judicial ethics case before the U.S. Supreme Court.