1. Bloomberg.com: BHP, Rio may have to share Australian ore railroads
Higher authority agrees with sharing principle: court upholds ruling in favor of sharing private railroad. The case rejected BHP’s attempt to block Fortescue Metals from using parts of its Mt. Newman and Goldsworthy rail tracks. The shared railways juncture awaits more approval by Australia’s Treasury.
2. The Hindu Business Line: SAIL to get iron ore from Chiria mines
The Steel Authority of Indian Limited (SAIL) will be the first to receive iron ore from the Chiria Mines. A dispute between government agencies led to conflicting accounts to whom the Chiria Mines lease belonged, leading both sides to approach the courts for a decision.
3. Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Mining companies on show in Las Vegas
Australian miners play up their “can-do” attitude at world’s largest mining expo in Las Vegas. The Australian mining industry is known for their inventive spirit and is trying to carry over their experience as an industry leader to emerging countries developing their own mining industries.
4. Herald Dispatch: West Virginia group seeks to stop Fola Coal mining permits
Environmentalists find permit flaw, challenge mining plans in federal court. The Fola Coal Company originally received approval to construct two West Virginia mountaintop removal mines. The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition claims the permits are flawed because when they were issued, the U.S. Army Corps failed to follow federal law.
5. Reuters: BHP might review Rio bid if big asset sales ordered
BHP plans to review their takeover bid for Rio if the European Commission require large portions of Rio assets to be sold before the bid is accepted, may consider abandoning bid. Competition regulators have expressed concern of market dominance in seaborne iron ore if the companies merged.
6. Business World: Officials want say on mining firms
Local governments demand better information on their areas’ mining activities. The Compostela Valley provincial government in the Philippines has passed an ordinance that will require any company applying for exploration to present local officials with their physical plans.
7. Reuters: South Africa mine deaths put producers in spotlight
South Africa struggles with mounting mining deaths and pushes companies for more stringent safety standards. Mining deaths for the current year climbed to 130 after five deaths last week. Companies have set a target to cut deaths by 20% and point out deaths are statistically lower than during the same period last year.
8. Bloomberg.com: Portman iron ore rrain derailed on way to port, ABC says
Clean up, aisle Portman. In what seems to be an epidemic of train derailments, Portman Ltd. announced one of its trains derailed on the way to Esperance Port. It isn’t known how much ore had been spilled; several carriages had left the railroad.
9. Bloomberg.com: Sumitomo Metal Mining seeks mines in Latin America
Japanese copper smelter wants to satisfy raw material supply appetite from within. Sumitomo Metals Mining is looking for Latin American deposits to increase self-sufficiency to as much as 70% up from the current 40%. The company is currently focusing its attention in Peru and Chile.
10. The Australian: PM’s institute one of many at coalface
Federal clean coal project dwarfed by private enterprises and state government efforts. The Global Institute for Carbon Capture and Storage was announced by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week with a budget of $100 million. The more established projects hope that the new institute can play a coordinating role rather than just duplicating previous projects.
