Новости за 13.03.2019

For dual-listed B2Gold, 2018 was a year of “transformational” growth, which was highlighted by the first full year of commercial production from its new large and low-cost Fekola mine, in Mali, and record yearly production from its Masbate mine, in the Philippines. The year also marked the gold miner’s tenth consecutive year of achieving record yearly consolidated gold production, with 953 504 oz of gold produced during the year under review.

LSE-listed Gem Diamonds on Wednesday posted a significant surge in earnings as it delivered record diamond recoveries for the year ended December 31, 2018. The diamond miner reported a profit for the year of $46.6-million, compared with the $20.8-million achieved, before exceptional items, in 2017, with attributable profit reaching $26-million during the year under review.

Roman Abramovich’s sale of a stake in Russia’s biggest mining company shows investor appetite for the country’s assets is returning. Crispian Investments, a company controlled by Chelsea Football Club owner Abramovich and his partners, increased the size of the offering in MMC Norilsk Nickel to 1.7% from the originally envisaged 1.25% because of the strength of demand. The stake was valued at about $551-million, with 39% acquired by UK investors, according to VTB Capital, one of the sale organisers.

London-listed Sirius Minerals is considering an alternative financing proposal for the Woodsmith mine, which will access the world’s largest and highest-grade polyhalite deposit in North Yorkshire, UK. The alternative financing is expected to replace the $3-billion senior debt financing that Sirius has been negotiating with a group of prospective lenders since 2016.

Juniors Great Boulder Resources and Ausgold have inked a joint venture (JV) agreement over the Winchester nickel/copper project, in Western Australia. Under the terms of the agreement, Great Boulder could earn up to a 75% interest in the project by spending A$500 000 over a four year period.

Australian oil and gas major Woodside has called for government intervention in the new greenhouse guidelines put forth by the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), warning that the guidelines could jeopardise a 2020 investment decision on the Browse, Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 projects. Speaking at the AOG conference in Perth, Woodside COO Meg O’Neill said that it was “disappointing and concerning” that the EPA had issued the guidelines without industry consultation.

Vancouver-based Northern Dynasty has raised $10-million to further advance the Pebble project, in the US state of Alaska, the company announced on Tuesday. Northern Dynasty has entered into an agreement with lead underwriter and bookrunner Cantor Fitzgerald Canada, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters, to purchase, on a bought deal basis, 15.625-million shares at $0.64 a share.

Lithium producer Orocobre expects prices for the white metal used to make electric vehicle batteries to remain volatile for the short term, a step likely to make financing difficult for new industry projects, its chief executive said on Tuesday. Orocobre, which operates in Argentina, has seen its lithium prices drop 40% in the past six months, CEO Martin Perez de Solay told the CERAWeek energy conference on Tuesday.