Новости за 04.04.2019

Aim- and TSX-listed Atalaya Mining on Thursday reported profit of €34.44-million for 2018 – an 89% increase on that of 2017. The company, which operates the Proyecto Riotinto mine, in Spain, posted revenue of €189.5-million as a result of 183 368 t of concentrates sold in 2018. This compares with revenue of €160.5-million and sales of 158 591 t in 2017.

Holdings in global gold-backed exchange-traded funds and similar products rose by 3 t in March, to 2 483 t, equivalent to about $183-million in inflows, the World Gold Council (WGC) reported on Thursday. The WGC said global assets under management fell by 1.6% in dollar terms to $103-billion over the month, driven by the 2% decline in the price of gold during the same period.

A mix of political populism, higher commodity prices and the expectation electrification will spur demand for some raw materials has led resource-holding governments to change the rules for miners operating in their countries. In most cases, governments are seeking to increase their share of profits, rather than all-out resource nationalism, although Mongolia has been trying to nationalise a stake in a copper mine.

The expansion of the Los Pelambres copper mine, in Chile, is fully financed, London-listed Antafogasta announced on Thursday. The entire $1.3-billion cost of the expansion would be debt financed by Los Pelambres.

Diversified natural resources group Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) has joined the United Nations Global Compact – the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative. ERG has also undertaken to implement the compact's ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour the environment and anticorruption.

TSX-listed Premier Gold has entered into an agreement to buy an option over the San Felipe property – 55 km from its Mercedes mine – in Sonora, Mexico, presenting a near-term development opportunity close to an existing operation. Premier will buy the option to acquire 100% in the San Felipe property, costing of several claim groups comprising 16 265 ha, from fellow-listed Americas Silver.

Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has completed the intensification drilling programme on the Frischgewaagt and Hartbeesfontein farms, which form part of its Thorny River diamond dyke project, in South Africa. The intensification drilling programme comprised 33 holes and 1 282 m of drilling which, together with previous work, has resulted in a total drilled depth of 3 299 m in five areas on the two farms.

Lithium miner Galaxy Resources has appointed Simon Hay as its new CEO, effective from July 1. Hay, who is currently head of resource development at ASX-listed Iluka, will replace Anthony Tse. In addition to his history at Iluka, Hay has also held senior positions at BHP Billiton and WMC Resources.

New data from the Queensland Treasury has shown that coal exports during the year to February had increased by A$5-billion, helping to push the value of Queensland’s total exports to A$83.1-billion over the period. Coal exports during that period accounted for A$35.8-billion worth of exports.

Democratic Republic of Congo's mining sector paid $1.57-billion in revenues to the government last year, up 91% on 2017, finance ministry data showed on Wednesday. Public revenues from the oil and gas sector fell by 19% in 2018 to $165.6-million, according to the data.

The story of how two prospectors, down to their last nickels, discovered diamonds in Canada’s frozen north is the stuff of legend. Back in 1982, Chuck Fipke and Stewart Blusson laid low in a pup tent by day while their competitor De Beers hauled 45-gallon drums of rock samples to a nearby outpost for transport to South Africa.

Yet another foreign miner in the Democratic Republic of Congo is reviewing its future production plans after the government increased taxes and removed investor safeguards despite industry protests. MMG, the Chinese-owned copper producer, is considering whether to invest in more expensive methods of mining the metal when existing oxide resources are depleted. It’s grappling with the same quandary facing units of Glencore and Eurasian Resources Group, which have either downsized or suspended activities... Читать дальше...