Новости за 01.07.2020

The cost of moving commodities like coal and iron-ore across the world’s oceans is surging as China lifts cargo purchases. Whether the rally will withstand the economic aftershocks of the coronavirus is a thornier question. Rates for giant capesize ships climbed to almost $31 000 a day on Wednesday, almost certainly the highest for the time of year since 2009. The rally has been driven by an increase in cargo flows from Australia and Brazil, the two top iron ore producers, as easing lockdown measures... Читать дальше...

Global miner BHP is scaling back its operations at Cerro Colorado, in Chile, with resizing measures to be implemented over the next four months. These measures will result in a reduced headcount and the company has started discussions with employees and contractors. The adjusted mine plan will be in place for the remainder of the copper mine’s current environmental licence, which expires at the end of 2023. Cerro Colorado will continue to explore development options that could allow mining operations to continue beyond the end of 2023... Читать дальше...

Brazilian miner Vale said on Wednesday it will relocate about 50 people near a series of tailings dams in the state of Minas Gerais to reflect concern that a wider area could be hit by a potential dam burst. Vale said in a securities filing that the move to expand the "safety zone" around the Forquilha dams in the case of a dam collapse had been taken based on more conservative studies and an "extreme" hypothesis. The expansion of the zone for the dams that are part of its Paraopeba complex complies... Читать дальше...

Aim-listed Karelian Diamonds said on Wednesday that a confidentiality agreement that it entered into with Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration in 2010, had lapsed. Under the agreement, Rio Tinto has been disclosing to Karelian confidential information relating to exploration in Finland for the purpose of Karelian considering that information in relation to the company’s potential and existing exploration programmes in the country.

Gold has maintained its safe haven status, with prices now having reached eight-year highs at about $1 800/oz on a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections that has been reported in parts of the US, the UK and China, integrated business enterprise Mitsubishi Corporation states. It notes in its '2020 half-year precious metals' report that the fresh wave of infections in the US is prompting certain states to delay their reopening measures and is fuelling fresh fears of the economic impact of Covid-19.

This week: Ethiopia looking to bolster investment in resources, mining; And, Covid-19 is an important catalyst for hydrogen economy’s take-off

The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) reports that sales of platinum bullion products – retail bars and coins – surged to record highs in the first quarter of the year, with purchases totalling 312 000 oz. Annualised, this represents a rate that is five times higher than that experienced in any other year in the last 40 years.

Metso Minerals, a subsidiary of global industrial company Metso, has officially merged with Finnish-listed technology company Outotec. The merger has formed a leading process technology, equipment and services company serving the minerals, metals and aggregates industries.

Coal miner Resource Generation (Resgen) has requested, and has been granted, a halt in the trading of its securities on the ASX and the JSE, pending the release of an announcement. Resgen currently has all permitting and licensing rights to develop a large surface coal resource at Boikarabelo project in the Waterberg region of South Africa.

Fresh from cracking $1 800/pz, the global gold market wants to know what the Federal Reserve may do next to rescue the US economy, with minutes due later on Wednesday that may shed light on the central bank’s willingness to embrace yield curve control. Futures held near the highest in more than eight years, with a focus on the central bank release and warnings about the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, Fed chairperson Jerome Powell stressed that getting the virus under control was vital. Separately... Читать дальше...

A definitive feasibility study (DFS) on the Mardie salt and potash project, in Western Australia, has confirmed that the project could become a globally significant Tier 1 project. The DFS, released by owner BCI Minerals on Wednesday, noted that the project could produce 4.4-million tonnes a year of high purity salt and 120 000 t/y of premium sulphate of potash (SOP) fertilizer.

Coal developer Prairie Mining has secured A$18-million in litigation funding with LCM Funding UK to pursue damages claims in a dispute with the Polish government. Prairie in February last year served a notice of dispute on the Polish government, requesting that the government formally engage with the company in order to find an amicable solution regarding the development and construction of the company’s Jan Karski and Debiensko coking coal projects.

Australia’s Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor was optimistic that the country had beaten its 2020 emissions reduction target. The Minister on Wednesday said that while figures were yet to be finalised, Australia is estimated to have beaten its Kyoto-era target by up to 430-million tonnes, around 80% of a full year’s emissions.

Major BHP and its coal alliance partner Mitsubishi (BMA) have announced a A$100-million investment into 34 new autonomous trucks at the Daunia mine, in Central Queensland. BMA asset president James Palmer said this is a multigenerational investment in the industry and state at a time when it is needed.