The Briefing on Mining

The latest news, trends and data from the mining industry

In Data:

Mining in Numbers

8%

BHP has released its financial results for the second half of 2018, reporting that its attributable profit in the six months to 31 December 2018 reached $3.8bn, 8% lower than the same period the previous year.

20,000

Gold Fields’ Granny Smith mine in Western Australia is set to install one of the world’s largest renewable energy microgrids, powered by more than 20,000 solar panels and backed up by a 2MW battery system.

11.7%

After increasing for two consecutive years, mining M&A and capital raising deal volumes both declined by 11.7% in 2018, compared with 2017, while overall deal values fell by 14.9%, according to GlobalData research.

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13 million

After declining substantially in 2016, global zinc production increased in both 2017 and 2018, reaching 13.2 million tonnes (Mt) and 13.4MT respectively, according to mining research by GlobalData.

$108m

Engineering company Monadelphous Group has secured a $108m contract at BHP’s South Flank iron ore project in Western Australia, to provide works related to structural, mechanical, piping and electrical, and instrumentation.

Brazil bans upstream mining after Vale tailings dam collapse

The Brazilian Government has banned the construction of new upstream mining dams

The government of Brazil has banned the construction of new upstream mining dams following the Brumadinho mining disaster, and has ordered the decommissioning of all such dams by 2021.


In January, an upstream dam at Vale’s Córrego do Feijão iron mine burst, releasing 12 million cubic metres of mining waste into the local region, killing 169 people with a further 141 still unaccounted for.


The decision by Brazil’s mining regulator, which could impact 50 upstream mining dams in Minas Gerais state alone, is the strongest governmental response yet to the Vale accident.

Read the original article on Bloomberg.

In the News

Top Project News This Month 

 HPX to deploy Typhoon survey tech at Xintai gold mine

High Power Exploration (HPX) has entered an agreement to deploy its Typhoon survey technology at a gold mine operated by Shandong Yantai Xintai Gold Mining (Xintai). The high-power, induced polarisation and electromagnetic geophysical survey technology Typhoon is capable of injecting large amounts of energy much deeper underground.

 Handa Mining to construct copper processing plant

Handa Mining has signed a joint venture agreement with O’Okiep Copper Company (OCC) and SHIP Copper company to fund and construct a copper processing plant in South Africa. The proposed plant will recover copper from broken rock lying on the surface of properties held by OCC and SHIP in the northern Cape Province, 600km north of Cape Town.

 Hochschild to suspend operations at Arcata silver mine

Hochschild Mining is set to suspend operations at its Arcata silver mine, located in southwest Peru. The company’s latest move is due to a low silver price that left it with no option but to suspend production. Full maintenance of the Arcata mine is expected to be in effect by the second quarter of this year and the company will continue an exploration programme.

M&As:

This Month's Top Deals

Regency Gold acquires Vanadium North

Regency Gold has signed an agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Canadian mining company Vanadium North Resources. Vanadium North holds the 9,600ha Valley of Vanadium project in the Northwest Territories. The project consists of wholly owned claims and an option to acquire entire mining claims owned by Strategic Minerals.

Source: The Citizen

FLSmidth announces acquisition of IMP

FLSmidth has announced the acquisition of IMP Automation Group, which provides automated laboratory solutions for the mining industry. Solutions offered by IMP complement FLSmidth’s products for quality control and optimisation of the mining process. As part of the deal, the company acquired more than 130 IMP employees.

Source: Universe Today

Intermin Resources to acquire gold project

Intermin Resources has entered a $28.3m agreement for the potential acquisition of Focus Minerals’ Coolgardie Gold Project in Western Australia. Covering 235km2 of greenstone belt, the project includes the 1.2Mtpa Three Mile Hill processing plant that is currently on care and maintenance. Intermin is also in the process of completing a merger with MacPhersons Resources.

Source: New York Times

Jervois Mining to acquire M2 Cobalt

Jervois Mining has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire M2 Cobalt. Jervois has agreed to provide one share for each share in M2 Cobalt as part of the agreement. Jervois Mining is an Australian mineral exploration and evaluation company engaged in developing nickel, cobalt and scandium properties, while M2 Cobalt is a Canada-based exploration stage company.

Source: Science Alert

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