Nobody’s perfect. What quality or ability do you wish you had?

There are many. However, there are strengths and weaknesses for everyone, no matter how experienced or successful. For this reason alone, a collaborative approach among a team of people to tackle various managerial issues is very effective. Each person on a team brings a unique skill set and perspective that complements the other team members, leading to a collective result that is superior to what can be accomplished individually.


A vitally important asset in the portfolio of Yamana Gold, the Minera Florida mine continues to grow and evolve, 26 years since operations commenced.

Very much a pillar of Chile’s economy, the country’s mining sector has played an important role throughout the history of a nation that came into being some 10,000 years ago when migrating Native Americans settled in the long and narrow coastal strip of land that lies between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.


Managing director Bridget Thomson talks about how the provision of commercial diver training is contributing towards South Africa’s development as a hub for oil and gas activities.


A global business in every sense of the word, DORCE plans to build upon all that it has achieved to date. Deputy general manager Dr. Ferzat Mercan discusses how it intends to do so.


South African fresh fruit producer Afrifresh Group has developed a powerful integrated agricultural business model that is improving farming and export efficiency in Africa. New development director Roy Fine explains.


 

This deal will see Sinopec acquire one fifth of the OML 138 oil block. This block includes the Usan oilfield, which began producing in February, and is jointly owned alongside Chevron, Exxon and Nexen.


The move comes after Beijing approved a £1 billion joint venture between the company and Chery Automobile. This milestone deal will initially see JLR construct a plant close to Shanghai, which will open in 2015.

A joint statement released by the Chinese and British companies said: "We are delighted to have reached this milestone, achieved thanks to the understanding and foresight of the Chinese authorities and we want to thank them for recognising the potential of our joint venture in the fast-growing Chinese market.”


 

First announced in February, the merger looks to have cleared its final hurdle with Qatar Holdings releasing a statement saying that it will vote in favour at a meeting next week. This shareholder decision comes in the wake of Glencore increasing the amount it will pay for each Xstrata share.

The merger does still need to receive competition approval from the European Commission and there are reports that, in a bid to secure this, Glencore has proposed to sell part of Xstrata’s German operations.


 

Estimated to cost around 16 billion euros, the South Stream pipeline will be jointly funded by Gazprom, Italy’s Eni, France’s EDF and a unit of Germany’s BASP, with the former expected to fund half of the capital expenditure.

Due to start operating in 2015, the pipeline will travel under the Black Sea via the Balkans, bringing up to 63 billion cubic metres of gas annually. Upon completion the pipeline will reach Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria and Italy in one leg, while a second will reach Croatia and Greece.