Mining is never an easy life but as Alan Swaby learns, not even the harshness of the Arctic Circle can faze some operators.

You might be forgiven for thinking that developing a brand new iron ore mine, well inside the Arctic Circle, might throw up the odd problem or two. But Karl-Axel Waplan, CEO of Northland Resources, is remarkably matter-of-fact about a project that will have consumed at least US$700 million by the time it gets off the ground.

With offices in the UAE, India and Singapore, and an office and oil storage terminal planned for Asia-Pacific, Gulf Petrochem is showing no signs of resting on its laurels, as Jeff Daniel discovers.

Abu Dhabi Aviation has grown from an oil industry helicopter service provider to a multifaceted international company. Ben Sansom lifts the lid to find that search and rescue, fire fighting and construction are just the tip of the iceberg.

Alan Swaby talks to an Indian technology company that has the bit between its teeth in its endeavour to change life for ordinary citizens.

The Port of Cape Town is Africa’s gateway to Europe and the Americas; and it’s being prepared to continue this role through the 21st century.

When the Africa Ports and Harbours Congress opens at the Sandton Centre in Johannesburg in July, a lot of interest will focus on Transnet’s massive R80 billion capital investment programme. Ports all around the African coast are expanding, adapting and re-equipping rapidly to meet the changing patterns of export and import, transhipment and intermodal support affecting African trade.

The United States Department of Justice has given the go-ahead for Caterpillar to acquire mining equipment manufacturer Bucyrus International, concluding the antitrust review process in the US.

The clearance by the DOJ will allow the acquisition, valued at approximately $8.6 billion (including net debt), to proceed as soon as all other conditions to closing have been satisfied. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2011.

The acquisition is based on Caterpillar's key strategic imperative to expand its leadership in the mining equipment industry.

South African miner Exxaro has made a takeover bid for Australian miner Territory Resources for A$123 million in cash.

Territory has an iron ore operation in Australia’s Northern Territory, with an operating mine at Frances Creek positioned close to rail and port infrastructure serving the port of Darwin. The mine produces approximately 1.6 million tonnes per annum of lump and fine direct shipping ore.

Territory also owns rights to iron ore tenements in the vicinity of Frances Creek.

Georgia-Pacific Chemicals has said it is expanding capabilities at its Lufkin, Texas facility in order to meet growing demand from the energy industry.

The company, which manufactures resins used to coat proppants for oil and gas extraction, said that demand for its products is growing due to the increased use of hydraulic fracturing techniques within the energy industry over the past few years.

Royal Dutch Shell has decided to go ahead with its Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project in Australia, which will see it build the world's first FLNG facility.

The platform will be moored around 200 kilometres off the Australian coast and will liquefy gas from offshore fields onboard by cooling.

Shell will now commence detailed design and construction of what will be the world's largest floating offshore facility, in a ship yard in South Korea.

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and subsidiaries of Soitec Solar Development LLC have announced the signing of two additional 25-year contracts for a total of 125 MW of solar energy to be generated in SDG&E’s service territory.

The additional energy will be produced using Soitec's concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) technology, with solar modules manufactured in a new Soitec factory to be built in the San Diego area.

Both of the projects will be located in San Diego County and will be situated near SDG&E electric substations.