Mining and Exploration

Bob Gannicott, Chairman and CEO of Harry Winston Diamond Corporation, and Frédéric de Narp, CEO of the luxury brand Harry Winston Inc, talk about a unique business model, the expansion of an exclusive brand, and about living up to its founder’s commitment to giving back.

From the earliest days of exploration around Lac de Gras in Canada’s Northwest Territories, the Diavik Diamond Mine has worked closely with the Aboriginal people to protect their environment and share the revenue from the mine. Gay Sutton reports

Mining giant Anglo American has agreed to acquire the Oppenheimer family’s 40 per cent interest in De Beers for US$5.1 billion, taking its own stake up to 85 per cent.

Tullow Oil has agreed new production sharing contract (PSC) arrangements with the government of Mauritania and its joint venture partners, allowing it to progress exploration in the country.

Tullow said the deal would enable it to progress the appraisal and development of existing discoveries and pursue exploration in a new contract area covering 10,725 square kilometres, with Tullow as operator.

Boart Longyear, the global integrated drilling products and services provider, has announced a plan to expand Mine Water Services to Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Over the last 25 years, Boart Longyear Drilling Services has developed an effective reverse circulation method in North America, and has established the process within the industry while creating the most highly specialized crews in the world.

Colombia’s Ecopetrol has announced a hydrocarbon discovery in its Logan 1 well in the US Gulf Coast.

Ecopetrol’s US subsidiary Ecopetrol America Inc. has a 20 per cent interest in the project, with Norway’s Statoil the operator.

The Logan 1 well is the first discovery with Ecopetrol's participation, through its US subsidiary, in one of the regions of the world with the greatest hydrocarbon potential, the company said.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has approved plans for a 10-year underground gold mine facility in Loch Lomond National Park, Scotland.

Cononish gold mine near Tyndrum is currently the only economic gold reserve in Scotland. The development covers 39 hectares and will include the underground mine, large processing/storage building and tailings management facility.

Sub-Saharan Africa holds some of the world’s biggest hydrocarbon opportunities. Warwick Blyth, executive director of the South African Oil and Gas Alliance (SAOGA) tells Jayne Flannery why South Africa offers the perfect local base for a fast-expanding hub of activity.

Ireland’s Providence Resources has announced its intention to commence drilling operations on its 48/24-JBarryroe well in mid-November.

The company has been awarded an exploration licence for Barryroe for a period of up to six years, split into two three-year phases.

The well location and programme have been finalised using new fast-track 3D seismic data.