CEO Bruce Griffin talks about the potential of a highly expandable, high-grade mineral sands project in Madagascar.

World Titanium Resources is developing the Toliara Sands Project in southwest Madagascar. Initial exploration work was carried out in 1999, leading to the discovery of mineral sands at Ranobe and further north at Ankililoaka, Basibasy and Morombe. Further drilling was undertaken in the next few years and it became clear that the area had the potential to become a significant mineral sands development.

Managing director Alan Wood describes the progression from the supply of hydraulic hoses to inspection services that save downtime and costs for mining operations in Africa.

Barrick Gold’s Granny Smith property in the Western Australian outback is a hotbed of mining industry best practice, technical innovation and community initiatives: with more gold defined annually it has turned into a long term asset.

This increases means that the company has exceeded 50 billion euros in annual turnover for the first time in its history, a feat that comes as a result of growth in emerging markets.

"Emerging markets again contributed double-digit growth helping us exceed 50 billion euros in turnover, an important milestone in our journey to double the size of Unilever from 40 to 80 billion euros whilst reducing our environmental impact," said chief executive Paul Polman.

The estimated figure of $2.5 billion is in stark contrast to the fortunes of its major rival ZTE, which warned last week that it could make a significant loss in 2012.

In recent times Huawei, one of the world’s largest makers of telecommunications equipment, has been striving to tap into the lucrative smartphone market, making what it describes as “huge breakthroughs in selling smartphones in Japan, North America, Europe, and other high-end markets".

Tom Albanese has resigned as CEO of mining conglomerate Rio Tinto after the company announced a $14 billion “impairment” relating to its aluminium and coal mining businesses.

The write-down and consequent resignation are seen in the industry as the result of bad timing in respect of two crucial acquisitions, the first being the purchase of Canadian aluminium producer Alcan in 2007, and the other the more recent acquisition of the Riversdale coal mining operation in Mozambique in June last year.

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation is to open a new corrugated manufacturing facility in Aurora, Illinois, 40 miles west of Chicago. 

The 192,000 square foot facility will produce corrugated packaging and will also include a design lab and a technical center.

KapStone expects to invest approximately $8 million to $10 million in the first phase. The Aurora location will enhance KapStone's sales coverage in the Midwest, particularly in Chicago and surrounding areas.

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

I am beginning to realise that I ought to use patience as a strategy more often than I do. My tendency is towards driving change and making things happen now. I feel that companies must develop long-term sustainability and therefore must be driven by a long-term vision and strategy. Therefore, there are things that leadership needs to do which doesn’t often have an immediate short-term result and requires planning and patience in the execution.

As a diversified manufacturer of chemicals and a major tank terminal operator, Coogee Chemicals enters 2013 with the clear aim of continuing the work that has made it one of the sector’s biggest success stories.