Australia and NZ

Dampier Port Authority is on the threshold of a major expansion programme. Gay Sutton finds out from port development manager Dr Rochelle Macdonald how Australia’s second largest bulk export port is preparing to satisfy the export needs of the rapidly growing oil & gas and mining sectors.

After predictions of a world shortage of uranium at the Prospectors and Developers Assosciation of Canada's annual convention (PDAC) in Toronto last week, the global mining community must suddenly be reeling.

If there were ever a sure bet, uranium was it—before the earthquake in Japan and the subsequent problems unfolding in its “earthquake proof” nuclear reactors.

Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has made another increased bid for Riversdale Mining in an effort to convince shareholders to accept its acquisition proposal.

The new bid values the Australian owned coal miner at $4 billion. Rio first offered $3.5 billion last December, before improving the offer slightly later the same month.

The new bid represents an increase from $16 a share to $16.50, but Rio wants more than 50 per cent of shareholders to accept the bid by 23 March.

EnviroGold has blended a unique technical process, Australian business and mining expertise and an effective resource development strategy to create the promise of profit, as John O’Hanlon discovers.

Newmont Mining, the world’s largest producer of gold, announced record results today for the year ended 31 December 2010.

Revenue of $9.5 billion represents a 24 percent increase over 2009. Gold and copper production came in at 5.4 million ounces and 327 million pounds, respectively, with gold production up only slightly while copper production was up almost 44 percent over 2009.

In Q4 2010 Newmont produced 1.4 million ounces of gold and 74 million pounds of copper.