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POLITICAL ECONOMY

Canadian mining entering period of significant, sustained growth--MAC

Friday , 03 Feb 2012
The Canadian Mining Association says the sector will need to hire more than 100,000 people within the next decade.

Indonesia launches Indonesian Tin Market to challenge LME

Thursday , 02 Feb 2012
Already one of the world's largest tin producers, Indonesia now hopes to become a key player in global tin prices with the launch of Inatin.

ANC study rejects mine nationalisation - report

Thursday , 02 Feb 2012
South Africa's Business Day newspaper reported on Thursday that the study commissioned by the country's ruling ANC has rejected calls for mine nationalisation in favour of higher taxes and royalties.

WTO ruling on China’s raw materials exports may not ease REE constraints

Wednesday , 01 Feb 2012
Despite the successful challenge of Chinese export restrictions on raw materials at WTO, the European Commission and the United States probably won't make much headway on China's REE quotas.

Vale/China iron ore ship dispute deepens

Wednesday , 01 Feb 2012
China closed off its ports on Tuesday, denying Brazilian miner Vale access to berth its giant iron ore carriers, a move likely to worsen the growing trade dispute between the two countries.

Botswana lifts new coal prospecting permits ban

Wednesday , 01 Feb 2012
Speaking at a coal conference in Gaborone, Botswana President Ian Khama, said the country was lifting the ban on new prospecting licences for coal, coal-bed methane and related minerals.

Greenpeace storm Romanian environment ministry over gold mine

Tuesday , 31 Jan 2012
About 20 Greenpeace activists from Romania, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia descended on Romania's Environment Ministry on Tuesday in a bid to halt the approval for the proposed gold mine in Rosia Montana.

U.S. total minerals production value up 12% to $74b in 2011--USGS

Tuesday , 31 Jan 2012
U.S. gold production was reported at $12.2 billion last year, while U.S. silver output was $1.27 billion, the U.S. Geological Survey reported in its new 2012 mineral commodity summaries.

Lynas Corp warns against any move to shut Malaysia rare earths plant

Tuesday , 31 Jan 2012
The Australian miner said Tuesday that actions like the threat by Malaysia's opposition party that it would close its Rare Earths processing plant, could deter other foreign investment in the country.

China loses WTO appeal to restrict exports

Tuesday , 31 Jan 2012
The WTO ruled on Monday against China's request to restrict exports of materials, a move that could make it harder for major commodity exporters to withhold supplies on the global market.

12 German companies join commodity alliance

Monday , 30 Jan 2012
Gemany's BDI announced on Monday that some twelve German companies have joined the new German alliance aimed at securing raw materials supplies in the face of growing competition for key commodities.

Malaysia's opposition party would scrap Lynas Corp rare-earths plant

Monday , 30 Jan 2012
Malyasia's opposition party has vowed to scrap the controversial $200 million rare-earths processing plant, being built by Australia's Lynas Corp, if it wins national elections expected to be called within months.

Kazakhstan eyes $2.2bn in loans to fund large projects

Monday , 30 Jan 2012
Its finance ministry said Monday the country plans to plans to borrow about $2.2 billion from external markets to fund a series of projects this year, including a transport corridor from China to Europe.

S. Africa chief mine inspector defends safety closures

Friday , 27 Jan 2012
David Msiza, chief inspector of South Africa's mines, has defended the safety-related mine closures after leading platinum miners recently reported losses in production due to these inspections.

Indonesia confirms revocation of Sumber Mineral/Arc Exploration JV exploration permit

Thursday , 26 Jan 2012
Energy Minister said the government will revoke Sumber Mineral's/Arc Exploration's exploration permit, whose project on Sumbawa island has been hit by violent protests in which two people have died.

Raw material export taxes likely to be on SA budget agenda - Deloitte

Thursday , 26 Jan 2012
According to the professional services firm, an announcement around the introduction of export taxes on select raw materials and resources is expected in this year's annual budget speech in South Africa

Ucore praises Alaska governor's REE development, mining initiatives

Thursday , 26 Jan 2012
Ucore Rare Metals says the proposed Alaskan State Budget for FY2013 includes a number of items specifically important to rare earth and strategic mineral development within the state.

New SEC mining health, safety reporting requirements launch Friday

Thursday , 26 Jan 2012
Ironically, as broad safety disclosures for mining under the Dodd-Frank Act goes into effect Friday, Congress did not mandate non-mining employers to meet the same tough reporting requirements under OSHA.

Zimbabwe to raise mine licence fees - state media

Wednesday , 25 Jan 2012
The state-controlled Herald newspaper reported on Wednesday the government will soon announce raised mining licence fees, which will mostly target the country's growing platinum and diamond sectors.

Gold Commission return - would it raise gold price or lead to confiscation?

Wednesday , 25 Jan 2012
Julian Phillips looks at the ramifications of a Gold Commission being set up in the U.S. as per Newt Gingrich's electioneering rhetoric.

Sierra Leone faces uphill battle to avoid ‘resource curse'

Wednesday , 25 Jan 2012
The revival of Sierra Leone's iron ore sector could potentially create jobs and infrastructure in a nation struggling to recover from a civil war but some are worried that ordinary people may miss out.

Obama will open federal public lands to natural gas exploration

Wednesday , 25 Jan 2012
In his 2012 State of the Union Address, President Barak Obama called for the end of federal oil subsidies and a doubling of clean energy grants.