Republic of Mining

Trudeau’s pipeline dreams – and nightmares – by Margaret Wente (Globe and Mail – December 6, 2016)

December 6, 2016

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

If you want to see what the future has in store for Justin Trudeau’s pipeline dreams, just head to North Dakota. On a frigid stretch of prairie, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is waging an epic battle to stop an oil pipeline near its traditional lands.

The protest has attracted a swelling tent city of indigenous people and environmental activists. Military veterans have vowed to act as human shields. The horses and the banners snapping in the breeze evoke another day and age – the Battle of the Little Big Horn comes to mind.

On Sunday, the Sioux won a major victory when the Department of the Army said it would reroute part of the pipeline. The war is far from over. But for now, the activists are celebrating as if they’ve slain Keystone XL all over again.

Canada’s elite ‘useful idiots’ endorse the Liberal plan to eat them last – by Peter Foster (Financial Post – December 6, 2016)

December 6, 2016

http://business.financialpost.com/

The other day, a motley group of 60 business and “civil society” leaders signed an open letter calling on the prime minister and the premiers to impose “smart” climate policies on the way to that allegedly inevitable “low-carbon world.” The letter read like a Liberal policy document because, essentially, it was. Bizarrely, it made no reference to the election of Donald Trump.

The letter received little coverage in the media, but on Thursday Friends of Science, the small but feisty Calgary-based group of climate skeptics, challenged its claims, noting — with substantial background documentation — that it flew in the face of reality, even without taking into account that Trump’s likely rejection of carbon pricing would make the recommended “smart” Canadian moves look distinctly dumb.

The more glaring issue, however, is why a group of senior executives, many from the oil industry, plus other business representative bigwigs, such as John Manley, head of the Business Council of Canada, would be joining some of industry’s most rabid environmental NGO opponents in effectively begging the government to hobble the economy?

Sudbury company keeps miners safe using IoT sensors – by Staff (Sudbury Star – December 5, 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Maestro Mine Ventilation, a Sudbury company, was recognized last week for its commercial success during the second Ultra Deep Mining Network symposium in the Nickel City. UDMN presented Maestro with its Outstanding Achievement in Commercialization award for a technical innovation which ensures the safety of underground miners.

“The rapid commercial sale of this product to some of the deepest mines in the world is a testament that Maestro’s efforts combined with UDMN funding and guidance can in fact bring technology faster to market which in turn benefits the mining industry and Canadians,” the network said in a press release.

The focus of the $35 million Ultra-Deep Mining Network (UDMN), which has 76 member companies across Canada, is to help to solve the challenge of mining in ultra-deep environments.

Fears rise over future supply of gold – by Henry Sanderson (Financial Times – December 4, 2016)

December 5, 2016

https://www.ft.com/

Miners cut exploration funding after bullion’s rocky recovery

“For the first time in history, gold supply into the future is under enormous pressure.” The warning from Mark Bristow, chief executive of London-listed Randgold, encapsulates the gold mining sector’s woes.

Bullion’s only modest price recovery this year compared with other commodities has led the industry to cut spending on exploration dramatically to less than $4bn from almost $10bn in 2012. Petropavlovsk, a gold miner with assets in Russia, is a case in point. It has cut its exploration budget by two-thirds.

“There is a chronic shortage of exploration money and as usual the gold price is not acting in the way everyone thought it would do,” says Peter Hambro, chairman of the company. This backdrop has left many in the industry forecasting a supply shortage by the end of the decade.

Anglo Faces Platinum Test in Possible South Africa Spinoff – by Janice Kew, Kevin Crowley, and Loni Prinsloo (Bloomberg News – December 5, 2016)

December 5, 2016

https://www.bloomberg.com/

Anglo American Plc is facing a showdown with its biggest investor, South Africa’s state-owned Public Investment Corp., which wants the miner’s prized platinum assets included in any divestment of its local operations.

PIC, which owns about 14.5 percent of Anglo, is insisting platinum is included in the suite of coal and iron ore assets that the miner is considering spinning off, according to a person familiar with the fund manager’s thinking.

That presents a major hurdle to Anglo Chief Executive Officer Mark Cutifani, who says platinum is one of the company’s core commodities, along with copper and diamonds.

Anglo American Platinum Ltd. is the world’s biggest producer of the metal and 70 percent of global production comes from South Africa.

The Wabun Model: Meaningful engagement of First Nations in mineral resource exploration and development – by Jason Batise and Stephanie LaBelle (Canadian Mining Journal – December 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/

Jason Batise is the executive director, Wabun Tribal Council, and Stephanie LaBelle is the mineral development advisor, Wabun Tribal Council.

On Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, the Wabun Tribal Council (WTC) was called to testify at House of Commons’Standing Committee on Natural Resources as part of its study on The Future of Canada’s Oil and Gas, Mining, and Nuclear Sectors. Specifically, Wabun presented its recommendations to improve meaningful engagement of First
Nations in mineral resource exploration and development.

With over 55 exploration agreements, seven impact benefit agreements and resource development agreements, with seven more in negotiation, the Wabun Model of resource development has become a best practice for First Nation communities striving to build meaningful relationships with the mining industry.

Top 10 mines riding zinc price wave – by Editor (Mining.com – December 4, 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.mining.com/

With a more than 75% price jump over the year, zinc is the best performing major metal throughout the mineral commodities market. There are two main factors behind this remarkable zinc price performance.

First, despite the fact that China’s economy is slowing its pace zinc demand keeps growing, especially in Asia. China remains the main player on the market contributing approximately 50% of global zinc consumption.

Surprisingly, both the US and European Union have also seen growth in zinc demand. According to Wood Mackenzie, global zinc demand saw growth of 3.2% in 2015 against 0.9% in 2014. Second, from the supply side, the zinc industry has recently witnessed closure of two major mines, Century and Lisheen; both were old-time members of the “Top 10 zinc mines” club.

Teck on a tear Andrew Bell Interviews Don Lindsay President & CE) of Teck Resources (Business Network News – November 10, 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.bnn.ca/commodities/ Don Lindsay, president & CEO of Teck Resources, can’t wipe the smile off his face. He’s seen the company’s stock soar more than five-fold this year as prices strengthen for his three big products: coking coal, copper and zinc. He tells BNN that at current prices, Teck’s debt could be wiped out in …

NEWS RELEASE: Ivanhoe Mines says Globe and Mail readers are being misled by the newspaper’s story today about the company’s Platreef Project

December 5, 2016

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA–(Marketwired – Dec. 5, 2016) – Statement: (The following statement from Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN)(OTCQX:IVPAF), has been issued in response to a story published 5 December 2016 by The Globe and Mail newspaper’s Report on Business involving the Platreef mine development project in South Africa).

A story published in today’s Canadian Globe and Mail newspaper fails to present readers with significant, relevant facts relating to a court-directed suspension of grave relocations at the Platreef mine development project in South Africa’s Limpopo province.

Ivanplats, an Ivanhoe subsidiary, owns 64% of the Platreef Project. In conjunction with ongoing mine construction, Ivanplats has arranged for the relocation of informal graves from locations that have been identified on lands outside the perimeter of the active mine development site.

In South Africa, a Friedland-backed mine is told to stop exhuming historic graves – by Geoffrey York (Globe and Mail – December 5, 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

JOHANNESBURG — A court has ordered Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. to stop exhuming and relocating dozens of historic graves at the site of its planned $1.6-billion platinum mine in South Africa.

The Vancouver-based company says it is complying with the interim order, but will fight it in a court hearing in late January. It says the court order hasn’t affected construction at the site, where its first shaft has reached a depth of more than 120 metres underground.

The court order is the latest sign of tensions between Ivanhoe and some community members near the mining site in Limpopo province, about 280 kilometres northeast of Johannesburg.

Philippines third quarter nickel ore output drops 16 percent as Duterte’s green clampdown bites – by Manolo Serapio Jr (Reuters U.S. – December 5, 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/

MANILA – The Philippines’ output of nickel ore fell 16 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, government data showed on Monday, after the world’s top supplier of the metal suspended some mines in a clampdown on environmental violations.

The Southeast Asian nation has already stopped work at 10 of its 41 mines in a campaign, backed by President Rodrigo Duterte, against what the government says is irresponsible mining. A group of a further 20 more faces possible suspension.

Output of nickel ore for direct shipping fell to 9.34 million tonnes in July-September from 11.09 million tonnes in the same period last year, data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau showed.

Canada’s carbon-tax plan will have little impact in new political reality – by Gwyn Morgan (Globe and Mail – December 5, 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

So, who’s left to save the planet from the predicted global warming
Armageddon? Just the European Union, Japan and Australia, with a
combined global emission share of 15 per cent. And, of course, Canada,
with our minuscule 1.6 per cent. The reality is that wiping Canada
off the map would make an imperceptible difference.

The 22nd Conference of the Parties climate-change meeting began in Marrakesh on Nov. 7. The American official party was, of course, from the administration of Barack Obama, which favours emissions reductions. In keeping with our Prime Minister’s passionate embrace of the cause, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna led a delegation of 225, one of the largest of the 100 countries assembled at COP 22.

Imagine their shock when, just 24 hours after the conference opened, they learned that the next U.S. president will be a person who believes human-made global warming is a “hoax” promulgated by China and other countries wanting to steal American jobs.

C$5.5m invested in research to minimise mining’s environmental impact – by Anine Kilian (Mining Weekly.com – December 5, 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.miningweekly.com/

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A strategic partnership grants programme administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has raised $5.5-million in funding for a research network, based at the University of Waterloo, in Ontario, Canada, which is researching new ways for mining companies to reduce the impact of their operations on the environment.

The University of Waterloo-led network, which is one of four across the country that received a total of nearly C$22-million in funding, is investigating new ways to stabilise mine waste and to prevent future environmental contamination.

Scientists and business leaders have joined together in these networks to tackle pressing challenges by targeting pollution, exploring enhanced manufacturing technology, developing sustainable natural resource extraction methods and modernising the stewardship of Canadian lakes.

[14th annual Mining Journal awards night] Canada takes top gongs – by Staff (Mining Journal – December 5, 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.mining-journal.com/

Toronto-listed companies and Canada itself picked up the top awards at the prestigious 14th annual Mining Journal awards night. The Outstanding Achievement Awards and Gala Dinner capped off a successful annual Mines & Money London conference on December 1.

Neil Woodyer won the coveted CEO of the Year Award for his tenure at the helm of Toronto-listed Endeavour Mining. Woodyer, who has since taken over the reins at Leagold Mining Corp, was responsible for driving Endeavour’s strategic growth and ensuring a platform for his successor to build on.

Awards co-host Amanda Van Dyke, a mining equity specialist with Peterhouse Asset Management, and a member of the Mines & Money advisory board, said great mining companies needed great CEOs and the hotly contested shortlist represented the best of the best.

Goodman wins Lifetime Achievement award – by Staff (Mining Journal – December 5, 2016)

December 5, 2016

http://www.mining-journal.com/

Judges have awarded the 2016 Mining Journal Lifetime Achievement Award to leading industry financial and corporate figure, Ned Goodman. Jonathan Goodman accepted the award on his father’s behalf at the gala dinner ending the 2016 Mines and Money London event last Thursday.

Event co-host Amanda Van Dyk, a mining equity specialist with Peterhouse Asset Management and a member of the 11-member Mines and Money advisory board, said the vote for Goodman was unanimous due to his stellar achievements.

“This year’s winner has made transformative and enduring contributions to Canada’s minerals industry and capital markets as a company-builder, merchant banker and investment advisor during a dynamic career spanning almost half a century,” she said.