Republic of Mining

Michael Porter and Industrial Clusters

February 15, 2011February 14, 2011

“A nation can be prosperous and productive in virtually any field. What matters is how a nation competes, not what industry it competes in…we must stop thinking that traditional industries are bad and that the nation must move into high tech”.(Harvard Professor Michael Porter)

[MiningWatch Canada Ring of Fire report] Power requirements a concern – by Carol Mulligan

February 14, 2011

Carol Mulligan is a reporter for the Sudbury Star, the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

For the MiningWatch Canada report written by Joan Kuyek, please click here: Economic Analysis of the Ring of Fire Chromite Mining Play

For an extensive list of articles on this mineral discovery, please go to: Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

The author of an economic analysis on the Ring of Fire chromite deposits urges Ontarians to ask a couple of basic questions about the benefits of developing the resource.

What will it cost taxpayers of the province of Ontario for every job that is created? And, is the cost worth it?

Joan Kuyek wrote the report for MiningWatch Canada, a national non-profit organization that examines mining and its effects on communities. Formerly of Sudbury and now living in Ottawa, Kuyek was commissioned by MiningWatch to conduct a preliminary review of the economics of mining the rich chromite deposits in Northern Ontario.

In the opening paragraph of her 20-page report, Kuyek said there is no experience in chromite mining or ferrochrome production in Canada.

Ontario’s mining sector safety performance continued to improve in 2010

February 11, 2011

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Ontario’s mining industry continues to show steady progress in improving its safety performance. According to provisional statistics released recently, Ontario’s mining sector’s lost time injury rate was 0.5 per 200,000 hours worked in 2010, compared with 0.6 in 2009. This shows a 17% improvement and continued advancement in the goal of creating safer workplaces.

In 2010, the total employee hours worked in the mining industry was about 28.6 million by 16,200 employees. The total medical aid frequency for mining in 2010 was 4.5 per 200,000 hours worked, compared with 5.8 in 2009 – a 22% improvement.

A more dramatic improvement was made by the industry in reducing the severity of incidents. In 2010, lost work days per incident were 12, compared with 74 days in 2009 – an 84% improvement.

In 2009, mining was the second safest industry in Ontario behind education. The average lost time injury rate for all sectors in 2009 was 1.3. Mining was significantly better than the average and safer than sectors such as the electrical industry, pulp and paper, forestry, health care, construction, agriculture and transportation.

Interesting Times in the Ring of Fire – James Murray (January 28, 2011)

February 10, 2011

Founded in 2006 by James Murray, NetNewsledger.com offers news, information, opinions and positive ideas for Thunder Bay, Ontario, and for Northwestern Ontario. This column was originally posted on January 28, 201. newsroom@netnewsledger.com

For an extensive list of articles on this mineral discovery, please go to: Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

THUNDER BAY – The news that there are issues over development brewing in the Ring of Fire should not come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the issue closely. Both the Matawa First Nations and the Nishanawbe Aski Nation have been sounding the alarm bell for months. It appears a wake-up call that the McGuinty government has simply hit the snooze button and rolled back to nap mode over.

Perhaps one of the realities are that politically, the McGuinty government has made the determination that there are more votes in ridings that may matter more to them than in the far north, as Toronto often sees our region?

The First Nations are likely more aware of the opportunities that the chromite in their traditional territory can represent, and realize that the potential bounty if allowed to be squandered will leave them ever further behind in a society that already has plenty of hurdles before their people.

Some of what appears to be happening, and likely missed by some is the degree of communications and new technology is allowing First Nations to share information with each other from across the region, the country and the world. That means instead of operating in a communications blackout that First Nations are aware of far more today than ever before.

[Ring of Fire] Communications Issues Need To be Addressed for A Solid Future – by James Murray (February 5, 2011)

February 10, 2011February 10, 2011

For an extensive list of articles on this mineral discovery, please go to: Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

THUNDER BAY – The signals are all on the table for anyone willing to read them. First Nations in Northwestern Ontario are not prepared to accept lip service from the provincial government on the Ring of Fire. The issue is one that has been coming for sometime now, and has not been covered all that much in the main-stream media. Comments from Matawa First Nations leaders, and Nishinawbe Aski Nation leaders have ranged from frustration to anger. Already there is word of blockades on-going to stop activity related to mining exploration.

To quote a famous movie line from Cool Hand Luke – “What we have here is a failure to communicate”.

Now too be sure, no politician is likely to agree with that statement. There has been lots of talking going on, but for communication to happen, there must be both a sender and a receiver. It is looking more all the time that there is lots of talking, but not much listening. We have years of what appears to be lip service paid by Premier McGuinty. The Premier is likely damaging the ability of his Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry to actually achieve anything substantive. McGuinty has poisoned the well with years of happy promises that he has not delivered on.

PDAC Mining Meeting Means Millions to Metro Toronto

February 10, 2011

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

The Ontario Mining Association salutes fellow industry organization the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada for its upcoming annual international conference, which is projected to pump more than $45 million into Toronto’s local economy. The PDAC, which started in 1932, will be holding its International Convention, Trade Show & Investors Exchange from March 6 to 9, 2011 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC).

Last year, this global event, which brings the world’s mining industry to Ontario’s capital, attracted a record 22,000 registered delegates. More than 25% of the participants were international coming from 118 different countries. At the trade show, 357 companies and governments occupied 608 booths and 584 companies participated in the investors’ exchange.

The PDAC reports that for this year, registrations are running well ahead of last year’s pace and downtown hotels have sold out faster. Already, 10 major downtown hotels with room rates from $159 to $254 per night are posting no vacancy signs during the convention. Delegates seeking accommodation are being forced to move further afield from the MTCC.

Vale’s Manitoba Operations corporate affairs co-ordinator Penny Byer backs MP Niki Ashton [Vale Job Cutbacks] (November 20, 2010)

June 10, 2015February 10, 2011

This article was originally published in the Thompson Citizen which was established in June 1960. The Citizen covers the City of Thompson and Nickel Belt Region of Northern Manitoba. The city has a population of about 13,500 residents while the regional population is more than 40,000.

“Today, Vale ripped the heart out of Thompson.” Ashton said: “Good job standing up for us Niki…” Byer writes on Facebook

November 20, 2010

By John Barker
editor@thompsoncitizen.net

In a public posting on Facebook Nov. 19 to NDP Churchill riding MP Niki Ashton’s “wall,” Penny Byer, co-ordinator of corporate affairs for Vale’s Manitoba Operations, writes, ” Good job standing up for us Niki…”

Byer is also a rookie Thompson city councillor, garnering 1,913 votes for second place in the Oct. 27 municipal election, finishing only behind veteran Coun. Stella Locker.

Byer is a former CBC Radio journalist, who spent time in Churchill, and a long-time veteran of the corporate affairs, or public and government affairs department, as it has been also called in recent years, at Vale’s Manitoba Operations here in Thompson.

She was in charge of the four-page employee newsletter EXTRA, which Vale killed off with its Dec. 19, 2008 issue, and its successor the four-page NickeLinks, which began publishing in April 2009.

Thompson Citizen Editorial: Thompson residents resilient [Vale Job Cutbacks] (November 24, 2010)

June 10, 2015February 10, 2011

Thompson Citizen Editorial – November 24, 2010

In terms of dark days for Thompson, Wednesday, Nov. 17 ranks right up there near the top. Brazilian mining giant Vale announced plans to phase out its smelting and refinery fully integrated surface operations at Manitoba Operations by 2015, eliminating 500 jobs or 40 per cent of its local workforce, and focus on “developing new sources of ore as it transitions its operations to mining and milling….”

The estimated payroll hit to Thompson for job losses of that magnitude is at least $50 million annually, money which will no longer be circulating in the local economy as some of the city’s highest paid jobs vanish.

Tito Martins, chief executive officer of Vale Canada and executive director of base metals for the international parent company, said two key issues underpin the operating changes. “Mineral reserves in Thompson have not been sufficient to operate the smelter and refinery at full capacity for some time. To account for this shortfall, Vale has been importing as much as 45 per cent of the nickel processed in Thompson from sources outside Manitoba. This external feed is no longer available after 2013.

NEWS RELEASE: Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) calls on the Ontario Government to reduce power rates to keep Chromite Plant in Northern Ontario

February 10, 2011February 10, 2011

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund is a non-profit economic development agency providing financial assistance (commercial loans, equipment leasing and grants), resource sector support and free business counseling services to ALL Aboriginal entrepreneurs in rural, urban and isolated communities across northern Ontario (Treaty #9, #3, #5-Ontario portion & Robinson-Superior 1850 Treaties).

For an extensive list of articles on this mineral discovery, please go to: Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

Thunder Bay ON, February 8, 2011 – Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) called upon the Ontario government today to find a solution to the high power rates that might deter the construction of Cliffs Natural Resources’ Ferrochrome Production Facility in northern Ontario. “Several Aboriginal businesses will benefit from the development of this facility, and if not, we stand to miss out on many opportunities”, said Harvey Yesno, President/CEO of NADF. “The Province of Ontario needs to be more visible and aggressive in tackling the power rate issue that is threatening the viability of a production facility in northern Ontario because any final decision to locate the Ferrochrome Production Facility outside of the province negatively impacts Aboriginal business in the region”.

This claim was issued in response to Cliffs’ revelation on Friday, February 4, 2011 during its conference call with the media that while Sudbury had been identified as a ‘base-case’ location for its Ferrochrome Production Facility (FPF), other municipalities within and outside Ontario were not beyond approach and possible selection as a location for its FPF.

Citing the technical issues regarding the lack of electricity in the northwest part of the province, Mr. Yesno said, “Many people now understand what our remote communities are facing on a regular basis when we can’t develop economically because of the chronic lack of electricity.

NEWS RELEASE – HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: Papua New Guinea: Serious Abuses at Barrick Gold Mine

February 10, 2011

Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, we give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes. For 30 years, Human Rights Watch has worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world. (Human Rights Watch website)

Systemic Failures Underscore Need for Canadian Government Regulation

February 1, 2011

(Toronto) – Private security personnel employed at a gold mine in Papua New Guinea have been implicated in alleged gang rapes and other violent abuses, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The Porgera mine has produced billions of dollars of gold in its twenty years of operation, and is operated and 95 percent owned by Barrick Gold, a Canadian company that is the world’s largest gold producer.

The 94-page report, “Gold’s Costly Dividend: Human Rights Impacts of Papua New Guinea’s Porgera Gold Mine,” identifies systemic failures on the part of Toronto-based Barrick Gold that kept the company from recognizing the risk of abuses, and responding to allegations that abuses had occurred. The report examines the impact of Canada’s failure to regulate the overseas activities of its companies and also calls on Barrick to address environmental and health concerns around the mine with greater transparency.

“We interviewed women who described brutal gang rapes by security guards at Barrick’s mine,” said Chris Albin-Lackey, senior business and human rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The company should have acted long before Human Rights Watch conducted its research and prompted them into action”.

Human Rights Watch said that in response to its investigation, Barrick has taken meaningful steps to investigate past abuses and make it less likely for similar abuses to occur in future.

Most of the world’s mining and exploration companies are based in Canada.

Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll – Speech to the Mining Indaba, Cape Town, 8 February 2011 – “Partnership for Success”

February 9, 2011

Anglo American is one of the world’s largest mining companies focusing on platinum group metals, diamonds, copper, nickel, iron ore, metallurgical and thermal coal. www.angloamerican.com

Mining Indaba attracts mining analysts, fund managers, investment specialists and financiers from around the world. Corporate presentations on the newest and most successful projects provide the foundation for institutional portfolio growth and asset diversification. Government and agency presentations update policies and incentives for potential partners. (Mining Indaba LLC website)

Check against delivery

Partnership for Success

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a great pleasure to be with you at this year’s Mining Indaba. I’d like to thank Minister Shabangu for her welcome remarks, as well as her very positive announcement yesterday. Thank you also to Professor Ferguson for his extremely interesting speech, which had thought-provoking insights for all of us.

My theme this morning is partnership. I would like to share with you Anglo American’s belief in the crucial importance of partnership between all stakeholders in the mining sector – a belief reflected in our ambition to be The Partner of Choice.

I am extremely optimistic about the future of our industry. After the severe distress of the financial crisis and a painful recession, the global economy has rebounded, thanks to particularly strong growth in the emerging economies. Even in the turbulent markets of 2010, China delivered GDP growth of 10.3%. And the IMF’s latest forecasts for the years ahead suggest continued recovery in the mature economies and further robust growth in emerging markets, ranging from 9.5% in China to 8% in India to around 5% in Brazil.

Susan Shabangu – South African Minister of Mineral Resources – 2011 African Mining Indaba Conference Speech

February 9, 2011February 9, 2011

South African Minister of Mineral Resources – Susan Shabangu – 2011 African Mining Indaba Conference Speech – Cape Town, South Africa (February 8, 2011)

Honourable Ministers present
Captains of industry

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Programme director

This forum continues to grow every year and brings together the best and the biggest in the mining industry. This year is no exception. Most of you have come from far and wide in search not only of opportunities but also for clarity. I hope I will do justice to your expectations this morning.

When I delivered this address last year, the world was just emerging from a deep recession. The resultant recession cut deep into the mining industry, however the economic recovery seems to have begun in earnest, with growth forecasts being constantly revised upward in the past few quarters. It is expected that the global GDP will grow at levels in excess of 4% by next year, with emerging economies being the fulcrum of this growth.

The expected economic growth is essentially driven by fiscal spending plans, mainly on infrastructure programmes in emerging economies, as well as increased household consumption, both of which are demand drivers for minerals.

It is for this reason that the mining industry is expected to grow at an average 4-7% in volumes terms during 2011, recovering to the levels preceding the crisis. The mining industry’s absorptive capacity of jobs to meet the demand and availability of expertise to respond to the emerging growth in mineral demand is currently in place, as a result of which it is expected that the 40 000 jobs that were lost during the crisis will be created during the course of this year.

Ring of Fire in James Bay Lowlands – by Edgar J. Lavoie (June 2008)

February 8, 2011

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North. This article is from the June, 2008 issue.

For an extensive list of articles on this mineral discovery, please go to: Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

The man with a dream sits on a wooden bench 190 kilometers north of the Albany River and 240 kilometers west of James Bay.

Neil Novak, P. Geo., is wearing two hats today, the real one of which reads Spider Resources Inc., and the other is the shirt he is wearing, which spells out Noront Resources Ltd. Novak is President and C.E.O. of Spider (SPQ:TSX-V) as well as Vice President/Exploration of Noront (NOT:TSX-V).

The kitchen tent is not a quiet place this morning. The two cooks clatter about. Men bundled up against the minus 17 degrees C. stomp in and out. They relish the respite from a stiff wind out of the northwest. They stomp around on the wooden floor in insulated rubber boots as they grab a coffee or sit down for a sandwich.

A Cessna Grand Caravan, courtesy of Billiken Management Services Inc., has just shuttled the writer and the photographer Jim Guillemette from Nakina airport – the end of the paved road – to an ice strip on McFauld’s Lake in the subarctic.