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Noront’s site selection process for ferrochrome smelter drags on – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – June 27, 2018)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Environmental work begins on Ring of Fire north-south corridor as new provincial government sworn in

It looks to be July, or possibly even deeper into the summer, before Noront Resources announces a Northern Ontario processing site for Ring of Fire chromite ore.

The Toronto mine developer has yet to make public its choice from one of four landing spots put forward by Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay/Fort William First Nation and Timmins to place a ferrochrome processing plant.

In early February, at the closing of a four-city bidding process, Noront hired Hatch Engineering to help evaluate the packages over the next three to four months.

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Philippine miners call for end of ban on big new projects – by Manolo Serapio Jr and Enrico Dela Cruz (Reuters U.K. – June 27, 2018)

https://uk.reuters.com/

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine miners are urging the government to lift a six-year ban on new large-scale mining projects in the world’s No. 2 nickel ore supplier after the state removed restrictions on fresh smaller ventures.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said in a memorandum dated June 18, but not widely flagged, that a moratorium on government approvals for mining developments would no longer apply to smaller projects.

Mining is a deeply contentious issue in the resource-rich Southeast Asian nation after past examples of environmental breaches, with only 3 percent of 9 million hectares identified by the state as having high mineral reserves being mined.

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Collateral damage from U.S. tariffs has already arrived in Canada – by John Ivison (National Post – June 27, 2018)

http://nationalpost.com

Alarming testimony before the international trade committee suggested that without government assistance, previously healthy businesses will go under within weeks

The human collateral damage of Donald Trump’s trade spoliation appeared in Ottawa Tuesday, to explain how the tariffs imposed by the U.S. on steel and aluminum imports are already causing hardship and job losses in Canada.

The alarming testimony before an emergency meeting of the international trade committee suggested that without government assistance, previously healthy businesses will go under within weeks.

There was also a very real sense that Canada is at the U.S. president’s mercy if he decides to follow through on his threat to impose 25-per-cent tariffs on this country’s auto industry. “There’s not an assembly plant in the country that could survive a 25-per-cent tariff,” said Jerry Dias, president of Canada’s largest union, Unifor.

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[Minnesota Mining] ‘IT IS A HISTORY WORTH TELLING’ – by Leah Ryan (Mesabi Daily News – June 27, 2018)

http://www.grandrapidsmn.com/

SOUDAN — “If you haven’t been [to the Soudan Underground Mine] it is one of the three or four drop-to-your-knees outstanding experiences you can have at a state park,” said Erika Rivers, director of State Parks and Trails at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

June 7 was the ribbon cutting of the new campground at Vermilion State Park, in the same area as Soudan Underground Mine State Park. “The camping opportunity here with the mine will create a historical learning experience,” said Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook. “It is a history worth telling.”

“The Soudan Underground Mine is one of the most awesome places in the state of Minnesota,” said Parl Manager Jim Essig. “It showcases the heritage of the people of the Iron Range. Plus, it is a lot of fun,” Essig couldn’t help but adding with a genuine smile.

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Forrest targets Rinehart in new twist in Atlas war – by Brad Thompson(Australian Financial Review – June 26, 2018)

https://www.afr.com/

Andrew Forrest has taken off the gloves and come out swinging in his billionaire brawl with Gina Rinehart over control of Atlas Iron.

Mr Forrest dramatically escalated the dispute when NCZ Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of his Fortescue Metals Group, turned to the Takeovers Panel with a series of explosive allegations in relation to Atlas and a $390 million takeover bid from Mrs Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting and its subsidiary, Redstone.

The move represents the official declaration of war in the long-standing hostilities between the two Perth-based Rich Listers, who briefly saw eye-to-eye in 2010 during the campaign against Kevin Rudd’s resource super profits tax.

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Modest growth predicted for Timmins’ economy – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – June 27, 2018)

http://www.timminspress.com/

TIMMINS – The Timmins economy will continue to expand, albeit moderately in the next couple of years, according to a new report by the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC), which shows some significant numbers on this city’s economic performance.

The report, which is called the Mid-Sized Cities Outlook 2018, reviews the economic performances of several such cities across Canada. The CBoC report said it recognizes “the valuable role that Canada’s mid-sized cities play as regional hubs and economic engines in their respective areas.”

The report also noted that while there was a drop in employment in Timmins last year, things are expected to bounce back in the job market. It also noted that although the growth rate for Timmins is predicted to be “modest” and lower than the average among Canadian cities, it is still growth.

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Ferrochrome plant too risky, Sudbury opponents say – by Keith Dempsey (Sudbury Star – June 27, 2018)

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Building a $1-billion ferrochrome plant so close to the Wahnapitae Water Treatment Plant is too risky, opponents say. “When you think about where our water intake is to the context of all of that, we want Sudbury to be aware,” Kate Kearney, a member of No Ferrochrome Sudbury, said Tuesday. “The concern is the risk,” Kearney said.

No Ferrochrome Sudbury is a group of volunteers who oppose the construction of a ferrochrome smelter that would be located on a former Vale site in Coniston. Its members said Noront Resource’s plant would be just 4 km from the water treatment plant, which pumps water to New Sudbury, Coniston, Garson and Wahnapitae. They said the plant supplies 60 per cent of the city’s drinking water.

The group held at the protest on Tuesday at Wahnapitae’s boat launch. They said they fear the plant would produce hexavalent chromium that would be released into the natural environment and in the water.

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German experts meet to discuss country’s exit from coal use (Tampa Bay Times – June 26, 2018)

http://www.tampabay.com/

Associated Press – BERLIN (AP) — Representatives from German industry, environmental groups and unions met Tuesday in Berlin to discuss how and when the country can stop using coal to generate electricity.

Climate scientists have called for Germany to do more to curb its greenhouse gas emissions, which have stagnated for about a decade. This month, the government was forced to admit it will miss its short-term climate goal by a wide mark .

Coal-fired power plants are a major source of carbon emissions that drive climate change. While Germany has ramped up production of renewable energy, it still depends on coal for over a third of its electricity.

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Ongoing fuel cell developments kindle hope for platinum demand – by Martin Creamer (MiningWeekly.com – June 26, 2018)

http://www.miningweekly.com/

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Ongoing hydrogen fuel cell developments across the globe are kindling hope for an eventual significant increase in platinum demand.

This month alone, Hyundai Auto Canada took part in the official opening of Canada’s first retail hydrogen fuelling station operated by Shell and Hydrogen Technology & Energy Corporation, France announced that it was targeting 100 hydrogen fuel cell stations, a Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle refuelled at the new hydrogen station in Iceland,

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport announced plans for ten hydrogen fuelling stations to be installed in the country by 2025, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announced the selection of four projects to install 52 MW of fuel cell power in the state, doubling Connecticut’s installed capacity to 100 MW, FuelCell Energy will install a 14.8 MW fuel cell system in the city of Derby, and a 7.4 MW system in the state capital of Hartford, and Bloom Energy will install a 10 MW system in the town of Colchester.

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Canada’s Biggest Steelmaker Sees Layoffs From U.S. Tariffs – by Greg Quinn (Bloomberg News – June 26, 2018)

https://www.bloomberg.com/

The head of Canada’s biggest steelmaker says he may have to lay off 1,000 workers and review $750 million (US$564 million) of investment if the government doesn’t fight back against U.S. tariffs.

Canada shouldn’t waver in its plan to retaliate against the 25 per cent tariff the U.S. has imposed on steel imports, ArcelorMittal Dofasco Chief Executive Officer Sean Donnelly told lawmakers Tuesday in Ottawa. The government should also seek the permanent elimination of the U.S. tariff, he said.

“This combined impact could result in reduced production, potential shutdown of operating lines impacting over 1,000 direct jobs and over 4,000 indirect jobs in Ontario, in Quebec, with significant implications” to future investment, he said.

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When science doesn’t suffice: Geologists need public engagement and new approaches to achieve it: Iain Stewart – by Greg Klein (Resource Clips – June 20, 2018)

 

http://resourceclips.com/

There’s nothing like jumping into a river at the head of a waterfall—especially the Zambezi above the hundred-plus-metre drop of Victoria Falls while an airborne crew films the stunt for television—to grab people’s attention. That’s the sort of thing Iain Stewart has done, but as a means to an end.

A geologist with a gift for communication, he evidently has a mission to express a sense of wonder in the science and its importance to people’s lives. But what about all those other geos lacking the resources of network TV or the advantages of charisma? Stewart discussed that in a June 18 public event at the first-ever Resources for Future Generations conference in Vancouver.

A professor of geoscience communication and director of the Sustainable Earth Institute at Plymouth University, Stewart’s best known for several BBC documentary series that bring geology to a broad mainstream audience.

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Glencore Bets on South Africa as Ramaphosa Promises Revival – by Thomas Wilson and Paul Burkhardt (Bloomberg News – June 26, 2018)

https://www.bloomberg.com/

Glencore Plc has set its ambitions on expanding in South Africa, the homeland of its chief Ivan Glasenberg.

As the company’s former business partner and new President Cyril Ramaphosa promises an economic recovery, Glencore is reaping profits from coal and chrome assets as prices rise. The company announced in October a $1 billion deal to buy Chevron Corp.’s oil refining and fuel service stations in South Africa and considered a bid for the Optimum coal mine.

The oil bid “was a pretty strong vote of confidence in the South African environment,” said Martin Kingston, the chief executive officer of N.M. Rothschild & Sons Ltd. in South Africa, which is advising Chevron on the sale. “Glencore understands the environment very well. They are effective behind the scenes and they have their finger on the pulse.”

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Copper: solid project pipeline to drive global growth (BMI Research/Mining Review Africa -June 26, 2018)

Mining Review Africa

Global copper mine production will experience steady growth over the next few years, supported by markets with low operating costs and improving copper prices. We forecast global production to increase by an average annual rate of 3.6% over 2018-2027 as several key new projects and expansions come online.

In terms of volume, we expect global copper output to climb from 20.4 Mt in 2018 to 28 Mt by 2027. Following a modest contraction in 2017 due to operational disruptions, elevated copper prices will incentivise project development, particularly in key countries such as Chile, Peru and Australia.

The Democratic Republic of Congo

The DRC’s production will maintain solid growth over the coming years, supported by continued investment, high-grade reserves and improving copper prices. We forecast the DRC’s production to increase from 1 Mt in 2018 to 1.9 Mt by 2027.

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We built this city with coal mining (Lethbridge Herald – June 26, 2018)

https://lethbridgeherald.com/

It is accurate to say that without coal, Lethbridge might not be here today. The Blackfoot and other First Nations knew about the coal. A Blackfoot name for the place that would become Lethbridge was sik-ooh-ko-toki or place of the black rocks.

The First Nations had little use for the coal as it could not be burned safely in a teepee, and other fuel sources were readily available. Nicholas Sheran heard about the coal of southern Alberta. Recognizing the need for such a purposeful resource, in 1874 Sheran developed the first commercial coal mine in Alberta.

The location of this mine was on the west bank of the Oldman River, just off the north side of Whoop-Up Drive. Sheran managed a mine there until his death (by drowning) in 1882.

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To reduce China’s leverage, rebuild America’s minerals supply chain – by Mark J. Perry (The Hill – June 26, 2018)

http://thehill.com/

Imagine a scenario where the U.S. is entirely dependent on a single nation for oil. You can’t. It’s inconceivable. We would never let one nation — much less a sometimes adversarial rival — dominate our supply of a critical resource. Or would we?

Astoundingly, we have. We are completely import-dependent for 21 mineral commodities, and imports account for more than half of our consumption for 50 critical minerals. Who’s our largest supplier? China.

While much of China’s resource dominance comes from domestic production, it doesn’t end at the border. Chinese companies have come to control the production of key minerals resources in nearly every corner of the world.

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