Frik Els, Author at MINING.COM

Iron ore falls through $130 as Chinese steel price hits 2012 low

A build-up in steel inventories and a steep drop-off in demand as China's building boom begins to look more and more unsustainable send iron ore down 3.4% in just the last week and more than 25% below the $174 a tonne struck this time last year.

Frik Els | July 17, 2012 | 4:11 pm

I’ll have mine rare: Chief of $10 billion Chinese Pilbara project now prefers beef over iron ore

Citic Pacific Mining executive chairman Dongyi Hua says "soaring demand for Australian food, particularly beef, among China's 100 million wealthy people could buffer Australia's economy from the effects of an end to the mining boom" particularly given the risk that iron ore prices could fall further.

Frik Els | July 17, 2012 | 12:09 am

New report says violent overthrow of DRC government could be matter of weeks

If you think Congo is unstable now watch what happens when you throw oil into the mix

New oil reserves could also create new centres of power and in the context of a general oil rush in Central and East Africa, the lack of clearly defined borders, especially in the Great Lakes region, poses significant risk for maintaining regional stability.

Frik Els | July 16, 2012 | 10:21 pm

Mongolia shakes its ‘Asia’s mineral state’ reputation, pushes renewables

Mongolia’s new rulers may put world’s richest coal deposit beyond reach

The Democratic Party which campaigned on sharing more of the spoils of mining with Mongolian citizens won the majority of seats while the junior partner in the new ruling coalition, the MPRP – led by a former president Nambaryn Enkhbayar – bases its whole doctrine on taking back foreign-owned mines.

Frik Els | July 16, 2012 | 7:33 pm

Excellon stock falls as labour dispute grinds Mexican ops to a halt

Excellon Resources fell 8% on Monday, after announcing it could run out of stockpiled ore at its Zacatecas-state mill "within the next few days" after a dispute with workers and local landowners halted operations at its La Platosa silver mine in Mexico.

Frik Els | July 16, 2012 | 5:40 pm