Glencore fights back — to slash debt by $10bn, halt copper mines in Africa

A new report from research firm TNS could have implications for mining. A survey of affluent households around the world — defined as greater than $100,000 — found that 80% of the world's wealthy live in Western countries.TNS's Global Affluenty Investor study conducted interviews across 24 markets including China, Brazil and India.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican senator representing South Carolina, urged the Obama administration to support the Keystone XL oilsands pipeline. Graham, who was speaking at a political event on Wednesday, said that if the U.S. rejects the pipeline, it would be ". . . one of the biggest energy policy blunders in our history." The senator said that the pipeline has the potential to create thousands of jobs, and rejecting the development would have serious consequences for Obama's chances at re-election.

The US coal industry scored a victory in court Thursday after a federal judge ruled that the Obama administration did not have authority to tighten oversight of permits used by coal mining companies that do "mountaintop mining." The ruling by the U.S. District Court says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "exceeded its authority under the Clean Water Act when it issued tougher environmental guidelines related to fill material dumped into streams after the tops of mountains are blasted off to extract underlying coal seams," reported The Wall Street Journal. The National Mining Association sued the EPA last year over the issue.

Cline Mining Corporation ("Cline Mining" or the "Company") (TSX:CMK) is pleased to announce that Xstrata Coal has agreed to acquire 100% of the Company's metallurgical coal deposit within Cline Mining's Lossan property ("Lossan") for CDN$40 million, subject to customary conditions. Closing is expected to occur on or about October 12, 2011. Lossan is located in the Peace River Coalfield of north eastern British Columbia, Canada and has an NI 43-101 compliant resource of 240 million tonnes. Lossan covers an area of approximately 3,800 hectares.

Cameco (TSX:CCO) (NYSE:CCJ) announced today that the Canadian Competition Bureau has issued a "no action letter" in connection with Cameco's offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Hathor Exploration Limited for cash consideration of $3.75 per share. The issuance of the no action letter, which provides that the Commissioner of the Competition Bureau does not intend to challenge the proposed acquisition, satisfies one of the conditions of the offer.

IDEX Online News reports the rough diamond market is in a rut and demand for rough is so limited, that traders are not buying goods, even if offered at 12 or even 13 percent below what DTC's roughly 80 selected clients – called Sightholders – paid for at last week's Sight. Traders cannot move it, and manufacturers claim that with the current decline in polished prices they will lose money. IDEX says from a low cost supplier, DTC – the rough diamond sales and distribution arm of De Beers – has ascended to the pricier side of the list, alongside Russia's Alrosa. Many lots also went unsold at BHP Billiton's latest tender and Diamdel's auction, with bids falling short of the reserve prices.

Metso will supply railcar dumper technology to Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership, which operates a coal storage and loading terminal located at Roberts Bank, Delta, British Columbia, Canada.

Reuters reports copper rose to its highest in nearly a week on Thursday to close at $7,225/tonne on the LME up from Wednesday's close of $6,820 as US data hinted at an improvement in the labour market and European policymakers' comments on dealing with Greece's debt crisis calmed nerves. Copper's strong gains comes at a time when some 5,000 merchants are gathering in the British capital for London Metal Exchange week, an annual event during which supply contracts are discussed. On Monday the red metal fell to 14-month low.

Cameco (TSX:CCO) (NYSE:CCJ) announced today it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with its joint venture partners to mill all Cigar Lake ore at the McClean Lake mill. The new milling arrangement is expected to result in a significant reduction in the operating cost of the Cigar Lake project, which is 50% owned and operated by Cameco. The other Cigar Lake joint venture partners are AREVA Resources Canada Inc. (37%), Idemitsu Resources Canada Inc. (8%) and Tepco Resources Inc (5%).