A mea culpa for not recognizing the 2011 resource bubble

Germany will need more coal plants if it is to phase out nuclear power, Chancellor Angela Merkel said. "If we want to quickly get out of nuclear power and into renewable energy, we need fossil-fuel power plants.

Australia moved closer to introducing a contentious 30 percent mining tax being eyed by other countries, releasing draft laws and seeking reaction from resource companies to legislation expected to be passed later this year. The government unveiled the mining tax over a year ago but modified its plan before last August' s elections after global miners including BHP Billiton , Rio Tinto , and Xstrata launched a public campaign against it. Big miners and minority lawmakers are now broadly supportive and the legislation is expected to pass parliament and take effect on July 1, 2012.

Standard & Poor’s has raised its metals price assumptions for 2011 and beyond, citing the increased volatility of the markets but worries […]

The top 40 global mining companies are poised to break through the US$1 trillion asset mark this year, due to record levels of cash, property and equipment on balance sheets, says a new PwC report. In their report Mine 2011: The game has changed, PwC called the financial results of the top 40 "spectacular" as total revenues increased 32% to US$435 billion, breaking the $400 billion mark for the first time.

Profit margins for the world’s top 40 mining companies are below the historical peaks of 2006 and 2007 as higher costs outweigh […]

Indonesian coal giant Adaro Energy expects 2011 coal production up 5 million tons from last year to 46-48 million tons and then to nearly 50 million in 2012, while Bayan Resources is aiming to more than double its output to 25 million tonnes by 2013. Indonesia is expected to make up 39% of the global increase in coal exports, with Adaro and top miner Bumi Resources becoming two of the top three exporters by 2015. Australia will follow closely behind in terms of growth. India will surpass Japan as the leading buyer of Indonesian coal this year, the country’s coal association told Reuters, and India’s demand will continue to surge as electricity demand is expected to rise 56% by 2017.

SouthGobi Resources announced that it has been notified by the Mineral Resource Authority of Mongolia (MRAM) that the company's Soumber coal deposit has been officially registered. The registration process includes calculation of resources to Mongolian standards, review of the calculations by MRAM-appointed industry experts, and defense of the calculations before the Minerals Resource Committee. Mineral deposit registration is a prerequisite for applying for a Mining License.

Grande Cache Coal announced its financial and operating results for the three and twelve months ended March 31, 2011. Net income for fiscal 2011 was $27.7 million ($0.28 per basic and diluted share) representing a 38% increase from $20.1 million ($0.21 per basic share and $0.20 per diluted share) in fiscal 2010. Fourth quarter net income was $5.1 million ($0.05 per basic and diluted share) compared to $1.4 million ($0.01 per basic and diluted share) in the same period last year.

Cliffs Natural Resources announced Thursday it will reduce its outlook from 6.5 million tons of coal this year to 5.1 million tons, citing severe weather damage at its Oak Grove mine in Alabama and carbon monoxide hazards in its Pinnacle mine in West Virginia. The company also said its newly acquired Bloom Lake operation will yield 4.8 million tons of iron ore concentrate this year.