How countries are getting tougher with mining companies

Copper is the most talked about commodity this year. Copper's price and supply-demand characteristics are widely assumed to reflect the health of the world industrial economy, hence it is considered as excellent barometer to understand global economy's health.

Equinox Minerals Ltd. will make a hostile bid for Lundin Mining prior to the markets opening Monday morning, Vancouver-based Lundin announced in a news release on Sunday. "Lundin is not aware of the terms of the bid. Until Lundin Mining completes its review of the bid, it will not comment on the proposal," the release stated. "The Board of Directors of Lundin will update shareholders from time to time following receipt and consideration of the bid. Shareholders do not need to take any action in response to the bid at this time." The unsolicited takeover attempt could thwart the proposed merger between Lundin and Inmet Mining Corp. made public in January.

The company behind a large copper-gold mining project in the Phillipine province of South Cotabato is cautiously optimistic that a mining ban imposed last year will be overturned. GMA News reports: A large-scale mining company on Sunday expressed optimism that the South Cotabato provincial government will lift its ban on open-pit mining and allow the $5.2-billion Tampakan copper-gold project to proceed by 2012. Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) made the statement as its petition to withdraw the ban – which former South Cotabato governor Daisy Fuentes imposed last year – has moved up to the provincial council’s final review. The current governor of South Cotabato, Arthur Pingoy, told Reuters last week that a review of the ban is possible, but with a slim chance it would be overturned.

Northern Dynasty said on Wednesday that Wardrop completed a positive preliminary assessment report for the Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum project in Southwestern Alaska. "For the Pebble Project, the 45-year Reference Case yields a 14.2% pre-tax IRR, a 6.2-year payback on initial capital investment of $4.7 billion and a $6.1 billion pre-tax NPV at a 7% discount rate and long-term metal prices. At current prevailing metal prices, the 45-year Reference Case yields a 23.2% pre-tax IRR, a 3.2-year payback on initial capital investment and a $15.7 billion pre-tax NPV at a 7% discount rate."

Japan's Ministry of Finance data reveals drop in refined copper exports to 26,208 tonnes. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's refined copper exports fell 45 percent in January from a year earlier to 26,208 tonnes, for a fourth straight month of year-on-year

Wardrop’s 43-101 report suggests the mine life of the Pebble copper-gold-moly project could span from 25 to 78 years, yielding billions of […]

A further rise in crude oil prices will dampen copper prices, though demand from key buyers in China, the United States and Europe so far looks solid, a senior executive at the world's top copper producer Codelco said on Wednesday.

Taseko Mines submitted a new plan for its Prosperity project on Monday, saying it has addressed environmental concerns that saw its last plan rejected by the Canadian federal government.

Zambia's Central Bank reckons the major copper producing country's output will rise around 10% to 9000,000 tonnes in 2011 LUSAKA (Reuters) - Copper output in Zambia, Africa's leading producer of the metal, is expected rise to 900,000 tonnes in 2011 from