Sibanye scraps planned closure of loss-making South African mines

Commodities trader Glencore (GLEN.L: Quote) is not considering a bid for embattled miner ENRC, its chief executive said, dismissing reports of a takeover after it disappointed the market with its maiden frst-quarter results. Shares in the world's largest diversified commodity trader dropped 2 percent as weaker-than-expected results from its metals and mining trading unit held back its operating profit.

About 100 men in their 20s and 30s, filled a conference room at a Dublin hotel last week to hear a migration agent describe the personal fortunes waiting to be made a world away in the booming mining towns of the Australian outback. With unemployment running at close to 15 percent in Ireland, and local wages a fraction of those now on offer in Australia, it appeared to be an easy sell.

According to a detailed report in the U.K.'s Sunday times newspaper, Global mega commodities group, Glencore, which recently listed in the London stock Exchange's largest ever IPO, is considering a what appears to be a £12 billion (US$20 billion) friendly takeover of European-based diversified mining and metals company, ENRC (Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation). If such a move takes place this would convert Glencore from the world's largest commodities trading group into one of the globe's biggest integrated mining and metals companies - even without taking into account its 35% stake in Xstrata.

Alderon Resource Corp. (TSX.V: ADV) (OTCQX: ALDFF) is pleased to announce that its summer/fall 2011 drill program has commenced at the 100% owned Kamistiatusset (“Kami”) Iron Ore Project in western Labrador. The CDN $11 million program will consist of 26,000 metres (m) of drilling and is designed to upgrade the current resource as well as expand the known zones of mineralization and target new areas. Image by Alderon Resource Corp

Germany’s May crude steel output of 4.1 million mt marked a 1.1% increase on the prior year, as Europe’s largest steel producer […]

Scandinavian Resources Ltd. (ASX:SCR) has now acquired the Ekstromsberg and Tjarrojakka iron ore projects, about 45 kilometres from Kiruna inside the Arctic […]

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.

Metso will supply crushing equipment to Fortescue Metals Group in Australia. The delivery will be completed by May 2012. The value of the order is approximately EUR34 million. The order comprises 13 units of MP1000 secondary cone crushers. Three units will be delivered to Fortescue’s Christmas Creek iron ore site, and another ten units will go to the Solomon iron ore mine site. Both sites are located in the Pilbara region in Western Australia. The crushers will be supplied to the sites in pre-assembled, modularised form. Metso will also be providing installation and commissioning assistance of all units.

Quebec Premier Jean Charest will travel to Europe this month to tout Plan Nord, the Canadian province's C$80-billion plan to boost mining and forestry, AFP reported Friday: The Quebec government unveiled the 25-year plan to develop "one of the last untouched territories of the world, filled with riches" in May. Charest is to meet with politicians and business leaders in London, Brussels, Frankfurt and Munich from June 27 to July 1.