kazzinc.jpg Last week Glencore International published its first sustainability report, disclosing how it performed in 2010 and prior years in contributing to sustainable development. The report details Glencore’s performance in relation to its people, neighbouring communities, the environment, compliance and customers. In 2009 Glencore launched  a group-wide sustainability policy framework called Glencore Corporate Practice (GCP), which specifies [...]

Wildhorse Energy, which is focussed on developing underground coal gasification (UCG) and uranium projects in Central Europe, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which sets out the terms for exclusive negotiations and cooperation between the company and Air Liquide, the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment. Under the terms of the MOU, Air Liquide will evaluate the technical and commercial conditions for installation of a new state-of-the-art air separation unit on WHE’s UCG site in Pécs, Hungary with the capacity to supply all the oxygen needs for WHE’s UCG project in Mecsek Hills, Hungary and shall develop its final proposal for oxygen supply to WHE based upon this evaluation.

GE says the deal strengthens its “position in $30 billion power conversion and automation sector. The Converteam technological expertise will enhance GE’s ability to bring localised solutions to fast growth regions.” Furthermore, it broadens GE offerings for energy intensive industries like mining. Converteam is a leading provider of power conversion and automation systems and high-efficiency power electronics, motors and generators. Its solutions enable customers in a variety of industries to replace or improve mechanical processes with high-efficiency electric alternatives that deliver better reliability, less maintenance and lower emissions.

With bucket sizes ranging from 18-35 m3 (depending on materials), it has an operating weight range of 216-220 ts (depending on configuration) and is powered by a Tier 2-compliant Komatsu SSDA16V160E-2 engine rated at 1,316 kW net. It is available in two configurations, standard boom and high lift boom.In standard boom configuration, it can load Komatsu HD1500-7 (144 t capacity) and similar-class trucks in four passes, and 730E(184 t capacity) trucks in five passes.In high-lift boom configuration,it can load 830Es (222 t capacity) trucks in seven passes. Photo courtesy of Komatsu America Corp.

Automated Positioning Systems (APS), developer of machine management systems for the surface mining industry have demonstrated their new personnel tracking iPhone App at AIMEX in Sydney. The Personnel Tracker App utilises the in-built GPS of the iPhone or similar smart phone to show the position of the person carrying the phone on a mine site display in the mineAPS office suite of fleet management software. The app has been designed to run in the background of an iPhone, automatically log the position of the person and transfer this information to the onboard computers of mineAPS Mobile equipped machines and to the central mineAPS Office software.

One of the articles in the October isssue considers the great amount of research into deep mining underway in Canada. The latest news is that the McGuinty Government is providing C$823,000 to the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) toward a Research Chair for Holistic Mining Practices.

Mann+Hummel Australia is featuring its latest diesel particulate filters and crankcase ventilation developments on Stand SP156 during AIMEX at Sydney Olympic Park, September 6-9. The company’s diesel particulate filters for off-road applications feature new electronics, which, the company says, can calculate a regeneration strategy for the application in question, thereby reducing costs. The new electronics also improved operational reliability, installation and servicing, Mann+Hummel Managing Director Martin Mühlmann said.

Snowden is currently working on a project with Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL), which operates the Sierra Rutile heavy mineral sand mining operation in Sierra Leone. The scope of the project is to prepare an optimised strategic life of mine plan for SRL’s world class rutile project near the Imperri Hills, located about six hours drive southeast of the capital, Freetown. The objective of the strategic plan is to consider the best way to tackle the many discrete resources identified at the mine.

AmerCable is showing mining cables for both open-pit and underground mines on Stand 907 during AIMEX, September 6-9. The company says its sheathed power cables are fully compliant with and certified to all relevant Australian standards. They are also designed to last longer in harsh Australian mining conditions and to help provide greater levels of safety and productivity. AmerCable says it has more international certifications than any other mining cable manufacturer, and that “innovation is a company strong point.”

BHP Billiton has approved a further US$367 million (BHP Billiton share) investment for the third stage of development of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group’s (NCIG) coal handling facility in Newcastle, Australia.

​BHP Billiton has approved a further US$367 million (BHP Billiton share) investment for the third stage of development of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group’s (NCIG) coal handling facility in Newcastle, Australia. BHP Billiton’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Hunter Valley Energy Coal, is a 35.5% shareholder in the holding company of the NCIG. The port expansion project will increase total capacity at the coal terminal from 53 to 66 Mt/y.

Australia’s African-focused explorers, developers and miners were urged last week to drive a resurgent minerals sector in one of the continent’s hottest gold spots, Ghana. Speaking on the second day in Perth of the three day 2011 Paydirt Africa DownUnder conference, Ghana’s Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, the Hon. Moses Asaga, said the country had the potential to scale-up many of its smaller mining operations - of which there are about 600 - in parallel with its nine major mines.