The Sydney Morning Herald reports Australia's Gillard government has opened the week of the crucial vote on carbon tax by revealing that big fuel users such as airlines want to sign on to the scheme, while the coal industry counterattacked with a report estimating that the tax risks the jobs of 21,000 miners. The government's bid to boost the carbon tax comes as a new coal industry-commissioned report says the tax would force the premature closure of 17 per cent of existing black-coal mines in Australia, including 15 in NSW. Today the Australian Coal Association will release the results of an ACIL Tasman consultants study that concludes an estimated 27 per cent of employment in coalmining projects would be under threat with a carbon tax.

Vale, the world's second-largest mining company, may be unable to develop a massive new iron-ore mine in the Amazon after archeologically and environmentally sensitive caves were found at the site, the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported on Sunday. The

JACQUES Nasser, for the second time in a month, has bought shares in BHP Billiton on the New York Stock Exchange. The chairman paid about $29.50 a share for scrip in BHP Billiton plc, outlaying about $507,000; late last month he paid about $35 a share, a

The Treasurer, Wayne Swan, has imposed a two-stage foreign investment approval process for resource exploration and mining, amid warnings of a Chinese investment strike. The position requires investors to obtain approval from the Foreign Investment

It was standing room only last Thursday at the Africa Down Under conference in Perth when Globe Metals & Mining (ASX: GBE) managing director Mark Sumich took to the stage. Sumich had an interesting story to tell about Globe's African ambitions. But he is big enough to admit that the big crowd was chiefly there to hear what the next speaker, Rio Tinto's David Joyce, had to say about iron ore markets.

Atlas Iron managing director David Flanagan says just 12 million tonnes of annual iron ore production is needed to underpin construction of a third Pilbara railway line running into Port Hedland.

Australia's Treasurer Wayne Swan may soon have another foreign investment headache on his hands, as a Chinese entrepreneur says he has Beijing's backing to step around Australian investment rules and become the world's fourth force in iron ore. Liu Han, chairman Hanlong Group said the company could achieve it within 10 years, giving China ''a say'' in iron-ore price negotiations and stem as much as $80 billion in national losses flowing to the big producers.

Gold surged to a new record this morning the political stand-off in the United States over the country's debt-ceiling fuelled fears about a default among investors. Gold for August delivery climbed as much as 0.9 per cent, extending its rally to a record

There are opportunities in a de-carbonised economy - but even offset and renewable energy stocks have their drawbacks. For all the angst the tax on carbon is causing Julia Gillard, how ironic that's not what it actually is.

Stocks sank to their lowest point this month after a sharp selloff on renewed concerns over the carbon tax and international debt woes. The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed down 86.9 points, or 1.9 per cent, at 4495.4. Almost $25 billion was wiped from the value of the bourse.

Griffin Coal administrators have confirmed that the $1.2 billion sale of its power business, which was due for completion in May, has been derailed by the new owner of Griffin Coal, which has threatened to withhold supply for Griffin Power's coal-fired plant.

The coalmines that once powered the fortunes of reclusive West Australian millionaire Ric Stowe are at the centre of a $3.5 billion lawsuit between the mines' new owner and its biggest customer, fertiliser manufacturer Perdaman Industries.