Fluor has won an EPCM contract from Debswana, a joint venture of the Government of Botswana and De Beers, to execute the Jwaneng Cut 8 diamond project. After successfully completing the feasibility study for the company earlier in 2009, Fluor was awarded the procurement and construction management phases of the project, valued at around $450 [...]

“Following the years of strong growth, 2009 saw a sharp drop in demand for borates, but, in the second half of the year, markets for both textile-grade fibreglass and borosilicate glass recovered, and demand for borosilicate glass in LCD screens is expected to grow by 15% in 2010. The main factors affecting future demand for [...]

This year’s Aachen International Mining Symposia (AIMS), to be held on May 26-27 in Germany, will provide a forum for presentation, discussion and evaluation of state-of-the-art and emerging technologies in the field of mineral resources and mine development. About 50 presentations by experts from Europe, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Papua New Guinea and the [...]

Following successful commissioning of 19 Weba Chute Systems at BHP Billiton’s Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) in Australia, Weba Chute Systems has been commissioned to carry out the FEL 3 Level chute design work for the port expansion. Alwin Nienaber, Operations/Technical Director at Weba, says that this equates to about 40% of the engineering [...]

Joy Global has reported first quarter fiscal year 2010 results. “We delivered solid results that are in line with our expectations and are consistent with our outlook for our markets,” said Mike Sutherlin, President and CEO. “Orders were up from last year, and translated to a positive book to bill. We continue to see strength in [...]

Bucyrus has introduced its next generation rope shovel - the Bucyrus 495HR2 (pronounced 495HR Super 2). This combines the company’s rope shovel technology and engineering innovation, producing what Bucyrus believes to be the world’s most advanced electric rope shovel. It includes innovations such as the HydraCrowdTM, LatchFreeTM dipper system, AC-IGBT electrics and enhanced propel power, [...]

Four CONSOL Energy operations in West Virginia have been recognised for their safety efforts, being named recipients of prestigious Mountaineer Guardian awards. The company’s Loveridge underground mine in Fairview, its Fola operations and Peach Orchard preparation plant in Clay County, and Southern WV Resources #1 mine in Naugatuck all received awards. The awards are given [...]

Situated 600 km away from Johannesburg in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, the King Crusher project and Parsons plant expansion, which forms part of the Khumani expansion project (KEP), has challenged the logistical planning skills of Concor Civils. The company is responsible for the construction of the primary and secondary crusher and associated [...]

The provincial budget delivered by Canadian Finance Minister Dwight Duncan last week in the Legislature has “made the future of mining in Ontario significantly brighter”, according to the Ontario Mining Association. It not only boosts the prospects of existing mineral producing operations but reduces economic resistance to new developments. The C$450 million Northern Industrial Electricity [...]

ABB has successfully commissioned the world’s largest high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) drive system for the Boddington gold mine expansion project in Western Australia. The delivery comprised 2 x 2,800 kW HPGR units of two converter transformers, two medium voltage frequency converters and two squirrel cage induction motors. By optimising the grinding process, ABB’s ACS1000 [...]

Nominated for an innovation award in the machinery component category, Bauer Maschinen’s down-the-hole (DTH) flushing head for dry drilling rods will be on show at Bauma. TABE will show off its new hydraulic breaker and crushing bucket, whilst SBM Mineral Processing will exhibit its redesigned universal crushing series. Dana’s drivetrain solution for front-end loaders, Hazemag’s [...]

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), 2009 mining M&A saw significant decreases in values and also changes in the characteristics of buyers and sellers. Sellers were acting largely through necessity to strengthen balance sheets for survival rather than seeking expansion and development capital according to Mining Deals, PwC’s annual publication on deal activity in the mining sector.