Mining can be a catalyst for socio-economic development in Africa Antonio Pedro, Chief of Infrastructure and Natural Resources Development, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) writes in the latest ICMM newsletter.

Establishing the Consortium for Clean Coal Utilization, supporting the Clean Coal Technology Center and helping create the Institute of Mineral Resources, Peabody Energy is advancing clean coal research and mining technologies through $10 million in grants to academic institutions, including Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Wyoming and the University of Arizona.

Outotec has been awarded the Prêmio Samarco de Excelência 2008 by the Brazilian iron ore producer Samarco Mineraâo. The award is recognition for Outotec’s performance during the implementation of Samarco’s third pelletising plant project and in particular for Outotec’s high standard of services and supplies, ability to meet deadlines, social responsibility and safety at work.

Macquarie Research says “falling prices reflect disastrous 2009 price prospects. The relentless bear market continues, with further sharp falls in base metals, coal and flat-rolled steel last week. The economic data continue to be weak, and forecasters continue to downgrade 2009 forecasts.

One of the article’s in January International Mining examines oil shale mining in Estonia and technologies being advanced top improve extraction. America’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and American Shale Oil (AMSO), have just entered into a technical co-operation agreement to develop carbon sequestration technologies for in-ground shale-oil production processes.

Work is well advanced on a drilling programme at Rio Tinto’s Mount Thorley Warkworth coal mine in Australia in a pilot project that aims to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases released during mining. If successful, the A$5.5 million pilot project will provide learnings to support the reduction of Rio Tinto’s carbon footprint at Mount [...]

Anglo American will remain at the forefront of the fight against HIV and AIDS by committing to extend its leading workplace care, support and treatment programme to the dependants of employees. This substantial commitment builds on what is already the world’s largest HIV/AIDS workplace voluntary counselling, testing and treatment program, established when Anglo American became [...]

In an admirable move to try and help those in London who work in the financial sector in particular who have to deal with mining matters, MinSouth (London and Southern Counties Minerals Industries Institute), in conjunction with the Association of Mining Analysts and corporate law firm Simmons & Simmons has been conducting a series of [...]

Minova has continued to raise the pace of its business development in China and it is now set for further growth with the establishment of a roof bolt production plant in Tai’an.  Since its formation in late 2005, Ruichy Minova has experienced increasing demand for its products from the Chinese mining authorities as they continue their drive [...]

The First International Future Mining Conference & Exhibition was held at The University of New South Wales, Sydney, November 19 - 21 November, organised by the School of Mining Engineering, UNSW and The AusIMM. Dr Serkan Saydam, Chair of the conference, told IM “the conference was very successful. We tried to look at the future of mining [...]

GAF has been awarded a contract to design and establish the new automated and countrywide Mining Registry and Cadastre System for Mongolia. GAF starts work on-site this month. The project under the Governance Assistance Program (GAP) aims to improve governance in the mining sector, through the establishment of a transparent system to grant, manage and cancel [...]

Imagery is in demand. For people who use geographic information system (GIS) technology, imagery is essential as a natural background, a source for creating maps, and a tool for direct data interpretation. GIS users working to manage and access imagery have a new resource in Lawrie Jordan, ESRI’s Director of Imagery Enterprise Solutions.