Canpotex held a ground breaking ceremony at the railcar maintenance and staging facility located south of Potash Corp’s Lanigan mine on Friday. In business since 1972, Canpotex is the exclusive offshore marketing company for the three big provincial Saskatchewan potash players and maintains a fleet of 5,000 specialty railcars for its customers in about 30 countries around the world.

The U.K. has committed to halving its carbon emissions before 2027 following the publication of its ambitious fourth carbon budget. The rollout and development of renewable energy technologies, as well as the construction of new nuclear power plants, will play a key part in reducing the country's carbon emissions 50% when compared to 1990 levels. This will mean that net emissions for 2023-27 should not exceed 1.95 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Forbes reported that demand for Appalachian coal should drive up profits for US producers. The market news is quoted as saying: India and Europe will likely to import more of the plentiful, dirtier-burning coal used by electric plants, Brean Murray Carret & Co. analyst Jeremy Sussman said in a research note Friday.

Trading Room reports that Melbourne-based Fortis Mining Ltd has agreed to raise $236m by selling new shares and notes to investors in Hong Kong and China to buy and develop two potash mines in Kazakhstan. ASX-listed Fortis, previously a gold and base metal explorer, acquired the rights to purchase the Chelkarskaya and Zhilyanskoe salt deposits in March. The deposits have an exploration target range of 6.5 – 6.6bn tonnes of potassium making them amongst the largest potash salt deposits in the world.

IPP Media reports: Mantra Tanzania Limited has sponsored six students to complete a mine training course as part of an effort towards corporate social responsibility.

[Organizational capability manager Kevin] Flynn said the course curriculum was special for electricians, mechanics, fitters, water technicians and welders. “TCME acquired a licence from South Africa to use their curriculum at the college. This means that on completion, the students will be awarded certificates that can earn them jobs in mining companies in the country and in South Africa”, he said.

Hecla Greens Creek Mining Co. has donated $300,000 to the University of Alaska Foundation (UAF) to fund a mining career development program at the University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau Empire reports.

It will aid students in preparing for mining industry jobs through education, job shadowing and training. “We’re giving the biggest amount of money we have in our history,” said Hecla President and Chief Executive Officer Philip Baker. Baker said there is a need for qualified employees in the industry and this outreach, combined with internships, will help provide a pathway for students coming out of high school and through college to go directly into the workforce.

The investment will allow ArcelorMittal Mines Canada to increase its annual production of iron ore concentrate from 14 million tons to 24 million tons by 2013. AMMC is also evaluating increasing its production of iron ore pellets from 9.2 million tons to 18.5 million tons. The scheme represents a total investment of CAN$2.1 billion dollars that will create 8,000 jobs during construction and more than 900 permanent jobs once completed. Commenting, Peter Kukielski, Member of the Group Management Board and Head of Mining for ArcelorMittal, said “ArcelorMittal Mines Canada is a flagship mining asset for the Group, which offers considerable opportunity for expansion. We have already announced our intention to grow our iron ore production to 100 million tons by 2015 and this expansion forms an important part of that.”

Toronto stock exchange listed Minera Andes announced on Friday the proposed spin-out of its copper assets, including the 100%-owned Los Azules project, has been deferred. The gold, silver and copper exploration company cited weaker financial markets, financing uncertainties, and a delayed legal decision regarding its dispute with TNR Gold over claims on the Argentinean property, as contributing to the board’s decision.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports on Friday that the state of New South Wales announced a 60-day freeze on new exploration licences for coal, coal seam gas and petroleum in a push to resolve the escalating conflict between farmers, miners and conservationists over land use. The need for a moratorium was questioned by the state's mining industry, which said billions of dollars in investment were at stake, but it said it broadly supported the development of a new approach to avoid conflict over valuable land.