Ethiopia is set to hit its target of more than doubling mining exports to an annual $1 billion ahead of time, the country's mining minister told Reuters, as it promotes gold extraction, but also fertilizer ingredient potash. Ethiopia, though still reliant on commodities like coffee for revenue, is expected to earn around $500 million from mining exports in the financial year to next July, the minister said. It had targeted doubling that over five years from 2010/11.

Canada's benchmark stock index inched up on Thursday, led by gains in the materials sector and better-than-expected economic news south of the border, The Montreal Gazette reported: The S&P/TSX composite index gained 71.95 points, or 0.55%, to 13,255.74 -still well below its highest point so far this year, 14,270.53, posted April 5, but a welcome sight after its longest string of losses since 2006. Saskatchwan PotashCorp led the market uptick, rising 3.39% to $53.98 on news of climbing US. corn futures. Agrium Inc. rose 2.61% to $82.49.

Despite weeks of negotiations, India has yet to reach a potash supply agreement with major potash suppliers, includingCanpotex, and is holding out for a lower price in order to bridge the gap between the international price of potash and the benchmark import parity price fixed by the government.

Standard & Poor’s has raised its metals price assumptions for 2011 and beyond, citing the increased volatility of the markets but worries […]

The Australian federal government has announced a new skills investment fund and a skills migration plan for major projects in the resources sector, the Australian Journal of Mining reports.

[The National Resource Sector Taskforce] predicted the number of jobs in mining and gas operations may grow by 65,000 taking the sector’s direct employment to around 250,000 people by 2015. The WA Council of Minerals and Energy backs this up, predicting the State’s resource industry’s direct workforce will grow 58% by the end of 2012. The Taskforce’s solution to this bourgeoning demand for skill and labour is hardly surprising. It said, in essence: drop some serious cash into vocational training. The Taskforce made 31 recommendations, urging more initiatives and money to provide more skills training.

De Beers chairman Nicky Oppenheimer told a Washington audience Thursday that Africa has a bright future if its leaders embrace globalization and allow the private sector to flourish.

Robert Friedland, Chief Executive Officer of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX:IVN)(NYSE:IVN)(NASDAQ:IVN), issued an operations update today that reports on progress being achieved on the development of principal projects in the portfolios of the parent company and its subsidiaries and associated interests. Key developments: Full-scale construction at Ivanhoe Mines' flagship Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold-silver mining complex is continuing toward a projected peak level of activity that is expected to be reached during the third quarter of this year. The total number of workers engaged at the Oyu Tolgoi construction site has more than doubled since March 1, 2011, as part of the build up to the peak of construction and currently stands at 12,497.

Gold–Ore Resources Ltd. (TSX:GOZ) today released Second Quarter (ending May 31, 2011) production results for the 100% owned Bjorkdal Gold Mine in Sweden. During the second quarter the mine produced 11,131 ounces of gold, an increase of 11% over the first quarter; during the month of May the mine set a new monthly gold production record of 4,208 ounces. The company projects 2011 gold production at 44,000 to 46,000 ounces.

Two workers died after they were hit by waste debris being removed from Brazilian miner Vale's (VALE5.SA) Stobie underground copper-nickel mine in Sudbury, Ontario, officials said on Thursday. The employees were working in a shaft about 1,000 metres below the surface on Wednesday evening when the accident occurred, and were dead when rescuers reached the scene, the company said.