Ghana to raise $750m through London IPO of minerals fund

Allana Potash (TSX:AAA) surged 9.8% on Tuesday on higher than usual trading volumes, after upping the resource at its Danakhil project by 90%.

"We have spent over $40 million on the smelter in the two years we have owned it and are aware of the challenges that continue to exist there," Chief Executive Jonathan Goodman said in a statement.

The World Steel Association is cutting its forecasts for global use of the commodity by 1.8% this year, as China - the world’s biggest consumer of steel- has slowed down its growth.

Last year, Africa was the region that witnessed the strongest growth in gold-mining operations. In an exclusive interview with The Gold Report, Nana Sangmuah, managing director of research with Toronto-based Clarus Securities, expects that trend to continue and suggests some immediate smart investments in Ghana, Mali, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Fourteen months after being halted by the South African departments of water and environment, Coal of Africa's Vele mine has begun shipping its first coal.

The United Nations' Security Council on Thursday extended the sanctions imposed on Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) for another year, including exports of rough diamonds.

Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by mining companies operating in emerging markets in South America, Africa and Asia have become a crucial part of doing business as “above-ground risks are quickly gaining equal footing to traditional geological and engineering considerations for mining projects.”

Humanitarian funds raised by Randgold Resources chief executive Mark Bristow's trans-African motorcycle safari in 2010 have been used to make a food donation to people in the north of Mali, which has been afflicted by an uprising by Touareg rebels.

Niger's uranium workers have downed tools over a dispute with Areva, the French nuclear power giant that owns the Imouraren mine.