Canadian studies endorsing fracking highly flawed — critics

DRC gold mine on track for Q4 production – Banro New York- and Toronto-listed Banro on Monday said its Twangiza gold project is on track to become the first new commercial gold mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in more than 50 years, with

Contract mining and construction firm Macmahon Holdings has secured various Australian mining contracts worth $90m. The first contract involves predevelopment work adjacent to current operations at BHP Billiton Iron Ore's Wheelarra mine and mining

Yukon-Nevada Gold announced its financial and operational results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011. Highlights for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 include the Jerritt Canyon Mine whihch produced 22,168 ounces from purchased ore, stockpiles and mining operations in the three months ended June 30, 2011, compared with 18,441 ounces in 2010, reflecting a 20% increase in production despite continued shutdowns.

Petra Diamonds is pleased to announce that Ministerial consent in terms of Section 11 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (“MPRDA”) has been granted for the cession and transfer of the new order mining right for the Finsch diamond mine in South Africa (“Finsch”) from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited (“De Beers”) to Afropean Diamonds (Pty) Limited (”Afropean”). Afropean represents Petra’s interests in Finsch; Afropean being owned as to Petra 74% and Petra’s Black Economic Empowerment partners 26%.

Oz Minerals reported its half year financial results on Monday. Highlights were revenue of $632.7 million, and reported net profit after tax of $113.9 million with underlying net profit after tax of $189.1 million.

Crude oil jumped to the highest level in more than a week on Monday after positive news about Japan signalled the global economy may not be in such dire straits as previously thought, the dollar slumped and fresh data showed China's reliance on foreign oil – now at over 55% – is increasing at a rapid pace. US crude in the form of West Texas Intermediate rose 3% to just shy of $88 per barrel and the discount to international prices narrowed slightly. The price for Canadian synthetic crude – a light oil manufactured from oil sands – topped $102 as the premium it attracts widened to over $15 despite a looming end to shortages.

The deadline for a crucial federal loan guarantee backing a proposed uranium plant in southern Ohio came and went Monday leading some to wonder if the project will ever get shovels in the ground, the Dayton Daily News reports. For the second time in three months, investors in a $5 billion uranium centrifuge project in Pike County have said they will give the federal government more time to offer a $2 billion loan guarantee. Ohio officials first unveiled plans for the plant in 2009, promising 4,000 jobs for an area with the worst unemployment in the US state.

University of Kentucky research into cleaner-burning coal technology received a $19.4 million boost on Monday, most of it from the federal government.

In the wake of the Fukushima meltdowns, some nations are looking to move away from nuclear power. But not China, which is proceeding with plans to build 36 reactors over the next decade. As a result of such climate change concerns, as well as the need for more power in developing nations, more than 60 reactors are under construction around the world today in countries like India, Russia and South Korea. Even the US is currently building one new reactor — the second unit at Watts Bar in Tennessee.