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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Google scraps renewable energy cheaper than coal initiative

Google is in the midst of some, as they call it, spring cleaning out of season. They are shutting down a number of projects that haven’t quite hit the mark the way they had hoped.

Unfortunately for the environment, Google’s four year long “Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal RE” project is in the trash bin. The original premise was to invest in solar technology with the hope of driving down the price of renewable energy. Now, the technology powerhouse has decided that others are in a better position to continue the work. As they wrote on their blog, Google published their results “to help others in the field continue to advance the state of power tower technology, and we’ve closed our efforts.”

This doesn’t mean that they are turning their backs on all things green. They reported on the blog, “We will continue our work to generate cleaner, more efficient energy including our on campus efforts, procuring renewable energy for our data centers, making our data centers even more efficient and investing more than USD 850 million in renewable energy technologies.”

Other projects to bite the dust include Google Wave, Google Friend Connect and Google Search Timeline.

(Sourced from www.ecorazzi.com)

Blastcrete Equipment introduce new mine mate machine


Blastcrete Equipment has introduced the Mine Mate, designed to mix and pump concrete material for underground mine sealing and stabilisation, grouting and various other shotcrete applications. The Mine Mate is a convenient solution when ready-mix concrete is not an option. Featuring Blastcrete’s X-10 ultra-high pressure swing tube pump, it is a highly productive and reliable machine that’s also easy to operate and maintain.

The Mine Mate uses the wet-mix shotcrete process. It was created at the request of several customers seeking a machine to apply shotcrete in underground coal applications. In contrast to the dry shotcrete (gunite), the wet shotcrete process minimises dust emissions and improves visibility making it much safer, particularly for underground use. Of compact configuration, the Mine Mate is designed for operation within a 1.2 m ceiling.

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Trafigura to boom as giant Mongolia awakens


Trafigura Beheer BV plans to expand in Mongolia to deliver more iron ore, coal and copper to the China market.

Mr Mikhail Zeldovich head of Trafigura’s Russia and Mongolia unit said that it secured its first iron ore and coal supply agreements in the country in the past few months. Talks on more accords are in progress and Trafigura’s first Mongolian tin shipment is due this week.

Mr Zeldovich said that “In all commodity businesses I anticipate strong growth and in the bulk commodities of coal and iron ore I am targeting a multiple of what we already have. We very much see Mongolia as a sleeping giant of resources that’s now beginning to awaken.”

According to Ulan Bator based Trade and Development Bank, Mongolia in June surpassed Australia as the biggest seller of coking coal to China and total exports are due to rise by 65% this year. Rio Tinto Group will begin commercial output from the Oyu Tolgoi mine in 2013 a deposit in central Mongolia that it says is one of the biggest untapped sources of copper and gold.

A mining boom in the world’s most sparsely populated nation promises the greatest influx of wealth for Mongolia since Genghis Khan conquered most of Europe and Asia in the 13th century. Economic growth may surge to 23% in 2013 more than twice the forecast expansion in China, as mining projects begin production, the International Monetary Fund said in April.

Mr Zeldovich said that last year, Amsterdam based Trafigura provided more than USD 40 million in financing to help start production at a lead and zinc mine in eastern Mongolia in exchange for an off take accord. The trader has also invested in a trucking company in Mongolia to transport coal from producers including Mongolyn Alt Group to China. It ranks among the top three sells of copper in Mongolia.

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Coal extraction in Bangladesh from proven reserve unlikely within 2 yrs


Experts said that commercial extraction of the country's proven coal reserve is unlikely to start, at least within the next couple of years, despite the desperate national needs for use of this fossil fuel to generate electricity.

According to them, the government's target to generate 20,000 MW power by 2021 would be difficult to achieve without the use of coal, as the cost of petroleum oil as an alternative source of fuel for electricity generation, remains high.

A parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of energy recently made its recommendations in favour of open-pit mining for extraction of coal. However, the authorities concerned are still waiting for a detailed report from a newly-formed expert committee.


The 15 member expert committee, headed by former Petrobangla Chairman Mosharraf Hossain is expected to submit its detailed report, by February next.

However, a detailed study on various aspects including comparative problems and prospects of both open pit and underground mining, may take a longer time.

Bangladesh has five coal fields in the northern region, comprising Barapukuria, Phulbari, Khalaspur, Dighipara and Jamalganj with a total estimated reserve of more than 3.0 billion tonnes, officials of the ministry of power, energy, and mineral resources said.

The committee will consider the geological structure, depth, aquifer, financial and environmental impacts of the coalmines to recommend appropriate mining method for each of them, a senior energy ministry official said.

The committee will also estimate the expected financial loss to be faced by the people around the coalmines and subsequent compensation to be given to them by the government.

Prof. Mohammad Hussain Mansur chairman of Petrobangla told the FE that "To have details on various subjects and aspects, the committee may take more than the stipulated time.”

The Petrobangla chief said that "The authorities concerned will have to perform a huge task of removing and rehabilitating the affected people, even before the start of any mining operation.”

Prof. Mansur said that "Simultaneously, the authorities will also need to set up coal-fired power plants so that the extracted coal can be utilised; otherwise, there may be accidental fire causing an extensive damage.” He added that "Coal stocks often cause disasters by catching fire.”

He said preparations for coal mining, including rehabilitation of the affected people, setting up of power plants simultaneously, will be a tough task for an impoverished country like Bangladesh.

(Sourced from FE)

China to boost its domestic iron ore supply - Report



Economic Observer quoted sources with the China Iron and Steel Association said China will boost the domestic supply of iron ore to a large extent during the 12th Five year Plan period (2011-15) in order to rely less on the three world mining giants Vale, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

The sources said the percentage of domestic supply will rise to over 45% by 2015 a substantial rise from the level of 32% in 2010.

Mr Ding Gen senior analyst with custeel.com said that a 13% rise in supply was possible.

Mr Rong Gang chief economist with hbh-steel.com told the Global Times that steel has become a pillar industry in China, having contributed a lot to the fast growth of its economy. China consumes an annual average of 700 million tons of crude steel.

As more than half of China iron ore demand is met through imports, primarily from Brazil and Australia, the pricing of iron ore has become a heated issue.

Mr Luo Tiejun an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that a supply guarantee system for iron ore would be written into the steel industry's five year plan and that iron ore supply would be regarded as an issue of national security a move welcomed by industry insiders.

He said that "In 2010, the profits of the big three exceeded the total profits of the 78 largest Chinese steel producers."

Dominance of the global market by the big three firms has resulted in limited profit margins for Chinese steel producers.

(Sourced from Economic Observer)

China may implement protective development of coking coal


It is reported that at the China Mining Congress & Expo 2011 held at November 6 to 8 in Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center, a market player has stated that China may implement protective development of coking coal.

China-based National Energy Administration is studying and

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Sunday, November 6, 2011

Heron Resources stars drilling at Shay Gap project


Heron Resources has commenced a reverse circulation reconnaissance drilling program at its 100% owned Shay Gap Iron Ore Project in the Pilbara, Western Australia, targeting Detrital and Channel Iron Deposits.

The Shay Gap Project, which covers 290 square kilometres, is located about 160 kilometres east of Port Hedland, and directly south-west and adjacent to the Yarrie-Cundaline Ridge iron ore mines, operated by BHP Billiton.

Previously reported Heron rock chip samples returned iron grades up to 68% from surficial detrital material shed from the ranges and gravity surveying has defined a number of encouraging “highs” along the range front.

The company recently completed Heritage Agreements with the Traditional Owners. The drilling will map the iron-enriched regolith and test for the source of the gravity anomalism.

(Sourced from www.proactiveinvestors.com.au)

Athena Resources drilling extends high grade magnetite at Byro Iron Ore Project

Athena Resources latest drilling has expanded the high grade magnetite horizon at the Byro South and Whitmarsh Find prospects within the Byro Iron Ore Project.

All drill assay and rock chip results indicate the magnetite iron ore is of similar high grade and quality at FE1, Byro South and the Whitmarsh Find ore bodies.

Magnetite intersections at Byro South include:
- 10 metres at 31.48% iron from 58 metres;
- 26 metres at 31.54% iron from 80 metres; and
- 18 metres at 35.69% iron from 90 metres.

At Whitmarsh Find magnetite was also intersected with results including 24 metres at 32.76% iron from 52 metres.
The 1,811 metre drill program comprised 14 reverse circulation drill holes and two geotechnical / metallurgical PQ/NQ diamond core holes, with targeting based on high definition aeromagnetic signatures and surface outcrop mapping and sampling.
The highly prospective Byro Project is in the Mid-West region of Western Australia. It is strategically located 100 kilometres west of the proposed Midwest Iron Ore Railway which is planned to link existing and future iron ore projects in the Mid-West Region to the proposed Oakajee deep water bulk shipping port north of Geraldton.
(Sourced from www.proactiveinvestors.com.au)
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Adaro Energy sees rising coal production

Indonesia’s second biggest coal miner Adaro Energy aims to produce 53 million to 55 million tonnes of coal in 2012, up from 46 million to 48 million tonnes forecast for this year.

Mr Garibaldi Thohir president director of Adaro said that he expected the company to maintain an average

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Salmon River ink MoU with General Steel Holding

Salmon River Resources Ltd announced that it has signed a non binding MoU with General Steel Holdings Inc a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, for itself and on behalf of certain subsidiaries and affiliates regarding rights to purchase part of any future iron ore production from

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Indian white coal gains popularity in Europe

Commodity Online reported that the white Coal produced from agricultural waste in Rajasthan has gained popularity in European countries.

The white coal produces very low level of carbon which helps to protect the environment as result the demand for the commodity has been rising in Europe

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Rio Tinto and University of Western Australia developing advanced exploration technology

World leading mining exploration technology from Rio Tinto's Mine of the FutureTM program attracted a visit today from His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh as a prelude to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth.
br> At The University of Western Australian His Royal Highness
br> Read More

Mitsubishi Corp reports H1 net profit fall

Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp said that its net profit for the six months ended September 30 fell 8.3% from a year earlier, citing lower margins from trading in natural resources and steel.

Mitsubishi, Japan's biggest trading house by revenue, also said it has decided to invest

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