Megafactory trend sparks ‘arms race’ in battery sector

Tesla Motors’ so-called ‘gigafactory’ has sparked an “arms race” in the battery sector, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence MD Simon Moores told an audience attending the Toronto leg of the company’s... 

TSX monitoring roll-out of latest shareholder voting rights

Recent requirements surrounding shareholder voting adopted by the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) have been successfully rolled out and are being closely monitored, TSX director of compliance and... 

Mining’s long-term outlook positive as urbanisation and infrastructure development intensifies

The outlook for the global economy, infrastructure development and mining is not as dismal as many might believe, Deloitte global mining leader Phil Hopwood recently told an audience at the... 

Iberian advances Cehegin project as iron-ore continues to face strong headwinds

TSX-V-listed Iberian Minerals has illustrated its ability to move forward despite the strong headwinds currently being faced by iron-ore producers. The Alberta-based iron-ore development company... 

U3O8 Corp well positioned to take advantage of approaching uranium upside

The restart of reactor No 1 at the Sendai nuclear plant, in Japan, this week was potentially a harbinger of a rising tide for the uranium industry, underpinned by China’s rapidly expanding fleet of... 

Despite gold remaining under pressure, niche opportunities surface – Resource Maven

Gold bugs have had good reason to be gloomy of late as speculation was rife that the yellow metal’s price would in future descend to $1 000/oz,  after recently having declined to a five-year low of... 

Carlisle makes progress at Lynn Lake despite tough gold market rout

The spot price for gold came under notable pressure during the past week, sinking below the psychological barrier of $1 100/oz and reaching five-year lows. On Friday, the London afternoon fix stood... 

Argentinian elections heat up as resource sectors offer country platform for recovery

It is likely that the new administration of Argentina, which heads to the polls later this year, will be more business friendly and market orientated, with mining and other natural resource sectors... 

Nevada Copper moving ahead with fine-tuning Pumpkin Hollow permits

Nevada Copper is considering modifications of its current state permits for its Pumpkin Hollow project to allow for an operation as envisaged in its recently released integrated feasibility study... 

Mining industry to refocus metrics and methodologies on long-term efficiency

Among analysts, fund managers and investors, questions surrounding liquidity, cash generation and squeezing out productivity gains dominated the conversation on how to best avoid the downcycle’s... 

Prioritising short-term objectives over long-term strategy to haunt project developers

With short-term objectives taking precedence over long-term planning and strategy, the shortcomings of senior management and poor CEO performances often exacerbate and sometimes introduce many of... 

Remote mining operations should spread more grassroots benefits

As the mining industry is increasingly looking for world-class deposits in more remote jurisdictions, issues surrounding risk and engagement have become more pressing, seeing as local demands and... 

New mineral development strategy seeks to maintain Ontario’s pole position

Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) executive adviser Rob Merwin recently stressed the importance of attracting back investment, especially in exploration, to the province,... 

Davidson says revised measures on way to deal with worst-case CSR scenarios

In terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR), some parties feel more teeth are needed, particularly when dealing with noncooperative players who get into trouble or do detrimental things,... 

Canadian major, midtier miners urged to prepare for transparency act compliance

The introduction of the Extractive Sector Transparency Act (ESTMA) would represent a sea change in the reporting of payments to government for Canadian seniors and midtiers, Borden Ladner Gervais... 

US pressures start to mount for scandal-hit Petrobras

The pressures embattled oil giant Petrobras might face in the US have started to crystallise, with important implications not just for the company but also for its suppliers, contractors and... 

Mining companies risk competitive edge without more women on board

Canadian mining companies should have more women on their boards to sharpen their competitive edge, increase diversity and boost creativity, Patrice Merrin told an audience at the Women in Mining... 

Fission expands footprint and preps for summer drilling campaign

Just over one year ago, one of the darlings of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference 2014 was Fission Uranium, with its president and COO Ross McElroy also awarded the... 

Tough times call for focus and projects with quality – Brennan

As commodities remain depressed and the China-driven resource cycle fades, companies must maintain exceptional focus to advance projects, Largo Resources consultant Mark Brennan told an audience at... 

Corruption scandal keeps growing for Brazilian oil giant Petrobras

Putting the ‘B’ in BRICS, the group of five major emerging national economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, it seemed as if Brazil was finally fulfilling its destiny to become... 

Shortage of supply will stoke tin price higher in coming years

Tin’s muted performance across 2014 obscured the potential for price rises and robust margins in the coming years, Hallgarten & Co principal and mining strategist Christopher Ecclestone told an... 

Mining companies face increased scrutiny under US anticorruption investigations

The threat of anticorruption investigation and possible prosecution by US authorities against extractive companies has continued to grow, with investigations becoming more transnational in scope,... 

Canadian companies flouting CSR best practises risk losing govt support

Mining companies that flout voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) standards and recognised best practices could lose the support and advocacy of the Canadian government, Trade... 

Copper faces looming supply gap – Teck Resources

The level of new copper output will be unable to plug a supply gap that could develop as early as 2017, Canadian diversified miner Teck Resources manager for market research Michael Schwartz told... 

Slide in Chinese coal imports to continue in 2015 – Wood Mackenzie

Oversupply continues to weigh on the performance of thermal and metallurgical coal exports into China, Wood Mackenzie senior analyst Jonathan Sultoon told an audience at the Prospectors and... 

Big Four squeeze gathers pace as more iron-ore flows into saturated market – CRU

Iron-ore prices will remain in the doldrums for 2015 as senior producers continue to bring new, low-cost output into the market, CRU group director of multicommodity, knowledge and information Paul... 

Brazil’s ambassador to Canada calls for greater trade between the two natural resource giants

Brazil seeks to boost the level of bilateral trade with Canada, particularly in the sphere of mining, the country’s ambassador to Canada Pedro Fernando Brêtas Bastos told audience members at the... 

Eagle-eyed investors urged to seek out rich pickings among juniors

The worst of the mining industry’s declines are over, although it now faces a trough of uncertain length, the head of Kaiser Research Online John Kaiser told an audience at the Prospectors &... 

Industry should feel euphoric as bottom reached and cycle slowly turns – Roulston

The junior mining sector still faces immense difficulties and high levels of attrition, but there is light at the end of the tunnel for those with experienced management teams and promising... 

Juniors struggle in sea of red tape, fees and demographic losses – Benjamin Cox

As the industry prepares for the 2015 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s conference, many have written off the past year as another annus horribilis – a horrible year filled with... 

Renewable energy for mines still relevant despite decline in oil price

The complexities and challenges of running a mine are immense, but the end result is simple; either it makes or loses money. In the current downturn, the difference between success and failure can... 

Renewable energy's future in mining shines bright

Renewable power is reliable, proven and continues to offer the mining industry an attractive means to obtain lower-cost energy at remote operations, Hatch director of renewable power Michel Carreau... 

Mining companies must do more to engage Latin American communities – Molodecky

Away from last year’s eye-catching headlines of Venezuelan riots, a World Cup in Brazil, and Argentina’s technical default, most Latin American countries continued to achieve middling-to-fair... 

All eyes on Saudi Arabia as ups and downs of oil price plunge considered

The end months of 2014 were grim ones for major oil-producing states everywhere, especially those in the Middle East. As the region continued grappling with the aftershocks of the Arab Spring and... 

Mining sector will find reward by addressing risk

Consider the resource supercycle: it was a once-in-a-generation event driven by China's becoming the world’s workshop. The country’s demand for commodities seemed insatiable and pushed many metal... 

Mining companies urged to take a stand – Divinsky Group

Mining has an image problem; it is seen by many in the public as untrustworthy, uncaring and, on occasion, unscrupulous. This is confirmed by polling data, such as the 2014 Edelman trust barometer,... 

Mining sector will find reward by addressing risk

Consider the resource supercycle; it was a once-in-a-generation event driven by China becoming the world’s workshop. The country’s demand for commodities seemed insatiable and pushed many metal and... 

Northern Iron takes alternative route to advance Griffith mine

After a tough 2014, junior mining companies will no doubt hope the economic headwinds start to recede in 2015. But it is already too late for some, their fates sealed by evaporated treasuries. Many... 

Debate over Brazil’s new mining code shifting gears

After a knife-edge campaign Dilma Rousseff, leader of the left-wing Workers’ Party, was re-elected with just 51.6% of the vote in Brazil’s October elections. Much of the debate revolved around the... 

Toronto-listed miners faced tough but improved conditions over 2014

TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) witnessed an improved level of financings across 2014, while the avalanche of companies predicted...