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POLITICAL ECONOMY

China tells more steelmakers to shut or cut production

Tuesday , 07 Sep 2010
As the Chinese government urgently drives the sector to meet year-end energy saving targets, prices are rising

DRC sanctions new kind of mining & oil madness

Monday , 06 Sep 2010
"Asset flipping" hundreds of millions of dollars in the DRC is the brazen new national sport to the benefit of the few while legitimate companies lose their assets.

Indian government signals major, mining policy shift

Monday , 06 Sep 2010
Even as the Indian government rejects Vedanta and okays Posco's project, it is seeking to adopt a new, holistic approach to mining, and is clearly intent on avoiding a repeat of the Orissa incident.

Chinese officials order state firms to explore Potash Corp bid

Monday , 06 Sep 2010
According to a source with direct knowledge of the matter , as a result of the directive Sinochem is holding meetings with several banks

SA govt. ties itself in knots over Sishen iron ore debacle

Friday , 03 Sep 2010
Is South Africa's Mines Minister engaging in double speak over Kumba/ICT imbroglio over Sishen iron ore prospecting rights?

Saskatchewan considering potash royalty system change

Friday , 03 Sep 2010
The Premier for the Western Canadian province said in an interview that in the longer term some royalty changes could be possible, to take the bias away from prices and more toward volumes

Will South Africa's unions kill its mines?

Thursday , 02 Sep 2010
Increasingly aggressive stances by unions are creating havoc in South Africa. At Northam Platinum, the union's "demand" of 15%, is in reality a ferocious 27%.

Trapped miner saga boosts approval of Chilean president, could help royalty bill

Thursday , 02 Sep 2010
The Chilean president's handling of the an accident that has seen 33 miners trapped has pushed his approval ratings to a new high and could help him to push through a proposed increase in mining royalties

Australian investment into Africa continues to grow

Wednesday , 01 Sep 2010
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade got the three-day Africa Downunder Conference in Perth off to a diplomatic start by pointing to the growing number of Australian companies venturing into Africa.

Shabangu puts global markets on notice

Wednesday , 01 Sep 2010
South Africa needs to conduct its mining industry differently and wants value-added mineral operations to help lift the country's mining performance

Saskatchewan would have "lots of concerns" about a Chinese Potash Corp bid

Wednesday , 01 Sep 2010
The Canadian province, which is home to Potash Corp, says it would be concerned by a Chinese buyer whose interests obviously are to have very low prices

China could launch anti-monopoly probe into BHP Potash bid - Paper

Wednesday , 01 Sep 2010
Citing people familiar with the matter, the China Business News said Wednesday the country may consider a probe into the monopoly implications of the deal

Rescuers start escape shaft, lifeline brings videogames and child birth

Tuesday , 31 Aug 2010
The days after speaking to their families for the first time in 25 days being trapped in the mine, rescuers have begun digging an escape shaft that will pull the miners up one by one.

Exxaro to try and end wage strike

Tuesday , 31 Aug 2010
The South African miner says is has planned new talks with the National Union of Mineworkers to try and end a strike that began on August 23

Dog days in the DRC

Tuesday , 31 Aug 2010
International incidents: further detalis on the anatomy of the storming of First Quantum by the Congolese and their friends.

Trapped Chilean miners could be free in 60 days under Plan B rescue option

Monday , 30 Aug 2010
Chilean officials are considering several plans to rescue 33 Chilean copper and gold miners who have now been trapped underground for more than three weeks.

Building a modern China

Sunday , 29 Aug 2010
China is being built from the ground up and consuming massive amounts of commodities on the way, but where is it all going?

First Quantum 'relieved' of two more Congo copper mines

Friday , 27 Aug 2010
First Quantum has been given 24 hours to withdraw from its Frontier and Lonshi properties in the DRC, following the Kolwezi tailings debacle.

China's resource hunger, where to from here

Friday , 27 Aug 2010
China has, almost single handedly, supported global commodity markets through major growth as other economies have stuttered, how did it come to pass?

S. Korea, Bolivia ink preliminary MOU for lithium mine development

Thursday , 26 Aug 2010
South Korea may soon gain the right to help develop half of the world's lithium reserves which lie underneath the salt flats of Lake Uyuni in Bolivia.

South African mineworkers union against blanket mine nationalisation

Wednesday , 25 Aug 2010
South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers said Wednesday it is against the blanket nationalisation of mines and instead urged government to invest in the sector via a state-owned company

NASA, Navy to help rescue trapped Chilean miners

Wednesday , 25 Aug 2010
The Chilean government has turned to both astronauts and submariners to help ensure its miners, trapped at depth in a small space, get out alive