News

Mining giant BHP Billiton is reportedly considering a plan which would see its nickel, manganese and aluminium businesses moved to a separate, $20 billion firm. Early reports that the mining company’s board were considering splitting the business were at least partly confirmed on Tuesday, when the miner released a statement on the ASX. “As we

Indonesia’s proposed ban on ore exports has pushed nickel prices to a nine-month high, as Glencore Xstrata thinks about buying BHP’s Nickel West operation. Ivan Glasenberg, Glencore’s biggest shareholder and chief executive, told analysts overnight that the world’s fourth-biggest miner would “kick the tyres” on Nickel West, BHP’s nickel operations in Western Australia. “It’s something

Indonesian mining contractor Cipta Kridatama has managed to improve haul truck fuel efficiency by 6.9%, through an operator training program incorporating simulation technology. Employing more than 3,400 workers, who operate 624 units of heavy and supporting equipment, Cipta Kridatama is among Indonesia’s biggest mining contractors. But with operating costs rising and a softening global mining

Australian mining’s big three – Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Fortescue Mining Group – all recorded impressive profit increases for the end of 2013, while British multinational miner Anglo American isn’t where it wants to be. An iron ore price that stayed higher and more stable than some predicted, and increased shipment volumes were the

A pair of analysts from HSBC Global Research say that, despite recent suggestions to the contrary, it’s “so far, so good” for global commodity prices – and that’s good news for Australia and New Zealand. Paul Bloxham, HSBC Global Research’s chief economist for Australia and New Zealand, says while “doomsayers” have suggested that slower Chinese

Business Monitor has just released its latest analysis on mining opportunities in Central Europe, and it has listed Kazakhstan and Russia at the top of its risk/reward ratings, due to the substantial rewards on offer in those countries, relative to other European players. While some might shy away from the two nations – Kazakhstan is

Fortescue Metals Group has signed a 20-year gas transportation deal which will underwrite a new $178m gas pipeline to the company’s Solomon hub power station. The iron ore miner expects the switch from diesel to gas static power generation to save it $20m per annum. A joint venture of pipeline developer DUET Group (57%) and

An Indonesian ban on the export of raw minerals could boost Australia’s nickel industry, but leaves some miners with assets in the Asian nation scratching their heads. Looking to create jobs and lift GDP, the Indonesian government last week banned the export of mineral ores, and demanded that miners build refineries on Indonesian soil, rather