The latest issue of International Mining Project News, out today, has reports on 21 prefeasibility studies, 20 feasibility studies, 26 projects in development, two new mines that have gone into production, 13 existing mines that are expanding, two merger and acquisition announcements and many new appointments to new positions. The reports covers 30 gold projects, 19 copper, 11 iron ore projects, nine coal, seven reports on silver, five zinc projects, four uranium projects, three rare earth projects, two projects each on mineral sands and phosphate and one project each on lead, magnesite, diamonds, kaolin, nickel, molybdenum, PGMs, chromite, cobalt, oil sands and iron sands. No doubt reflecting the skills shortage globally, this issue carries more news of people moving jobs into new positions of influence and responsibility than we have seen for a long time.Inmet Mining has completed basic engineering for the Cobre Panama project and the launch of a financing plan to fully fund Inmet’s 80% share of the related development costs. The Cobre Panama project, located in the Donoso District of Panama, is owned by Minera Panama (MPSA), an 80% owned subsidiary of Inmet. It is one of the largest undeveloped copper porphyry deposits in the world. MPSA has completed the most important steps of permitting and basic engineering, and is now ready to start construction. Korea Panama Mining Corp (KPMC), a consortium of LS-Nikko Copper and Korea Resources Corp, owns 20% of MPSA and is the partner in the project.

Boliden has launched a pilot study for a further expansion at the Aitik mine and is now also investigating newly discovered copper mineralisation – Laver – in Norrbotten, Sweden. Preliminary estimates have classified the Laver deposit as an Exploration Result, and not – as yet – as a Mineral Resource.

Imperial Metals Corp has been issued a Mines Act permit for Red Chris. Mine development will include a 30,000 t/d milling operation and related open pit mine with reserves of 301.5 Mt grading 0.359% Cu and 0.274 g/t Au. Red Chris is located 80 km south of Dease Lake in northwest British Columbia and is 100% owned by Imperial Metals, subject to a 1.8% net smelter royalty that can be bought down to 1.0% prior to commencement of production.

First Quantum Minerals has received a written confirmation of an offer from Zambia Electricity Supply Corp for the connection and supply of power to the proposed Sentinel copper project at a mutually-agreeable electricity tariff level. “Electric power is particularly important to this project and we are very pleased to be starting full-scale development activities within the original time frame at the beginning of the dry season for completion in late 2014. Sentinel is planned to be a substantial copper operation, with an expected annual production capacity of up to 300,000 t, noted Philip Pascall, Chairman and CEO of First Quantum.

Solid Energy has completed its due diligence and is buying the assets of Pike River Coal. In conjunction with this, it has made clear commitments regarding recovery of the bodies of the 29 Pike River mine workers, and entered into an agreement with the Government that sets out the roles each will play. Solid Energy Chief Executive Officer, Dr Don Elder, says that if the company completes the purchase, it is committed to recovering the bodies of the men, provided it is safe, technically feasible and financially credible to do so. 

Anglo Asian Mining has decided to construct an agitation leaching plant to improve gold recoveries at its flagship Gedabek gold/copper/silver mine in Azerbaijan with a view to commissioning in H2 2013. Production for FY 2012 remains on track to achieve 54,000 oz of gold.

Lucara Diamond Corp provides a progress report on its 100% owned Karowe mine in Botswana. Commissioning activities at the Karowe mine were completed during April 2012 and the process facilities have been handed-over to operations. Ramp-up to full production is in progress with a target of 50% of the design throughput during May and 75% in June. At the end of the second quarter the operations should be operating, as scheduled, at the full design capacity of 350 t/h.

Shaft Sinkers Holdings, the international shaft sinking and underground construction group, has commenced a new major contract in the Bhilwara district of India. The contract, from Vedanta Group-owned Hindustan Zinc, includes the sinking of the main shaft as well as the north and south ventilation shafts at the Rampura Agucha mine, located in the Bhilwara district which is in the state of Rajasthan in Western India. Rampura Agucha mine is being expanded from 5 Mt to 6 Mty.

The powerhouse behind South Australia’s modern day mineral sands renaissance has forecast the potential for one of its main domestic mines to extend its life well beyond 2027. Addressing the first day in Adelaide of the Paydirt 2012 South Australian Resources Energy & Investment Conference, Iluka Resources’ General Manager Investor Relations, Robert Porter, said its wholly owned A$390 million Jacinth-Ambrosia minerals sand mine northwest of Ceduna on far west Eyre Peninsula had a current mine life scheduled through to at least 2021.

AuRico Gold’s Young-Davidson mine, located in the Abitibi gold belt in Northern Ontario, has completed its first gold pour. Commercial production is expected to be declared early in the third quarter.

Crocodile Gold Corp expects a 200% increase in its 2012 gold production with the completion of the acquisition of the Fosterville and Stawell mines from AuRico Gold. Crocodile Gold also reports operational results for the first quarter of 2012 from its properties in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Tahoe Resources has completed a new NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate and an independent PEA for its 100% owned Escobal project in southeast Guatemala. The PEA describes production expansion scenarios from the current 3,500 t/d scenario to 4,500 and 5,500 t/d underground mine plans which are anticipated to produce metals concentrates with very high silver content.

All this and so much more in this latest issue.

This fortnightly project watch is a great way of keeping up to date with your peers – other mining companies, other consultants or other engineering companies. These issues build into a global mine project overview. If you are a supplier – it is full of potential sales leads.

Full details on all these projects and information on and contacts for many, many more are to be found in the May 11 issue of International Mining Project News…..

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