The latest issue of International Mining Project News, out today, has reports on 22 prefeasibility studies, three feasibility studies, and 16 projects in development, three new mines that have gone into production, three existing operations that are expanding and two merger and acquisition announcements, and many new appointments to new positions. The report covers 18 gold projects, 8 iron ore projects, 6 copper projects, four silver projects, three base metals, two diamonds projects and one boron, sulphur, graphite, tungsten, coal, diamonds, nickel, rare earth and zinc projects. 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.

Alsons Energy Development Corp (AEDC) of the Alcantara Group said it expects the Tampakan mine project to commence operations despite the pullout of Glencore-Xtrata from the project. Alsons executive vice president Tirso Santillan stated that the decision may have delayed the project but is unlikely to hamper its operations.

“While recent development may have resulted in the delay of the commencement of the Tampakan project, we anticipate that the Tampakan mine will eventually commence operating in the future,” Santillan said.

Chieftain Metals has announced that it has completed an Aquatic Ecological Risk Assessment report carried out by accredited third party consultants. The report concluded that the fish resource downstream from the Tulsequah Chief mine site is at a healthy level and the 60 years of historic discharge posed low risk to fish.

SNC-Lavalin, in consortium with Sinopec Engineering Group (SEG), has signed a contract with Ma’aden in Saudi Arabia to provide engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up services for a three-line 15,150 t/d sulphuric acid plant. Also included in the agreement are two 75 MW power plants that will recover heat generated by the acid plant operations.  The total value of the contract is approximately $764 million with SNC-Lavalin’s portion estimated at $500 million.

Sunridge Gold Corp has announced that it has executed a binding term sheet with the Eritrea National Mining Corporation (ENAMCO) regarding ENAMCO’s participation in the company’s Asmara Project in Eritrea.

Coal & Allied also received the NSW Planning Assessment Commission’s approval of a vital Development Consent modification for the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine. Rio Tinto Coal Australia managing director Chris Salisbury said “This approval provides a short-term lifeline for Mount Thorley Warkworth mine and its more than 1300 workers.