Monthly archive March, 2010

Blood and Iron: Rio Tinto heads to the top

Rio Tinto is talking up its future prospects, in advance of its London annual general meeting next month.

A huge nickel mine is slated for Indonesia; the company is about to take over a vast …
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Bougainville: No sign that war-torn mine will re-open

But there are questions over Rio Tinto subsidiary’s recent role

Bougainville’s vice-president has said that the “future and re-opening of the Panguna copper mine is to be decided by the Panguna landowners themselves” -  while …
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London Calling applauds condemnation of Vedanta

… and urges broader campaign against “criminal” company

For the past six years, UK-listed Vedanta Resources has been castigated by Adivasi (Indigenous Peoples) groups, environmentalists and human rights organisations, for numerous alleged violations of Indian …
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Pro-tribal Congress Party may hit Vedanta’s Orissa dreams

PLANS by Vedanta Resources to mine bauxite in Niyamgiri in Orissa, already delayed by vehement protests from non-governmental organisations, seem likely to suffer further damage—quite possibly terminal—as the Congress reaches out to India’s tribal population, …
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Rio Tinto, Orissa to revive $1-bn JV

Global mining major Rio Tinto has decided to aggressively push its $1-billion iron ore project in Orissa, India. The company made its intentions clear in its annual report released last Tuesday. In turn, the Orissa …
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Rio Tinto official admits taking bribes

Australian Stern Hu has admitted that he took bribes while heading up Rio Tinto’s iron ore team in Shanghai. China has accused Hu and his Chinese colleagues Liu Caikui, Ge Mingqiang and Wang Yong of …
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African Barrick Gold comes to London

African Barrick Gold (ABG) priced its initial public offering (IPO) at 575 pence per share, at the bottom end of the 550 pence to 650 pence range, ahead of the start of trading on Friday. …
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BHP confident JV with Rio will go ahead this year

Global miner BHP Billiton said it expects to finalise its iron ore joint venture with Rio Tinto this year and took a swipe at a plan being considered by Australia to hike taxes on miners. …
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Ramesh takes on Indian Supreme Court over Vedanta

After having locked horns with the Orissa government on the Vedanta mining project, Environment and Forest minister Jairam Ramesh has now taken a dig at the Supreme Court over the issue. He said it was …
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Tribe readies for battle against Vedanta’s mine

The Dongria Kondh tribe who live in the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa do not normally go to the top of the bauxite-rich slopes. The hilltop is considered sacred, the place where their presiding deity Niyam …
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Barrick Gold and its disputes in Dominican Republic

The world’s biggest corporate gold miner, Barrick, has been saddled with yet another accusation that it’s been operating illegally – this time in the Dominican Republic. Coincidentally, the issue of the contract between Pueblo Viejo …
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Farmers claim win in BHP fight

Australian farmers fighting  proposed coal mining by the world’s biggest mining company recently vowed to continue their struggle, after losing a court action. Now they have been partially vindicated, as the country’s Supreme Court finds …
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