The Congo River embodies an immense amount of energy – enough to supply a significant portion of Africa’s electricity requirements. The river is being touted as a perpetual source of clean, green power that could …
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Energy colonialism in the Congo
Keeping Tabs on Sarawak’s “corrupt” chief minister
A massive Malaysian conglomerate, headed by the chief minister of Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud (“Taib”), is now being investigated by the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission. Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS), which is controlled by Taib and his …
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World’s Biggest Hydropower Scheme Will Leave Africans in the Dark
South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed an agreement to build a major hydroelectric power project, which is said to bring electricity to more than half of the continent’s 900 million people. …
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Rio Tinto: what now for Alcan?
Analysis by Nostromo Research
Rio Tinto’s shutdown of its aluminium smelter at Lynemouth in Northumberland, in north east England, announced recently, marks the start of the company’s attempt to reap some dividend for, arguably, the …
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Kazakhstan’s MPs Toughen Ecology Laws For Miners
Kazakhstan’s parliament has approved a strict ecology bill, in a move expected to make some of the world’s leading metals miners spend more on treating their waste. Ashim told Reuters in an interview in March …
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Canadian First Nations condemn Rio Tinto-Alcan
Two native bands in British Columbia have accused Rio Tinto-Alcan of diverting water towards a massive aluminium smelter, thus causing a decline in their traditional stocks of fish.
Africa’s Energy Future Heading Down a Dark Tunnel
BHP Billiton’s proposed Inga 3 hyropower scheme in DR Congo, and its existing Mphanda Nkugwa dam in Mozambique – both designed to provide electricity for the company’s aluminium plants – come under fire from …
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Guinea Passes New Mining Code
New legislation promises to maximise revenues and tighten regulation.
Guinea’s new mining code, passed on September 9, promises to maximise the public revenues generated by foreign deposits and impose stricter regulations upon mining companies operating …
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Rio Tinto may get stung in Sulawesi …and pinched in Queensland
A giant black wasp has been identified as a new species, recently discovered in the Mekongga Mountains of Southeast Sulawesi. (The report at the link below mistakenly describes the mountain range as being in Southwest …
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Vedanta’s refinery expansion plan suffers another setback
Vedanta has suffered another setback in its fight-back to expand the aluminium refinery in Orissa after the Union environment ministry had struck down its environment clearance for violations.
The Cuttack bench of the Orissa High …
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Borneo tribe loses Bakun dam case: Rio Tinto implicated in deal
A tribal group in the Malaysian state of Sarawak has lost a decade-long struggle to assert that a massive government land seizure violated its rights. The tribe had tried to overturn a decision which opened …
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BHP, Rio, Corus sniffing around in Orissa
BHP Billiton is said to be making efforts to set up an alumina plant at Kalrapat in the Kalahandi district in the Indian state of Orissa. In this project, the London-listed company will have a …
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