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Philippines: ‘Defending the Dignity of Life, Securing our Future’ – against Xstrata

Richard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:23:29 +0000

A conference on mining in Davao in the Philippines, organised by the Ateneo School of Government, concluded with the “Mindanao Declaration: Defending the Dignity of Life, Securing our Future”. The national Chamber of Mines was critical of the conference, and speakers at the conference, including Mines and Communities’ editor Catherine Coumans. The conference focused particularly on Xstrata‘s near-by Tampakan project.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11456&l=1.

Rio firms up a pipeline jewel

Richard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:15:47 +0000

While it may only be a formality, Rio Tinto’s $US302 million purchase of another two per cent of Ivanhoe Mines finally cements its control of the group and its prize asset, the giant Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold prospect in Mongolia. By moving to 51 per cent of Ivanhoe, and with anti-dilution rights to protect its position, Rio has finally buried the already-remote prospect that Ivanhoe’s founder, Robert Friedland, might devise yet another plan for preventing Rio from securing absolute control.

See http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Rio-Tinto-Oyu-Tolgoi-Ivanhoe-Friendland-control-sh-pd20120125-QU2BR?opendocument&src=rss.

Mining threatens herders in Mongolia: report

Richard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:14:52 +0000

Mining in southern Mongolia is threatening the livelihoods of herders and straining water supplies, a report said recently, as foreign companies race to exploit the country’s rich mineral deposits. Mongolia has opened up it vast reserves of natural resources to foreign investors in the hope of pulling thousands out of poverty, but activist groups said herders, townspeople and the environment were paying a heavy price. In 2009, Mongolia sealed a long-awaited multi-billion dollar deal with Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines and Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto to develop Oyu Tolgoi, one of the world’s richest copper deposits and a key gold source.

See http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ggU5a5myh4ewO_qJ9P-8EasAa_YQ?docId=CNG.b16557cdf41a87e85d20681fb83362ab.31.

Read the Bankwatch report at http://bankwatch.org/sites/default/files/spirited-away-mongolia-mining.pdf.

See the video at http://bankwatch.org/news-media/blog/video-spirited-away-mongolias-mining-boom-and-people-development-left-behind.

Indigenous landowners want Rio Tinto’s Bougainville Copper Agreement repealed

Richard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:13:07 +0000

LANDOWNERS of the Bougainville Copper Mine have called on the government for the Bougainville Copper Agreement (BCA) Act 1969 to be repealed. Panguna Landowners Association (PLA) stated that if Panguna Mine is to be re-opened, this has to be negotiated under a totally new agreement.

See http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20120124/news18.htm.

Largest Open Pit Copper Mine in the World Pollutes Utah

Richard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:10:40 +0000

For at least the last five years, Kennecott Utah Copper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, violated the federal limits on ore and waste rock production at its Bingham Canyon Mine, the largest open pit copper mine in the world. Kennecott agreed in 1994 to limit production to 150,500,000 tons of ore and waste rock a year at the Bingham Canyon Mine. The EPA approved the limit, and adopted it into federal regulations. Every year since 2006, Rio Tinto violated the production limit, reaching levels up to 192,684,252 in 2009 — more than 40 million tons over the limit, according to data submitted to the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining.

Tell the Utah Division of Air Quality what you think. Sign the petition: Clean Up the Bingham County Mine. Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/largest-open-pit-copper-mine-in-the-world-pollutes-utah.html#ixzz1lc0BaML3.

Anglo American disrespecting rule of law, FTC president says – Chile

Richard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:05:33 +0000

London-based Anglo American is disrespecting the rule of law when criticizing the Chilean attorney general office’s criminal investigation into the sale of a 24.5% stake in its assets in central Chile, state copper producer Codelco’s copper workers federation (FTC) president and Codelco director Raimundo Espinoza told BNamericas.

“It is completely inappropriate for criminal proceedings to be considered against any individuals in this contractual dispute between two companies, particularly when initiated by a Codelco board member,” Anglo American’s CEO Cynthia Carroll said in a written statement on January 26.

“By saying that, Mrs Carroll is absolutely disrespecting the rule of law in the country, as the decision to conduct the criminal investigation into the contract between Anglo American and Mitsubishi was made by an independent body of Chile’s legal system,” Espinoza said.

See http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/anglo-american-disrespecting-rule-of-law-ftc-president-says1.

Glencore faces legal action over pollution caused by Zambian copper

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:01:07 +0000

Glencore is facing legal action over pollution caused by its vast and lucrative copper operations in Zambia. Glencore’s Mopani Copper Mines subsidiary has been a thorn in the firm’s side since its £6billion float in May last year, throwing up allegations of environmental recklessness and tax avoidance, which the company denies. The Swiss-based firm could find itself dragged through the courts after Zambian campaign group the Centre for Trade Policy and Development demanded the company explain itself or face a lawsuit.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11440&l=1.

Amungme leader warns Freeport it could be closed down

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:56:09 +0000

The vast Grasberg copper-gold mine in Indonesian-occupied West Papua is a continuing source of tension between the Indonesian government and those campaigning for West papuan independence. London-based Rio Tinto helped to finance the mine’s expansion and continues to profit from it. The mine is operated by PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US-based Freepor McMoRan. West Papuan Amungme Indigenous leader Anthonius Alomang, is now threatening to close the mine down.

See http://westpapuamedia.info/2012/01/24/amungme-leader-warns-freeport-it-could-be-closed-down/.

Court orders Anglo American to reveal contract with Mitsubishi

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:45:49 +0000

A Chilean court has ordered London-based Anglo American to reveal the contract under which it sold a 24.5% stake in its central Chile assets to Japan’s Mitsubishi. The court order follows a legal action filed by state copper producer Codelco aimed at gathering information to prepare a lawsuit requesting that the contract between Anglo and Mitsubishi be declared null and void.

See http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/court-orders-anglo-american-to-reveal-contract-with-mitsubishi1/283895013.

Xstrata knocked back in Philippines

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:29:26 +0000

Efforts to bring the massive Tampakan copper-gold project to commercial phase suffered a major blow after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources rejected the proponent’s application for an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

Documents obtained by the Diocese of Marbel showed that Environment Secretary Ramon Paje rejected the ECC application of Sagittarius Mines, Inc., (SMI) due to the open-pit mining ban imposed by the provincial government of South Cotabato.

Sagittarius Mines is controlled by Xstrata Copper, the world’s fourth largest copper producer. Xstrata is based in Switzerland but listed on the London Stock Exchange.

See http://www.mindanews.com/environment/2012/01/13/denr-denies-smi%E2%80%99s-ecc-application-smi-to-appeal-for-reconsideration/.

Philippines: Another natural disaster reignites the mining debate

Shortly before Christmas 2011 the Philippines reconfirmed its reputation for natural disasters when tropical storm Washi (local name Sendong) caused devastation on the north coast of Mindanao. As previously, the cause of much of the catastrophe appears man-made, thanks mainly to the denudation of forest cover on the watersheds.

Although the Philippine mining industry was quick to note there was no large-scale mining that would have directly affected this particular tragedy, the role of mining in the region has been highlighted again. It has certainly highlighted the exemption that allows mining companies to continue logging despite bans put in place after similar incidents.

Then on January 5th a subsequent landslide hit a gold-mining area, which is subject to such incidents, with an estimated 25 fatalities. This particularly highlighted the potential for widespread disaster at Xstrata‘s nearby Tampakan project.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11405&l=1.

Rio Tinto subsidiary Kennecott Utah Copper Blamed By Doctors And Moms For Pollution

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:27:23 +0000

When winter comes to Utah and atmospheric conditions trap a soup of pollutants close to the ground, doctors say it turns every resident in the Salt Lake basin into the equivalent of a cigarette smoker.

They have filed a lawsuit against Kennecott Utah Copper, accusing it of violating the U.S. Clean Air Act. The company operates with the consent of state regulators who enforce the federal law.

The company is the No. 1 industrial air polluter along Utah’s heavily populated 120-mile Wasatch Front and operates heavy trucks and power and smelter plants.

See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/26/kennecott-utah-copper-lawsuit_n_1169915.html.

DRC dispute disentangled: ENRC and FQM agree settlement

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:13:18 +0000

London listed miner, Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Plc (ENRC) and Canada’s First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FQM) have resolved a rumble in the jungle with a US$1.25bn settlement for disputed mining assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page36?oid=142586&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

BHP’s toxic legacy continues at Ok Tedi

Richard — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:24:55 +0000

When BHP Billiton pulled out of the Ok Tedi mine in Papua New Guinea, it was because it recognised that the mine should never have been constructed in the way it was – with riverine talings disposal – in the first place.

But the mine produced such a large proportion of the PNG Government’s income that it was not shut down.

Now OK Tedi Mining Ltd has, once again, had to pay compensation for continuing to pollute the environment at its operations in Papua New Guinea.

Grotesquely, the company has also been given an award by the government for “its contribution to PNG’s development and its compliance with the country’s laws”, as well as being a “Good Corporate Citizen”!

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11390.

Anglo American sues Codelco over breach of contract

Richard — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:21:44 +0000

Anglo American said on 22 December that it had filed a writ with Santiago’s Court of Appeals, suing the Chilean firm for breach of contract in a dispute over its south Chilean assets.

Codelco, the National Copper Corporation of Chile, took umbrage last month when Anglo announced it had sold 24.5% of its Chilean copper assets to Mitsubishi Corporation for US$5.39 billion.

The move by Anglo pre-empted Codelco’s option to acquire a 49% stake in Anglo American Sur SA (AAS) in January 2012 for what was to be a significantly lower price relative to what Mitsubishi paid.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page72068?oid=142166&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

Utah groups sue Rio Tinto subsidiary for air pollution

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:59:49 +0000

Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment and Utah Moms for Clean Air announced Monday they are suing Rio Tinto for polluting the Salt Lake Valley air. Dr. Brian Moench, from Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment says Utah Department of Air Quality data shows Kennecott Rio Tinto is responsible for 30-percent of dangerous particulate air pollution in the Salt Lake Valley.

See http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/Utah-environmental-advocacy-groups-sue-Kennecott/6PeTR4Vf9k-LIYTxywKoHA.cspx.

See video and report at http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18563833.