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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/.

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.

IACHR’s lenience towards Goldcorp is criticised by NGOs

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:16:55 +0000

Goldcorp is a Canadian company. Among its major investors are British-based AXA Investment Managers UK Ltd., Blackrock Commodities Income Trust plc and City Natural High Yield Trust plc.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the western hemisphere’s primary organ for protecting human rights, decided in late December 2011 to modify an earlier order regarding Goldcorp’s controversial Marlin mine in Guatemala. Although subject to an ongoing human rights complaint, IACHR has lifted its recommendation to suspend operations at the mine, while leaving other measures in place.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11419&l=1.

Goldcorp green lights US$3.9bn El Morro project in Chile

Vancouver-based Goldcorp’s board approved the decision to begin construction of the US$3.9bn El Morro copper-gold project in northern Chile’s region III. See http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/goldcorp-green-lights-us39bn-el-morro-project/282822928.

Canadian mining projects move ahead in Argentina

Argentina expects two Canadian miners, Pan American Silver and Goldcorp, to start construction on sizeable projects over the next six months as the sector continues to expand, the country’s mining secretary said on Tuesday. See http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCATRE8092EQ20120110.

Protests over Newmont mine resume in Peru

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:15:12 +0000

About 1,000 people marched in the Andean city of Cajamarca against the gold mine proposed by the U.S. miner and its Peruvian partner, Buenaventura.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11408&l=1.

Among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK. See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

See also: Conga to set the course for future mining development, expert says – http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/conga-to-set-the-course-for-future-mining-development-expert-says/283459482.

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.

Rio Tinto panned over Olympic medals

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:57:21 +0000

Will London 2012 sponsors BP, Dow, EDF and Rio Tinto tarnish the Olympic brand?

In just seven months London opens its doors to the world for the ‘greatest show on earth’ and while the 2012 Olympics have been billed as the ‘greenest Games ever’, there are concerns that the corporate sponsors and partners whose logos will forever be associated with the 2012 Games do not live up to the ‘Olympic spirit’.

See http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/1165157/will_london_2012_sponsors_bp_dow_edf_and_rio_tinto_tarnish_the_olympic_brand.html.

Winners and losers: The human price of Olympic gold

The metal for the 2012 medals will come from Salt Lake City and the Gobi desert. Richard Harkinson introduces activists fighting Rio Tinto plc’s hazardous mines

See http://www.redpepper.org.uk/winners-and-losers/.

Rio Tinto says it’s not pursuing full takeover of Ivanhoe

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:54:21 +0000

Rio Tinto Group, the world’s third-biggest mining company, said it won’t seek full control of its Mongolian project partner Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. after an arbitrator ruled in its favor in a shareholding dispute.

See http://business.financialpost.com/2011/12/13/rio-tinto-says-its-not-pursuing-full-takeover-of-ivanhoe/…
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Mining: Growing backlash against groups who are ‘minting it’

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:52:23 +0000

The [gold] informal rush is indicative of a broader problem with the country’s mining sector – the sense that foreign companies have minted it from their concessions delivering few benefits either to the Ghanaian economy or to the wider population beyond the employment they provide…Governments across Africa are trying to extract more revenue from the mining industry against the backdrop of booming commodity prices and widespread perceptions that the region’s mineral wealth has not translated into broader prosperity…The corporate tax is problematic, however. Ghana granted stabilisation clauses to many of the companies who rushed to the country in the 1990s and thereafter. Any subsequent changes to the terms, would be a breach of contract. AngloGold Ashanti, for example, has said it does not expect to be affected by the new taxes because of the agreement it signed with the Ghanaian state in 2004…

See http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/1010152.

Is Greece now desperate enough to allow gold mining?

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:51:21 +0000

When investors hear the word “Greece” these days, they usually run for cover. But Eldorado Gold Corp. had the opposite reaction, as the austerity and economic misery actually made the country a more attractive place for gold mining. Late Sunday, Eldorado unveiled a $2.5-billion takeover of European Goldfields Ltd., a deal that gives it prized gold assets in Greece. The all-stock deal allows Eldorado to consolidate all the key deposits in the country.

See http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/Offer+Goldfields+Greece/5885222/story.html.

European Goldfields is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

See also Eldorado aims to double production with European Goldfields bid, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/eldorado-aims-to-double-production-with-european-goldfields-bid/article2276992/.

OAS Human Rights Commission withdraws demand for Marlin Mine closure

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:50:04 +0000

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States has notified the Guatemalan government that the IACHR has withdrawn its demand that Guatemala close Goldcorp’s Marlin Mine.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page72068?oid=141942&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

See also Guatemala: Authors of report alleging Goldcorp’s Marlin mine contributes “little” to sustainable development & poses environmental risks issue rejoinder to Goldcorp’s response at http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/1010010.

Goldcorp is a Canadian company. Among its major investors are British-based AXA Investment Managers UK Ltd., Blackrock Commodities Income Trust plc and City Natural High Yield Trust plc.

Colombia’s mining boom overshadowed by human rights violations

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:43:43 +0000

A report by Peace Brigades International (PBI) declares that Colombia’s current mining boom is overshadowed by human rights violations and mass displacement of residents in mining areas. “80% of the human rights violations that have occurred in Colombia in the last ten years were committed in mining and energy-producing regions, and 87% of Colombia’s displaced population originate from these places,” says the report published by the international human rights organisation last week.

Among London-listed mining companies active in Colombia are Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton, Glencore, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11381&l=1.

LMN groups and others send protest letter to President of Peru

Richard — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:44:18 +0000

There have been strong protests in the Cajamarca region of Peru with huge demonstrations, road blocks and occupation of the Conga gold mine site belonging to Yanacocha/Newmont. This resulted in police shooting unarmed protesters on 29 November and the mine announcing suspension of the project on the same day.

Given the entrenchment of opposition to mine, including by thousands of subsistence farmers who have said they are ready to die to prevent this mine, there appears to be a real risk of large scale violence.

LMN member group LAMMP co-ordinated the preparation of an open letter of protest to the President of Peru, and produced a video. The letter was co-signed by LMN, a number of its member groups, and many others. See http://lammp.org/2011/12/10/1750/.

Among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK. See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

Government of Peru agrees to resume talks with Cajamarca representatives

Richard — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:37:07 +0000

The Peruvian government has agreed to resume dialogue with representatives from northern Cajamarca region, state news agency Andina reported. President Ollanta Humala declared a state of emergency in Cajamarca on December 5 in response to increasingly violent protests against US-based Newmont Mining’s US$4.8bn Minas Conga project in the region.

See http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/govt-agrees-to-resume-talks-with-cajamarca-representatives/278934660.

For earlier reports, see:

Humala does the Conga in Peru: “Leftist” president shifts violently to the right. More militarization to come?
http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11357

Dancing the Conga in Peru: Jose de Echave resigns as vice-minister of the Environment
http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11342

Among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK. See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

Proud Indonesian Miners’ End Strike at Grasberg

Richard — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:34:43 +0000

An agreement was signed in Jakarta on 14 December between PT Freeport Indonesia Workers’ Union (SP KEP SPSI) and management of the world’s largest gold and second largest copper mining complex – Grasberg in Papua province – that will end a 94-day strike on Saturday, 17 December.

The strike pitted a low-wage but determined and enlightened workforce against a global extractive resource company, US-based Freeport-McMoRan that has Grasberg at top of its massive revenue stream. (London-listed Rio Tinto has been indispensable to Freeport, acting as its critical 40% joint-venture partner at the mine for over a decade.)

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11374&l=1.

Sick miners want Anglo American to pay up

Richard — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:33:21 +0000

Mongezi Mponco left his village of grassland hills as one of hundreds of thousands of healthy young black men who poured into the deep underground of South Africa’s gold mines.

The 54-year-old continued working when diagnosed with early incurable lung disease until he was fired after 30 years, in a story traced on thumb-worn papers kept in his home off a rutted dirt road in the Eastern Cape.

“Thank you for your loyal service and all the best,” advised the termination letter to the father of six who has certified silicosis scarring of the lungs.

But the best has not materialised for Mponco and hundreds of other former mineworkers who now want mining giant Anglo American to pay up for exposing them to dangerous dust levels.

The London-listed firm’s South African subsidiary is being sued on two continents in cases that could run into millions of rands in damages.

See http://mg.co.za/article/2011-12-11-sick-miners-want-anglo-american-to-pay-up.