Earlier this month, the Indonesian government proposed new legislation, aimed at increasing domestic ownership and revenue from foreign-based mining operations. Last year, Ernst & Young also identified at least 25 countries that have increased, or plan to raise, their governments’ income via taxes or royalties. Does this mean mining companies are now ready and willing to play by some “new rules”? Whatever they may say now, it may take only another run on mineral prices and profits for their current “reasonableness” to turn sour.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11567.