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In Indonesia, Anger Against Mining Giant Grows
A foreign mining company, protected by hundreds of soldiers, extracts precious resources from a remote tropical forest. The mining enrages indigenous tribes, who resist. It may sound like a movie script, but it is in fact the story of the world's largest gold mine,...
Rio Tinto subsidiary's Bougainville Mining Lease expires
The Bougainville Mining Lease cannot be reviewed, despite its recent expiration, because of an automatic 21-year extension clause under the Bougainville Agreement. Such is the case facing the once prolific world copper producer but the Government will be working with...
Cerrejon adopts human rights policy
Cerrejon Coal, a joint venture of London-listed Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Xstrata, has adopted a human rights policy. It remains to be seen how closely the company will live up to it. If it does so, communities around the mine would benefit. See...
South Africa's gold miners denied access to silicosis checks
A lawyer for hundreds of former South African gold miners has accused their ex-employers of failing to provide access to regular check-ups for silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling dust. Richard Meeran of London law firm Leigh Day said thousands of...
More "accidents" at Vedanta's Indian copper smelter
It should have been shut down nearly a year ago. But, despite an order by the Madras High Court, UK-listed Vedanta Resources has been allowed to continue operating its highly-polluting Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) copper smelter in Tamil Nadu. On 17 August 2011, according...
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 family, face charges of...
Mining's toxic sludge threatens Johannesburg
Thousands of people face evacuation from greater Johannesburg in the Gauteng province - the economic heartland of South Africa - due to toxic sludge from abandoned gold mines laced with high radiation levels. See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11315....
Baluchistan says "No" to Antofagasta/Barrick
Resistance by Pakistan's Baluchistan provincial government to a mine proposal, submitted by UK-listed Antofagasta and Canada's Barrick, seems to have succeeded. But this decision may open the way for Chinese companies to successfuly bid for what could be one of the...
Mining and American Indians Still Don’t Mix
The Native American community has a long, troubled history with mining interests, and today that history is catching up with us in Arizona. From a new push for uranium mining at the Grand Canyon to the ongoing battle over Resolution Copper, it’s not too much to say my...
British embassies support our mining companies to do business overseas, says UK Ambassador to the Philippines
"Today, Britain’s significance to the industry is as a centre for global mining – in terms of finance, technology and know-how. The City of London offers a wide range of financial services to the global industry, including unparalleled capital raising opportunities...