Kazakhstan

300 Kazakhmys workers end 3-day underground sit-in

Authorities in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic of 16.7 million people, are especially wary of labor unrest in single-industry towns after a months-long dispute involving sacked oil workers last year erupted into the country's worst violence in decades.

Cameco investors half a billion richer by lunchtime

After steady gains throughout the morning Cameco Corp. was trading up 6% by lunchtime on Friday, after reports yesterday that its Kazakh join venture is planning to up output by a third. Gains for the year now top 20%.

ENRC swallows Kazakhstan coal producer for $600 million

Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) has paid US$600 million for the remaining 75% of Kazakhstan coal producer Shubarkol Komir.

Wardell Armstrong to lead mining project masterclass at Minex in Astana

A masterclass looking at the whole process of developing a mining project – from initial studies and designs through to operations and management – is being organised and led by Wardell Armstrong International at this year’s Minex forum from 17 to 19 April in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Australia, Canada, Chile, Brazil and Mexico the top five mining projects’ destinations

In its annual ranking of countries in terms of political risks for mining investment, the mineral industry advisory firm Behre Dolbear, has ranked Australia, Canada, Chile, Brazil and Mexico as the top five nations in which to locate mining projects.

Newbridge Capital Inc. Receives TSX Venture Exchange Approval to Acquire the Lomonosovskoye Iron Ore Deposit in Kazakhstan, Completes Private Placement for Gross Proceeds of $24,885,000

Newbridge Capital Inc.CA:NBC 0.00% ("Newbridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval for the Company to complete the share purchase agreement with Safin Element GmbH.

Germany and Kazakhstan ink $4 billion rare earths deal

A $4 billion rare earths deal signed this week between Germany and Kazakhstan is being criticized by human rights groups.

Poluys fill the vaults ahead of listing, Kinross takeout rumours swirl

In a trading update Monday Russia’s Polyus Gold International, owned by Mikhail Prokhorov, announced a 8% increase in gold production to just under 1.5 million ounces which boosted earnings 40%. Prokhorov, a Vladimir Putin rival in upcoming presidential elections, is also readying his firm for a London listing after which he says he wants to do a major deal.

Fukushima was a blip; uranium fundamentals stronger than ever

The meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant last March had uranium investors fleeing for the exits. While the nuclear fuel used to make yellowcake had enjoyed something of a renaissance (after tanking in 2008-09 due to the financial crisis) in the runup to the earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan, all that changed in the aftermath of the quake.

Uranium One announces record production and sales for 2011 and extends Mantra option

TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2012 /CNW/ – Uranium One Inc. today announced record production of 10.7 million pounds and record sales of 9.9 million pounds for the full year 2011.

Frontier Mining agrees US$29 mln financing for expansion of Benkala copper mine

Frontier Mining (LON:FML) today unveiled a new US$29 million financing arrangement that will help support the development of the Benkala copper mine in Kazakhstan.

Hambledon Mining down after fine for environmental damage

Shares in Kazakhstan-focused gold miner and developer Hambledon Mining (LON:HMB) fell after it was fined approximately £1.17m for causing environmental damage.

China Development Bank loans millions to Kazakhstan copper company

China Development Bank (CDB), one of the country's three policy banks, has signed two agreements with Kazak copper giant Kazakhmys PLC, granting the mine and refinery operator 1.34 billion U.S. dollars and 1 billion yuan (158 million U.S. dollars) for a new project.

Kazakhstan now world largest uranium miner

The vast Central Asian nation, larger than Western Europe, produces 33 percent of world’s mined uranium, followed by Canada at 18 percent and Australia, with 11 percent of global output. Kazakhstan contains the world's second-largest uranium reserves, estimated at 1.5 million tons. Until two years ago Kazakhstan was the world's No. 3 uranium miner.

Central Asia Resources moves towards gold production with A$1m spend in Kazakhstan

As Perth-based Central Asia Resources (ASX:CVR) nears gold production from its Dalabai prospect in Kazakhstan it is already planning to bump up output beyond the forecast 25,000 ounces per year and potentially extend its current 2.7-year mine life.

Dalabai mining set to start in Kazakhstan

Central Asia Resources remains on track to begin mining at its 90%-owned Dalabai Gold Project this month and to start producing gold during the fourth quarter. The company has recently achieved several development milestones.

Cameco inks agreement with Kazatomprom to increase uranium production at Inkai by 1.3 million pounds

Cameco (NYSE:CCJ) announced on Wednesday that it signed signed a memorandum of agreement with its partner, Kazatomprom, to increase annual uranium production at the Joint Venture Inkai Limited Liability Partnership (JVI) from 3.9 million pounds to 5.2 million pounds.

The Inkai in-situ recovery uranium mine and processing plant is located in central Kazakhstan and is operated by JVI, 60% owned by Cameco and 40% owned by Kazatomprom, the Kazakhstan government owned national atomic company.

Under the memorandum of agreement, Cameco's share of Inkai's annual production will be 2.9 million pounds with the processing plant at full capacity.

Orsu completes infill drilling programme in connection with ongoing definitive feasibility study at its Karchiga project

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM–(Marketwire – Sept. 1, 2011) – Orsu Metals Corporation ("Orsu" or the "Company") (TSX:OSU)(AIM:OSU), the London-based precious and base metals exploration and development company, is pleased to announce the on-schedule completion of 1,786m (46 holes) infill drilling of the central oxide ("Karchiga Central Oxide") and an additional 2,278m (26 holes) infill drilling of the North East sulphide ("Karchiga North East Sulphide") as part of the ongoing definitive feasibility study ("DFS") at its Karchiga volcanogenic massive sulphide copper deposit in Eastern Kazakhstan (the "Karchiga Project").

Kazakhstan crude steel production in Jan to Jul up 21%

According to the State Statistics Committee of Kazakhstan, in January to July of the current year Kazakhstan produced 2.926 million tonnes of crude steel up by 21.4%YoY.

ENRC seeks to reassure on governance as profit climbs

Kazakh miner ENRC said a keenly awaited governance review was on track to deliver a fully independent board that would take all stakeholder interests into account, when posting first-half profit at the top end of expectations.
Kazakh miner ENRC, whose image has been tarnished by the purchase of an asset the Congolese government expropriated from Canadian miner First Quantum last year and a very public boardroom spat, announced a three-month corporate governance review in June.

Fortis renegotiates potash project

Stock & Land reported that Fortis Mining (ASX:FMJ) negotiated new terms for the purchase of potash projects in Kazakhstan.

Iron ore miner battles with Brazil project amid takeover talk

Dow Jones reports a Khazakhstan mining and metals group says it's forging ahead with plans to build a $2 billion iron ore mine in northeast Brazil despite major logistical and environmental obstacles, while speculation about a takeover-bid swirls.

The Pedra de Ferro iron ore project is already four years behind schedule, and the company may miss the 2014 start-up date as it is still waiting for environmental licenses to build a port from which to ship the iron ore, and for Brazil's federal government to build a railroad.

Kazakhmys $1.5bn Chinese loan for major copper development

Kazakhmys agreed on Monday to borrow $1.5 billion loan from China Development Bank to help develop a large copper deposit in eastern Kazakhstan, officials said at a signing ceremony.

The loan, to be disbursed by the end of this year, will enable Kazakhmys to develop the Aktogay copper field in eastern Kazakhstan without selling a stake in the deposit to China's Jinchuan Group Ltd.

Trading Room: Fortis to raise $236m for Kazakh potash mines

Trading Room reports that Melbourne-based Fortis Mining Ltd has agreed to raise $236m by selling new shares and notes to investors in Hong Kong and China to buy and develop two potash mines in Kazakhstan.

ASX-listed Fortis, previously a gold and base metal explorer, acquired the rights to purchase the Chelkarskaya and Zhilyanskoe salt deposits in March. The deposits have an exploration target range of 6.5 – 6.6bn tonnes of potassium making them amongst the largest potash salt deposits in the world.

TS 525 Radial telescopic conveyor utilized in heap leaching operation in Kazakhstan

Before the acquisition of the TS 525 Radial Telescopic Conveyor this customer was stockpiling the material by unloading trucks directly into a stockpile heap. As a key factor in a successful heap leaching operation is ‘permeability’, stockpiling in this way meant the material was too compacted. This resulted in an ineffective leaching project as the solution could not percolate the compacted areas which left valuable minerals lost within the material. Read more