Chile January copper output tumbled 7.6%

Copper output in Chile, the world's largest copper producer, tumbled 7.6% in the last 12 months to 396,341 metric tons, the National Statistics Institute (INE), a government statistics agency, announced this morning.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 29, 2012 | 3:27 pm

Chile introduces employment program to encourage women in mining

The Chilean government has launched an innovative employment program that aims to allow more women to work within the mining industry. The program will be launched in the northern regions of Tarapaca, Atacama and Coquimbo to begin with and then spread to other regions later in the year.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 29, 2012 | 2:07 pm

Scotiabank’s report paints optimistic outlook for copper, zinc and nickel

As Canadian exports of iron ore and uranium to China continue to increase dramatically, Beijing will benefit from higher-quality ore and diversification of supply sources, predicts economist Patricia Mohr in the latest Scotiabank’s Commodity Price Index.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 29, 2012 | 12:30 pm

Chatham House: Restoring the gold standard would hurt already damaged global financial system

Returning to the gold standard would be impractical and could even harm the financial system says a new report from a a group of experts published by the London-based policy institute Chatham House.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 28, 2012 | 7:13 pm

Enbridge CEO Daniel leaving the rocking ship

Shares of Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) were falling this morning after CEO Pat Daniel announced yesterday that he is leaving the company amid an increasing controversy on its West Coast pipeline project, the $5.5-billion Northern Gateway.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 28, 2012 | 5:48 pm

South Korea to invest in Peru’s energy industry

Korean ambassador in Lima, Park Hee Kwon, confirmed today that there are a few South Korean companies eager to invest in the development of renewable energy in Peru by constructing hydroelectric plants in the country's Andean region.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 28, 2012 | 4:51 pm

Uranium mine by the Grand Canyon to reopen despite Obama’s ban

What rhymes with Grand Canyon? Yes, uranium

The U.S. Nuclear Energy Institute and the National Mining Association (NMA) are demanding the Obama administration to revoke a ban on new uranium mining around the Grand Canyon in Arizona. And they are doing so by suing the U.S. Interior Department, as the organizations announced yesterday.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 28, 2012 | 2:00 pm

Experts debate feasibility of mining on the moon

The mining industry will be following closely the outcomes of this week’s International Space Station members’ meeting in Quebec city, Canada, as the heads of the world's five biggest space agencies will be discussing, among others, the possibility of exploring for minerals on the moon.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 27, 2012 | 4:58 pm

Guinea to see its first commercial iron-ore mine flourish by spring

London’s AIM-listed Bellzone Mining announced this morning that its Forécariah joint venture project in Guinea has received approval to complete the first blast at Yomboyeli, allowing Bellzone to kick off iron-ore production by the end of the first quarter this year.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 27, 2012 | 2:16 pm