Frik Els, Author at MINING.COM

There is an upside to the $340+ billion hole in China’s local government debt

Faster privatization might be the ultimate measure that helps the country finally get away from a vicious lending and spending cycle.

Frik Els | March 27, 2012 | 12:01 am

China's radical reforms may prompt massive safe haven buying of gold

World’s largest coal company muscling in on world’s largest metallurgical deposit

"Shenhua is the most competitive bidder for the project given its technology, transport infrastructure, access to the Chinese market and the backing of the Chinese government," Shenhua CEO Ling Wen told reporters.

Frik Els | March 26, 2012 | 10:58 pm

Nickel mining in Philippines: provincial governor to be charged with murder of anti-mining activist

In January last year local radio broadcaster Gerry Ortega, who fought hard for a ban on mining on Palawan was slain and now the Philippines' Department of Justice asked for murder charges to be filed against former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and four others in connection with his death.

Frik Els | March 26, 2012 | 8:59 pm

Win some lose some: Gold Fields delving deeper into Philippines, suspends drilling in Mali

Nick Holland of CEO Gold Fields said on Monday the company has plonked $63 million on a second gold-copper project in the Philippines. The globe's fourth-largest gold miner also announced it is suspending drilling in Mali, Africa's third largest gold producer following a military coup.

Frik Els | March 26, 2012 | 5:31 pm

Breakdown: All the gold price indicators now point down

“Sentiment towards gold is as low as it has been for many years, possibly since the rally started. ... For virtually the first time this cycle, buying gold is a contrarian trade.”

Frik Els | March 23, 2012 | 12:48 am

Chinese style capitalism leads to capital punishment for 31-year old tycoon

"Wu's death penalty is a setback for the cause of reform in China. Judging from this case, how far are we from the market economy? At least 300 years."

Frik Els | March 23, 2012 | 12:30 am

Glencore-Xstrata merger won’t happen this year

EU regulators are stepping up scrutiny of the mooted $90 billion merger of the commodities trader and coal giant and the whole vetting process could take until early 2013. That is if the deal goes ahead at all.

Frik Els | March 22, 2012 | 8:48 pm

Investors give miners another kicking after China manufacturing shrinks

None of mining's top companies escaped the carnage on Thursday after a survey of manufacturing in China showed activity slowed for a fifth straight month.

Frik Els | March 22, 2012 | 7:20 pm

Big guns all on board for Beijing’s new spot iron ore trading platform

Beijing launched the new spot price platform in January in a bid to shift the balance of power in price negotiations away from the big three.

Frik Els | March 22, 2012 | 5:21 pm

Oyu Tolgoi named one of ’10 Beautiful Places We Could Destroy With Human Drilling’

The widely read Huffington Post in one of its characteristically breathless pieces on the environment on Tuesday calls out Ivanhoe Mines’ Mongolian project.

Frik Els | March 20, 2012 | 8:34 pm