Frik Els, Author at MINING.COM

The biggest bear of all? Iron ore price heading for $50-something

Canada gets more than just pandas in black and white as Harper signs China uranium deal

Canada’s nuclear-energy industry generates some $6.6 billion in annual revenue, $1.2 billion in exports each year and employs roughly 31,000 people according to Harper's office.

Frik Els | February 9, 2012 | 3:37 pm

Blanchard: Fed overselling rate hike great for gold

Newmont could redirect Conga billions to Ghana if delays continue

Newmont Mining, world number two gold producer, said on Wednesday it has options to spend its capital elsewhere to meet production targets if its $4.8 billion Conga project in Peru does not restart.

Frik Els | February 8, 2012 | 10:31 pm

Crude Canada: Most expensive to extract; sold cheapest

As Canadian oil falls to $50 less than the international benchmark, crude calculations show oil sands producers are losing out on $100 million dollars a day because they cannot sell into global markets.

Frik Els | February 8, 2012 | 8:50 pm

Black stuff: Alpha becomes latest US coal producer idling mines

The company will immediately mothball four mines in central Appalachia, plans to idle two more by early next year and scale back output at other mines as US coal demand for electricity generation wanes.

Frik Els | February 5, 2012 | 10:30 pm

South Africa is looking at mining super-tax, ‘targeted intervention’ in platinum sector

South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, appears to be moving away from nationalization of the mining industry to reassure foreign investors but is considering new taxes and "targeted interventions" in the sector, particularly platinum mines.

Frik Els | February 5, 2012 | 9:38 pm

Blown away: 70% of Europe’s new power generation comes from renewables

According to a new European Wind Energy Association report a record 71% of all the new power generating capacity installed in the Europe Union in 2011 came from solar panels, offshore and onshore wind turbines and other renewable energy sources. This at the same time as the world's largest clean coal power station project appears stuck in the starting blocks.

Frik Els | February 5, 2012 | 9:00 pm

Obama trade adviser + basketball star + warlord = Gulfstream V loaded with 1,000 pounds of gold

A new UN report says a US trade adviser appointed by Barack Obama orchestrated a $20 million deal to buy 1,045 pounds of gold in eastern DRC from warlord Bosco Ntaganda, wanted for war crimes since 2006. The botched deal by Houston oil tycoon Dr. Kase Lawal also involved his brother and former basketball star Dikembe Mutombo.

Frik Els | February 5, 2012 | 6:00 pm

Xstrata's 'Big Mick' says no retention bonus brings 'unnecessary risks'

Top shareholders gunning for Xstrata’s Big Mick, could block deal without premium

The Telegraph reports Chairman John Bond and CEO Mick Davis risk being voted off the board of Xstrata after being accused of negotiating "a cosy stitch-up" with Glencore and that other major shareholders have threatened to block the deal altogether if the Swiss commodities giant does not offer a "substantial premium."

Frik Els | February 5, 2012 | 2:00 am

Canadian jobs: It’s oil sands all the time

Statistics Canada reported Friday that of the jobs created in January 65% were in Alberta.

Frik Els | February 4, 2012 | 11:56 pm

Good for the gander not the goose: US jobs growth halts gold rally

Gold futures eased Friday after better than expected US jobs data made further relaxation in Fed monetary policy, already very loose, less likely and money flowed into stocks.

Frik Els | February 3, 2012 | 3:50 pm