MINING.COM Staff Writer

Quebec Premier Jean Charest will travel to Europe this month to tout Plan Nord, the Canadian province's C$80-billion plan to boost mining and forestry, AFP reported Friday: The Quebec government unveiled the 25-year plan to develop "one of the last untouched territories of the world, filled with riches" in May. Charest is to meet with politicians and business leaders in London, Brussels, Frankfurt and Munich from June 27 to July 1.

Bloomberg reports: De Beers, the world’s largest diamond producer, is considering an expansion of its South African Voorspoed mine to extend the life of the operation by as much as eight years as prices for the gems climb. De Beers will complete a study this year on a proposed expansion that would prolong the mine’s life to “2026 or 2028,” rather than 2020 as currently planned, Mine Manager Mpumi Zikalala said today in an interview at the site near Kroonstad. It’s too early to estimate the cost of the project, which may include an underground section, she said.

Canada's benchmark stock index inched up on Thursday, led by gains in the materials sector and better-than-expected economic news south of the border, The Montreal Gazette reported: The S&P/TSX composite index gained 71.95 points, or 0.55%, to 13,255.74 -still well below its highest point so far this year, 14,270.53, posted April 5, but a welcome sight after its longest string of losses since 2006. Saskatchwan PotashCorp led the market uptick, rising 3.39% to $53.98 on news of climbing US. corn futures. Agrium Inc. rose 2.61% to $82.49.