Deal appetite has picked up as gold soared to successive records on the outlook for lower US interest rates, central-bank buying and haven demand.

Plans for two new nickel trading platforms to challenge the LME have been blown off course by BHP's planned suspension of its plants in Western Australia.

It will pay $120 million for an 80% stake in its Linderos copper project in Ecuador.

Factors contributing to the projected growth include growing environmental legislation and regulatory pressures, BCC Research says.

The miner has partnered with local woodfiber processor manager Midway to oversee the planting and management of the farms.

The sales are part of plan to focus on so-called Tier 1 assets, which can produce at least 500,000 ounces of gold equivalent for 10 years or longer.

An acquisition would be a big move from the thermal coal miner into steel-making coal.