Archive for May, 2007

Wales coal industry could rise again

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

A revival of the coal industry in Wales was put forward as a possibility by Peter Hain today. The Secretary of State for Wales said: “Fossil fuels are going to provide us with the bulk of our energy for the foreseeable future, coal included, so if we are going to tackle the urgent problem of climate change, it is essential that we make fossil... readmore

Environmental group to sue FirstEnergy over coal-plant emissions

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

FirstEnergy Corp. violated federal and state air pollution laws at a western Pennsylvania coal-fired power plant, according an environmental group. PennFuture notified Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy Inc. on Tuesday that it intends to sue over alleged pollution at the Bruce Mansfield plant in Shippingport, about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. The plant... readmore

ACCC backs cut coal queue at Newcastle

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

A NSW coal moving company has been granted an authorisation that will cut the long queue of ships off Newcastle and save the coal industry around $175 million, the consumer watchdog says. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has given the final tick of approval for Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) to reinstate the so-called counter... readmore

Grande Cache Coal Q4 loss widens to $4.7M from year-ago $2.6M, revenue falls

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

Grande Cache Coal Corp. says its fourth-quarter loss widened to $4.7 million from a year-ago $2.6 million as revenue fell to $13.8 million from $27 million amid transport problems. Bad weather, a labour dispute and track disruptions during the quarter restricted the amount of coal that could be moved to the port by CN Rail (TSX:CN), limiting metallurgical... readmore

Tata Power takes coal mine stakes in Indonesia

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

Tata Power, India’s second-biggest utility by annual sales, will borrow $950 million to fund its purchase of stakes in two Indonesian coal mines, according to three people involved in the transaction. The Mumbai-based company has hired Calyon to arrange a $600 million loan, which will be secured by the coal mines, and a $350 million loan, guaranteed... readmore

Alcans Board Recommends Shareholders Reject Alcoa Offer

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

Alcan Inc. announced that its Board of Directors unanimously recommends shareholders reject Alcoa Inc.’s (NYSE: AA) unsolicited offer to acquire Alcan. The Board determined that the offer is inadequate in multiple respects and is contrary to the best interests of Alcan’s shareholders. Accordingly, the Board recommends that Alcan shareholders... readmore

Rusal to invest over 1.5 bln usd in Komi alumina project

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

The project involves the construction of an alumina refinery in the Sosnogorsk region with a capacity of 1.4 mln tonnes per annum, and the expansion of the output of the existing Eurasia Middle-Timan bauxite mine to 6.4 mln tpa from 2.6 mln, it said. Construction of the refinery will start next month, while the complex is expected to be commissioned... readmore

Guinea ministry, US oil comany dispute deal review

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

Guinea`s Mines Ministry said the country`s parliament had recommended it renegotiate contracts with a US oil company and a Russian-controlled bauxite producer to obtain better terms for the nation. Guinea`s new government, appointed in March as part of a deal to end violent strikes and protests in the world`s top bauxite exporter, said last month it... readmore

UAE eyes stakes in bauxite firms

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

Abu Dhabi government investment agency Mubadala Development said it plans to join state-run Dubai Aluminium to create a company to buy stakes in bauxite mining companies and develop reserves of the ore. The two companies will set up Emal International to look at acquisitions or developments in countries such as Algeria, Morocco and India, Mubadala’s... readmore

Norilsk Nickel to divest non-core energy assets

Sunday, May 20th, 2007

Russian mining and metallurgical giant Norilsk Nickel has announced that it is to spin off its non-core energy assets into a standalone company. The shares of the new independent player will be distributed on a proportional basis among Norilsk Nickel’s shareholders. Only the company’s energy assets that are not engaged in power supply to... readmore