Charlie Sartain, chief executive for copper at Xstrata, one of the world’s largest mining companies, said the growth in Chinese demand for all commodities was “just phenomenal,” and prices may rise for the next few years as a result.
Demand for copper in China may increase 8 percent to 10 percent this year compared with last [...]

Copper prices in New York rose for the second session in a row on speculation U.S. demand may pick up for the metal used in homes, cars and appliances.
In December, U.S. home sales probably were little changed from November, and orders for durable goods jumped, reports this week may show. Copper prices have tumbled 37 [...]

Australia and China will work together to balance China’s insatiable need for energy resources with growing concern about coal’s impact on the global environment.
The move to establish a clean coal technology working group came as Japan announced at the East Asia Summit in Cebu a $2.5 billion package to help its Asian neighbours develop energy-saving [...]

Australia will soon be able to export uranium to China, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has said.
The two countries signed an agreement earlier this year, which means the exports can begin in 30 days, he said.
Australia has 40% of the world’s recoverable uranium, while China needs a huge amount of energy for its large population [...]

China produces more coal than anywhere else in the world, fuelling the country’s economic boom. But it comes at a terrible price: the mines are the world’s deadliest, and their environmental impact is catastrophic. Safer - and cleaner - technology exists. But is there the political will to make it happen?
The trucks rattling away [...]

China’s annual output of oil produced from coal will rise to 4 mln tons by 2010, Zhang Yuzhou, Vice General Manager of Shenhua Group Corporation Ltd.
Despite the high facilities cost, about 7-10 times more expensive than a standard oil refinery, the high international oil price [...]