Headline news... BHP Billiton approves funding for Western Australia Iron Ore
BHP Billiton has announced approval for US$1.93B (BHP Billiton share US$1.73B) of capital expenditure to underpin the further accelerated growth of its Western Australia Iron Ore business. MoreEU investigates Rio Tinto/BHP Billiton JV
The European Commission has launched an investigation into the proposed iron ore joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. MoreMPX to build $150M Colombian coal port
Brazilian power company MPX Energia S.A has bought 521 hectares of land in Colombia on which it plans to build a 20 mtpa coal export terminal. MoreARM to boost production at Khumani
Diversified South African miner African Rainbow Minerals (ARM)is on track to boost production at its Khumani iron ore mine by 2012. MoreAquila update on Eagle Downs
Aquila Resources Limited has announced an upgraded Resource Statement for the Eagle Downs Hard Coking Coal Project in which the company has a 50% interest. MoreGAME Engineering Ltd becomes a distributor for SCE Bins
GAME Engineering have been appointed distributors for the specialist bin supplier SCE, Silo Construction Engineering Limited of Belgium. MorePeabody reports second-best year
Peabody Energy has reported full-year EBITDA of US$1.29B, the second best results in its history. MoreBarges for NT ore
Developers of a major new iron ore mine in Australia's Northern Territory are proposing to barge ore to bulkers in the Gulf of Carpentaria, after ruling out using the AustralAsia Railway. MoreVale mulls Chinese iron ore
As Brazilian miner Vale prepares to set up its own iron ore distribution centre in China, the company has signed a cooperation pact with Dalian port to distribute up to 10 mt of the ore annually until the end of 2020. MoreRostov to take over cargo traffic via Ukrainian ports
The Azov and Don Shipping Company (ADSCO) is planning to build the Rostov Multipurpose Port (RMP), a multimodal transport and logistics node at the Russian Azov harbour of Rostov-on-Don. MoreCameroon looks to iron ore exports
Australian firm Sundance Resources has launched a comprehensive feasibility study into its Mbalam iron ore project in Cameroon. MoreVale considers Moatize expansion
As Mozambique moots the development of a new coal export terminal at the port of Nacala to help the emerging terminal at Beira cope with exports from Tete Province, Brazilian firm Vale has injected more urgency into the debate. MoreFLSmidth bags coal handling project in India
India's Coastal Gujarat Power has awarded an US$23.33M contract to Denmark's FLSmidth to supply and erect a coal handling system for its Ultra Mega Power Plant (UMPP) in western Gujarat state. MoreMOL signs 10-yr deal with Jiangsu Shagang
Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has signed an agreement with China's Jiangsu Shagang Group (JSG) to transport iron ore between Australia/Brazil and Ningbo for ten years from late 2011. MoreMore capacity for Matola
South African firm Grindrod is to launch a feasibility study into the expansion of Mozambique's only existing coal export facility, Matola Coal Terminal, to 12 mtpa. MoreBarro's new mover and crusher
When the Barro Group required a mobile crushing solution for its Mountain View quarry, Victoria, Australia, they contacted Sandvik. MoreTianjin to develop dry bulk terminal
China's Tianjin Port Group has teamed up with Kangyin Investment Holdings to develop a US$3.5B dry bulk terminal in Beihei,Tianjin. MoreUkraine invites Brazil to develop port terminals
Ukraine's top officials have suggested that Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva should involve his country in the development of Ukrainian harbour handling facilities. MoreTransnet looks to new manganese option
It has widely been reported that South African transport utility Transnet would switch its manganese exports from Port Elizabeth to the adjacent new port of Coega in the Eastern Cape. MoreIron ore for Congo- Brazzaville
The central African state of Congo-Brazzaville looks set to join the ranks of Africa's iron ore producers. DMC Mining of Australia has increased its estimate of the reserves at its Mayoko concession in Niari Department in the southwest of the country to 1 bt. More but others choose Port Adelaide
Output from two other South Australian ore projects is to be shipped from Port Adelaide after some groundbreaking work by Flinders Ports, DP World and the mining companies. MorePD Ports receives EIA consent
The UK's PD Ports has received Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consent from the Marine and Fisheries Agency in relation to the QEII berth redevelopment at Teesport. More
Feature articles
Oiling the powers of progress
Improved hydraulic drive systems are keeping pace with the advances made in electrical drive technology, thus widening the scope for conveyor system designers. MoreCoal to retain its place in Germany's energy market
The planned phasing out of Germany's coal mining industry will not mean the end of its coal usage. The country instead is looking to increase its imports. MoreGrab unloading undergoes a green renaissance
During the final years of the 20th Century the long-established grab gantry unloader seemed doomed to become the dinosaur of bulk ship unloading concepts, driven into extinction by the new generation of energy-efficient and apparently more environmentally compatible continuous mechanical ship unloaders. However, within the past 15 years a major turnaround has taken place. MoreVerifying quality and consistency
Sampling of bulk solids is a vital prerequisite for most that with the new facility the group production processes, as well as providing independent evidence that the purchaser receives material to the exact specification that he has ordered. MoreGFC just a pause for Australian coal
The sense of urgency may have gone out of the expansion of the Australian coal industry but there's little doubt existing and prospective producers expect the worst of the global financial crisis to be over within 12 months. MoreAsian market key to Oz export prospects
June's commodity review and forecast published by the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics (ABARE) forecast the country's thermal coal production would increase by 8% to 201 mt in 2008-09. MoreWell stocked but orders needed
Although the major mining groups are cutting back on investments as demand slumps, there are still sufficient projects underway to maintain strong order books for stacker/reclaimers. MoreGrabbing hold of the market
Grab manufacturers have been experiencing slow market conditions as operators have chosen to defer investment. But now there are signs that demand is growing. MoreUS weathers the economic storm
The world recession has slowed bulk movements in North America and placed several long-term projects on hold. However, it has also given ports, railroads and terminal operators breathing space to accomplish long overdue maintenance and repair work. MoreThyssenKrupp builds a steel bridge
The decision of Germany's ThyssenKrupp Stahl (TKS) to construct a Euro4.5B slab mill in Brazil adjacent to iron ore supplies to feed a new Euro3.1B steel mill in Alabama as well as its existing German mills in Duisburg has required development of an integrated logistic network to export, handle and tranship the semi-processed slabs on a scale never previously been attempted. MoreDemand for cement remains strong
Despite the impact of the global economic crisis, China's cement output grew 13.3% year on year to 570 mt in the first five months of 2009. This is 3.3% more than the growth rate recorded in the same period last year. MoreThe screw turns on the CSU market
The principle market for high capacity continuous ship unloaders now is new coal-fired power station projects, but with increasing environmental pressure on these plants, will this market shrink? MoreSmart moves on the water
London recycling companies have used a new barge concept to test the transport of waste materials by water. MoreProgress - ecological and technical
The selection and location of overland belt conveying systems is increasingly dictated by 'green' issues. MoreODA or DOA (dead on arrival) for barges?
The UK's Olympic Development Authority (ODA) is painting a bright picture of the "green credentials" of the London 2012 Games, but it is certainly no watercolour. MoreAgribulks generate steady demand for pneumatic handling
Pneumatic handling of free flowing commodities is considered to be one of the most efficient methods of ship discharge. However, its ultimate cost effectiveness depends on a number of variable factors. MoreMore thoughts from the chain gang
Two leading flexible cable management system suppliers have come out with new data about the advantages of using their respective products. MoreMixed outlook for Southern African dry bulk
The impact of the global economic downturn on Southern Africa is clear for all to see. MoreNot all gloom in the heavy lift market
Project cargo and heavy lift shipping, by nature of the long planning, designing and construction lead times for their cargoes, enter a downward cycle long after other sectors of the shipping market. MoreBrighter outlook for world fertiliser demand?
After a period of extreme volatility and falling demand in 2008, the outlook for the international fertiliser market over the next 12 months looks far more optimistic. More