Headline news... Peabody approves mine expansion
Peabody Energy has approved expansion of the Wilpinjong thermal coal mine in New South Wales, which is expected to increase production by 2 to 3 mtpa beginning in 2012. MoreContinental signs coal supply agreement with EDF Trading
South African focused coal company Continental Coal has signed an off-take and funding agreement with EDF Trading. MorePetmin to double Somkhele coal capacity
JSE- and AIM-listed multi-commodity company Petmin Limited has announced that its Board has approved capital expenditure of R120M for the construction of the second coal processing plant at its Somkhele mine in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. MoreAfrican Minerals inks US$45M infrastructure deal
African Minerals, the mineral exploration and development company with significant iron ore interests in Sierra Leone, West Africa, has entered into a binding Term Sheet with Cape Lambert Resources (CFE) regarding the development of the Marampa rail and Pepel Port infrastructure that will service CFE's planned iron ore mine at Marampa. MoreXstrata Coal recommences Queensland growth projects
Xstrata Coal is to recommence A$186M of planned investment into key Queensland growth initiatives, including early works and exploration activities associated with its Rolleston West, Sarum and Wandoan Coal projects. MoreUkrainian steel makers to merge
Ukrainian mining and steel producing company Metinvest Group has announced it is to combine its assets with Ukrainian steelmaker Ilyich Steel Plant. MoreRio Tinto approves funding for Pilbara expansion
Rio Tinto has announced US$200M funding to prepare for the expansion of its iron ore operations in Western Australia. MoreDrax to convert to biomass
Drax Group, the owners of the UK's largest power station, is to begin engineering design work on one of its coal-fired generating units to demonstrate full conversion to biomass. MoreAfrican Minerals in US$1.5B deal
African Minerals Limited, the mineral exploration and development company with iron ore and base metal interests in Sierra Leone, has signed a binding memorandum of understanding with Shandong Iron & Steel Group (SISG) in respect of AML's flagship iron ore project at Tonkolili and the related infrastructure projects. MoreNew alliance for dry-bulk handling
Logmarin Advisors have joined forces with Bedeschi and Liebherr to form a new strategic business alliance. MoreEssar to mechanise multi-user berth at Paradip
India's Essar Bulk Terminal Paradip (EBTP) has signed a licence agreement with the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) to mechanise the multi-user berth to handle 16 mt of dry and bulk cargo annually. MoreAllison announces upgrade
Allison has extended its 6000 series fully automatic transmissions with the 6620 transmission. MoreUkraine expands iron ore exports
Ukraine increased its iron ore export during Q1 2010 by 3.6mt or 53% y/y to 7.55 mt, including 4.87 mt by sea (up 57% y/y). Data from the domestic ore producers' association UkrRudProm shows that export of iron-ore concentrate grew by 85% to 3.25 mt, pellets by 13.3% to 2.54 mt, sintering ore by 40% to 1.32 mt and agglomerate from 0 to 439,000t. MoreBig industry bid for Qld coal rail
A consortium of 13 Queensland coal producers has lodged a A$4.85B cash offer for the state's coal rail network, in what it hopes will be "an offer too good to refuse". MoreMore Hybrilift cranes from Mantsinen
Finland-based Mantsinen has extended its range of ropeless, hydraulic cranes using its energy-saving HybriLift drive system. MoreRUD-Erlau launches new TPC range
Germany-based RUD-Erlau, a leading tyre protection chain (TPC) and traction chain specialist, has introduced the type TORO X19, aimed at lowprofile loaders. MoreKumba looks for iron ore resolution
South African mining company Kumba Resources and ArcelorMittal South Africa are in dispute over a long-term iron ore supply contract. MoreRussians disembark in Normandy port
UralChem, one of Russia's leading mineral fertilisers producers, is extending its operations into the global market. The company's ambitious plan includes exporting its manures via Latvia and France to further destinations. MoreTaxing times for Oz projects
The Australian Government's decision to impose a 40% Resources Super Profits Tax has thrown a number of major mining projects into possible doubt as developers review the likely impact and the industry ramps up a campaign of opposition. MoreVale looks to Guinea
Despite ongoing political uncertainty in the West African state of Guinea, Vale has committed itself to the development of vast iron ore concessions in the country. MoreNew shiploader to boost Oz export capacity
The successful transportation and installation on Berth 2 of a new 51mhigh shiploader at Queensland's Abbot Point Coal Terminal represents an important milestone in the terminal's stage 3 (X50) expansion. MoreMaputo to tackle transport problems
The government of Mozambique has announced that it is to publish details of its plan to transport coal out of Tete Province for export. MoreChina steel mills to strike separate ore deals
China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) will allow steel mills to sign individual supply contracts with foreign miners, as it seemed to abandon efforts to preserve annual pricing that for months had appeared doomed. MoreHanjin in $162M transport deal
South Korea's Hanjin Shipping has won a contract worth US$156.2M from Korea Midland Power Co to transport 19.5 mt of coal until 2025 using an owned Panamax bulker. More
Feature articles
China's coal hunger to put a floor under prices
With China's dominance of the global coal market unchallenged, what are the issues affecting its domestic coal industry? MoreEnclosed belts in the ascendancy
Although there will always be a place for traditional overland belt conveyors, enclosedbelt systems are increasingly being specified where environmental protection assumes high priority or where there is a need to protect material from the weather. MoreGetting the measure of bulk materials
Inspection services carried out on dry bulk cargoes not only gauge consistency and quality but often, in the case of large tonnages loaded to or from ships, total weight as well - as a means of verifying the value of the bulk consignment. Here we report on the latest methodology in the quest to obtain a representative sample. MoreCoal shortage blamed on inadequate transportation
Substantial investment must be made in China's infrastructure if the logistical challenges of moving coal within the country are to be overcome. MoreMobile harbour cranes down, but not out
Last year was hardly a vintage year for mobile harbour cranes (MHCs), and the sector suffered along with many other materials handling equipment sectors because of the global economic downturn. MoreAutomation for large-scale dust control
Effective dust control is an important issue when handling bulk materials, not least because of tighter regulatory standards. Here we take a look at some of the dust suppression solutions available. MoreDifferent approaches to compliance
As from January 2011, EU Stage 3b, US-EPA Tier 4 interim (T4i) and Japan MLIT Step 4 emission regulations will apply to nonroad mobile machinery (NRMM) engines across the power range 130-515 kW (174-751 hp). MoreKrishnapatnam - the largest port on India's horizon?
The development of India's ports and infrastructure is crucial if the country is to be able to handle the forecast rise in its coal imports. MoreDrumming up new business
Manufacturers of stockyard handling systems are still maintaining active order books - both in the main stream coal and iron ore markets and also for specialised applications. MoreRail projects gather steam
The global recession hit rail companies hard, as demand for bulk commodities such as coal was affected. But green shoots of recovery are now appearing, with many rail companies announcing new haulage contracts. MoreUncertain future for UK coal market
Following several years of stability and steady growth, the UK coal market is entering a period of uncertainty as power generators await government guidelines on future energy policies. MoreStrengthening outlook for aluminium
Last year was a tough one for the global commodity markets and the aluminium industry was no exception. MoreIndia's coal imports set to double on power demand
Lower than expected domestic production has seen India rely more on overseas coal, a trend that is likely to continue, say market observers. MoreIndian project developments
To quench the thirst of Asian steel makers, Japan and more recently China during recent decades, iron ore exports from India have grown, requiring large scale mechanised handling facilities at major ports such as Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Mormugao. MoreBiomass grabs the markets' attention
Increasing demand for biomass handling for power generation could herald a new market opportunity for grab manufacturers. MoreOntario looks to biomass
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is currently considering how it can develop a supply chain to convert several of its coal-fired plants to biomass burning units. MoreAWB doubles grain train fleet
Australian agribusiness AWB has commissioned construction of 90 additional grain wagons, which will more than double its fleet of the 68t capacity rail wagons. MoreProjects under way in Eastern Baltic
Despite the global economic crisis, a number of projects in Baltic sea ports have gone ahead. In Liepaja, Cemex, the world's third largest cement producer, based in Mexico, and Liepajas Osta (LO), the biggest stevedore in the port, have officially opened a new cement terminal with a capacity of 550,000 tpa. MoreLoading up the market
The commodity boom generated a race to increase export capacities and while the peak may have passed, there is still significant demand for ship loading systems. MoreCargotec books more Siwertell CSUs
MacGregor, part of Finland's Cargotec engineering group, has reported a number of new orders for bulk handling equipment. More
