B08 Metal Ore Mining

BHP’s Henry slams Grylls over mining tax plan

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Original article by Julie-anne Sprague
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 23-Sep-16

It is estimated that the iron ore levy proposed by Western Australian National Party leader Brendon Grylls would raise about $A1.5bn each year. Grylls wants to increase the state levy from $A0.25 per tonne to $A5. BHP Billiton executive Mike Henry argues that the resources giant already pays a levy of about $A5 per tonne, adding that it paid total taxes of around $A17.50 for each tonne of iron ore it produced in 2015. Henry warns that capital investment and dividends would be affected by Grylls’ proposal.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, REACHTEL PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE

Explorers splash cash as prices improve

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 22-Sep-16

Data from accounting firm BDO shows that Australian-listed resources companies spent an average of $A418,000 on exploration in the June 2016 quarter. This is 16 per cent higher than in the March quarter, and represents the first quarterly increase in more than two years. The median exploration budget of small explorers increased from $A91,000 to $A115,000. There was also a large increase in the number of resources groups that raised at least $A10m from investors during the quarter.

CORPORATES
BDO CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND ADVISERS, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENTISTS

BHP expects $79b in Brazil claims to fall

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 22-Sep-16

The 2015-16 annual report of BHP Billiton shows that the five biggest legal claims arising from the Samarco tailings dam disaster in Brazil total 194.5 billion real ($A79.04bn). Project operator Samarco is the subject of more than 23,000 claims for damages and compensation, and joint venture partners BHP and Vale will be liable for any payouts that cannot be financed by Samarco itself. BHP anticipates that the final cost of compensation payouts will be much lower than the value of the claims that have been received to date.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA, VALE SA

BHP faces fight over $1bn tax bill

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Original article by Ben Butler
The Australian – Page: 19 & 27 : 21-Sep-16

BHP Billiton CFO BHP Peter Beaven has defended the resources group’s use of a Singapore marketing hub, describing it as a "legitimate, stand-alone business". BHP states in its annual tax transparency report that it has received a revised tax assessment of $A537m from the Australian Taxation Office for 2009 to 2013. It had previously been issued with a revised tax bill regarding its Singapore operations of $A362m, covering the years 2003 to 2008. The ATO has also ordered BHP to pay an additional $A117m in minerals resource rent tax for 2013.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, STEIN INSURANCE, APPLE INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Big gains from small Pilbara changes

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 19-Sep-16

The Gina Rinehart-backed Roy Hill iron ore project shipped its first iron ore from the Pilbara in late 2015. The use of technology is a key feature of the $A10bn project. Amongst other things, it uses drones to undertake surveying work, and it is trialling automated truck refuelling technology. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have deployed driverless trucks at their Pilbara mines, but Roy Hill Holdings Barry Fitzgerald says the company does not think the technology has a sufficient cost benefit.

CORPORATES
ROY HILL HOLDINGS PTY LTD, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL

Resource stocks in vogue again on back of China hopes

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Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 19-Sep-16

The uncertain outlook for the Chinese economy weighed on both commodity prices and resources stocks earlier in 2016. However, Australia’s resources sector is back in favour with investors, amid growing optimism about the Chinese economy. Whitehaven Coal has gained 250 per cent in the year to date, while pure-play iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group has risen by 164 per cent.

CORPORATES
WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED – ASX WHC, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, SYRAH RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX SYR, OROCOBRE LIMITED – ASX ORE, GALAXY RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GXY, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD, REGAL FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32

Fortescue shares sink as Vale deal stalls

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Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 15-Sep-16

Vale’s Peter Poppinga says a proposed iron ore blending joint venture with Fortescue Metals Group is unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2016. He says negotiations between the two groups are taking longer than anticipated, with the pricing of their iron ore products believed to be a key issue. Fortescue CEO Nev Power has been more upbeat, suggesting in July that the deal could be finalised in the near-term. Fortescue shares have gained 153 per cent so far in 2016.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, VALE SA, BLOOMBERG LP

Tighter supply means iron ore won’t fall to $US30: investors

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 15-Sep-16

Colonial First State Global Asset Management’s Todd Warren notes that a number of factors have contributed to lower-than-expected iron ore supply in 2016. However, he says the most bearish forecasts for the iron ore price are unlikely to be realised. The price of the steel input has retreated in recent weeks, although it has remained above $US50 per tonne for most of the last six months. Citigroup forecasts that the iron ore price will average $US45/tonne in 2017.

CORPORATES
COLONIAL FIRST STATE GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INCORPORATED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA

FMG closer to investment grade rating

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 14-Sep-16

Pure-play iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group will repay $US700m ($A925m) worth of debt that is scheduled to mature in 2019. This will cut its debt obligations for 2019 to just $US2.88bn. Fortescue repaid $US2.9bn of debt in 2015-16, and the latest move will reduce its interest costs by $US26 a year. Peter O’Connor of Shaw & Partners expects Fortescue to further reduce its debt in the current financial year. Fortescue’s credit rating remains below investment grade, and Matthew Moore of Moody’s has ruled out a re-rating at present.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

BHP eyes coal-fired station to ease shortage

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Original article by Rebecca Puddy
The Australian – Page: 6 : 13-Sep-16

BHP Billiton is the biggest user of electricity in South Australia, and a spokesman says it is considering a range of options for its electricity requirements in the near-term. This could potentially include resuming production at Alinta Energy’s mothballed coal-fired Northern Power Station in Port Augusta. BHP could also consider the construction of a combined-cycle gas turbine to meet the energy needs of its Olympic Dam mine.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ALINTA ENERGY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, FLINDERS POWER PTY LTD, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES