B08 Metal Ore Mining

Rio links coal exit to policy on climate

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 3-May-18

Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson has conceded that the potential impact of climate change policy on the future value of coal assets contributed to its decision to divest its thermal coal assets in New South Wales. Rio Tinto sold the Hunter Valley coal assets for $US2.69bn ($A3.58bn) in 2017. Thompson also noted at the AGM that Rio Tinto is in the process of exiting fossil fuels completely, and he highlighted the company’s progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, YANCOAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX YAL, GLENCORE PLC, AUSTRALASIAN CENTRE FOR CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, LGSS PTY LTD, CHURCH OF ENGLAND, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, UNITED STATES. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, GREAT BRITAIN. SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE

Rio Tinto climate policy resolution expected to fall short

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 1-May-18

A motion calling for Rio Tinto to review its relationship with industry groups will be put it shareholders at its AGM on 2 May. The motion has been filed by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility and has the support of investors such as HESTA and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. However, other Rio Tinto investors are expected to vote against it, and the motion is not expected to secure a majority. Nonetheless, ACCR executive director Brynn O’Brien will deem the motion to have been a success if 10 per cent of Rio Tinto’s shareholders vote for it.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALASIAN CENTRE FOR CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, HEALTH EMPLOYEES’ SUPERANNUATION TRUST AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM, LGIM, AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD

Newcrest cuts gold forecast by 10pc

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 20 : 27-Apr-18

Newcrest Mining produced 576,000 ounces of gold and 19,000 ­tonnes of copper during the March quarter, with output falling by six per cent and 15.5 per cent respectively. Newcrest has downgraded its production guidance for 2017-18, with gold output expected to be within the range of 2.25 million to 2.35 million ounces. The downgrade follows the collapse of a tailings wall dam at its Cadia mine and a sharp fall in production at the Telfer mine during the quarter. Full-year copper output is now expected to be 70,000 to 75,000 tonnes.

CORPORATES
NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

Newcrest gives up gold to replace tailings dam

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 20 : 24-Apr-18

Newcrest Mining was forced to halt operations at its Cadia mine in New South Wales after a wall in its northern tailings dam was partly breached in March. It has since resumed production, but at reduced levels, due to the limitations of its southern tailings dam. Newcrest has now been given conditional permission to dump tailings in part of its old Cadia Hill open pit mine while it looks at how best to fix the northern tailings dam. However, its decision means forgoing potential resources of up to 270,000 tonnes of unmined copper and up to three million ounces of unmined gold.

CORPORATES
NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

ACSI backs Rio lobby group review

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Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 20-Apr-18

The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility and Local Government Super will ask Rio Tinto shareholders to back a motion calling for the mining giant to review its relationship with industry groups. BHP Billiton undertook such a review after the ACCR instigated a similar push prior to its AGM in November. The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors is understood to be supportive of the ACCR’s motion at Rio Tinto’s AGM, which will be held in May. BHP’s review prompted it to leave the World Coal Association.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALASIAN CENTRE FOR CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, LGSS PTY LTD, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF SUPERANNUATION INVESTORS INCORPORATED, WORLD COAL ASSOCIATION, UNITED STATES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, GLASS LEWIS AND COMPANY LLC

BHP trims iron ore guidance due to maintenance issues

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Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 20-Apr-18

BHP Billiton’s iron ore production in the Pilbara totalled 57.6 million tonnes in the March quarter, which is eight per cent higher than the previous corresponding period. However, the resources group has advised that full-year output for 2017-18 will be within the range of 272 million to 274 million tonnes, due to the need for maintenance work on equipment that is used to unload rail cars. BHP had previously forecast full-year output of 275 million to 280 million tonnes. BHP has also indicated that it hopes to secure deals to sell its US shale assets in the second half of 2018.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED

Lean, mean Jupiter Mines returns to ASX

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Original article by William McInnes
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 19-Apr-18

Manganese producer Jupiter Mines relisted on the Australian sharemarket on 18 April, more than four years after the stock was delisted in the wake of a downturn in commodity prices. CEO Priyank Thapliyal says Jupiter had intended to return to the bourse after the completion of the Tshipi manganese mine in South Africa. He has ruled out acquisitions or taking on debt to drive the company’s growth. Jupiter shares closed at the issue price of $A0.40.

CORPORATES
JUPITER MINES LIMITED – ASX JMS

Trains give Rio’s iron ore unit a push

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Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 19-Apr-18

Rio Tinto has advised that its Pilbara iron ore shipments totalled 80.3 million tonnes in the March 2018 quarter, which is 11 per cent lower than the December quarter but five per cent higher year-on-year. The resources group still expects shipments for the full year to be within the range of 330 million and 340 million tonnes. Rio Tinto has also advised that it expects the AutoHaul autonomous train project to be completed in 2018, and says the proportion of trains that are operating in autonomous mode rose from 60 per cent to 65 per during the quarter.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, QUEENSLAND ALUMINA LIMITED, RUSAL

Rio calm as Russia sanctions hit plant

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 16-Apr-18

Rio Tinto has advised that its Queensland Alumina Limited business is unlikely to be significantly affected by a move by the US to impose trade sanctions on Russian companies. However, Rio Tinto has responded to the trade sanctions by declaring force majeure with regard to some QAL contracts. Russian companies that are affected by the sanctions include Rusal, which has a 20 per cent stake in QAL. Rio Tinto also has offtake agreements with Rusal regarding the former’s alumina smelters in France and Iceland, while Rusal also sources bauxite from Rio Tinto for its smelter in Ireland.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, QUEENSLAND ALUMINA LIMITED, RUSAL, GLENCORE PLC, LONDON METAL EXCHANGE LIMITED, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF STATE

Atlas facing wipe-out: MinRes

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 19 : 12-Apr-18

About 15,000 of Atlas Iron’s shareholders own less than $A500 worth of shares in the iron ore producer, with 4,900 owning less than $A20 worth of shares. Mineral Resources CEO Chris Ellison has urged investors with small shareholdings to support his company’s $A280m takeover bid, warning that they will be left with worthless stock if Atlas collapses. He has questioned whether Atlas can survive if the takeover deal does not proceed.

CORPORATES
ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN