B08 Metal Ore Mining

New Century aims to make treasure from MMG’s trash

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian – Page: 15 : 26-Mar-18

New Century Resources is to rehabilitate the Century zinc mine in far north Queensland, with the mine, previously owned by MMG, having ceased production in late 2015. Should the rehabilitation of the Century mine be done in a profitable manner, New Century Resources may then look to resume mining at the site, with nearby deposits having shown promise. With the share price of New Century Resources having risen by 400 per cent over the last eight months, MMG CEO Jerry Jiao says he has no regrets about the 2017 deal that saw MMG pay New Century Resources to take the mine off its hands.

CORPORATES
NEW CENTURY RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NCZ, MMG LIMITED – ASX MMG

Bribery probe clouds Rio’s Mongolia deal

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 21 : 23-Mar-18

Swiss and Mongolian authorities are investigating the origins of a $US10 million ($A12.9 million) payment into a Swiss bank account. The account belongs to former Mongolian finance minister Bayartsogt Sangajav. Bayartsogt has denied suggestions that the payment was linked to Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold project, although Swiss authorities have stated that they are investigating whether Rio or any of its business units had a role in the deposit. Rio has indicated that it has had no contact from Swiss authorities on the matter.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, IVANHOE MINES LIMITED, TURQUOISE HILL RESOURCES LIMITED, SWITZERLAND. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED – ASX WHC

No quick return from coal sale

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Original article by Richard Gluyas, Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 20 : 22-Mar-18

Citigroup expects Rio Tinto to return the bulk of the proceeds from the sale of the Hail Creek coal to shareholders, after paying about $A300m in taxes on the $US1.7bn ($A2.2bn) deal. However, Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques says the resources group is unlikely to return capital to investors before the release of its full-year report in February 2019. He stresses that Rio Tinto is divesting its coal assets because commodities such as iron ore and aluminium offer better growth options.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, PACIFIC ALUMINIUM PTY LTD

BHP content with iron ore grade boost for now

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 22-Mar-18

BHP Billiton is tipped to make an investment decision on the South Flank iron ore project in Western Australia by mid-2018. The company’s average iron ore grade is 61 per cent at present, but this would rise to 62 per cent if the project is approved. However, BHP’s Edgar Basto says that aside from South Flank, BHP is unlikely to increase its average iron ore grades in the near-term. He adds that factors such as the stronger Australian dollar and rising labour costs have contributed to an increase in the expected cost of the project.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, VALE SA

BHP to change gear at Escondida copper

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 19-Mar-18

BHP Billiton has spent $US8 billion over the last six years on improvements to Escondida, the giant copper mine in Chile in which it and Rio Tinto own stakes of 57 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. Escondida is tipped to produce between 1.13 million and 1.23 million tonnes of copper in 2018, and BHP is aiming for annual production of 1.2 million tonnes per annum over the next decade. However, the quality of the copper grade produced by Escondida is expected to decline over this period.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

Newcrest in dark on Cadia restart

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 21 : 16-Mar-18

Analysts have scaled back their 2017-18 production forecasts for Newcrest Mining’s Cadia gold mine after the company advised that it is uncertain when production will resume. Peter O’Connor of Shaw Stockbroking expects output for the fiscal year to be about 570,000 ounces following the collapse of a tailings dam wall. Full-year output at the mine had been slated to be within the range of 680,00 to 780,000 ounces. Newcrest CEO Sandeep Biswas says the cause of the incident remains unknown, and it does not appear to be linked to recent seismic activity.

CORPORATES
NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, SHAW STOCKBROKING LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA

No hurry to unwind BHP stock split: UBS

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 22 : 16-Mar-18

A report from UBS concludes that BHP Billiton would be better off retaining its dual-listed structure for now, noting that abolishing it would have implications in terms of taxes and franking credits. The firm concludes that there may be a case for scrapping the dual listing in three years’ time, when BHP has exhausted its tax credits. A recent analysis by FTI Consulting on behalf of activist hedge fund Elliott Management concluded that the financial benefits of shifting to a primary listing in Australia could be worth around $US22bn ($A28bn) for BHP.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, FTI CONSULTING INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

MCA cedes ground to BHP over climate

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 15-Mar-18

BHP Billiton may back down on its threat to withdraw from the Minerals Council of Australia after the lobby group released its revised climate policy. The MCA has been criticised by BHP for advocating coal-fired power generation, but its revised policy adopts a similar position to BHP regarding a "technology-neutral approach" to low-emission energy sources. Rio Tinto in turn has welcomed the MCA’s new policy stance and urged shareholders to reject resolutions to be put before its upcoming AGM by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALASIAN CENTRE FOR CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Mongolia anti-corruption squad seeks info from Rio unit

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 15-Mar-18

Turquoise Hill Resources has advised that the Mongolian Anti-Corruption Authority is investigating the potential abuse of power by "authorised officials" during negotiations for the Oyu Tolgoi investment agreement in 2008. Turquoise Hill, which has a 66 per cent stake in the copper mine, is in turn controlled by Rio Tinto. Turquoise Hill – which was called Ivanhoe Mines negotiations were being held – has stressed that there are no indications that Oyu Tolgoi itself is being investigated. Rio Tinto held a stake of less than 10 per cent in the company at the time.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, TURQUOISE HILL RESOURCES LIMITED, OYU TOLGOI LLC, MONGOLIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION AUTHORITY, MONGOLIAN TAX AUTHORITY, SOMO

BHP oil division stymies S&P upgrade

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 14-Mar-18

BHP Billiton has reduced its net debt by US10.5bn ($A13.3bn) since Standard & Poor’s downgraded its credit rating from "A+" to "A" in 2016. Although S&P has since upgraded BHP’s outlook from "negative" to "stable", analyst Elad Jelasko says a decline in BHP’s portfolio diversification has contributed to the lack of a credit rating upgrade. He notes that the downturn in earnings from BHP’s petroleum division has helped to offset the positive impact of the reduction in net debt. Jelasko adds that the proposed sale of BHP’s US shale assets is unlikely to affect its credit rating.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, STANDARD AND POOR’S FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA