The wrath of the writedown
VANCOUVER — The mining sector has seen more than its fair share of writedowns of late.
Commodities Markets
Commentary: Juniors vulnerable to running afoul of US anti-bribery laws
Imagine this: a small mining company in Denver hires a consultant in a small African country to buy mining rights to a promising gold acreage. The company feels lucky to have hired the consultant because he is well known and connected in the…
Editorial: Brunswick takes its final bow
The iconic symbol of mining in the Maritime provinces, the Brunswick zinc-lead mine in northern New Brunswick’s Bathurst camp, is ceasing mining operations this month after 48 years and four different owners.
Finland is the No. 1 spot for mining: Fraser Institute
Finland has taken the heavyweight title as the world’s best mining jurisdiction, fending off last year’s winner, New Brunswick, which slipped to fourth behind Sweden and Alberta, the Fraser Institute reports in its annual mining…
The Wrath of the Writedown
VANCOUVER – The mining sector has seen more than its fair share of writedowns of late.
Japan and Russia powering uranium rebound
Analysts across the board are forecasting rising uranium oxide prices in 2013, underpinned by China’s drive to build a pile of new nuclear reactors. The effort is well underway with 29 units already under construction, but China is not…
Commentary: Capital cost overruns, pt. III: Where are the owners in all this?
Mining has always been a risky but high-reward industry. But times have certainly changed: today, shareholders tend to ignore the high risks, and expect grandiose success regardless. But despite the risk that won’t go away, shareholders…
Commentary: Gold mines and gravestones in the Sahara
When an African gold-mining operation ran up against unusual rock formations that according to local rumours might be human graves, a religious ruling forced mine expansion plans to be put on hold.
Tough times for drillers in early 2013
Delays to drill programs will translate into a weak first half of 2013 for drilling companies, CIBC analysts forecast in a new report.
Editorial: Gold’s mixed signals
The fickle nature of the gold market was on show in late February, as Wall Street powerhouse Goldman Sachs dramatically revised downward its 2013 gold price forecast on Feb. 25 to US$1,600 per oz. from US$1,810 per oz., citing the recent drop…
Delaney: Resource extraction to be more costly, difficult
In a speech on the state of the global mining industry, Ian Delaney, chairman of Sherritt International (S-T), stated that the world has entered an era of resource scarcity, in which most large-scale, high-grade deposits have already been…
Commentary: Approaching the sustainability trend
Companies need to continually reframe business practices in order to survive as markets, technology and expectations change. More specifically, miners need to consider the many other complexities driving the widespread and growing criticism of…