Mining – India 1
1. Minister takes up captive mines issue 1
2. No mining allowed in forest areas, says Jairam Ramesh 3
3. No mining in forest areas: Minister 4
4. Orissa mineral reserves in 35,000 sq km forest area 4
5. Steel Ministry’s agenda for 100 days envisages strategic partership between KIOCL and NMDC 5
6. NMDC to acquire stake in Kudremukh Iron Ore 6
7. Green lobby objects to mining giant Vedanta being awarded 7
8. SAIL gets Jharkhand govt's nod for Chiria mines 7
Mining – International 8
9. 13 companies eye coal mining contracts 8
10. SA looking to implement legislation to criminalise illegal mining 9
11. Vietnam cautioned on bauxite mining 10
12. Minmetals gets go ahead to buy up most Ozminerals mines 11
13. Uranium mining firm asks for appeals court review 12
14. UPDATE 1-Yamana to sell three mines to Aura Minerals 14
Other News – India 15
15. Hon’ble Vice President of India Sh. M. Hamid Ansari felicitated Lakshmipat Singhania- IIM Lucknow, National Leadership Awards 15
16. ILO: global meltdown may aggravate child labour 17
17. Climate change could displace 25 million by 2010 18
18. Agriculture still plays role in poverty removal: World Bank study 19
19. Minister expresses concern over depleting groundwater resource 20
20. Financial crisis could lead to increase in child labour: ILO 21
Mining – India
Minister takes up captive mines issue
Staff Reporter
VISAKHAPATNAM: Minister of State for Human Resources Development D. Purandeswari has met the Union Minister for Steel Virbhadra Singh and took up with him the long-pending issue of captive mines for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
Mr. Singh told her that he would open a dialogue with the State governments concerned on the issue. He assured her that Vizag Steel Plant was on top of his priorities and he was committed to strengthening the plant.
New train
Later, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant CMD P.K. Bishnoi called on Ms. Purandeswari and discussed the issues relating to the allotment of coal and iron ore for the steel plant, including taking up joint venture projects with State Mineral Development Corporations.
Ms. Purandeswari has also met Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and sought a new train from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad in view of the increase in demand and industrial growth.
While for the four trains that originate from Visakhapatnam to the State capital, the average waitlist in a month stood at 3,385 for sleeper class, 2,250 for chair car and 434 and 420 in second and third AC categories, that during festival and other important occasions, the demand was much higher, Ms. Purandeswari pointed out. For the other trains originating at Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, the quota for Visakhapatnam was limited, she said in her representation.
The Railway Minister said that she would consider the request depending upon convenience of budgetary provisions.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/11/stories/2009061158970300.htm
Double bonanza for steel plant
Santosh Patnaik
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VSP will get navaratna status besides acquisition of Bird Group.
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VISAKHAPATNAM: The Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) – the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is all set to have double bonanza – acquisition of Bird Group of Companies and conferring of navaratna status.
The proposals made by the VSP management have received favourable response from the Ministry of Steel. The proposal to acquire Bird Group was mooted for backward integration in raw materials and improving synergies of the companies under consideration.
In its 100-day agenda, the ministry has identified RINL as a strategic partner for acquiring controlling stake in the Bird Group of Companies. “The organisational structure proposed is for Orissa Mineral Development Corporation (OMDC), Bisra Stone Lime Ltd and Eastern Investments Ltd to be subsidiaries of RINL, which would be the holding company,” official sources said on Wednesday.
OMDC has control over 110 million tonnes of iron ore reserves with an annual turnover of Rs.6,000 crores. There is also a proposal to take over Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd, which has one million tonne steel production unit in Orissa.
RINL is paying dearly towards its production cost as it is forced to shell down a heavy amount on sourcing iron ore and coking coal.
Elite club
RINL will join the elite club of navaratna companies soon after missing the recognition by a whisker when the status was conferred on National Mineral Development Corporation and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd on June 25, 2007.
Such a status on RINL would enable it to get autonomy and take its own decisions on investments up to Rs.1,000 crores.
The Vizag-based company, which is in expansion mode to double its capacity with an investment of Rs.8,600 crores, has grandiose plans to enter into joint venture with foreign firms and set up new units in collaboration with others in Chattisgarh and other States.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/11/stories/2009061158230300.htm
No mining allowed in forest areas, says Jairam Ramesh
Special Correspondent
A total ban on the activity soon in Bellary district
Jairam Ramesh
BANGALORE: In a firm stand that would put a total ban on mining in Bellary district, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday declared that no economic activity, including “illegal” mining, in forest areas anywhere in the country would be allowed.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting with senior officers of the Forest Department here, the Minister said the Centre was serious in implementing the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, to protect the ecology, environment, forests, rivers and lakes, and substantial funds would be made available for the purpose. Asked whether it would be applicable to Bellary district also, the Minister said it would be stopped there as well. Mr. Ramesh hails from Karnataka but is elected to the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh.
It may be recalled that a Bench of the Karnataka High Court, headed by Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran, had upheld the 2003 notification issued by the State government permitting mining in 34 blocks in Bellary district forests. A single judge had quashed the permission in August last year.
Yeddyurappa’s plea
Referring to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s request for clearance to the rail, road, irrigation and other major projects, the Minister made it clear that there was no question of diluting the Centre’s stand.
It was the Centre’s firm determination to strictly enforce the Forest (Conservation) Act in toto.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/11/stories/2009061159861000.htm
No mining in forest areas: Minister
Special Correspondent
BANGALORE: In a firm stand that would put a total ban on mining in Bellary district, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday declared that no economic activity, including “illegal” mining, in forest areas anywhere in the country would be allowed.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting with senior officers of the Forest Department here, the Minister said the Centre was serious in implementing the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, to protect the ecology, environment, forests, rivers and lakes, and substantial funds would be made available for the purpose. Asked whether it would be applicable to Bellary district also, the Minister said it would be stopped there as well.
It may be recalled that a Bench of the Karnataka High Court, headed by Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran, had upheld the 2003 notification issued by the State Government permitting mining in 34 blocks in Bellary district forests. A single judge had quashed the permission in August last year.
Referring to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s request for clearance to the rail, road, irrigation and other major projects, the Minister made it clear that there was no question of diluting the Centre’s stand.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/11/stories/2009061153960400.htm
Orissa mineral reserves in 35,000 sq km forest area
BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar June 11, 2009, 0:14 IST
About 35,000 square kilometer forest area in the state had mineral reserves and out of it preliminary exploration has been taken up in 31,000 square km and detail exploration work in 485 square km area, steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty told the state assembly.
He said, the total geographical area of the state is 1, 55,707 square km and it includes 58,137 square km categorized as forest land.
On another question, he said, out of scores of steel projects proposed in the state, thirty two steel plants have started partial or full production. Of these active plants, while 28 companies had signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government, there are 4 non-MoU companies.
Among the non-MoU companies, making steel in the state with a combined installed capacity of 3.71 million tonne per annum (mtpa), Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has a capacity of 1.9 mtpa and Nilachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (NINL) has an installed capacity of 1.2 mtpa. Similarly, the state-owned IDCOL Kalinga Iron Works has an installed capacity of 0.15 mtpa and Mid-East Integrated Steel Ltd (0.46 mtpa).
On the other hand, 28 MoU signing companies have attained of 4.27 mtpa steel and 0.64 mtpa blast furnace (MBF) capacity. Besides, 108 sponge iron units, which have come up in the state in recent years, have a combined capacity of 33,440 tonne per day (TPD). Overall steel making capacity in the state has reached 8.61 mtpa as reported by the companies, the minister added.
Mohanty said, sponge iron and steel plants generate revenue for the state in the form of VAT. According to the information provided by the companies 81 companies paid Rs 128.17 crore VAT during 2008-09. Similarly, these companies created 20,760 direct and 22,054 indirect employment opportunities.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/orissa-mineral-reservesin-35000-sq-km-forest-area/360717/
Steel Ministry’s agenda for 100 days envisages strategic partership between KIOCL and NMDC
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17:24 IST
The Union Minister for Steel Shri Virbhadra Singh today released here a 20 point agenda of the Ministry of Steel for the first 100 days of the government. The agenda includes a strategic partnership between Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) and National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC) in which both companies will have cross holding of each others shares with NMDC acquiring a majority stake in KIOCL. KIOCL will also acquire a stake in NMDC to benefit from the synergies between the two companies. The government also envisages setting up of joint venture companies between the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and Shipping Corporation of India, joint venture between MOIL and SAIL and a joint venture between MOIL and RINL for Ferro Alloy Plant. Releasing the agenda the Minister said, the expansion programme will be implemented in a time bound manner. Replying to a question Shri Virbhadra Singh said, there is nothing alarming on the steel price front. Minister of State for Steel Shri A Sai Prathap, Steel Secretary Shri P.K.Rastogi and other senior officers were present.
The Minister said, the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited has been identified as the strategic partner for acquiring controlling stake in the Bird group of companies. The organizational structure proposed is for Orissa Mineral Development Corporation (OMDC) and Bisra Stone Lime Company(BSLC) and Eastern Investments Limited to be subsidiaries of RINL, which would be the holding company. Efforts will be made to procure approval of Government within 3 months for restructuring of Bird Group of Companies.
The agenda said, further concerted efforts will be made for transferring Chiria Mines in the next 100 days for ensuring that the requisite formalities are completed for settling all the pending issues in favour of SAIL. The Minister further said, efforts will be made to see that Navaratna status is conferred to RINL within 100 days.
DNM/PKM
http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=49118
NMDC to acquire stake in Kudremukh Iron Ore
Jun 10 2009 2224 hrs IST , New Delhi Bookmark/Search this post with:
Tags: News By Alok Sharma Government-owned National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) will acquire a majority stake in Kudremukh Iron Ore Co (Kiocl), Union steel minister Virbhadra Singh said on Wednesday.
NMDC will acquire 51 per cent stake in Kiocl. But, the ministry is yet to decide whether Kiocl will get a minority stake in NMDC or receive cash for the stake sold.
“This partnership acquisition will ensure continuous supply of iron ore to Kiocl from NMDC. The two companies will take advantage of the synergies between them,” Singh said, while releasing his ministry’s agenda for the next 100 days. The minister asked public sector undertakings to expedite expansions and meet deadlines.
Hinting that the government-owned Steel Authority of India (SAIL) may shortly acquire four pending mining leases in Chiria (Jharkhand) iron ore mines, Singh said, “The Jharkhand government has finally responded positively and issued orders for accepting the change in ownership of the Chiria leases from Indian Iron and Steel Company (Iisco) to SAIL.”
The ministry will take steps in the next hundred days to ensure that the long-pending issue is settled in favour of SAIL. The Chiria mines are estimated to have about 2 billion tonnes of high-grade iron ore. Raw material supplies from Chiria mines are crucial for SAIL’s capacity expansion to 26 million tonnes from the present level of 14 million tonnes.
Earlier, the Jharkhand government had said the leases were awarded to (Iisco) and refused to transfer them in favour of SAIL after the latter acquired Iisco. Commenting on the possible disinvestment in steel PSUs, the minister said, “If a policy of disinvestment is approved by the government, we have some companies in mind.” He, however, did not name the companies.
The minister ruled out any immediate plan to impose anti-dumping or safeguard duty on steel imports. “As of now there is no need to impose anti-dumping or safeguard duty as the quantum of imports does not hurt the domestic industry. If need be, we will take appropriate action,” he said.
http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/nmdc-acquire-stake-kudremukh-iron-ore-392
Green lobby objects to mining giant Vedanta being awarded
Published: June 10,2009
New Delhi, June 10 A prominent UK-based charity organisation&aposs decision to confer an award on an Orissa-based plant of mining giant Vedanta for"best environmental management"has not gone down well with the green lobby which has accused the firm of violating environment laws with impunity.
However, Vedanta officials have denied the allegation, claiming that the firm has been operating within the environment norms and regulations.
Sunita Narayanan, head of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that the"award is the mockery of the system where voices of locals are not heard.
"In fact, how the environment ministry can give nod to the firm for refining and mining operations without addressing the environmental concern of the local people and tribals in the region,"she asked.
World Environment Foundation (WEF) has selected Vedanta&aposs Lanjigarh Aluminium Refinery Plant in Orissa for its Golden Peacock award to be given later this week.
When contacted Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Lanjigarh said,"The award is being given to Vedanta Aluminimum Ltd- Lanjigarh operations for environment management for one million tonnes alumina refinery for which government clearance was received in 2004.
http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/595574/National/1/20/1
SAIL gets Jharkhand govt's nod for Chiria mines
BS Reporter / New Delhi June 10, 2009, 18:53 IST
Chiria mines is estimated to have nearly 2 bn tonnes of iron ore with ferrous content of over 62%
Public sector undertaking Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), the country’s largest steel producer, could soon acquire four pending mining leases in Chiria iron ore mines of Jharkhand, union steel minister Virbhadra Singh said today.
“The government of Jharkhand has finally responded positively to a long standing request of this ministry and has issued orders for accepting the change in the ownership of the Chiria leases from IISCO to SAIL,” Singh said today. The ministry will make concerted efforts in the next hundred days to ensure that the requisite formalities are completed for settling all the pending issues in favour of SAIL.
Chiria mines is estimated to be possessing nearly 2 billion tonnes of iron ore with ferrous (iron) content of over 62 per cent. Iron ore supply from Chiria mines would be vital for the steel major expand its capacity to 26.13 million tonnes from the current 13.82 million tonnes. The iron ore rich mine is also being eyed by private firms like Arcelor Mittal which has proposed steel plant in Jharkhand.
Of the 10 mining leases that SAIL had in Chiria and Gua regions following the acquisition of erstwhile Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO), renewal of four is facing dispute while six others have got extension. Earlier Jharkhand government had maintained that the leases belonged to IISCO and cannot be transferred to SAIL.
On disinvestment in companies under the steel ministry, the minister said, “If a policy of disinvestment is approved by the government, we have some companies in mind”. He, however, declined to specify the companies in which disinvestment might be pursued.
The minister, however, ruled out any immediate plan to impose anti-dumping or safeguard duty on steel imports from China. “If the situation warrants, we will take appropriate action,” he said.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sail-gets-jharkhand-govts-nod-for-chiria-mines/64314/on
Mining – International
13 companies eye coal mining contracts
18 prospects nationwide
By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:38:00 06/10/2009
Filed Under: Mining and quarrying, Government Contracts, Government
Most Read
Other Most Read StoriesxClose thisMANILA, Philippines—The Department of Energy received a total of 25 contract proposals to explore and develop 18 prospective coal areas in the country, according to a senior government official.
Energy Undersecretary Ramon Allan Oca said the proposals were submitted under the fourth Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR) 2009 for coal, wherein a total of 30 coal contracts were offered beginning last month.
The latest coal contracting round closed on June 8.
Oca said that 13 local companies submitted their proposals, some of which were for the same contract areas. These companies, he added, were mostly new, meaning they have not participated in earlier contracting rounds.
“Proposals were mostly in Zamboanga (area),” Oca said, adding that the DOE intended to finish the technical, legal and financial evaluations of the proposals within a month. “I don’t want to take this long to avoid any doubts as to what we’re doing.”
It took the DOE almost three years to award all the contracts under the PECR 3, the previous contracting round which began in 2006.
PECR is a public bidding round aimed at encouraging companies to invest in the country’s energy sector. These contracting rounds, which showcase the country’s potential areas for exploration and development, are expected to spur investments and help cut costly oil imports as well.
Coal block systems that were offered under PECR 2009 were in Boljoon, Asturias, Carmen and Naga in Cebu; General Nakar, Polillo Island and Tagkawayan in Quezon; Cataingan, Masbate; Gubat, Sorsogon; Rapu Rapu, Albay; Caramoran, Panganiban; Viga, Catanduanes; Godod, Zamboanga del Norte; Diplahan-Buug, Diplahan, Siay, Payao and Naga in Zamboanga Sibugay; Manay and Tarragona in Davao Oriental; Bunawan, Sibagat and Trento in Agusan del Sur; Kitcharao, Gigaquit, Cagwait-Marihatag, San Agustin-Lianga and Tandag-Tago in Surigao del Sur; Sarangani and South Cotabato; and Bagumbayan and Senator Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat.
Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes had earlier assured prospective investors that the government had “undertaken a thorough process of resource evaluation to yield high exploration success that is in line with our shared goal of efficient development and production of the coal areas.”
http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20090610-209804/13-companies-eye-coal-mining-contracts
SA looking to implement legislation to criminalise illegal mining
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By: Esmarie Swanepoel
10th June 2009
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JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A South African Parliamentary committee on Wednesday proposed that the country’s mining laws be improved to include legislation that governs illegal mining.
There was currently no legislation that criminalised illegal mining. Illegal miners were charged with trespassing, which is a minor offence compared with the seriousness of the practice, Parliament’s select committee on economic development said.
Chairperson Freddie Adams said that Parliament should try to stop illegal mining, which has recently claimed more than 80 lives at gold mining company Harmony’s Eland shaft, near Welkom in the Free State.
Adams said that it was “worrying that bodies keep piling up every day”.
On June 1, Harmony found 36 dead illegal miners, but the death toll has since more than doubled to 84.
The deaths follow an apparent underground fire. It was suspected that the people died of smoke and gas inhalation.
Adams said that the committee had agreed that legislation would make it easier for law enforcers to police closed mines as it would give a clear definition of a closed mine and who was responsible for controlling access.
Harmony welcomed the news of the possible change to legislation. “It is definitely good news for us, and it shows that government is committed to work with us in solving this problem,” Harmony spokespersons Marian van der Walt told Mining Weekly Online.
She added that the company was currently in ongoing negotiations with the Mining Ministry to find solutions to the problem of illegal miners.
The Parliamentary committee was also planning to visit the Eland shaft to interact with the mine management and the workers.
Committee member Aaron Mnguni, who has worked in the mines for over 15 years, laid plain the suspicion that most illegal miners were ex-mine workers who had vast experience in mining and often conspire with security and current miners who supply them with explosives.
Mining Minister Susan Shabangu said last week that South Africa would intensify its fight against illegal mining, and described the activity as a threat to the mining industry and the country’s economy.
Earlier in the year, 20 illegal miners died in a mine near Barberton.
Edited by: Mariaan Webb
http://www.miningweekly.com/article/sa-looking-to-implement-legislation-to-criminalise-illegal-mining-2009-06-10
Vietnam cautioned on bauxite mining
DPA/Hanoi
Donors to Vietnam have called on the Vietnamese government to be cautious in a planned bauxite-mining project because it might have severe consequences for the people and environment in the pristine Central Highlands, a diplomat said yesterday. “According to our information, thousands of people will be relocated due to the mining project, so we have asked the Vietnamese government about plans for resettlement and for securing the livelihood of these people,” said the Danish ambassador to Vietnam, Peter Lysholt Hansen.
He added that international donors were also seeking assurance that the government would mitigate negative impacts on the environment.
The Norwegian ambassador to Vietnam, Kjell Storlokken, who recently visited the bauxite-mining areas, warned in a meeting of donors, called the Consultative Group for Vietnam, that Vietnam should be careful in exploiting its abundance of natural resources.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=296400&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25
Minmetals gets go ahead to buy up most Ozminerals mines
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PM - Thursday, 11 June , 2009 18:50:00
Reporter: Stephen Long
MARK COLVIN: Finally to business and finance with Stephen Long.
STEPHEN LONG: Thanks Mark.
Australia's economic custodians think China's going to save us, and today there were more encouraging signs from Beijing.
As the Government stimulus kicks in, China's spending on factories, property and roads has risen by the most in five years, according to China's stats bureau.
That's pumping up demand for Australian minerals - the price of iron ore on spot-markets has risen this month.
And for China's economy, it's countering a slump in exports. Customs Bureau figures say shipments overseas from China were down nearly 27 per cent in May, compared to the previous year.
China's finally had a win, too, in its bid to buy up Aussie resource companies.
Last week Chinalco's deal with Rio Tinto fell through.
But today China's Minmetals got the go ahead to buy up most of OZminerals' mines.
Ninety-two per cent of OZMinerals shareholders voted in favour of the $1.7 -billion offer.
Its renewed speculation that China might start buying up more resources companies.
Twiggy Forrest's Fortescue Metals saw its share price rise 20 per cent on that speculation today.
Rio was up 5.5 per cent and BHP, a more modest 1.5 per cent.
The share market was also buoyed by the jobs numbers.
Investors ignored the broader measure of labour utilisation we highlighted earlier on PM.
The market took its cue from a lower than expected fall in employment.
The ASX 200 was up just over 0.5 per cent.
It closed at 4,047 points.
The All Ords did a little better.
It was up 0.8 per cent, finishing strangely enough, the same as the top 200 index, at 4,047.
Spot gold is fetching about $US956 an ounce.
And the Aussie dollar rose a little on the jobs numbers too; traders judging that it makes the likelihood of another rates cut less likely.
A short time ago, the Aussie was being quoted at 80.09 US cents.
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2595839.htm
Uranium mining firm asks for appeals court review
By Heather Clark
A uranium mining company has asked a federal appeals court to review an April decision that a proposed uranium mine site in western New Mexico is on American Indian land.
Lewisville, Texas-based Uranium Resource Inc. said during early June it asked the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver for an “en banc review” of the decision that sided with the Environmental Protection Agency.
A 2-1 decision made on April 17 by a three-judge panel requires URI subsidiary Hydro Resources Inc. to obtain a groundwater injection permit from the Environmental Protection Agency, which delays the company’s plans to mine for uranium near Church Rock. The company already has a state groundwater injection permit.
Hydro Resources Inc. had challenged an EPA ruling that the mine site was on Indian land. The site is surrounded by the Navajo Nation.
“Our objective remains to resolve issues with the Navajo Nation regarding uranium mining in New Mexico, so we can be well positioned to begin production as quickly and as safely as possible,” URI president and chief executive, Dave Clark, said in a news release.
An en banc review would bring the case before 12 circuit court judges, but the court could always reject the request.
Rick Van Horn, vice president of URI, said the company hopes the judges will reconsider the April ruling.
“The way the opinion was written, it looked like we had a chance of doing something with it,” Van Horn said in a telephone interview from Kingsville, Texas.
If the court fails to review the case, Van Horn said his company’s plans are to obtain the EPA permit, but doing so would delay the project by six to 18 months. It is the last permit needed before mining can begin.
URI, which has a license to mine 15 million pounds of uranium, could be producing within 18 months to two years using the state groundwater injection permit it already has, he said, if the Navajo Nation would lift a ban on uranium mining.
“We would much rather settle this with the Native Americans and go forward so we can just start mining,” he said.
Many Navajos oppose renewed uranium mining in northwestern New Mexico because they suffered health and environmental problems during previous uranium mining booms in the 1960s and 1970s.
But Van Horn has maintained methods of mining have improved in recent decades and his company is committed to environmental protection and the safety of its employees.
“We continue to meet with members of the Nation and I believe we are making some progress” on resolving their concerns, he said.
A senior attorney with the Navajo Department of Justice’s Natural Resources Unit who has previously commented on the case has said the tribe wants the EPA rather than the state to have jurisdiction over groundwater at the proposed mine because the federal government has a higher obligation to protect the interests of American Indians.
Hydro Resources, which owns the surface and mineral rights, wants to inject chemicals into the ground to release uranium and pump the solution to the surface in a process called in-situ leaching.
The company had sought a permit from New Mexico in 2005 to operate the mine, but the state asked the EPA to make a decision on the status of the land.
Hydro Resources has argued the site, known as Section 8, isn’t legally part of the Navajo reservation and is private land. But the appellate panel determined that the EPA was correct in designation the land as Indian Country.
The Church Rock chapter was set aside by the federal government, which bought land from the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad Company in the 1920s and gave some parcels to individual Navajos and placed others into a trust for the Navajo Nation.
http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6698&Itemid=109
UPDATE 1-Yamana to sell three mines to Aura Minerals
Wed Jun 10, 2009 8:43am EDT
* Deal transforms Aura into an intermediate gold producer
* Aura to pay $200 mln for the three mines (All figures in U.S. dollars, unless noted)
TORONTO, June 10 (Reuters) - Yamana Gold (YRI.TO) said it has agreed to sell three of its non-core operating mines in Brazil and Honduras to exploration and development company Aura Minerals (ORA.TO) in a deal worth about $200 million (C$181.8 million).
The deal, announced late on Tuesday, transforms Aura into an intermediate gold producer with estimated average annual production of 220,000 ounces.
"The acquisition of these producing gold mines provides immediate cash flow from stable jurisdictions and fits ideally with our strategy of growth in the Americas," Chief Executive Patrick Downey said.
The mines being acquired by Aura are the San Andres Mine in Honduras and the Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente Mines in Brazil. The deal will close in two parts to accommodate jurisdiction-related regulatory requirements.
The $200 million deal includes about $90 million cash, $70 million in deferred cash payments and $40 million in Aura common shares.
The sale of these non-core assets will reduce Yamana's overall cash operating costs. ($1= $1.81 Canadian) (Reporting by Euan Rocha, editing by Maureen Bavdek)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSN1042452620090610
Other News – India
Hon’ble Vice President of India Sh. M. Hamid Ansari felicitated Lakshmipat Singhania- IIM Lucknow, National Leadership Awards
Press ReleasesJune 11th, 2009 2 views
Tags: Hamid Ansari, IIM,Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow,New Delhi, Vigyan Bhawan
New Delhi, June 11, 2009: The JK Organization one of the leading business groups in India in association with the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, one of the top management institutes in India, successfully conferred this years most awaited business award ceremony the ‘Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow, National Leadership Awards’- 2008 at Vigyan Bhawan, with lot of Sophistication and Style. The awards are the platform for most well known visionaries, innovators and leaders who have achieved global recognition through outstanding contribution and exemplary achievements in their field. The awards comprising of a trophy and citation was given to an outstanding Leader and Young Leader in three diverse categories Science & Technology, Business and Community Service. The Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri. M. Hamid Ansari felicitated the awards to credit the iconic personalities of the year.
The awardees in the three different categories were:
Science & Technology:
* Leader Award – Mr. G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO
* Young Leader Award- Dr. B.K. Das, Scientist, DRDO
Business Category:
* Leader Award – Mr. Anand Mahindra, VC & MD, Mahindra & Mahindra
* Young Leader Award-Mr. Gautam Thapar, Chairman, Ballarpur Industries
Community Service:
* Leader Award – Dr. Tulasi Munda, Social Activist
* Young Leader Award – Sh. Ravi Rebbapragada, Social Activist
The eminent jury members of the awards are Shri. K.C. Pant, Shri. Arun Bharat Ram, Shri. V. Krishnamurthy, Ms. Shobhana Bhartia, Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Shri.S. S Kohli and Shri. H.K. Dua, which is supported by a panel of Advisory committee consisting of eminent personalities from the concerned field. The awardees have been chosen on the parameters like excellence of work, high personal values and ethics, innovation and establishing balance of forces operating in their respective field.
Shri. H.S. Singhania, Chairman, JK Organisation, states, “Lakshmipat Singhania-IIM, Lucknow National Leadership Awards are already established and have gained prominence as an apt benchmark of Leadership talent across various segments in our country.
Shri Lakshmipat Singhania was a visionary, a pioneer, an entrepreneur, an outstanding leader and a humanitarian. He considered education, to be essential for Indian Industry and business to grow and develop, not only domestically but also globally. He strongly believed that the role of a leader is to recognize, encourage and unleash Creativity and Energy. It is therefore appropriate that these awards carry his name.”
Dr. Devi Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Management – Lucknow, states, “IIML’s mission is to be a global, socially conscious and integrated school of management. We place high importance on human values and professional ethics and have set up specialized centers including a center for Leadership and Human values. Therefore we at IIML feel that in addition to educating and grooming future leaders, due recognition of those who have set benchmarks for the current and future generations is also one of our paramount duty. We truly feel the recipients of this will pass on their legacies to the next generation and make India proud.”
Some of the iconic personalities, who in the last three years have been bestowed with this houour, are Shri. Ratan Tata, Dr N. R. Narayana Murthy, Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla (Business), Dr R. A. Mashelkar, Prof. C. N. R. Rao, Dr. K. Kasturirangan (Science & Technology), Smt Ela R Bhat and Shri Rajendra Singh, Dr. S.S. Badrinath (Community Service & Social Upliftment), besides Young Leaders such as Smt. Mallika Srinivasan and Shri Kishore Biyani, (Business), Shri. Shirish B. Purohit, Dr. Swati A. Piramal, (Science & Technology) and Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Smt. Neelima Khetan (Community Service & Social Upliftment) are amongst the winners.
About Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow
The Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow is celebrating 2009 as their Silver Jubilee year. This prestigious management institute was conceived 24 years ago with a mandate to help improve the management of corporate and non-corporate sectors and public system; is one of the top rated management institutions in the country. In line with today’s requirements the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIML) is in the business of producing, grooming and nurturing leaders, renaissance architects and change maestros through its basket of world class academic, research, training and consulting initiatives.
About JK Organisation
The J.K. Organisation, founded over 100 years ago, is one of the most eminent industrial groups in India. The group has multi-business, multi-product and multi-location operations. The JK Organisation, with an annual turnover of about USD 2.5 billion (about Rs.12, 300 cr) has an exports span over 70 countries across 6 continents. With its operations spread in almost every state of India, the Group employs over 30,000 people. It is recognized as a dynamic force that is playing a key role in the resurgence of India as a business power worldwide. It has set-up and supported a number of Educational, Medical and Social Institutions causes.
http://press-releases.techwhack.com/37595-hamid-ansari-2
ILO: global meltdown may aggravate child labour
Aarti Dhar
NEW DELHI: The global financial crisis could push an increasing number of children, particularly girls, into child labour, according to a new report issued by the International Labour Office. It has been released to mark the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12.
The report, “Give Girls a Chance: Tackling Child Labour – a key to the future,” notes that while recent global estimates indicate that the number of children involved in child labour has been falling, the financial crisis threatens to erode this progress.
Family preference
The danger of girls being forced into child labour is linked to families in many countries giving preference to boys when making decisions on children’s education. Because of the increase in poverty, as a result of the crisis, poor families with a number of children may have to choose which children stay home on being taken out of school.
They are then likely to enter the workforce at an early age, says the report.
Other factors include cuts in national education budgets, and a decline in migrant labourers’ remittances, which often helped to keep children in school.
The most recent global estimate has indicated that more than 100 million girls are involved in child labour, and many are exposed to some of its worst forms, says the report.
Girls face a number of problems. Much of the work they undertake is hidden from public view and so they are exposed to danger. Girls make up the overwhelming number of children engaged in domestic work in third-party households. There are regular reports of abuse of domestic workers.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/11/stories/2009061155060900.htm
Climate change could displace 25 million by 2010
Bonn (IANS): By next year - that's how soon around 25-50 million people will be displaced by climate change as it unleashes more natural disasters and affects farm output, says a senior UN researcher. Northern India will be among the worst affected in the long term.
"Climate change will displace 25-50 million people by next year. The situation will be the worst in the poorer countries," says Koko Warner of the UN University's Institute for Environment and Human Security.
"Most people will seek shelter in their own countries while others (will) cross borders in search of better odds.
"Societies affected by climate change may find themselves locked into a downward spiral of ecological degradation, towards the bottom of which social safety nets collapse while tensions and violence rise."
Ms. Warner has just completed a study on climate-induced migration in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Columbia University, the World Bank and the NGO CARE.
Ms. Warner and her colleagues have been pushing delegates from 182 countries gathered here for a meeting June 1-12 to include migration among the issues they consider as they prepare for a climate summit in Copenhagen this December.
"As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural hazards such as cyclones, floods and droughts, the number of temporarily displaced people will rise," Ms. Warner told IANS in an interview.
"This will be especially true in countries that fail to invest now in disaster risk reduction and where the official response to disasters is limited."
Her study confirms that 'glacier melt' will affect major agricultural systems in Asia. As the storage capacity of glaciers declines, short-term flood risks increase. The consequences of glacier melt would threaten food production in some of the world's most densely populated regions.
In 2000, the river basins of the Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Yangtze, and Huang He collectively supported 1.4 billion people, almost a quarter of the world's population.
Himalayan glaciers are already in retreat. Their dependence on glacier runoff makes downstream populations particularly vulnerable to the consequences, Ms. Warner pointed out. The Ganga irrigates 17.9 million hectares in northern India.
"The potential for migration out of irrigated areas could be significant," Ms. Warner added.
"Although destination areas are hard to predict, it is likely that most migrating or displaced people would move to small to medium sized cities inland, and a smaller number would move to large megacities along the coasts or on the main branches of river systems, like Delhi. Many South Asian cities lack the capacity to absorb significant migration streams."
However, Ms. Warner said: "There is potential for significant water saving efficiencies in irrigated areas of Asia, and if properly implemented this may forestall displacements of farmers.
Ms. Warner said in the densely populated Ganga, Mekong and Nile river deltas, a sea level rise of one metre could affect 23.5 million people and reduce the land currently under intensive agriculture by at least 1.5 million hectares.
A sea level rise of two metres would impact an additional 10.8 million people and render at least 969,000 more hectares of agricultural land unproductive.
"Many people won't be able to flee far enough to adequately avoid the negative impacts of climate change," the researcher warned, "unless they receive support."
But she said, "Sensationalist warnings must not be permitted to trigger reactionary policies aimed at blocking the movement of environmental refugees without genuine concern for their welfare."
Countries attending this preparatory meeting are grappling with how much money each will get to adapt to climate change.
"Remember that people displaced by the chronic impacts of climate change, like inadequate rainfall and sea level rise, will require permanent resettlement," Ms. Warner said.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200906101451.htm
Agriculture still plays role in poverty removal: World Bank study
BS Reporter / New Delhi June 10, 2009, 15:32 IST
Agriculture, whose share in India’s output is shrinking because of higher growth in services sector, is still cited as major reason for people in rural areas to come out of poverty, said a World Bank study.
The study, which covered 300 villages across four states, shows that 20 per cent of people who have come out of poverty in one decade up to 2005 cited agriculture as the reason.
However non- agricultural jobs contributed the most in bringing people out of poverty. “Agriculture plays a role in moving people out of poverty provided benefits of government schemes reaches and also access to farm markets,” said Soumya Kapoor, a consultant with social development unit of the World Bank.
Significantly only 2 per cent of people who moved out of poverty between 1995- 2005 cited migration and remittances as a reason.
The study is based on a perception survey covering 30,000 individuals. That is people are asked to define poverty instead of a pre-determined income level used in government estimate. So the estimates of poverty are subjective perceptions of people being interviewed.
Based on perceptions, World Bank has coined a term called, “Community Poverty Line (CPL)” based on how people defined poverty. The study indicates that 81 per cent of them put CPL above the official poverty line.
Another interesting finding is that people perceive responsive local government can aid mobility, but benefits may be captured by a few.
Though role of local democracy played a positive role in determining movement out of poverty in the four states surveyed, who had access to the state resources was determined by other factors.
For example, caste played a major role in Uttar Pradesh as to who had access to government resources. In West Bengal it was political membership.
Economic power determined who gained in Assam. “In government schemes, the number of people applying are more than allocated number, so political connections matter as to who receive the benefits,” said Deepa Narayan, editor and project director for the study titled, “Moving out of poverty”.
As to why people fall into poverty, the study found out that it’s mainly due to two shocks- health and social. Sudden illness resulting in huge medical expenditure or loss of earning member in the family or selling land during marriages are classified as health or social shocks.
“In sum our evidence reiterates the importance of health insurance and other safety net programs to arrest declines into poverty and destitution. Norms and practices around social expenditure also need to be addressed by policy makers and the middle class,” the report said.
In particular, Kapoor said government should look at asset creation as a tool to eliminate poverty as it seems to have larger benefit. At present, most state-run schemes like NREGS are oriented towards consumption expenditure.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/agriculture-still-playsrole-in-poverty-alleviation-world-bank-study/64283/on
Minister expresses concern over depleting groundwater resource
11 Jun 2009, 0405 hrs IST, TNN
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LUCKNOW: Experts, on the occasion of Ground Water Day, expressed grave concern over the fast depletion of groundwater level all over the country.
They warned that until and unless remedial measures are taken, water crisis would pose a grave danger to the existence of mankind.
Speaking at a seminar on `Challenges of ground water management and need of evolving an alternate system', minister of state, minor irrigation and ground water (independent charge) Lakhiram Nagar said that the pace with which the underground water was being exploited posed a danger to the life in general and mankind in particular. "Since agriculture, drinking water and industrial units largely depend on groundwater, therefore there is a need to conserve water." He has called upon the experts and government officers to formulate a comprehensive water management policy.
The minister while expressing concern over the extinction of ponds in urban as well as rural areas of the state said that the concrete constructions and metalled roads had also adversely affected water recharging. He has directed the concerning officers to free ponds from encroachments.
Chief secretary Atul Kumar Gupta said that 138 development blocks in the state were experiencing water crisis. The indiscriminate ground water exploitation and lack of water recharging facilities was also aggravating the problem.
JM Gupta, a former superintending engineer in the irrigation department while delivering a lecture on `Rain water harvesting in urban areas' spoke about the latest techniques available in effective water management. He said that rain water harvesting was the best technique for conservation and recharge of ground water. Senior scientists of Remote Sensing Application Centre, officers of Central Ground Water Board, Geological Survey of India and state Ground Water Board also expressed their views on the need of water recharging.
Vice-chairman of Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) Mukesh Kumar Meshram has appealed to the denizens of Lucknow to make arrangement of rain water harvesting system in their buildings so that the depleted ground water table could be controlled. He has directed the concerning officers to issue notices to the owners of buildings (having a constructed area of more than 300 sq mt) who have not as yet installed rain water harvesting systems.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Minister-expresses-concern-over-depleting-groundwater-resource/articleshow/4642227.cms
Financial crisis could lead to increase in child labour: ILO
10 Jun 2009, 2303 hrs IST, PTI
NEW DELHI: The global financial crisis could push an increasing number of children in several countries including India into child labour, according
to a new report issued by ILO.
The report entitled 'Give girls a chance: tackling child labour, a key to future', notes that while the recent estimates indicate the number of children involved in child labour has been falling, the financial crisis threatens to erode this progress.
The report said "the danger of girls being forced into child labour is linked to evidence that in many countries families give preference to boys when making a decision on educating children."
According to the organisation, more than 100 million girls are involved in child labour across the globe.
It states that because of the increase in poverty as a result of the crisis, poor families with a number of children may have to make choices as to which children stay in school.
Without naming any particular country, the report further said that in cultures in which higher value is placed on education of the male child, girls risk being taken out of school, and are then likely to enter the workforce at an early age.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4641695.cms
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