22-06-09

Mining – India 1
1. Tribals up in arms against acquisition of land 1
2. NALCO’s power unit commissioned 2
3. Nalco cuts storage of explosives at bauxite mines 3
4. Villagers reiterate stand on land for Posco unit 3
5. Neyveli Lignite to invest Rs40,000 crore by 2017 news 4
6. Detailed analysis of iron ore sector in India 6
7. Sesa Goa's recent acquisition at right time 8
8. Mining finally comes to a halt in Panchkula 9
Mining – International 10
9. South Africa Seeks Meetings With Anglo, Xstrata CEOs (Update1) 10
10. Second weekend of death at SA’s biggest gold mine 11
11. Colorado's Summit County again seeks ban on uranium mining and cyanide 12
12. URANIUM DEAL: Uranium One buys into mine in Kazakhstan 13
Other News – India 14
13. Tiger census shows a positive trend 14
14. Indian schoolchildren take 'child labour challenge' 15
15. Govt gets ready to take a fresh look at land issues 16
16. Only 750 nomadic students to enter prestigious schools 17
17. Climate change policy: youth to suggest modifications 18

Mining – India
________________________________________________________________________

Tribals up in arms against acquisition of land
G. Nagaraja
Attempts to survey the lands for acquisition stalled
________________________________________
An extent of 10,000 ha of unreserved forest land being acquired
Mining activity is depriving tribals of their livelihood in Khammam and West Godavari
________________________________________
ELURU: The Andhra Pradesh government’s move to take over the lands of tribals in the agency of West Godavari district to an extent of 10,000 ha and hand over the same to the Forest Department for development of reserve forest in Illendu area in Khammam district is being met with stiff resistance from Kondareddis of Buttayagudem and Polavaram mandals.
Backed by the CPI-ML (New Democracy), strong groups of Kondareddis stalled the attempts by the Revenue authorities to survey the lands for acquisition a few days ago in Gummuluru and Gogimilli villages in Buttayagudem mandal. Finally, the surveyors were forced to retreat from the fields.
According to information, an extent of 10,000 ha of unreserved forest land under the enjoyment of Kondareddis, still considered a primitive tribe, falling under Geddapalli, Munduluru and Puliramannagudem in Polavaram and Buttayagudem mandals, was being acquired for development of forest land.
The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) was reported to have found rich coal deposits in the thick reserve forests in Illendu area and the Forest Department insisted on the government compensating the loss of reserve forests due to mining by Singareni Collieries.
The district administration was learnt to have received instructions from the State government to make up for the loss in the agency area of West Godavari district.
K. Sudhakar, secretary of the district unit of the CPI-ML (New Democracy), said the mining activity was depriving the tribals of their livelihood in both Khammam and West Godavari districts.
Displacement
Claiming that his party was not against coal mining, he regretted that a large number of tribals were getting displaced and forced to lose their properties due to the Indirasagar project and the mining activity. Mr. Sudhakar said the use of agency lands for mining would run counter to the Forest Rights Act which was aimed at safeguarding the interests of tribals.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/22/stories/2009062258790700.htm
________________________________________________________________________

NALCO’s power unit commissioned
Staff Reporter
BHUBANESWAR: National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) on Sunday said it had commissioned its ninth Unit of 120 MW capacity of its Captive Power Plant located in Angul district.
“With this the total capacity of its 960 MW Captive Power Plant has gone up to 1080 MW. When the 10th unit of 120 MW capacity will be commissioned under the second phase expansion, the total capacity of Captive Power Plant will further go up to 1200 MW,” the company said.
Terming it as important step forward in implementation of Rs 4,400 crore-worth second phase expansion programme, the Navratna Company said “the synchronisation of ninth unit of 120 MW of captive power plant marks a significant achievement in commissioning activities of NALCO’s second phase expansion projects.
Commissioning activities of other units like bauxite mines, alumina refinery and aluminium smelter plant are also going on simultaneously.”
NALCO said the power plant acted as lifeline for company’s aluminium smelter plant, (located close by) and its capacity was also being increased from 3,45,000 tonnes to 4,60,000 tonnes.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/22/stories/2009062254900200.htm

________________________________________________________________________

Nalco cuts storage of explosives at bauxite mines

BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar June 22, 2009, 0:17 IST

As part of its strategy to strengthen security measures following the attack by Naxalites on its bauxite mines located at Panchpatmali in Koraput district, the public sector National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has decided to reduce storage of explosives in the magazine house located in the mines area. Accordingly, the stock of explosive materials such as booster-explosives, which was around 21.75 tonnes just one month before the naxalite attack, has been cut to 2.25 tonnes.

Similarly, the stock of column explosives has been brought down from 10.12 tonnes to 1.15 tonnes. The stock of ammonia nitrate has also been brought down from 3.95 tonnes to 0.70 tonnes.

Besides, the stock-holding has been reduced to one tenth of the previous period. This became possible due to the decision of the company to keep stocks sufficient only for 4 to 5 days.

Though it is expected to put additional pressure on the company's logistics system, Nalco has geared up its traffic department to handle the explosives movement efficiently. Reduction in stockpile of explosive will considerably minimize the threat perception for future.

Meanwhile, Nalco has taken a number of steps to augment security arrangements in the mines and refinery complex at Damanjodi. The strength of Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) has been increased from 417 to 682 and more bullet proof jackets with helmets were arranged for security personnel.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nalco-cuts-storageexplosives-at-bauxite-mines/361728/

________________________________________________________________________

Villagers reiterate stand on land for Posco unit
21 Jun 2009, 2257 hrs IST, TNN

KENDRAPADA: Hundreds of anti-land acquisition protesters from Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadakujang gram panchayats in Jagatsinghpur district reiterated
their "vow not to give an inch of land" to Posco for its proposed 12-million tonne plant near the port town of Paradeep.

They gathered on the seaside near Dhinkia to observe the first death anniversary of Dula Mondal, who was killed on June 20 last year by some pro-industry villagers.

Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) and sarpanch of Dhinkia Sisir Mohapatra slammed the state government for "kowtowing" before the South Korean steel major. He urged the villagers to oppose "moves to ac-quire their fertile land" and allow Posco to set up its proposed Rs 51,000-crore plant.

Mohapatra also stated that the controversy surrounding the Posco deal was not an issue, concerning Orissa alone, and that it needed to be dealt with national perspective. Criticizing the mineral policy of the Centre, he blamed the UPA government for putting in place such a policy that enables exploitation of our mineral resources by foreign companies. He linked the Posco deal to the ongoing liberalisation policy of the central government and called upon villagers to fight against the proposed steel project as in the past the people of these villages fought against British during the Raj period.

The protesters have, like previous years, also decided to observe June 22 as "Black Day", as on this day four years back the state government signed an MoU with Posco to build a steel plant on the 4004 acres of land in these areas. Akshaya Das, an anti- land acquisition leader, said the state government has no right to give fertile lands to any multi-national com-pany to establish any industry.
"In the past, the government had acquired thousands of acres of land to establish port, fertilizer plants, oil refineries, hotels and several industries in Paradeep and its nearby areas. But a large number of displaced persons were betrayed by the government and sundry companies for which the villagers are now not in a mood to give an inch of land to Posco to establish a steel plant," said Ashok Bardhan, a villager.

Villagers have since last several months blocked the main road to Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadakujang by constructing wooden gates and barricades to prevent police and government officials to enter into these areas. Eight months ago, police arrested president of PPSS Abhaya Sahoo.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bhubaneswar/Villagers-reiterate-stand-on-land-for-Posco-unit/articleshow/4684718.cms

________________________________________________________________________


Neyveli Lignite to invest Rs40,000 crore by 2017 news
22 June 2009

India's biggest lignite miner, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd. (NLC) has unveiled extensive plans for investing up to Rs40,000 crore ($8.3 billion) during the eleventh (2007-2012) and twelfth (2012-2017) five year plans to expand its mining and power generation capacities to supplement to the growing demand for power in the country.
On materialisation of its ambitious new ventures and expansion programmes spread over various parts of the country with foray into new technological areas, the company aims to triple its mining capacity to 79.7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) from the current level of 24 MTPA, and increase the power generation capacity six-fold to 14,740 MW from the present 2,490 MW.

The company plans to fund the new projects through internal accruals and borrowings.
NLC announced its results for 2008-09 which showed an increase of 12.5 per cent in turnover at 3354.91 crore against the 2981.65 crore last year. However, the net profit dropped to Rs821.09 crore or 25.5 per cent compared to 1101.57 crore for 2007-08. The company's board has recommended a dividend of Rs2 per share for 2008-09.

On the company's performance, NLC chairman and managing director A R Ansari told in Chennai on Saturday: "We closed the year on a positive note considering the problems we faced. The unprecedented rains in Tamil Nadu affected lignite production causing a generation loss of Rs 293 crore. We also faced many strikes by contract workmen. Still, we achieved the highest ever power generation in the fourth quarter and our growth momentum has now picked up".

NLC is a ''Mini Ratna'' public sector company engaged in lignite mining and power generation. Lignite, popularly known as ''brown coal'' is the lowest rank of coal which is used primarily as fuel for power generation. The company operates three state-of-the-art lignite mines with a capacity of around 24 MTPA and three thermal power plants of 2,490 MW in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu.

Its ongoing projects include expansion of the mine capacity by 4.5 MTPA and power plant by 500 MW at Neyveli apart from a new 2.1 MTPA lignite mine and 250 MW power plant in Barsingsar, Rajasthan. On completion of these projects by 2010, NLC will achieve a mine capacity of 30.6 MTPA and 3240 MW of power.

It has also commenced work on a coal-based 1,000 MW power plant jointly with Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). The project will be implemented by Neyveli Tamil Nadu Power Ltd (TNPL) at a cost of 4909 crore and scheduled to be completed by 2012-13.

Future plans include a number of power projects using lignite as fuel in Bithnok and Hadla in Rajasthan, and Jayamkondam and Neyveli in Tamil Nadu, Valia in Gujarat, and coal-based plants in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkand and Uttar Pradesh.

The company plans to foray into areas of wind energy and hydro power as well. The first wind-based power plant of 50 MW will be set up near Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu which will be further raised to 200 MW. Discussions are underway with Uttarakhand government to set up a 1,000 MW hydro power unit in Uttrakhand.

NLC intends to venture into nuclear power sector in the near future.
The company said that it would participate in tariff-based competitive bidding to take up ultra mega power projects jointly with equipment manufacturer Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL).

NLC is in the process of forming a shell company, NLC Videsh Ltd., for acquiring coal resources abroad, mainly in South Africa and Indonesia.

Regarding a possible divestment, Ansari said: "We are yet to receive any communication on this. It's a government decision, which could be taken any time and the company's board cannot take the decision.''

Analysts contemplate that the government may disinvest part of its 93.56 per cent holding to the public which could fetch over Rs1900 crore in case of a 10 per cent sell off, at current market prices.
NLC shares closed at Rs121.45, 1.42 per cent higher on Friday on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

http://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_n/Neyveli_Lignite_Corporation/20090622_neyveli_lignite_invest.html

________________________________________________________________________

Detailed analysis of iron ore sector in India
Monday, 22 Jun 2009
Noted Indian economist, specializing in the field of steel and its raw materials, Dr AS Firoz provides you the valuable information on Indian iron ore market and is scenario.

This report critically looks at the current situation in the industry, potential of the iron ore market growth in the medium term, growth plans of the individual major companies, demand and supply issues related to raw materials like coal and iron ore, competitive positioning of steel production in the country, socio economic and political factors which may have direct and indirect impact on the growth dreams of the Indian steel makers, etc among a large number of other relevant issues of strategic importance.

This report is the product of extensive and in depth analysis with incredible amount of time spent to put the numbers in perspective. There are neutral and frank expert views on matters which have drawn attention of the industry in the recent period.

The phenomenal rise in iron ore prices and their continued shortages worldwide have raised many important questions on the future of the iron and steel industry globally especially in the context of the changing dynamics in the environment surrounding especially in respect of raw materials to this industry. The steel makers are undergoing a phase of uncertainty, volatility and speculation amidst a supply side crisis looming large over raw materials, importantly iron ore and coking coal.

The Indian story is no different. A country having over 25 billion tonnes of officially declared iron ore resources and producing over 210 million tonnes of them annually and exporting nearly 95 million tonnes of them is important from all angles to the world of iron ore business.

There are many questions of critical importance.

1. Does the country have more reserves and resources than estimated officially?

2. Will exports drop as domestic demand from the burgeoning steel industry rise?

3. What drives demand, supply and prices of iron ore in India?

4. Are there opportunities for global iron ore companies to export iron ore to India?

5. Will the government allot the bulk of the reserves to steel companies on captive basis?
If so, what will be space left for merchant mining to grow?

6. How are the steel companies in India placed in terms of their access to and security over iron ore resources?

7. What is happening currently to mining concessions? Who all have got them?

8. What is likely to be the fate of those potential steel makers waiting for mining leases?

10. Will the government restrict iron ore exports?

An exhaustive study of the Indian iron ore industry covering more than 125 pages to address the above issues among many. A large number of annexure with specific details on iron ore mines, global trends, mining concessions, global information and maps of the iron ore mining areas in India.

To see details of contents, please visit
http://steelguru.com/reports/detail/Iron_Ore_in_India%253A_The_Present_and_the_Future_of_It.html

Report summary
Publish Date: Update in May 2009
No. of Pages: 178 (103 analytical perspective + 25 Tables + 50 Charts)
Price: USD 1000 or INR 50000
Delivery Format: PDF Format
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/06/22/OTkzODg%3D/Detailed_analysis_of_iron_ore_sector_in_India.html
________________________________________________________________________


Sesa Goa's recent acquisition at right time
22 Jun 2009, 0506 hrs IST, Santanu Mishra, ET Bureau

Many a firm has taken a hit as demand beat a hasty retreat ever since the global financial slowdown washed up at Indian shores in September 2008.

The accompanying credit crunch meant that those with cash reserves can now go cherry-picking with a slew of firms available at a relatively lower valuation.

Iron ore mining major Sesa Goa’s story is on the same line. Sitting on a cash pile of little more than Rs 4,000 crore, the Vedanta Group firm didn’t have to think twice when another Goan mine called V S Dempo (VSD) came its way. Sesa Goa acquired VSD for Rs 1,750 crore on a debt-free and cash-free basis including a net working capital of Rs 145 crore. This is an all-cash deal and to be financed through the internal accruals of Sesa Goa, and at a time when the commodity cycle has reached the trough, the acquisition appears to be timely, cheap and synergetic.

Business:

Exports form the mainstay of Sesa Goa, with China as a major client. It sells iron ore in spot market and export accounts for around 90% of its revenue. However, VSD has an almost 50:50 mix of spot and long-term contract sales. It has a long-term contract with Japanese steel maker, Nippon Steel, to supply one million tons of iron ore every year. Sesa Goa sold around 15 million tons of iron ore in last fiscal year whereas VSD reported a sales volume of 4.4 million tons. Going forward, Sesa Goa expects to maintain a 22% organic growth rate and along with this acquisition, the total growth rate in annual sales volume would be in the range of 40-50% next year.

Financials:

VSD reported net sales of around Rs 976 crore during fiscal year 2008-09 and this will add around 20-25% to the Sesa Goa’s consolidated annual revenue. The operating margin of VSD is in the range of 43-45%, which is little lower than Sesa Goa’s operating margin of around 50-52%.

However, this can be improved considering the Sesa Goa’s higher economies of scale in operation and synergy in logistics and transportations between the two entities. The Sesa Goa doesn’t have any debt on its balance sheet and the current acquisition is also not going to bring in any debt. This would provide sufficient room for Sesa Goa to go ahead with capex plan to increase its mining capacity.

Synergy and growth opportunities:

The new acquisition will bring in 70 million tons of iron ore reserve, thus taking Sesa Goa’s total reserve to 310 million tonnes. Both the entities have significant operations in Goa and their mines are located close to each other. This would help in reducing the operating costs related to mining by optimal utilization of plants and machinery and transportation vehicles. After acquisition, Sesa Goa’s existing transshipping capacity would almost double. Also, VSD’s current mining capacity seems to be underutilized and can be exploited to the fullest after acquisition.

Valuation:

The current acquisition has valued VSD at $5.3 per ton of its mining reserve and resources. This is relatively cheaper considering the fact that Sesa Goa itself is valued at an enterprise value of $9.3 per ton of its mining reserve and both of them have almost similar quality assets. At the current production rate, the mining reserve of VSD will last for another 15 years.

The iron ore prices seem to have reached the bottom and one can assume the current operating margin of VSD to sustain in coming years. In that case, Sesa Goa would be able to recover its investment in next 5-6 years from the operating cash flow of VSD. Finally, Sesa Goa has been sitting on a huge cash reserve and it makes more sense for it to invest in businesses where returns are higher.

The cash flow yield from the current acquisition turns out to be around 18-20%, which is definitely much higher than the return generated from treasury operation. Considering all these facts, we believe that current acquisition is going to be beneficial for the Sesa Goa and longterm investors can consider accumulating this stock further.

Risk:

Both the companies derives significant portion of their revenues from spot sales and any further downfall in iron ore prices would hurt the profitability. Also, like any other acquisition, it is subject to successful integration of operations of both companies.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/Investors-Guide/Sesa-Goas-recent-acquisition-at-right-time/articleshow/4685596.cms

________________________________________________________________________

Mining finally comes to a halt in Panchkula
22 Jun 2009, 0126 hrs IST, TNN


PANCHKULA: In Panchkula district, mining activities came to a halt on Saturday. After state government’s order, district mining department has
stopped mining it was getting done by private parties in Burjkotia, Chandimandir, Barwala, Raipurrani and other areas.

Sources said state government decided on Friday not to renew permits for excavation in river Ghaggar following Punjab and Haryana High Court orders which apply to areas notified by forest department in 1997 under sections 3 and 4 of Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900 as forest land.

This was, however, not for the first time that mining was stopped in the area leaving thousands of families scampering for other avenues for livelihood and leading to spiralling of prices of building material. It was on April 7 last year that mining was suspended at the quarrying sites in Ghaggar and other rivulets of Panchkula, following litigation in Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The problem was, however, overcome when mines and geology department, Panchkula, had granted 55 minor minerals quarries comprising 10 different zones of the district on a short-term permit basis for a period of 30 days for extraction of boulder, gravel and sand on June 23, 2008.

Though state government has sought opinion of advocate general Hawa Singh Hooda on the issue, the stop on mining in the area is bound to hit developmental activities in the region.

District mining officer Deepak Hooda said they have implemented the orders of state government and stopped mining in the entire district. He said the short-term permit for mining had expired on June 19.

The area from Burj Kotian to village Jalla known as crusher zone is inhabited by at least 5,000 families of employees at the crushers, washing plants and those engaged in quarrying at the river bed.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Mining-finally-comes-to-a-halt-in-Panchkula/articleshow/4685268.cms

________________________________________________________________________

Mining – International

________________________________________________________________________

South Africa Seeks Meetings With Anglo, Xstrata CEOs (Update1)
Share | Email | Print | A A A

By Antony Sguazzin
June 22 (Bloomberg) -- South Africa’s mines ministry said it will seek meetings with the chief executive officers of Xstrata Plc and Anglo American Plc to help it assess how a proposed merger of the mining companies would affect the country.
Formed in Johannesburg in 1917, London-based Anglo is the biggest investor in South African mining. Xstrata is the largest operator of ferrochrome smelters in South Africa and the country’s third-largest coal exporter. Together the companies also control most of the nation’s platinum industry. Anglo yesterday said it had received a “preliminary” approach from Zug, Switzerland-based Xstrata about combining the companies.
“We will request a meeting, this is something very big,” Sandile Nogxina, the director general of South Africa’s mines department, said in an interview from his mobile phone today. “It’s likely to change the industry.”
Sanctions during white rule inhibited Anglo’s ability to expand outside South Africa. Anglo was forced to invest in domestic industries ranging from banks to sugar mills, becoming the country’s biggest company. It moved its headquarters to London from Johannesburg in 1999 after winning permission to do so from South Africa’s first black government.
Nogxina said the mines ministry is “definitely” concerned about the impact such a combination would have on jobs in South Africa, where almost one in four are unemployed. Anglo is already cutting 19,000 jobs globally, many of those at its platinum unit in South Africa.
To contact the reporter on this story: Antony Sguazzin in Johannesburg atasguazzin@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: June 22, 2009 05:24 EDT

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=apHRtdn9JGOY

________________________________________________________________________

Second weekend of death at SA’s biggest gold mine

Marcia Klein and Harriet Mclea Published:Jun 21, 2009

DANGER PAY: Miners at the Driefontein mine, southwest of Johannesburg, where two men died at the weekend Picture: MARIANNE SCHWANKHART

Union criticises company’s ‘unwillingness’ to boost safety
TWO workers died at Gold Fields’ Driefontein operation near Johannesburg in the second spate of fatalities at the mine in as many weeks.
National Union of Mineworkers spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said two of the 11 men trapped underground had died and their bodies been brought to the surface at 2am yesterday.
Of the rest who were rescued, three were admitted to hospital, one with serious injuries.
The miners, who were working in shaft number five at the country’s biggest gold mine, were trapped on Saturday when a tunnel caved in after an earth tremor measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale.
“[Two] people are deceased, and their bodies have been recovered,” Willie Jacobsz, a Gold Fields spokesman told Reuters.
“The entire mine has been closed for now, although it would not have been producing on Saturday evening or Sunday anyway,” he said.
“We will know on Monday how long the mine will remain closed, based on a decision by the authorities,” he said.
A tremor on June 13 led to the death of two miners, and the mine was partly closed for investigation after that event.
At another Gold Fields mine, Kloof, there were three deaths last month.
Seshoka said the union had been in contact with the rescued miners, who would be taken for counselling.
He said he was “very disappointed” with what had happened at the weekend.
“Another two miners lost their lives in the same mine last week. This is a great disappointment. There doesn’t seem to be any willingness to improve safety.”
Deon Boqwana, the regional chairman for the mineworkers’ union, singled out Gold Fields mines, saying the mining group did not take safety seriously enough.
A mine inspector from the department of minerals and energy will go underground and conduct an inspection t oday.
Mining safety has been in the spotlight in recent weeks with the horrific deaths of at least 86 illegal miners in Welkom casting a shadow on the industry.
Though unrelated to formal mining operations, illegal miners’ access to facilities has been questioned.
Last year, 168 people died on South African mines. About 80 workers have died in mines so far this year.
At Driefontein alone, 12 people died last year in nine mining- related accidents. Of the 12, eight were fatally injured in seismic events and three in tramming- related accidents, according to Gold Fields.
It said that during the second half of 2008, “Driefontein received and complied with various instructions to stop operations” (Section 54s) from the principal inspector of the Gauteng area of the department of minerals and energy.
The department, after additional inspections, said it was satisfied with the mine’s remedial measures.

http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1021567

________________________________________________________________________

Colorado's Summit County again seeks ban on uranium mining and cyanide

Despite a setback in Colorado's Supreme Court, Summit County is again seeking a way to stringently regulate mining at the local level.

Author: Dorothy Kosich
Posted: Monday , 22 Jun 2009

RENO, NV -

Despite a Colorado Supreme Court decision that overturned Summit County's cyanide heap-leach mining ban, Summit County planners are still pursuing tightening mining regulations.

A January Colorado Supreme Court ruling found the county could not ban a mining technique the state of Colorado allows.

The Colorado Mining Association successfully challenged Summit County's ban on cyanide processes for gold mining. The CMA contends existing state laws adequately regulate mining and the local mining bans could result in conflicting state and local regulations that would negatively impact mining companies.

However, this past week, the county introduced a first draft of new mining regulations during a work session of the Summit County Commission. The county may consider designating mining areas and implement tough performance standards in them,

The draft suggests performance standards that would require mining companies to enhance planning for emergency operations, including the clean-up of any potential cyanide spill. Under its existing land use powers, the county could designate certain areas are inappropriate for mining.

Summit County Planning Director Jim Curnutte told the Summit Daily News that the county would also consider applying its 1041 powers to review and regulate mining operations. Local 1041 powers come from a 1974 Colorado state law allowing local governments to "designate certain geographic areas and specified activities as matters of state interest."

Curnutte suggested Summit County may look at designating specific mining or mineral zones that would be subject to local 1041 permitting authority. These regulations could also force mining companies to disclose their exploration activities.

The overall changes in the local mining regulations would make it easier for local planning boards to review proposed mining projects and to issue stringent conditional use permits, the Summit Daily News reported.

http://www.mineweb.net/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page72068?oid=85286&sn=Detail

________________________________________________________________________

URANIUM DEAL: Uranium One buys into mine in Kazakhstan
VANCOUVER — Uranium One has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire a 50% interest in the Karatau uranium mine in Kazakhstan from JSC Atomredmetzoloto (ARMZ), the Russian state-owned mining company. Following the acquisition, Uranium One says its 2010 production will jump by 35% to 7.5 million lb, and its weighted average cash operating costs will drop to less than $US20 per pound sold.

Uranium One will pay for its share of Karatau mine by issuing 117 million common shares and making a cash payment (or promissory note) of US$90 million. It may also pay up to an additional US$60 million between 2010 and 2012 subject to certain post-closing tax related adjustments. ARMZ will hold an indirect 16.6% interest in Uranium One when the deal closes.

Uranium One and ARMZ also signed an off take agreement giving ARMZ an option to purchase annually the greater of 50% of uranium production from Karatau or 20% of Uranium One's total production. ARMZ is also facilitating Uranium One's introduction to Russian uranium conversion and enrichment facilities.

The owner of the other 50% of the Karatau mine is Kazatomprom, the Kazakhstan state-owned mining company.

Test mining at Karatau began in December 2006. This year output is expected to be 3.6 million lb U3O8, and could be ramped up to 5.2 million lb/year. The 43-101-compliant indicated resource is 9.86 million tonnes grading 0.115% U plus an inferred resource of 880,000 tonnes grading 0.088% U.

Uranium One's office in Kazakhstan is located at 180 Dostyk Ave, Suite 100, Almaty 050051; the phone number is 7-7272-980-095. Or visit the company's website at www.Uranium1.com.

http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?aid=1000331131
________________________________________________________________________

Other News – India
________________________________________________________________________

Tiger census shows a positive trend
N. Rahul
________________________________________
The number of tigers shows a slight increase from 102 last year to 106 this year in 27 protected sanctuaries of the State
________________________________________
— File photo

Majestic: This tiger seems to lord over everything he surveys.
HYDERABAD: A week-long effort last month to conduct a census of tigers showed a slight increase in their population from 102 last year to 106 in 27 protected areas of the State, which are all sanctuaries.
Senior forest officials explained that the population could be higher if the entire land mass of the State was taken into account. Of the 106 tigers identified on the basis of pug marks, there were 72 big cats in the Srisailam Tiger Reserve alone. Another thirteen were found in Gundla Brahmeswara sanctuary and eight in Kavval sanctuary, they said. The Chief Wildlife Warden Hitesh Malhotra said an interesting finding was the shift in the concentration of tigers from Markapur area in Prakasam district to Atmakur in Kurnool district. The two areas are divided by a road within the Srisailam Tiger Reserve. He said the reason for the movement of the tigers was being studied.
Mr. Malhotra also said there was a high rate of sighting and reporting of tigers in Srisailam forest because of the slowdown in Naxalite and police operations in the last few years. Though pug marks of more than a hundred tigers were found in the region, their number was fixed at 72 after eliminating several duplicate prints. The sighting also improved because the forest staff moved freely on the job after extremist activities were effectively checked.
Poaching menace
He added that a matter of concern for the staff was the stepped up activities of poachers in view of the sighting of animals, particularly herbivorous, in a big way. The police recently arrested eight poachers who fired three rounds at the forest staff besides killing a sambar and a cheetal in Kollapur area of Mahbubnagar district.
The poachers and smugglers fired at forest officials on quite a few occasions in the recent past.
Meanwhile, C. Sammi Reddy, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Vigilance), said the State government in principle agreed to return to the forest department fire arms withdrawn from it at the height of Naxalite activity in late 80s and early 90s. Most of the fire arms were .303 rifles.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/22/stories/2009062256010400.htm

________________________________________________________________________

Indian schoolchildren take 'child labour challenge'

Prantick Majumder
New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) Imagine putting your child to endless hours of work in dimly-lit, congested rooms with the employer breathing down his neck? In other words, giving a child a peep into the real world of a child labourer?
This is what exactly happened when 3,000 school children across India took the "child labour challenge" in a bid to attract attention to the growing problem of child labour in the subcontinent.

The "challenge" was, however, part of a simulation programme, where the atmosphere of a factory was created to give the participants the "real feeling" as to what happens exactly with child labourers.

The schoolchildren were made to sit in overlapping rows with almost no space between them and the floor was deliberately kept unkempt.

There was also a taskmaster for each group who kept on "nagging the workers". To make matters worse, there was no electricity inside the workshop where the students were asked to work. Without any light or any fan and with the taskmaster nagging them all throughout, the schoolchildren lost their patience and the will to work, says Anjana Purkayastha, director, Child Development, of leading international NGO World Vision.

http://news.google.co.in/news?pz=1&ned=in&hl=en&q=climate+change+india&as_qdr=d&as_drrb=q&cf=all&start=10
________________________________________________________________________

Govt gets ready to take a fresh look at land issues
Express News Service
First Published : 22 Jun 2009 04:21:00 AM IST

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Government, in its urgency to push through the welfare programmes in the run up to the elections, had completely forgotten land problems in the tribal regions. Post-Narayanpatna, it seemed to have woken up to the issue.
Rightly sensing that the ongoing tribal uprising could spread to other parts of the KBK region and radicals could take advantage of it, the Government has decided upon a series of revenue-related steps which can go a long way in addressing land disputes, at the core of the uprising.
For a beginning, top brass of the Revenue Department will meet all field officers of the 10 revenue districts under the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (South) during the next four to five weeks and take stock of the situation.
Important issues like encroachment, revenue collection, displacement, land acquisition and disaster preparedness would be reviewed, and when necessary, exemplary action would be taken against the erring revenue officials.
As part of the plan, the first meeting would be held at Berhampur on Monday when status of Ganjam and Gajapati would be reviewed. Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro will directly meet the field officials.
The next meeting will be held at Koraput towards the end of the month to review the scenario of the undivided district. The subsequent phases would see the perusal at Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts.
Besides, the Government is also keen on settling rights of forest dwellers in these areas under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. For, this will pacify the restive tribals.
However, it would require leave of the Orissa High Court since the matter is sub judice.
``In the Southern Revenue Division itself, we have finalised 20,000 pattas. Once the HC allows us to settle the rights, we would go right ahead,’’ RDC (South) Satyabrata Sahu told this paper.
In fact, in Narayanpatna alone, 1,636 pattas have been finalised and waiting to be restored in favour of the tribals.
Meanwhile, Rajesh Patil, who was appointed new Sub-Collector of Koraput, joined duty today and has been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing an action plan in the next one week. The plan will comprise both revenue issues and development map for the area.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Govt+gets+ready+to+take+a+fresh+look+at+land+issues&artid=gVhjhbXSwME=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO=

________________________________________________________________________

Only 750 nomadic students to enter prestigious schools
21 Jun 2009, 2326 hrs IST, Rishikesh Bahadur Desai, TNN

HUBLI: Dharmaraj Kondur who lived in a tent in Kanabaragi village in Belgaum excelled in SSLC. Ravi Sankannanavar, who studied under trees in Gokak,
stood first in the school. But success of such students from nomadic communities does not seem to have convinced the government of the need to provide quality education to members of these communities.

The government has reduced by half, the number of beneficiaries in its `prestigious school entry for students of nomadic tribes scheme. While 1,500 students had got admitted to prestigious schools last year, only 750 will be as lucky this time. The district wise quotas have been reduced to 25 from 50. The scheme was introduced in the year 2008.

This scheme arose out of an idea mooted by the Union government under the special component scheme. This was inspired by the US government's Headstart policy. As per the policy, the state government would admit students in select private institutions that have a reputation for quality education. The government would pay the fees of children and provide them hostel facilities and food. The Union and the state government would share this cost.

Social welfare department officials say the number was `readjusted as the first year's response was poor. However, the national federation of nomadic tribes, says the fault lies with the government that did not publicize the scheme well.

"If the response to a scheme is low, the solution is not to reduce the number of beneficiaries, but to advertise it well, federation state secretary B Narayan said. "We strongly condemn the move. This is a clear case of injustice. Students of nomadic tribes that are deprived of all facilities have nowhere to go now, he said. "The state government has destroyed a great idea by failing to implement it properly, he said.

Social welfare minister D Sudhakar said he had not noticed the change in the scheme. "I will ask a senior officer to look into the issue and rectify it he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hubli/Only-750-nomadic-students-to-enter-prestigious-schools/articleshow/4684555.cms
________________________________________________________________________
Climate change policy: youth to suggest modifications
Siddhesh Inamdar
Mumbai: Ever imagined wind power plants rotating on top of city buildings? Did you think a backpack with solar panels attached to the top flap was science fiction? Coordinators of the Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) don’t think so.
In fact, such innovations to combat climate change at the individual level are what is needed in today’s world. This was the message sent out by the ‘Agents of Change Conclave – Road to Copenhagen’ held at the American Centre here on Saturday.
The IYCN’s Agents of Change programme also intends to send a delegation of Indian youth to the United Nations’ 15th annual Conference of Parties (CoP 15) to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December this year. This conference’s most important agenda this year would be to chalk out a successor to the Kyoto Protocol (KP) that expires in 2012.
The KP is an environmental treaty that establishes legally binding commitments regarding cuts in greenhouse gas emissions for its signatories.
“Whatever is going to happen in Copenhagen [from India’s side] will be decided in New Delhi first,” said Debi Goenka of the Bombay Environmental Action Group. Keeping this in mind, the IYCN has decided to organise Badlaav, a climate camp that will be held in the capital for a week in July. It will try and influence the government’s policy on climate change.
This camp, according to IYCN coordinator Ruchi Jain, “will be an effort on the lines of Powershift, a movement that took place in Washington in 2007. Over 10,000 children gathered outside the White House to pressure the U.S. government to shut power plants that ran on coal.”
Since the time of the KP, the Indian government’s stand has been that the developed nations should sponsor the developing countries’ fight against climate change, as they were the ones who caused it in the first place by following rampant industrialisation.
Samarjit Khanna, another IYCN coordinator, pointed out: “India’s per capita emissions are 0.25 tonnes, as against U.S.’ 5.60 tonnes. But in reality, this is a phenomenon called ‘hiding behind the population.’ Our actual emissions make us one of the biggest emitters in the world. Hence, India should not shirk its responsibility.”
Shyam Asolekar of the Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (Bombay) said environmental activism was not merely for the environment’s sake. It had social implications as well. “It is peace-seeking and justice-seeking. Hence ex-Vice President of the U.S., Al Gore, was given the Nobel Peace Prize. Imagine the state of ignorance we are living in — a man was given the Nobel Prize for just disseminating information about the issue!”
Rajan Sharma, Manager of Asian Paints, talked about the importance of rainwater harvesting in a city like Mumbai which demands 4,200 million litres a day.
The conclave drew linkages between the environment and food security, water shortage, biodiversity and even terrorism, underlining that our efforts to combat climate change would not just determine our future but also the kind of future we would give our future generations.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/22/stories/2009062258861100.htm