04-07-09

Mining – India 1
1. 5 Indian firms in shortlist to exploit Afghan iron ore mine 1
2. Raid takes lid off illegal mica trade 2
3. Indian coal ministry to track illegal coal mining 3
4. India copper edges lower as dismal U.S. data weighs 4
5. WB IFC to invest USD 200 million in mining 5
6. Pvt entry into nuclear power, coal mining 5
Mining – International 7
7. UPDATE 1-Worker dies at Harmony Gold's mine in S.Africa 7
8. Europe stocks fall led by utilities, energy, mining 7
9. Zimbabwe to re-evaluate all mining contracts 8
10. SAfrica union group says wants mines nationalised 9
11. Zimbabwe appeals for Chinese investment in mines 10
12. Mines workers union call for assessment oil contracts 11
13. El Salvador: anti-mining organizer missing, foul play suspected 12
14. Bolivia eyes lithium riches in spectacular salt desert 13
15. Vietnamese premier sued again over bauxite projects 14
Other News 15
16. 25 states have an 'official rock' but noooo, not New Jersey 15
17. Maoists extort Rs.300 cr annually in Chhattisgarh: Raman Singh 17
18. People voice dissent over Guj govt's industrial policy 17
19. Climate Forum to seek 50% global emissions cut by 2050 19
20. Obama hopes to push through G8 climate deal 20
21. Indian Environment & Forest Ministry to consult fishing communities before changing coastal regulations 21
Mining – India

5 Indian firms in shortlist to exploit Afghan iron ore mine

Nevin John / Mumbai July 4, 2009, 0:01 IST

Five Indian metals and mining companies are in the race for acquiring mining rights for the largest iron ore deposit in war-torn Afghanistan. The government has shortlisted Vedanta group’s Sesa Goa, Essar Minerals, Ispat Industries, JSW Steel and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam for a bid for the 1.8 billion tonne Hajigak iron ore deposit.
China's MCC and Tuwairqi Steel Mills of Pakistan are the two other firms shortlisted among the seven, Hafizullah Afzaly, executive officer of the project management unit at the ministry told Afghan media.
The ministry of mines had offered mining rights to the Hajigak deposits, 130 km west of the capital, Kabul, and surrounding areas through a tender process in April.
Asked about the bid, an Essar Steel spokesperson said, "As a group, we keep looking at growth opportunities. However, it is not our policy to comment on any specific issue."
Vedanta and JSW Steel sources confirmed their plans to explore opportunities in Afghanistan. "The quality of mines is better in Afghanistan and the exploration cost is relatively cheap. The proximity to Afghanistan will help us bring the iron ore to India. Our only concern is security," said officials.
The ore here has a high iron content of 62 per cent, and the deposits are suitable for open pit mining, according to ministry documents. There are 16 ore bodies, extending for 5 km and to depths of over 550 metres. The estimated value of the deposit would be nearly $10 billion.
Analysts said a maximum of 60 per cent of ore could be recoverable but there are veins of ore reaching down the side of a hill so there is potential for more deposits in the surrounding area. Nearby seams of coking coal would make it possible to set up an integrated iron and steel complex with a blast furnace, they added.
Although the deposits are not far from Kabul, the terrain is remote and mountainous. It is also situated on the edge of an area that has seen a sharp rise in insurgent activity over the last three years, as the government struggles to fight a growing Taliban offensive.
A recent US Geological Survey (USGS) said Afghanistan might hold far higher amounts of minerals than previously thought, with iron deposits alone estimated at between five and six billion tonnes.
Minister Mohammad Ibrahim Adel urged foreign firms to invest in the sector and expressed hope that the security situation would not deter them.
China’s top integrated copper producers, Jiangxi Copper Co and China Metallurgical Group Corp, are developing the vast Aynak Copper Mine south of Kabul after they won the contract to develop it last year.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/5-indian-firms-in-shortlist-to-exploit-afghan-iron-ore-mine/362872/

Raid takes lid off illegal mica trade
SHAHNAWAZ AKHTAR


The arrested with the seized illegal mica and Arjun trees. (Shahnawaz Akhtar)
Giridih, June 14: Forest officials today seized two vehicles loaded with illegal mica and bark of Arjun trees at Pachamba in Giridih.
The market value of mica is estimated to be around Rs 5 lakh while that of Arjun trees, which have medicinal value, is around Rs 2 lakh.
The drivers and helpers of both the vehicles (JH 12A 7841 and JH 11B 6257) were arrested. The arrested have been identified as Sudhir Rai, Sukar Murmu, Vinod Rai and Doman Rai.
Acting on an intelligence tip- off, a team of four forest officials led by range officer Sudama Ram raided the two vehicles, which belong to one Madhukar Ram, at 6.30am.
The mica is of refined quality, indicating a rampant illegal trade in the mineral in Giridih.
After the administration had tightened its noose on mica trade and tried to fix royalty, illegal trade of mica has become rampant. Businessmen dealing in the mineral trade claimed that they purchased scrap mica from areas like Tisri, Gawah and Deori region in Giridih while the refined variety was bought from Rajasthan, this recovery proves otherwise.
“The recovery of Rs 5-lakh mica proved that the mineral is being mined on a large scale and in a planned way. The claim of businessmen in this trade has proved to be wrong. They do not only purchase scrap mica from Giridih, but refined ones also.
“They are indulging in illegal mining to avoid the royalty but we will soon crack down on them. Mica business is being conducted on the pretext of unemployment and fear of Naxalites but anything done against the law will not be tolerated,” said divisional forest officer (DFO) Akhilesh Sharma.
The businessmen said that since these areas fell under the Naxalite belt, if the practice of mica mining was stopped it would lead to unemployment and Maoist could take advantage of that.
“We have identified 20 mines in forest areas where illegal mica is rampant and will take action against those who sell and purchase mica from these mines. If required, we will close down the mines,” said the DFO.
Sharma added: “We will also keep a check on illegal trade of trees. The forest belongs to the people and if the villagers do business of it, they would not be spared.”

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090615/jsp/jharkhand/story_11110384.jsp

Indian coal ministry to track illegal coal mining
Saturday, 04 Jul 2009
The Telegraph reported that the coal ministry’s extremely concerned about illegal mining of coal that was going on in Dhanbad and its adjoining areas and would soon adopt satellite surveillance to keep track of this rampant practice and bring its perpetrators to justice.

Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal union minister of state for coal said “The coal ministry will opt for satellite surveillance which will not only help find virgin coal mines lying untapped but also keep an eye on illegal mining.”

Mr Jaiswal said the state was apparently not doing enough to stem illegal mining activities which, was being promoted by Maoists.

Mr Jaiswal said he is committed to making India the global number one in coal energy by allotting captive coal mines to private players to raise production in a time bound manner. But so far, only 15 to 18 big private players that had been handed over captive mines had begun production.

He said “Land acquisition and environmental clearances pending at the state level for years were becoming huge hurdles to production of coal. I hope the governor will look into this urgently and ensure files are cleared within the next 6 months.”

He further added that on Jharia, where an underground fire has been raging for decades, adding that the rehabilitation plan for residents would be implemented as soon as it was cleared by the union cabinet. But those living in Jharia will have to evacuate once the plan is implemented.

(Sourced from The Telegraph)

http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/04/MTAwOTc4/Indian_coal_ministry_to_track_illegal_coal_mining.html

India copper edges lower as dismal U.S. data weighs
Fri Jul 3, 2009 5:48pm IST

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(Updates prices)
MUMBAI, July 3 (Reuters) - India copper futures edged lower on Friday on renewed concerns of a speedy economic recovery after weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs data, analysts said.
Rising inventories in Shanghai and London also pressured the red metal, they added.
The most active August copper contract MCCQ9 was 1.28 percent lower at 242.35 rupees per kg at 5:39 p.m., after hitting a low of 240.7 rupees earlier.
The U.S. lost more jobs in June than expected, while the unemployment rate hit 9.5 percent, the highest in nearly 26 years, dimming hopes for a rapid economic recovery. [ID:nN02549309]
Copper stocks in London Metal Exchange rose by 4,050 tonnes to 268,275 tonnes, while copper stocks in Shanghai also rose by 7 percent to 59,980 tonnes. See [ID:nBJD000933]
Traders were disappointed after the U.S. jobs report, which raised concerns about demand, said Kapil Gandhi of STCI Commodities.
"We expect copper to trade with negative bias for trading day in range of 236-246," added Gandhi.
"We are expecting the level of 232 rupees in the next 4-5 trading sessions," said Amrut Deshmukh, senior technical analyst with Way 2 Wealth Securities.
In other base metals, July zinc MZIN9 was 0.60 percent lower 74.85 rupees per kg, while lead for July delivery MLDN9 was 0.61 percent lower at 81.05 rupees per kg at 5:40 p.m..
(Reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar; Editing by Sunil Nair)
http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINBOM54496420090703?sp=true

WB IFC to invest USD 200 million in mining
Saturday, 04 Jul 2009
International Finance Corp, the World Bank Group’s private sector lending arm, expects to double mining investments to about USD 100 million in its current fiscal year as commercial lenders curb loans.

Mr Bill Bulmer global head of mining at Washington-based IFC said that “We have taken an opportunity with this market crash to make more investments.” He said that the target applies to the fiscal year ending this month and IFC is considering 15 mining projects for the next year.

Mr Bulmer said that the global recession, the first since World War II, has forced producers including Rio Tinto to seek financing after commodities plunged. While IFC typically would cooperate with more than 20 banks to fund mining companies two years ago, that number has now dwindled to five or six.

He said that “In fact, most of our attention over the past six months has been on how we can work with other development institutions to mobilize money, given the lack of appetite in the commercial banking sector.”

Mr Bulmer said that IFC’s mining portfolio is worth about USD 840 million.

(Sourced from Bloomberg)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/04/MTAwOTgz/WB_IFC_to_invest_USD_200_million_in_mining.html

Pvt entry into nuclear power, coal mining

BS Reporter / New Delhi July 3, 2009, 0:49 IST

Survey says finance is only one of the problems holding back PPPs in infra.
Related stories


- Japan to help nations in nuclear power generation

- India should manufacture equipment of N-industry: Kakodkar

- NPCIL to raise Rs 3,000 cr for early completion of plants

-

- GE Hitachi to develop nuclear power plants with L&T

- Alstom or Siemens may join BHEL-NPCIL JV






The Economic Survey has made a pitch for greater private participation in the infrastructure sector,including the sensitive sectors of nuclear power generation and coal mining. It has called for allowing up to 49 per cent foreign direct investment in nuclear power and amending the Atomic Energy Act to allow private companies in the sector.
In coal, its prescription includes permitting private entry into mining under a well regulated and competitive regime, to reverse the substitution of domestic coal by imported oil and coal. It says : “As long as the coal sector remains a public sector monopoly (the only remaining nationalised sector), it could remain a bottleneck for accelerated development of the power sector.”

MIXED BAG
Public Private Partnership projects
Total number Value of
contracts
(Rs crore)
Airports 6 20,041
Ports 38 43,053
Railways 3 1,007
Roads 187 47,755
Urban
development 35 6,218
Energy 31 17,802
Total 300 1,35,876
The survey emphasised that timely completion of infrastructure projects was critical to ensuring their financial viability and for reaping the economic benefits.
Pointing that a third of Rs 20,01,776-crore funding required for infrastructure development during the eleventh plan period is expected to be met from the private sector, the survey identifies six constraints in the public private partnership approach. These include policy and regulatory gaps, inadequate availability of finance for 10-year-plus tenure, inadequate capacity of officials to handle PPP projects, lack of manpower in the private sector, lack of enough bankable projects and lack of acceptance of PPP projects among stakeholders.
The survey said availability of finance was only a necessary condition for investment. “Once a project is financially closed, it is faced with issues like disputes in land acquisition, rehabilitation, contractual issues, shortage of raw materials, capital goods and fuel, environmental disputes and inadequate availability of skilled manpower,” said the survey. Another important point highlighted was the lack of generation of timely information, primarily due to multiplicity of implementing agencies.
As the economy slumped in activity, consequent to the commodity price and oil price shocks and then the global economic crisis, most infrastructure sectors witnessed subdued growth during 2008-09. Ports and air cargo slowed considerably, reflecting the sluggishness in import and export growth in the second half of 2008-09.
Rail freight growth slowed but to a lesser degree, due to demand from coal sector. It was only the telecom sector that recorded an exceptional growth, of about 45 per cent in tele-connectivity.
Within infrastructure, the survey said the increasing pressure of population on urban infrastructure makes it necessary to improve urban civic services. In the urban transport sector, the survey notes the ability to understand the problems is yet to mature and a scheme for capacity building at local, central and state level has been proposed.
http://www.business-standard.com/ecosurvey/storypage.php?autono=362800&tp=
Mining – International

UPDATE 1-Worker dies at Harmony Gold's mine in S.Africa
Fri Jul 3, 2009 11:45am EDT

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MARKET NEWS
Oil falls below $66 after bleak U.S. jobs data
Global stocks dip as investors cautious on recovery
Earnings to set tone for stocks in week ahead | Video
More Business & Investing News...
* Unclear what killed worker
* Harmony says production not affected
(Adds output ongoing)
JOHANNESBURG, July 3 (Reuters) - A worker died at Harmony Gold's (HARJ.J) Phakisa mine in South Africa, with the cause of death yet to be determined, and gold production was unaffected, the company said on Friday.
The fatality at the mine in the Free State province occurred early on Friday, and investigations into the cause of death, including an autopsy, would take place, Harmony said.
Government inspectors visited the shaft where the worker was found lying dead early on Friday and gave the go-ahead to proceed with mining.
"Investigations into the incident are under way. Safety will continue to receive priority attention at all Harmony's operations," said Chief Executive Officer Graham Briggs.
South Africa, which has the world's deepest mines, has one of the highest rates of work-related mining deaths in the industrialised world. Last year 168 workers died in legal operations, down 24 percent from the previous year 2007 when 221 fatalities were reported. (Reporting by Agnieszka Flak and James Macharia)

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSL36408520090703

Europe stocks fall led by utilities, energy, mining
Fri Jul 3, 2009 11:49am EDT

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MARKET NEWS
Oil falls below $66 after bleak U.S. jobs data
Global stocks dip as investors cautious on recovery
Earnings to set tone for stocks in week ahead | Video
More Business & Investing News...
FRANKFURT, July 3 (Reuters) - European equities fell on Friday, recording their third straight week of losses, led by utilities, oil & gas and basic resources shares, while banks and media pulled in the opposite direction.
Volumes were thin with U.S. financial markets closed for the Independence Day holiday.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top shares unofficially closed 0.3 percent lower at 840.83 points.
The benchmark index lost 0.4 percent over the week and has fallen 5.3 percent since its five-month high close on June 11.
Utilities took most points off the index on Friday. EDF (EDF.PA) fell 4.5 percent after a downgrade, E.ON (EONGn.DE) dropped 1.2 percent and GDF Suez (GSZ.PA) lost 0.6 percent.
Weaker commodity prices weighed on oil & gas and basic resources stocks, such as Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L), down 0.7 percent, and ArcelorMittal (ISPA.AS), which closed 1 percent lower.
Banks added most points, with Barclays (BARC.L) up 2.8 percent, Banco Santander (SAN.MC) gaining 2.2 percent, BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) adding 2 percent, HSBC (HSBA.L) rising 1.7 percent and Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) putting on 1.7 percent.
Media stocks rose after Credit Suisse upgraded the sector to "overweight" from "underweight". The DJ Stoxx sector index .SXMP rose 0.5 percent,
Wolters Kluwer (WLSNc.AS) jumped 4.3 percent and Reed Elsevier (REL.L) climbed 3.9 percent.
London's FTSE 100 .FTSE index rose 0.1 percent, the German DAX.GDAXI lost 0.2 percent and the French CAC 40 .FCHI edged up 0.1 percent. (Reporting by Peter Starck)

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSL36882720090703

Zimbabwe to re-evaluate all mining contracts
• Buzz up!
• Digg it
• Reuters, Friday July 3 2009
* Govt says working on new mining law
* Zimbabwe has world's second largest platinum reserves
* No agreement with China on $950 million credit line
* Zimbabwe seeks $80 million credit facility for power
(Adds Biti seeking $80 million for power)
By Nelson Banya
HARARE, July 3 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe will re-evaluate all mining contracts and introduce a "use it or lose it" policy for its mining industry under a proposed law, Finance Minister Tendai Biti told Reuters on Friday.
The vetting of mining contracts by Zimbabwe's unity government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is likely to surprise investors at a time Harare is wooing them to help repair a battered economy.
Mining has become the leading source of foreign exchange, with gold accounting for a third of exports, but political turmoil, lack of energy and unfavourable regulatory rules has led to several mines closing.
"The government... is working on a new mining law, amendments to the mining laws, so that we comply with new standards for the extractive industries, which the World Bank is insisting on," Biti said in an interview.
"That law will introduce the concept of 'use it or lose it' with respect to... mining claims. It will also introduce the re-evaluation of every mining contract that has been signed in Zimbabwe."
Biti declined to say when the proposed law would be brought to parliament to avoid pre-empting the mines minister.
Some of the key players in Zimbabwe include Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats), the world's second largest producer of the metal, which has the biggest mining investments in Zimbabwe. Its bigger rival Anglo Platinum and Rio Tinto also have mining interests in the country.
Implats and Angloplat officials in Johannesburg said they were unaware of Zimbabwe's plan to re-check mining contracts, and would wait for more details before making a comment.
FOREIGN OWNERSHIP
Prior to the new move to re-evaluate mining contracts, a vital concern for investors in Zimbabwe which has the world's second-biggest platinum reserves and hefty deposits of diamonds, coal and nickel, was a law limiting foreign ownership of businesses, including mines, to 49 percent.
Biti said the proposed mining law would have flexible local ownership rules and seeks to empower Zimbabwe's masses, rather than enrich a few.
"The concept of empowerment we want to see is mass empowerment, which is felt at the grassroots, village level," he said. "This will be done through the establishment of a National Sovereign Fund to enable communities to benefit from the exploitation of the finite resources from their areas."
Biti denied newspaper reports on Friday that Zimbabwe -- battling to raise $10 billion it says is required to rescue the economy -- will receive $5 billion in loans from China in return for some platinum consessions.
He also denied a claim by Tsvangirai that Zimbabwe had won a $950 million credit line from China.
"There's no foundation at all in reports that we have received $950 million from China," he said.
Biti said Zimbabwe was seeking an $80 million credit facility with the Development Bank of South Africa to revamp its Hwange thermal power station and increase coal output at a nearby mine which supplies coal to the plant. (Additional reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by James Macharia)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/8590368

SAfrica union group says wants mines nationalised
Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:40am EDT

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JOHANNESBURG, July 3 (Reuters) - South Africa's powerful trade union federation COSATU said on Friday it wants the government to consider nationalisation of mines in the world's largest producer of platinum.
COSATU, which has nearly 2 million paid-up members in the country of around 47 million people, said in a statement it supports a call by the ruling African National Congress' youth wing for the country's mines to be nationalised.
It said its call would back up the nation's Freedom Charter, and was in line with its own resolution declared in 2006, which called for "more equitable ownership, especially collective ownership through the state... of mining and other commanding heights of the economy as provided in the Freedom Charter".
The charter calls for equal rights and equal share of wealth with the country's white population. (Reporting by James Macharia)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSWEA959020090703

Zimbabwe appeals for Chinese investment in mines
Fri Jul 3, 2009 11:43am GMT

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BEIJING (Reuters) - A Zimbabwe government official on Friday appealed to Chinese firms to invest in Zimbabwean mines, asking companies to ignore the country's recent troubles and strike now while the iron is hot.
Zimbabwe has asked the world for help for its devastated economy, and says it needs $10 billion to rebuild dilapidated infrastructure and ease a 90 percent unemployment rate.
Taonga Mushayavanhu, Zimbabwe's deputy ambassador in Beijing, urged Chinese companies attending a mining conference to invest in his country, which has deposits of platinum, gold and diamonds, among other minerals.
"Now we have stability and security," he said. "The government of Zimbabwe recognises the importance of the mining industry in its economic recovery programme and realises that the economic turnaround cannot be possible without foreign investment.
"That's the reason why we are talking to you -- trying to entice you to come in ... There are better opportunities at this stage than down the road when competition is much stiffer," Mushayavanhu added.
Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change in February formed a fragile coalition administration with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF to end a long-running political crisis and a decade of economic ruin.
Mugabe denies rights abuse charges levied against him, and insists the West has withheld aid mainly in protest over his controversial seizure of white-owned commercial farms for resettlement among blacks.
Mugabe has tried to boost economic ties with Asian countries such as China and Malaysia.
Beijing and Chinese companies have pledged tens of billions of dollars to Africa in loans and investments, mostly to secure raw materials for the world's fastest-growing major economy.
China's trade with the continent has jumped by an average 30 percent a year this decade, reaching nearly $107 billion in 2008.
Last week, Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe had secured $950 million in credit from China to help rebuild its economy, the biggest offer from a single country since a unity government was formed.
But on Friday, Zimbabwe Finance Minister Tendai Biti told Reuters that no agreement had been reached with China on the credit line.
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5620BU20090703?sp=true

Mines workers union call for assessment oil contracts


Last Updated: Saturday, 4 July 2009, 8:41 GMT Previous Page








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The Mines Workers Union (GMWU) of Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Friday added its voice to call on government to re-assess all oil contracts signed between Ghana and foreign multinationals.

Mr Prince Ankrah, General Secretary of the union, said the call made by former President Jerry Rawlings, must be taken seriously.

He said multinationals did not care to “milk” a nation since they have the intentions to leave after extracting whatever they wanted. They hop from one nation to the other, he added.

The Ex-President was reported to have made the call about a month ago urging the country to be wary of the multinationals that were committing us into contracts that could delay the benefits of oil resource for decades.

During this year’s June 4th celebration, which was held at Kasoa, the former President called for a thorough re-assessment of all contracts signed with the international oil companies and a complete disclosure of benefits to the country.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Mr Ankrah said it was important to look into what went into contracts and what exactly the country stood to gain or lose.

He added that what was happening in the oil sector, was not so different from the situation in the mining industry saying that in terms of royalties, mining companies were paying three per cent instead of six.

http://news.myjoyonline.com/news/200907/32236.asp

El Salvador: anti-mining organizer missing, foul play suspected
Submitted by WW4 Report on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 00:53.
Social organizations in El Salvador have denounced the disappearance of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, a well-known anti-mining leader from the town of San Isidro, Cabañas department. Rivera is a local leader of the FMLN, the director of the San Isidro Community Center, and the legal representative of Amigos de San Isidro Cabañas (ASIC). He is a vocal opponent of El Dorado gold mine, a project of the Pacific Rim mining company that has been stalled due to disputes over permits. Pacific Rim recently sued El Salvador for $77 million under the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) after the government refused to grant a permit to open the mine.
In addition to helping organize opposition to El Dorado mine, Rivera played a key role in January when the results of the municipal elections in San Isidro were challenged due to fraud. Social organizations believe that his disappearance is politically motivated and have called on the National Civilian Police, the Prosecutor General's office and the Human Rights ombudsman to investigate. Local leaders have met with new Public Security Minister Manuel Melgar about the case, but have continued to protest the lack of action on the part of the local police and Prosecutor General's office. The leadership of the office remains in limbo due to a refusal by the right-wing bloc in the Legislative Assembly, led by the ARENA party, to hold an election for a new Prosecutor General.
Mining corporations attack FMLN government
On March 16, the Commerce Group Corporation and San Sebastian Gold Mines, both US-based companies, filed a Notice of Intent to open legal proceedings against the government of El Salvador in a special tribunal established by CAFTA. The companies allege that the government has illegally refused to issue mining permits. The Notice of Intent begins a 90-day period in which El Salvador and the companies can resolve the issue. If the issue is not resolved, Commerce Group and San Sebastian Gold Mines can then sue El Salvador for lost investments. The two companies are demanding $100 million compensation, or the immediate issuance of the mining permits. This is the second demand made against El Salvador under CAFTA laws by mining companies. In April, Pacific Rim Mining demanded approximately $77 million in lost investments from the government.
The mining of precious metals in El Salvador is opposed by a broad coalition of social movement groups that make up the National Roundtable on Metallic Mining, which was recently awarded the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award by the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC. The resistance movement contends that the proposed mines would cause major destruction to the already fragile environment in El Salvador and contaminate the few sources of clean drinking water that remain.
The Center for Studies on Investment and Trade (CEICOM) in El Salvador has called on President Mauricio Funes to refuse to pay the Pacific Rim demand. William Castillo of CEICOM has encouraged the Funes administration to work with the social movements opposed to mining and make use of their evidence and arguments against issuing permits in his refusal to pay the demands. "There is sufficient documentation to defeat this demand," said Castillo.
The FMLN faction in the Legislative Assembly recently introduced legislation to reform El Salvador's Mining Law by halting all metallic mining exploration and operations and giving companies currently operating in the country six months to close operations. FMLN legislative deputy Lourdes Palacios said the proposed legislation seeks to "give tools to the new government to avoid mining exploration and exploitation in the country."

http://www.ww4report.com/node/7534

Bolivia eyes lithium riches in spectacular salt desert
By Marc Burleigh – 14 hours ago
SALAR DE UYUNI (AFP) — For years, the Salar de Uyuni has been a remote but popular tourist draw in southern Bolivia: the world's highest salt desert, whose blinding white expanse stretches to the horizon.
Now, though, the backpackers and locals who depend on their trade fear this spectacular and vast landscape will soon be threatened by multinational mining companies.
Because Bolivia, the poorest country in South America, is sitting on a bonanza in the Salar de Uyuni.
The desert contains 5.4 million tons of lithium, around half the world's total supply. The soft metal is already used extensively in batteries for mobile telephones and computers, and is a key element for the electric cars expected to be mass-produced tomorrow.
Mining groups Mitsubishi and Sumitomo of Japan, LG of South Korea and Bollore of France are all pressing to be allowed to get at the lithium.
Bolivia's socialist Bolivian government, though, is hesitating. It is demanding a big share of the profits and, even more importantly, that lithium technology plants be built from scratch in the country.
President Evo Morales's record of nationalizing foreign firms in the energy and telecommunications sectors is also giving the mining companies pause.
Officials have also said Bolivia could even mine the lithium itself, although it currently lacks the expertise and equipment to do so.
For tourists making the long voyage to see the flat, bone-white area -- described in the Lonely Planet guide as "one of South America's most awe-inspiring spectacles" -- there are concerns it will be ruined forever.
"I think they should leave it alone, just the way it is. They shouldn't be destroying nature like that," Travis Pitts, a 27-year-old US tourist, told AFP as he surveyed the desert around him from a hotel made of salt bricks.
Hadar Ozer, a 21-year-old Israeli tourist from one of a dozen four-wheel drive vehicles pulled up at the same spot, raved about how "amazing" the Salar de Uyuni was.
"We have salt in Israel also -- the Dead Sea. But here it's huge. You feel like you walk on the moon because it's all white and it's amazing," she said.
At another popular spot in the desert, a rock "island" covered with cactus, foreigners spilled out of the cars to take pictures. The total absence of features fools both eyes and cameras, so that objects near and far seem to be sitting on top of each other.
In a village on the periphery of the desert, almost all the locals draw their livelihood from selling souvenirs carved from salt or providing supplies to the tourists.
They, too, feared that mining would ravage the place.
"We don't know what will happen when there is lithium mining. I don't know. We still don't know what's going to happen, because there are some people who say there could be pollution," said Marta Flores, a 35-year-old woman selling salt trinkets.
The guides who drove their vehicles deep into the 11,000 square-kilometer (4,200-square-mile) desert were likewise concerned.
They have already seen their business affected, they said, because of international uncertainty generated by Morales's government, which has confrontational relations with the United States.
Several said they welcomed anything that would add prosperity to the region and to the country, but were skeptical that sufficient controls would be put in place to allow mining to co-exist with other activities in the desert, including tourism.
"It'll be productive for the region," said one guide, Juan Barcelona.
"But at the same time we'll see the ranches, the farms, all that polluted I think, because there will be a lot of mining. All the desert will be full of lithium mines."
In the meantime, those visiting the Salar de Uyuni are now wondering whether they will be the last to see this panorama in its pristine state.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gi_T79NDl0VnvP6yFCwMGOJNBA_w

Vietnamese premier sued again over bauxite projects
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 04:36.
• Featured

• Nguyen Tan Dung
• Hanoi

• Vietnam
Hanoi - Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is facing a second lawsuit over controversial bauxite mining projects, a lawyer said Saturday.
"I, Cu Huy Ha Vu, have filed a lawsuit against PM Nguyen Tan Dung on June 11 over his wrong decision to approve the mining plans to Hanoi's People's Court, but the court said it was only authorized to handle cases up to ministerial level, so I decided to re-sue him before Vietnam's Supreme People's Court," said Cu Huy Ha Vu, who filed the lawsuit against Vietnamese prime minister on Friday.
In his petition to Vietnam's Supreme People's Court, Vu said Dung had broken laws on environmental protection, national defence and security as well as cultural heritage.
Vu asked the court to cancel the prime minister's decision on bauxite projects in the central highlands of Vietnam.
The mining projects, run by the Chinese state aluminium company Chalco, have provoked opposition on environmental and defence grounds. Deputies in Vietnam's National Assembly sharply criticized the mines earlier this month.
In January, revered retired-General Vo Nguyen Giap wrote to the prime minister opposing the mines as a Chinese foothold in the strategically crucial central highlands.
Other critics worry that runoff from the mines will damage the local coffee and cacao industries and ecologically rich forests.
Vietnam's bauxite reserves are among the world's largest at an estimated 8 billion tons.
Bauxite is extracted from open-pit mines, requiring the replacement of topsoil before the land can be reforested or used for agriculture. The refining process creates large amounts of caustic red slurry, which must be contained so as not to pollute water sources. (dpa)
http://www.topnews.in/vietnamese-premier-sued-again-over-bauxite-projects-2185830
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25 states have an 'official rock' but noooo, not New Jersey
FRIDAY, 03 JULY 2009 18:53
o




BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Ok, just for a few minutes let's forget about such issues as Jersey beach passes, Jersey taxes, Jersey drivers and Jersey's new tax hike on hard cider.
Let's contemplate an issue that has gone unresolved for years.
New Jersey does not have an official state rock.
Twenty-five other states have official rocks. For Arizona and Mississippi, it's petrified wood. For Massachusetts, it's the Roxbury puddingstone. For Vermont, where they apparently take their rocks seriously, it's granite, marble and slate. And for Oregon, it's the thunderegg, which is actually a really cool egg-size black bubble-over rock that has the appearance of an approaching thunderstorm.
On June 3, West Virginia became the 25th state to declare an official rock when it named bituminous coal. That was serious business for a state that is the nation's second greatest coal producer.
But is was also the rock that broke the Hadrosaurus Foulkii's — the official state dinosaur — back for Louise Mowder of North Brunswick.
Within days, Mowder, who confides she has been known to cherish an odd fossil or gemstone, was asking New Jersey's geology and history community, "Have we no petrological pride?''
"I became curious about our own state rock,'' Mowder said. "After all, I have been to West Virginia and it holds not a candle to our great state. I mean no disrespect to the residents of that hilly location, but let's face it, West Virginia doesn't even have a shoreline, much less a flat and fertile central plain.''
Mowder, who operates an IT services business with her husband Jack Johnson, offers a nominee for the title of favorite Jersey rock. She said while visiting the Franklin Mineral Museum in Sussex County as a child, she learned that Franklinite, an eye-catching, valuable and financially-important mineral composed of zinc and manganese is found only in New Jersey.
"There was even petition at the time to name Franklinite the official state rock, '' Mowder recalled.
New Jersey has had an official dinosaur since 1991, an official shell, the knobbed whelk, since 1995, an official tree, the red oak, since 1950 as well as an official flower, bird, bug, animal, fish, fruit, tall ship and folk dance.
But there remains an unfilled place in the hearts of Mowder and Jersey geologists.
Geologists are quick to point out that the actual issue is the lack of an official state mineral.
"To make a distinction, rocks are not minerals but are made of them, usually a variety,'' said Bill Selden, curator of the Rutgers University Geology Museum in New Brunswick. "Minerals have specific chemical composition and crystalline structure.''
"Actually, I thought that prehnite was the New Jersey state mineral,'' Selden said. "It was named after a Dutchman, Colonel Prehn who brought it back from India. I Googled the situation and learned that prehnite was not the official state mineral, or at least the Legislature hadn't taken the time to vote on the question."
Richard Dalton, chief of the state Geological Survey's Bureau of Geology and Topography, has followed the state rock issue — ah, state mineral issue — or the lack of one, for years.
"New Jersey has over the years, had numerous people suggesting minerals to be the state mineral but there has never been an official ‘state mineral,''' he said. "Prehnite, franklinite and willemite are the main ones that have been proposed in the past. Willemite and Cape May diamonds have been suggested as a state gem. Back in the 1970s, I believe, some bills were introduced, but never passed.‘'
Selden has a favorite Jersey mineral of his own if Mowder's call for an official rock gets serious.
" If a state mineral must be chosen, I would like to see rhodonite,'' he said. "It is a cheerful red color and forms lovely crystals.''
It would take the approval of the Legislature and governor for New Jersey to have an official rock — ah, mineral.
But don't put off everything else while waiting for the state to act.
In the past 70 years, the issue of selecting an officials state song has been debated five times in Trenton. New Jersey remains without a song to sing.

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/style/25-states-have-an-qofficial-rock-but-noooo-not-new-jersey

Maoists extort Rs.300 cr annually in Chhattisgarh: Raman Singh
Raipur (IANS): Maoist rebels extort up to Rs.300 crore every year in Chhattisgarh from traders of forest products, transporters and iron ore mining firms, says Chief Minister Raman Singh.
"Maoists extort at least Rs.250-300 crore (Rs.2.5-3 billion) annually and their extortion business runs from the state's southern tip of Bastar to the northern Surguja district," Singh told IANS.
"They mainly extort money from traders of 'tendu' leaves, iron ore mining firms, small and big contractors and transporters," added the 57-year-old politician.
Tendu leaves, which are used to make bidis (leaf-rolled cigarettes), are one of the most important forest products of the Bastar region that has been considered the nervecentre of Maoist terrorism in India since the late 1980s.
The restive region spread across 40,000 sq km has deposits of about 20 percent of the country's total iron ore stocks and owners of the mines regularly face extortion demands from Maoists.
"The traders, businessmen, contractors and others who pay extortion money hardly have the courage to report it to the police because of the fear of Maoists and their own business interests in the region," said Singh.
Of the 1,500 casualties in Maoist violence since the state came into existence in November 2000 after splitting from Madhya Pradesh, 90 percent have been from Bastar.
"The Maoists also force people in the Surguja region to cough up money," added the chief minister.
The Surguja region is one of the most coal-rich areas of the country. It is home to several mines of the public sector Coal India Limited's (CIL) highest profit-making subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL).
Singh, who is serving a second consecutive term as chief minister, reiterated that Maoist militancy was not confined to Chhattisgarh and suggested that better coordination among states hit by the menace along with support from the centre might be effective in dismantling the rebels' terror infrastructure.
He praised the central government for having taking the "bold decision" June 22 to brand the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) a terrorist outfit.
"On the issue of taking on Maoists, there is no disagreement between the Chhattisgarh government and the centre. We both want to deal with it firmly and decisively," said the chief minister.
"The Chhattisgarh government is working on raising the strength of forces trained in jungle warfare besides modernising the police force to wipe out the Maoists," he added.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200907041121.htm

People voice dissent over Guj govt's industrial policy



Archives - National

PTI | Sat, 04 Jul, 2009,09:32 AM
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People of seven Gujarat districts are echoing voices of dissent over the industrial policy of the Narendra Modi Government, veteran Gandhian Chunibhai Vaidya said at Ahmedabad on Saturday.

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Vaidya, who is supporting agitations by people for their land and natural resources, said the state government's pattern of development has had a bad impact on the rural population.

'The rapid industrialisation policy by the state government has had a toll on the rural population which is evident from the people's agitation in seven districts,' Vaidya said, when people leading the agitations gathered here to share their experiences.

The agitations are on against the allotment of land to Nirma Industires for cement factory in Mahuva taluk of Bhavnagar district, which would require displacement of nearly 15 villages and filling up of fresh water reservoir Samdhiyadi.

The protest in Mahuva is led by local MLA of the ruling BJP Kanubhai Kalsariya, who said he was kept in dark by his party while sanctioning the cement factory.

'The cement factory will not only displace over 5,000 families, but also cause grave damage to the environment. To set up the factory, the company will dig deep and cause damage to the limestone deposits underneath, which naturally curb salinity ingress in the coastal villages,' Kalsariya told reporters at Ahmedabad.

'The industrialists are eyeing the rich limestone deposits in the area. But following the peopel's agitation, the government has set up a committee to look into the matter,' the MLA said.

Kadviben of Dudheri village in Mahuva said, 'We are able to harvest three crops a year because of the water reservoir. But if it is filled up, we will be ruined.'

She alleged that government and industrialist together have duped them and took their signatures on wrong papers. Ratnaben of Vadodara-Zala village of Junagadh district said her villagers were opposing government decision to give 650 acre grazing land to Larson and Tubro for building a
jetty.

Nagabhai Parmar, deputy Sarpanch of Mocha village in Porbander district, said mine mafia have taken over the village grazing land and were destroying the natural resources.

'We have been protesting against mining as it will deplete the lime stone reserves in the area leading to environmental imbalance and salinity ingress,' he added.

Devang Saya of Jarpara village in Mundra taluk of Kutch said their protest was agianst the allotment of their 1,000- acre grazing land to Adani Group. People's agitation was also on in the Valsad district of South Gujarat where the government has plan to build a mega-port.

'We have lost one of our leaders Colonel Pratap Save in police brutality during the agitation. But this has not dethered our spirits any bit,' said Abha Tandel from Umargaon taluka of Valsad.

Meanwhile, Vaidya said that government need to ask the people before allotting land for industrial purpose as they have first right over their village land and resources.

'Who are the rightful owners of the land given away by government? We want this issue to be taken up in the next Assembly elections and for this we are going to built a network of people affected by industries,' he said.

'We will be going across the state with the slogan 'Village land belongs to village not to government' and ask villages to pass resolutions which will be given to the government,' he added.

Vaidya also said as mark of protest over the government policy of allotting village lands to industries, they will also organise a march from Mahuva in Bhavnagar to Gandhinagar.

http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=17929%20&%20section=5

Climate Forum to seek 50% global emissions cut by 2050

Kyodo/PTI / Tokyo July 4, 2009, 14:21 IST

A multilateral forum on climate change is all set to call for a 50 per cent cut on global emissions by 2050 and an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for industrialised nations, according to a draft declaration obtained by KyodoNews.

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The draft will be adopted next week at the summit meeting of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) on Energy and Climate to be held on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in Italy.
The proposal apparently refers to a UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines that developed countries should cut emissions by 25-40 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 to keep temperatures below a 2 C rise.
"We are aware of the broad scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2 degrees Celsius," the draft read.
Based on this recognition, the MEF leaders "support an aspirational global goal of reducing global emissions by 50 per cent by 2050, with developed countries reducing emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050," the document added.
Negotiators of MEF members, the G-8 countries which include EU, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, SAfrica and SKorea, are expected to meet in Italy in and work on finalising the draft.
"Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time," the draft noted.
"As leaders of the world's major economies, we intend to respond vigorously to this challenge, being convinced that climate change poses a clear danger requiring an extraordinary global response," it added.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/climate-forum-to-seek-50-global-emissions-cut-by-2050/66563/on

Obama hopes to push through G8 climate deal
(GUARDIAN NEWS SERVICE)
By Patrick Wintour in London, and Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Barack Obama is hoping to restore momentum to the search for a global deal on climate change this year when he chairs a meeting of the major economies next week during the G8 summit in Italy.
The American president is hoping that the 17-nation meeting - which will include G8 members and a range of other major economies who produce roughly 80 per cent of world carbon emissions - will sign up to a pledge to prevent world temperatures increasing by more than 2C, the maximum thought permissible before climate change becomes irreversible.
It is the first time that Obama has backed the pledge. He will also travel to Moscow ahead of the G8 to try to bind Russia to a global climate change deal.
The meeting of the leading nations is being held in a former army barracks in the Italian town of L'Aquila. The venue was switched to the town, which was shattered by an earthquake earlier this year, by the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and the luxuries of normal world-leader summits will be notably absent.
In what could prove a pivotal meeting on Wednesday at the summit, Obama will use his prestige to pull together the developed and developing countries ahead of a make-or-break UN session in Copenhagen designed to set the future framework on climate change, post 2012.
Obama is said to be willing to take the initiative by dropping long-standing US opposition to the 2C target, according to a draft communique.
A UK official said: "The fact that Obama is chairing this meeting and really wants to make progress shows how far the US has travelled over the past year. We are not expecting the developing countries to sign up to targets at this summit, but we need to start making progress."
In Italy, the British prime minister, Gordon Brown, is also hoping to sell his ambitious plan, unveiled last week, of a $100bn-per-annum climate change aid programme. Brown is the first world leader to put a figure on the amount of green technological aid the west might need to fund to help developing countries grow sustainably. He is trying to break a diplomatic logjam by proposing the financing package by 2020, much of the figure coming from the private sector.
He hopes the proposals will be a lure for developing countries such as India to commit themselves this year to carbon reduction targets. In a severe blow to those hoping to secure a global deal on climate change, India this week again ruled out committing itself to carbon reduction targets. India is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and its emissions are projected to treble by 2050.
The UN is supposed to agree a post-2012 climate change framework in Copenhagen in December. Obama has already pledged to bring US emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020, meaning Washington will rein in emissions by about 14 per cent from 2005 levels. Legislation was passed by Congress last week. Obama's predecessor, George Bush, acted as a brake on progress at G8 summits, first refusing to accept climate change was man made, and then objecting to specific carbon reduction targets.
Obama and Brown are also hoping to use the G8 summit in Italy to prevent western economies backsliding on their previous commitments to Africa, with the British prime minister said to be spending the weekend priming himself on the aid record of G8 member states and planning to go into the meeting to fight.
Italy has one of the worst records on international aid, and is due to cut its aid budget by 56 per cent next year. Brown is struggling to win support for a bare-minimum proposal that the G8 draw up internal rules to police how its members meet their aid commitments
Italy is especially keen to keep the idea off the agenda, since it will embarrass to Berlusconi. Italy had a commitment to ensure aid represents 0.51 per cent of gross national income by 2010. It is on course to hit 0.1 per cent.
Privately, many western diplomats are in despair at the fact the G8 this year is being hosted by the scandal-ridden Italian president. Many have questioned the continued relevance of the G8, and Berlusconi was forced to concede yesterday that his plans for new international financial rules to be agreed at the summit will represent little progress.
Britain is also looking for action at the G8 on the UN commitment to cut maternal mortality by 75 per cent by 2015. The number of maternal deaths is stuck at 500,000 per year, suggesting there has been no progress at all since the target was set in 2000.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907040923.htm

Indian Environment & Forest Ministry to consult fishing communities before changing coastal regulations
Jul 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 pm | By NVO Bureau | Category: Environment, Featured
New Delhi: In a significant development, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Indian Minister for Environment and Forests, has confirmed that no change will be undertaken in India’s Coastal Regulation Notification without first consulting fishing and other communities along India’s coastline. He made this commitment to a delegation of representatives from various fishing communities coordinated by the National Fishworkers Forum and Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation) when they met him in Delhi on 02 July.
In particular, Mr. Ramesh has confirmed that the controversial Draft Coastal Zone Management Notification, largely based on the controversial report of Agricultural Scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, would be allowed to lapse on 22 July 2009. The Minister also made it very clear that the existing Coastal Regulation Zone would continue pending discussion on its reforms. It was also confirmed that the recommendations of the PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS, TWO HUNDRED AND SECOND REPORT ON COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES submitted on 20 March 2009 would be followed.
Mr. Jairam Ramesh has also confirmed that within the next two months 5 consultations would be held to discuss areas of improvement of the existing CRZ Notification. These consultations would be held at Bhubaneswar, Kerala, Chennai, Goa and Mumbai and coordinated by the Ministry in collaboration with National Fishworkers Forum. Acceding to the demand of the fishing communities, Mr. Ramesh has confirmed that the reform process would not interfere with the traditional and customary rights of fishing communities. In fact, precautionary measures would be taken to ensure the protection of traditional fisher people, their livelihoods and the coast.
Mr. T. Peter of KSMTF has in a letter to Mr. Ramesh stated the following:
“On behalf of the Fishing community, I would like to thank you for meeting with the fishworkers delegation yesterday (2 July 2009). The points you made on the CMZ notification being lapsed, beginning wide ranging consultations with the fishing community and recognising our customary rights is well appreciated. We look forward to working with you and your ministry to take these issues forward.”
It may be recalled that widespread protests have greeted the proposal to reform India’s coastal regulations by introducing the highly controversial CMZ Notification. Fishing communities in particular, and coastal communities in general, have protested the need for such amendments stating that the current mess in protecting our coastline is largely a result of the weak implementation by the Centre and States of the provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification – 1991, as also its repeated dilutions.
In recent years, yielding to pressures from investor and industrial lobbies for quick and easy clearances for a variety of urban, infrastructure and coastline developments that adversely affected coastal environments and communities, the draft CZM Notification was introduced consequent to recommendations by the Swaminathan Committee. Fishing communities across the country have rejected both the Committee’s findings, process by which it was formulated and also the need for amending the CRZ Notification. In fact, there has been a growing demand to strictly move against violations per the CRZ Notification.
http://nvonews.com/2009/07/03/indian-environment-forest-ministry-to-consult-fishing-communities-before-changing-coastal-regulations/