Ukrainian Ferroalloy Production Doubles

Ukrainian Ferroalloy Production Doubles

Ukraine doubled its ferroalloy output in the first seven months of this year, according to figures released by Ukrainian Ferroalloy Producers' Association.

Output for the period grew to 871,500 tonnes. Silicon manganese production grew 83.1 per cent to 573,700 tonnes, ferromanganese rose 260 per cent to 173,000 tonnes, ferrosilicon 45 output rose 71.7 per cent to 116,400 tonnes and manganese metal production was up 7.7 per cent to 8,400 tonnes.

The country’s largest producer, Nikopol Ferroalloy Works (NFW), raised silicon manganese production 65.8 per cent year-on-year in the seven months to 421,000 tonnes while ferromanganese production was up 460 per cent to 132,500 tonnes. Overall ferroalloy output at Nikopol rose 140 per cent year-on-year to 554,000 tonnes.

Zaporizhia Ferroalloy Works (ZFW) saw silicon manganese production more than double to 103,100 tonnes with output of ferrosilicon 45 rising 120 per cent to 33,800 tonnes. ZFW’s ferromanganese was up 64.4 per cent to 40,500 tonnes and manganese metal production rose 7.7 per cent to 8,400 tonnes. Total ferroalloy output at ZFW doubled to 185,800 tonnes.

The Stakhanov Ferroalloy Plant (SZF), doubled its total production to 131,700 tonnes, while the country's two manganese concentrate producers, the Ordzhonikidze and Marhanets mining and beneficiation plants, produced 846,500 tonnes of concentrate between them in January-July - more than double the production in the same period of last year.

Bowen Basin Coal Mine Approved

Bowen Basin Coal Mine Approved

The government in the Australian state of Queensland has approved the development of a A$4 billion coal mine in the state’s Bowen Basin region that will create over1500 new jobs. However, the government also announced said the development was subject to a raft of strict development and operating constraints.

The Caval Ridge project is proposed by the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance and plans an open-cast mine that straddles the Peak Downs Highway, near Moranbah, 170 kilometres south-west of Mackay.

State treasurer Andrew Fraser said the government's decision was based on the coordinator-general's evaluation, which followed over 18 months of environmental impact assessments.

The state’s conditions set clear principles and procedures with respect to air quality monitoring, dust and water management, community consultation and the mitigation of potential social impacts of the mine.

The Federal Minister for Environment will assess the report under Commonwealth environmental legislation.

Around 1200 construction jobs and 495 ongoing operational jobs will be created for up to 30 years.

Construction of the mine could start in 2011, with first coal exports by 2014.

Atlas, Aurox Merger Clears Final Hurdle

Atlas, Aurox Merger Clears Final Hurdle

The merger between Australian iron ore miners Aurox Resources and Atlas Iron have cleared its final regulatory hurdle on Thursday when the country’s Federal Court approved the $A143 million deal.

As a result of the approval, shares in Aurox will cease to be traded on the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday with shares in the merged entity set to be traded from Monday.

Under the merger deal, shareholders in Aurox will receive one Atlas share
for every three Aurox shares held, a deal that values Aurox at 74 cents a share, a 173 premium to Aurox’s share price prior to the deal being announced on 9 March 2010.

The merged entity will have up to 33 million tonnes per year of allocated port capacity in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

Atlas commenced DSO mining at its Wodgina iron ore project in the Pilbara region
on 20 June. Atlas plans to export iron ore from Wodgina and its Pardoo project in the Pilbara at an annualised rate of 6 million tonnes by the end of the year and 12 million tonnes by 2012.

The company is also developing the Balla Balla project in the West Pilbara area with a mineral resource of 456 million tonnes and ore reserves of 238 million tonnes.

The company will also benefit from Aurox’s allocation of 6 million tonnes a year at the Utah Point berth at Port Hedland.