http://www.minews.ir/Others Wed, 26 Aug 2015 04:50:58 GMT News Studio(News Distribution System http://www.minews.ir/skins/default/en/{CURRENT_THEME}/ch01_newsfeed_logo.gif http://www.minews.ir/ 100 70 en Produced by Minews Wed, 26 Aug 2015 04:50:58 GMT Others 60 http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/27041/iran-s-cement-exports-hit-5-1m-tons-in-4-months (Minews) - About 5.167 million tons of cement was exported in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21), the IRIB quoted Abdolreza Sheikhan, Secretary of the Iranian Cement Industry Employers, as saying on Saturday.The country’s cement production in the four-month period totaled 20.888 million tons, the IRIB quoted Sheikhan as saying.The country’s cement production amounted to 5.262 million tons in the fourth month of the current Iranian calendar (started on July 23), of which 653,999 tons was exported, Sheikhan added.Iran exports cement to some two dozen countries including Iraq, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, the UAE, Georgia, Oman, India, and China.Iran produced 66.4 million tons of cement in the previous Iranian calendar year, as compared to 69.6 million tons in its preceding year.In terms of export, Iran exported 18.9 million tons in the previous Iranian calendar year, compared to 18.8 million tons in its preceding year, according to the Iranian Cement Industry Employers. ]]> Others Sun, 23 Aug 2015 04:11:32 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/27041/iran-s-cement-exports-hit-5-1m-tons-in-4-months http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/27038/philippines-iran-to-talk-on-mining-investment (Minews) – A Filipino economic delegation has arrived in Iran on Saturday to hold talks with Iranian officials on mining investment.During its three-day stay, the Filipino delegation would ink an agreement with Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO).The delegation aims at making investment in Iran mining section and to receive first-hand account of trade opportunities in Iran in the post-sanctions era.Regarding JCPOA reached on July 14, the current Philippines Secretary of Trade and Industry Gregory L. Domingo hoped that lifting of international sanctions would prepare suitable conditions for expansion of relations between Iran and the Philippines.He said the Philippines delegation would survey areas of mutual cooperation in the post-sanction era during its Iran visit. ]]> Others Sat, 22 Aug 2015 14:22:55 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/27038/philippines-iran-to-talk-on-mining-investment http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26934/australia-keen-to-invest-in-iran-s-mine-industry (Minews) – Australia voiced its enthusiasm to resume and strengthen cooperation with Iran in its mine industry.The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), a leading body tasked with contributing to Australia’s economic prosperity, has sent a representative to Tehran in the hope of returning to Iran’s lucrative mine industry.Gerard Seeber, who is responsible for Austrade’s operations across the Middle East and North Africa region, held a meeting with CEO of the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) Mahdi Karbasian in Tehran.During the meeting, Seeber voiced his country’s eagerness to resume and bolster ties with Iran in the mine industry.Australia is aware of the advantages and opportunities that exist in Iran’s mine sector, he noted, saying that Australian companies are willing to return to Iran and invest in the country's mine projects.For his part, Karbasian highlighted the abundant opportunities for investment in Iran’s mine sector, expressing Tehran’s willingness to cooperate with Australian firms in mineral exploration.The promising prospect of trade with Iran after the conclusion of nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers has prompted many countries to explore the market potential in the Middle East nation.Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14 reached a conclusion on a lasting nuclear agreement that would terminate all sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program after coming into force. ]]> Others Tue, 18 Aug 2015 14:40:22 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26934/australia-keen-to-invest-in-iran-s-mine-industry http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26857/oman-s-mining-sector-to-attract-foreign-investment (Minews) - Oman’s mining sector foresees notable growth in the next few years, following the discovery of sizeable reserves of minerals, gold, copper and rare earths, which will significantly boost mining activities and attract investment to the Sultanate.Plans are underway to set up mineral processing and refining facilities in the Port of Duqm’s industrial zone mining cluster, according to a press release.Oman’s largest mining group, the Kunooz Group of companies, which comprises Al Rawas Mining Company, Mihwar Al Wifaq, Majan Mining Company, Al Rawas Marble & Granite, Salalah Readymix and Al Rawas Transport, Machinery Hiring & Trading, and two associates Majan Mining and Carmeuse Majan,will showcase its products, services and projects at the Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition & Conference.Al Rawas Mining Company mines and exports gypsum to the global market and is currently evaluating downstream value add products such as POP and gypsum board; Mihwar Al Wifaq mines and sells gabbro aggregates and sand in and around Muscat for the road and construction industry; Al Rawas Marble & Granite supplies cut and polished Omani marble in the form of slabs, tiles, steps and raises as well as specially ordered cut to size products to the local and international markets.Similarly, Salalah Readymix provides local readymix concrete blocks curbstones and crushed sand and stone in Salalah, Taqah and Mirbat; and Al Rawas Transport, Machinery Hiring & Trading provides transport services for its projects and moves for various customers’ food and equipment between Salalah and Muscat and a number of the key ports across Oman.Omanexpo’s first edition of Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition and Conference, supported by the Public Authority for Mining, is scheduled from December 1 to 3. The exhibition, which will feature about 100 companies representing segments that range from mining exploration and equipment, building material, engineering and construction, information technology, and mineral resources to logistics, will take place at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in concurrence with the two-day conference, which will be held at the Golden Tulip Hotel Seeb.In its bid to play a central role in the government’s economic diversification strategy to reduce oil dependence and to increase awareness about its mining and downstream capacity, apart from providing value to a comprehensive show of international exhibits, Kunooz Oman Holdings has enhanced its role and involvement in the event by being its main sponsor.“Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition & Conference is our way of contributing to the sustainable growth path for the mining industry in Oman. This comes in the heels of the government’s recent reforms and new legislation that will increase value addition and build Oman’s domestic minerals value chain,” said Indrajeet Kumar, project manager, Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition & Conference.“We are pleased to welcome Kunooz Oman Holding to the event, which we see, is a healthy starting point in helping to develop the industry,” he added.Omanexpo is the pioneer and leading organizer of high-profileand highly targeted trade exhibitions and conferences that support the continued growth of Oman’s major industries. ]]> Others Sun, 16 Aug 2015 11:08:25 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26857/oman-s-mining-sector-to-attract-foreign-investment http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26833/japan-firms-eye-iran-s-rich-mineral-reserves (Minews) - Japan’s leading steelmakers have announced interest in Iran’s mining projects, including production of precious metals such as titanium. Executives of Kobe Steel Ltd, Japan’s fourth-biggest steelmaker, and the State-run Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (JOGMEC) met officials in Tehran and discussed cooperation in Iran’s mine and mining industries sector.JOGMEC Project Director Satoshi Asawa indicated that his company could partner Iranian firms for financing metals and energy projects and transfer of technology, given the opportunity the conclusion of nuclear talks has created. Asawa and head of Kobe Steel’s iron unit division Hiroshi Ishikawa traveled to Tehran last week with a delegation of Japanese executives of major industries led by State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Daishiro Yamagiwa.They met a number of Iranian officials and traders, including head of the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) Mehdi Karbasian.Asawa said his company was ready to undertake development of iron ore, copper, coal, titanium, potash and other mineral enterprises from production to trade in Iran.“Iran is blessed with rich mines, including iron ore resources. One of the technologies owned by our holding is for extracting iron ore from a depth of 1,500 meters, which we can offer to Iranian companies,” local media quoted Asawa as saying.He said Japanese companies are capable of offering various economization solutions for projects. Iran has a variety of projects on offer to start cooperation with the Japanese companies, ranging from exploration, mining and processing to high added value production, Karbasian said.Kobe Steel’s priority is to produce iron ore pellets and sponge iron in Iran, Ishikawa said, adding his company had already provided technology license for direct reduced iron production to Iranian firms. Karbsian outlined Iran’s plans to quadruple steel production to 55 million metric tons a year by 2025.“In addition to our plans for production of base metals such as steel, copper and aluminum, we seek (foreign) cooperation for execution of projects to produce rare earth elements and titanium,” he said.Iran is estimated to hold around 60 billion metric tons of mineral reserves, making it the 15th richest country in this category. Up to 68 types of minerals have been discovered across the country.Iran’s zinc reserves are the world’s largest, with copper, iron, uranium and lead ranked between seventh and 12th. However, mining and mineral industries combined account for less than five percent of the country’s GDP. ]]> Others Sat, 15 Aug 2015 14:16:19 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26833/japan-firms-eye-iran-s-rich-mineral-reserves http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26600/iranian-researchers-produce-zinc-from-mining-waste (Minews) - Iranian researchers have produced the world’s third strategic metal using mining waste.Iranian researchers at a Science Park in Markazi Province, central Iran, recovered slag from zinc industries, ISNA reported.Ali Azimi, the lead researcher, said the project finds a solution for extracting zinc of high purity from slag and industrial waste.Using the method of sublimation and pressure, the researchers separated zinc from elements such as iron, cadmium and lead, and increased zinc purity.He also said zinc with 80%-85% purity is no longer used in industries, adding that the method increases the purity to 99.99 percent, which is a standard grade for industries.Azimi noted that the country has established two factories for zinc production with these properties.The firms will start operations by producing 2 tons of zinc ingots. ]]> Others Wed, 05 Aug 2015 12:32:33 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26600/iranian-researchers-produce-zinc-from-mining-waste http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26597/south-africa-strives-to-save-jobs-at-under-fire-mines (Minews) - South Africa's mining ministry held talks with companies and unions over planned job cuts on Wednesday, as President Jacob Zuma's government frets over high unemployment ahead of key elections next year.The mining industry, which contributes around 7 percent to Africa's most developed economy, is struggling with sinking commodity prices, rising costs and labor unrest."It's about jobs, jobs, jobs and none of us should leave this place without committing something to the table," mining minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi told reporters.Zuma's African National Congress (ANC) heads into local elections next year with its main rival the Democratic Alliance (DA) targeting wins in key metropolitan areas, including Gauteng, home to economic hub Johannesburg.The DA will target the ANC on its inability to reduce stubbornly high unemployment, which officially stands at 25 percent but some experts believe is much higher.Ramatlhodi on Tuesday ordered Glencore to suspend operations at its 10 million tonne-a-year Optimum coal mine because the mining group hadn't followed legal procedure in its plan to cut 380 jobs at the mine.Glencore has said it complied with all legal requirements relating to job cuts.The DA described the suspension at Optimum as a "panic move" that will make jobs losses worse.Ramatlhodi said talks with Glencore had taken place overnight and he hoped to be able to lift the mine suspension if the company met government directives.The mines ministry is also mediating between Glencore and power utility Eskom after a spat between the two companies over the price the state-owned company pays for coal.South Africa is facing potentially its biggest-ever power crisis as Eskom imposes regular power cuts due to insufficient generation capacity, pushing up costs for industry and hampering already sluggish economic growth.The gold sector's two biggest unions have rejected a 17 percent wage increase offer from producers, including AngloGold, Harmony and Sibanye, stringing out pay negotiations and raising the prospect of strikes.Platinum producers, including Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum, have also clashed with unions and government over their plans for job cuts and mine closures.Lonmin said last month it was planning to close or mothball several mine shafts in a bid to survive plunging prices, putting 6,000 South African jobs at risk. ]]> Others Wed, 05 Aug 2015 12:14:16 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26597/south-africa-strives-to-save-jobs-at-under-fire-mines http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26523/lafargeholcim-cemex-defeat-eu-as-cement-antitrust-probe-closed (Minews) - LafargeHolcim Ltd., the cement maker formed this month in a Franco-Swiss tie-up, won an five-year long antitrust fight with the European Union after regulators dropped a price-fixing probe for lack of evidence.Cemex SAB, the largest cement maker in the Americas, and Germany’s HeidelbergCement AG were also among producers let off after a fruitless probe that went as far as the bloc’s top courts in Luxembourg.“The evidence obtained in the commission’s investigation was not sufficiently conclusive to confirm these initial concerns,” the European Commission said in an e-mailed statement. The regulator said it “will continue to monitor closely developments in the European cement markets.”Six companies, including Mexican producer Cemex and Buzzi Unicem SpA last year lost challenges at the EU General Court in Luxembourg against the EU’s “fishing expedition” for what they claimed was unnecessary information in its probe.The commission carried out dawn raids at the companies in 2008 and 2009 seeking evidence to confirm its suspicions of possible restrictions, market sharing, price rigging and information exchanges.The investigation looked into suspected violations in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K. ]]> Others Sat, 01 Aug 2015 08:53:40 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26523/lafargeholcim-cemex-defeat-eu-as-cement-antitrust-probe-closed http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26451/alrosa-s-biggest-diamond-mine-goes-underground (Minews) - Russia’s Alrosa, the world's top diamond producer by output in carats, has officially shifted operations at its flagship Udachnaya mine from open-pit to underground mining.The underground face of Udachnaya (meaning “lucky”) is expected to yield 5 million carats a year by 2019. It will be the Russian firm’s largest underground mine and one of the world’s top diamond producing mines, Alrosa said in a statement.Open-pit mining at the Udachny kimberlite pipe, one of Alrosa’s largest deposits, began in 1967. Since then, the 640-meter deep pipe produced about 350 million tons of ore containing rough diamonds worth around $80 billion, with an output of up to 12.8 million tons of ore per year.The final blasting operations at the open-pit mine took place in the first half of 2015, producing 1.05 million tons of ore (about 1.7 million carats of rough diamonds) during the year.“The Udachny open-pit made a great contribution to ALROSA’s development, and its conservation represents a milestone in the history of the company,” Andrey Zharkov, ALROSA's president said in the statement.He added that the mine is central to ALROSA’s goal of reaching annual production of 41 million carats, along with a gradual increase in production at the Zarnitsa open-pit mine and new kimberlite pipes, located in the Verkhne-Munskoye field, expected to come on stream in 2018, as part of the Udachny division. This unit groups the Udachnaya mine, the Zarnitsa pipe, and various alluvial deposits located in western Yakutia region.The division, which is one of five mining units at ALROSA, registered a 30% production increase to 2.8 million carats during the first half of 2015, compared to the same period last year, with the bulk coming from the Udachnaya open pit.  Diamond giantAlrosa also operates the International and Aikhal underground mines, which have a capacity of 500 thousand tons of ore per year, and the Mir underground mine, which can reach 1 million tons of ore per year at full-tilt.Currently the miner’s main processing facilities are in Western Yakutia and the Arkhangelsk region, as well as in Africa —in Angola and Botswana. ]]> Others Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:53:33 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26451/alrosa-s-biggest-diamond-mine-goes-underground http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26429/pakistani-cement-exports-may-shrink-after-iran-sanctions-are-lifted (Minews) - Pakistan's cement exports may drop by 10 – 15% at the start of 2016 as more Iranian cement will enter on the world market after sanctions have been lifted, according to Dawn.Pakistani manufacturers will have to increase their export market destinations. However, local Pakistani cement industry officials believe that 'quality-conscious' countries like the UAE, India, Qatar and Sri Lanka may still prefer Pakistani cement as it is 'better' than its Iranian counterpart.The officials are optimistic that the budget allocation for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) may play a positive role in incrasing domestic cement consumption and may dilute to some extent the negative impact posed by the anti-dumping duty in South Africa on Pakistani cement and influx of Iranian cement on the international market. Around 60 – 65% of Iran's cement exports go to Iraq, 10 – 15% to Afghanistan and the remaining to other countries including Pakistan.The removal of sanctions is not expected to aggravate competition in Afghanistan, as it is only feasible for Iranian producers to target the Kandahar region closer to the border. The main market for Pakistani producers is Kabul and Jalalabad, where Iranian cement will not be competitive due to the higher transportation cost.Iran is the fourth largest manufacturer of cement in the world with a capacity of around 80Mt/yr. This capacity is set to rise in the next two years. The country's cement production stands at 66Mt/yr, around 84% capacity utilisation, out of which 28% is exported. ]]> Others Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:49:17 GMT http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/26429/pakistani-cement-exports-may-shrink-after-iran-sanctions-are-lifted