Mining Companies Exploration and Investment News

Macarthur Coal Ltd., the world’s largest producer of pulverized coal used by steelmakers, raised its full-year profit forecast as sales increased, bolstering speculation the company may be a takeover target.

Profit, excluding accounting adjustments, may be between A$115 million ($96 million) and A$125 million for the 12 months ended June 30, compared with its earlier forecast of A$103 million to A$113 million, Macarthur said today in a statement.

The Brisbane-based company rose 5.2 percent yesterday after Thailand’s Banpu Pcl agreed to buy the rest of Centennial Coal Co. for A$2 billion. Shares of Riversdale Mining Ltd. and Whitehaven Coal Ltd. also gained after the bid. (continue reading…)

Centennial Coal has accepted a cash offer with a 40 per cent premium from Thailand’s Banpu, valuing the NSW coal miner at $2.4 billion.

As revealed by The Australian on its website earlier today, Centennial confirmed Banpu — Thailand’s biggest coal producer — has offered $6.20 a share for the 80 per cent of the Hunter Valley thermal coal producer it doesn’t already own.

Banpu said it would finance the deal through cash reserves and new and existing credit facilities. JPMorgan is advising Banpu, with UBS advising Centennial.
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As BP readied its latest fallback plan to stop oil gushing from one of its wells in the Gulf of Mexico, the Obama administration and the company warned that the crude could continue flowing until August, compounding threats to coastal wetlands, fisheries and beaches.

White House energy and climate adviser Carol Browner declared Sunday that the oil spill was “probably the biggest environmental disaster we’ve ever faced in this country” and said that “we are prepared for the worst.” On the CBS show “Face the Nation,” she said that the “American people need to know that it is possible we will have oil leaking from this well until August, when the relief wells will be finished.”
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Two recent reports suggest that the alternative fuel of choice over the next 20 to 30 years won’t be nuclear, coal, oil, wind or solar – but rather,
natural gas.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlighted the fact that, even before the recent discovery of very large so-called “unconventional” reserves not easily recovered, natural gas had a number of clear advantages compared to other sources of energy.

First, compared to other carbon-based fuels such as oil, natural gas produces half the CO2, has none of the waste disposal problems associated with nuclear, and is a far cheaper fuel source for electricity generation than either wind or solar. (continue reading…)

Bullion Monarch Mining Inc., a precious metals royalty and resource development company based in the United States, is pleased to again announce record quarterly revenue of $1,501,769 for the company’s third quarter ended January 31, 2010. This substantial boost in revenue is the result of increased production both in grade and volume by Newmont Mining in the prolific Northeast Nevada Carlin Trend. This represents a year over year quarterly revenue increase of approximately 49% and quarterly earnings of about USD $0.01 per share.

Newmont Mining’s declaration of increased exploration and development in areas where Bullion Monarch Mining holds royalty interests, confirms the company’s internal position of growing royalty revenues from the area over the long term. (continue reading…)

Mongolia Energy Corp, a former technology company that remade itself into a natural resources developer in 2007, will deliver its first coking coal cargo this August and is also looking at projects beyond Mongolia, a senior executive said.

Mineral rich Mongolia is attracting more attention from global investors after a deal in October with Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto to develop the $3 billion Oyu Tolgoi mine, one of the world’s biggest untapped copper and gold deposits.
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PLATTS has launched the world’s first daily coking coal index as it looks to exploit a push by BHP Billiton to abandon annually set pricing.

BHP Billiton attempt to move to quarterly or index-based pricing has been quicker than most expected, sparking a number of data providers to look at starting up spot price indexes for coking coal, which is used in steelmaking.

As well as Platts, US-based Energy Publishing has started up a weekly coking coal index for exports out of Queensland, while Britain’s Argus Media is also preparing an index.
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Like India’s steel giants, China is also showing interest in investing in South Africa’s mining sector.

According to the minister of mines in South Africa, China had shown strong interest in investing in the African nation’s mining sector.

China, Africa’s biggest emerging market partner, has been investing in the continent’s mining and energy sectors.

China is interested in manganese, platinum and uranium. But S Africa is also cautious to see if their investment is going to benefit South Africa. It is critical for the country to ensure its own interest.
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