WITH the short-term outlook for commodities remaining negative there is little likelihood of any relief for the next 12 months, which means more belt tightening, more mine closures and job losses, more financial hardship and more pain.
Economic instability and uncertainty which have characterized the global economy since the financial crisis continue to cast a shadow worldwide, particularly in the mining space. While the US has recovered somewhat, the Eurozone continues to be curtailed by uncertainty and Australia has been hit hard by depressed resources prices, high cost of doing business, over-reliance on mining and lack of capital for exploration, mine development or expansion. Despite the doom and gloom, the global outlook is becoming more optimistic and there are signs that the mining industry may have hit rock bottom.
THE signing of the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) Underground Mine Development and Financing Plan by the Government of Mongolia, Turquoise Hill Resources and Rio Tinto is not only the best news to come from Mongolia for some time … it is a major boost to the global mining industry.
By John Miller /Editor
THE Philippines looks set to benefit from its enormous mineral potential - it has been said countless times before in recent history but this time around appears to have some substance. Strength in the nickel sector owing to Indonesia’s ban on raw ore exports, the success of a number of gold producers and a government that is making some positive moves to attract mining investment all add up to create a bright light in a rather gloomy global mining scene.