Konversi Batubara Jadi Gas di Sumatera

Mitsubishi Incar Bisnis Konversi Batubara Jadi Gas di Sumatera
Mitsubishi Corp siap berinvestasi di Indonesia untuk proyek konversi batubara kualitas rendah menjadi gas. Perusahaan asal Jepang tersebut berencana memulai proyeknya di Sumatera pada 2012.

Demikian disampaikan oleh Wakil Menteri Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM) Widjajono Partowidagdo ketika ditemui di Kantor Menteri Perekonomian, Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta, Selasa (3/1/2012).


"Mistubishi akan bertemu dengan saya segera untuk membicarakan pengolahan batubara menjadi gas. Mereka rencananya membangun pabrik di Sumatera nantinya," kata Widjajono.

Menurutnya, gas yang nantinya dihasilkan dari pengolahan tersebut harga jualnya akan murah. Nantinya, bisa dimanfaatkan untuk sumber daya listrik.

"Mereka jual US$ 10 sen per kwh. Itu kan bisa murah sekali," ungkapnya.

Dikatakan Widjajono, gas tersebut nantinya akan dikirim melalui pipa yang sudah ada ke Pulau Jawa.

Kilang pengolahan Pengganti Gas Alam (Substitute Natural Gas/SNG) direncanakan selesai, dan mulai beroperasi di 2017.

"Indonesia memiliki cadangan batubara yang besar dengan kelembaban tinggi, dan kandungan energinya sedikit, sehingga sulit untuk dimanfaatkan. Mitsubishi bisa memanfaatkannya," jelasnya.

Hal ini dilakukan juga, sambung Widjajono karena batubara jenis ini bisa menggantikan produksi minyak bumi Indonesia semakin turun karena digunakan untuk suplai listrik.

"Saat ini produksi batubara kita melimpah namun 80% untuk ekspor. Kalau dipakai konversi kan bagus itu. Batubara bisa diubah jadi gas," jelas Widjajono.

(dru/dnl)

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Great Panther Signs New Sales Contracts

Great Panther Signs New Sales Contracts for Topia Concentrates

GREAT PANTHER RESOURCES LIMITED announce it has signed contracts with Louis Dreyfus Commodities Metals Suisse SA (LDC), part of one of the world’s largest commodities trading companies, for the sale of lead and zinc concentrates from the Company’s wholly owned Topia silver-lead-zinc mine in Durango State, Mexico. The contracts are effective through to December 31, 2010 and will enable Great Panther to achieve further reductions in unit costs from its Topia operations. Including other cost-cutting measures, Topia’s unit costs for 2009 are now forecast to be in the range of US$8.50 to US$9.00 per ounce of silver, net of by-products, down from the initial estimate of US$11.00 to US$11.50 per ounce (see news release dated Feb. 18, 2009). Topia’s costs in the first quarter of 2009 had already started to come down, to US$9.18, due to higher base metal prices and to spot sales of lead concentrate to LDC while the silver refinery in Torreon was on strike.


Under the new agreements with LDC, concentrates are trucked by road from the Topia mine to the Pacific coast port of Manzanillo. The port facility in Manzanillo receives and stores the concentrate before exporting it by ship to Asian smelters, mainly in China. Over the last year the Asian demand for concentrates has increased dramatically such that highly competitive terms are now being offered. These new, lower terms outweigh the added transportation costs when compared to selling concentrates to the Mexican lead and zinc smelters. LDC blends concentrates from a number of sources to meet the various requirements of the Asian smelters.

Topia reported production of high quality concentrates in the first quarter of 2009: 372 tonnes of lead concentrate, with grades of 8,700g/t silver and 59% lead; and 434 tonnes of zinc concentrate, with grades of 470g/t silver and 55% zinc. The concentrates contained a total of 169,162 silver equivalent ounces (Ag eq oz), including 110,814 oz silver, 110 oz gold, 222 tonnes of lead and 276 tonnes of zinc. Production is continuing at these levels for the second quarter.

Great Panther also operates the larger and lower cost (US$5.21 per ounce in Q1 2009) Guanajuato silver-gold mine, from which concentrates are sold to the IMMSA copper smelter in San Luis Potosi. The estimated combined cost per ounce for the two mines in 2009 has been revised downwards to the US$6.00 to US$6.50 per ounce range, from the initial estimate of US$7.00 to US$7.50.

The Company reported total metal production from both operations of 480,267 Ag eq oz in the first quarter, including silver production of 334,635 oz. The mines are expected to increase production further through the balance of the year and the Company forecasts 2009 metal production of 1.45 million oz of silver, 6,000 oz of gold, 750 tonnes of lead and 840 tonnes of zinc, (2.07 million Ag eq oz).

Robert F. Brown, P.Eng. Vice President of Exploration for the Company is the Qualified Person for both the Guanajuato Mine and the Topia Mine, under the meaning of NI 43-101. Aspects of both mines relating to mining and metallurgy are overseen by Charles Brown, Chief Operating Officer for Great Panther and its Mexican subsidiary, Minera Mexicana El Rosario, S.A. de C.V.

NiMin Energy Signs Term Sheet for Long-Term Financing
NiMin Energy Corp. announced the execution of a preliminary term sheet for a senior secured loan (the “Loan”) in the amount of US$36 million from a large institutional private lender (the “Lender”). At the request of the Company and subject to approval by the Lender, the Loan may be increased up to US$75 million to provide additional development capital.

The new long-term Loan will be used to repay the Company’s existing short-term debt of US$22.4 million and to fund the 2010 capital program – which is focused on developing the recently acquired Wyoming assets. The Loan is for five years, carries a fixed interest rate of 12.5% per year and is expected to close by May 31, 2010, subject to customary due diligence, negotiation of final terms, conditions and other fees and costs, and approvals by Lender and the Company’s Board of Directors.

Clancy Cottman, NiMin’s Chairman and CEO, said, “This long-term financing is an important step for the Company as it both removes the short-term debt obligation from our balance sheet and provides us with the capital to execute our 2010 drilling program – including continued drilling in Wyoming and an additional well in California. It also provides NiMin with significant financing flexibility going forward to grow our business.”

The Company recently announced the completion of its first well at the Ferguson Ranch Field in Wyoming and plans to drill an additional eleven low-risk development wells in the same field during 2010. NiMin is also planning an additional well on its California property as a result of the positive production response from the Pleito Creek “Combined Miscible Drive” operations.

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Minister Strahl Visits Prairie Creek Mine Site

Canadian Zinc Corporation: Minister Strahl Visits Prairie Creek Mine Site

Canadian Zinc Corporation reports that The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non Status Indians, on July 16, 2009 visited the Company’s Prairie Creek Mine site in the Northwest Territories.

Minister Strahl was in the Northwest Territories, accompanied by The Honourable Jim Prentice, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada to mark the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve, making it the third largest National Park in Canada. The enlarged Park covers most of the South Nahanni River watershed and completely encircles the Prairie Creek Mine. However, the Prairie Creek Mine itself and a large surrounding area of approximately 300 square kilometers are specifically excluded from the Park and are not part of the expanded Park.


Touring the Prairie Creek Mine site facilities, Minister Strahl said the Government’s decision on the expansion of Nahanni National Park reflects a balanced approach to development and to conservation which allows for mineral resource and energy development in the Northwest Territories and at the same time protects the environment.

The exclusion of the Prairie Creek Mine from the expanded Park allows for the creation of a generation’s worth of high value jobs and potential long term economic opportunities for the people of the Dehcho First Nations, through the agreements that have been entered into with Canadian Zinc.

The balanced approach allows for future development of energy and mineral resources in the region outside the Park Reserve and provides economic opportunities, something that is important for all the people of NWT and for all Canadians. Securing agreement on the expansion of the Park required a careful balancing of all the interests, including those of the Northwest Territorial Government that want to see economic development in the North. The development of the Prairie Creek Mine has been an important part of the discussions, said Minister Strahl.

Balanced Approach to Reach Agreement on Park Boundaries:

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada worked with Parks Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Territorial Governments to undertake a mineral and energy resource assessment (MERA) of the expansion area. The MERA ensured that the economic and strategic significance of mineral and energy resource potential was adequately considered in the national park expansion process.

The MERA results, along with the conservation research studies, were used to create a boundary that balances key conservation targets and potential future economic benefit. Nine percent of the Greater Nahanni ecosystem has been excluded from the expanded national park reserve. This represents all the hydrocarbon potential and about half of the most important mineral potential identified by the MERA Study, as well as 100% of the existing mineral claims and mining leases such as the Prairie Creek Mine, currently under development, and the operating Cantung Mine.

The Government of Canada recognizes pre-existing third party mining rights including access to those rights. Development of these rights, including the right of access, will still be subject to existing regulatory processes.

In welcoming Minister Strahl to the Prairie Creek Mine site, Canadian Zinc Corporation’s Chairman, John Kearney said: “Canadian Zinc appreciates the support we have received for the development of the Prairie Creek Mine from the Government of Canada, and from the Government of the Northwest Territories and the communities of the Dehcho.”

The Prairie Creek mineral deposit contains very substantial quantities of zinc, lead and silver. When in production the Mine will add significantly to Canada’s production of lead and zinc concentrates and will create employment for about 225 people and business opportunities for the local communities in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories which currently have a very high unemployment rate and a growing population.

“Canadian Zinc worked very closely, and constructively, with officials at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and at Parks Canada to achieve this balanced solution which facilitates both the expansion of Nahanni National Park and the development of the Prairie Creek Mine which will bring much needed jobs, benefits, business opportunities and economic stimulus to the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories and presents a unique opportunity to strengthen and enhance the social and economic wellbeing of the surrounding Dehcho communities;” Mr. Kearney added.

New Legislation Enacted by Canadian Parliament:

A new Act entitled “An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act to enlarge Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada” was recently unanimously passed by both the House of Commons and the Senate and received Royal assent on June 17, 2009.

The new Act provides for the expansion of Nahanni National Park and, crucially from CZN’s point of view, at Section 7 amends Section 41 of the Canada National Parks Act to enable the Minister of the Environment to grant leases, licences of occupation of, and easements over, public lands situated in the expansion area for the purposes of a mining access road leading to the Prairie Creek Area, including the sites of storage and other facilities connected with that road. Heretofore, an access road to a mine through a National Park was not permitted under the Canada National Parks Act, and the Act was amended solely for Nahanni National Park Reserve and specifically for the purpose of providing access to the Prairie Creek Mine area.

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Golden Minerals Announces the Sale

Golden Minerals Announces the Sale of Platosa Property

Golden Minerals Company announced the sale of the Company’s remaining 49% joint venture interest in the Platosa property to Excellon Resources Inc. (“Excellon”), for US $2.0 million in cash and a 1% net smelter return royalty. Previous agreements between the Company and Excellon, including a 2% net smelter return royalty previously granted, were terminated in this transaction. Definitive agreements have been executed, titles to the claims have been transferred and the US $2.0 million cash payment has been made by Excellon.

The Platosa property is located approximately 45 kilometers north of Torre?n, Mexico, outside of Golden Minerals Zacatecas project and the Company’s strategic area of interest. The Company’s Zacatecas Project, which encompasses about 15,000 hectares and currently includes four main target areas, is about 250 kilometers southeast of the Platosa property.


Selwyn Resources Options Vinata Property, Mexico and Plans Drilling
Selwyn Resources Ltd. announce that it has reached agreement with Savant Explorations Ltd. to acquire an interest in its Vinata Property located in the state of Chihuahua in north central Mexico. The acquisition agreement grants Selwyn an option to acquire an initial 50% interest in the Vinata Property, and upon exercising of that option, a second option for Selwyn to increase its interest to 55% by making additional expenditures. Selwyn and Savant are planning a USD$450,000 drilling program to commence in late September to test several prime targets for high grade silver-zinc-lead mineralization. The acquisition of an interest in the Vinata Property by Selwyn is subject to receipt by the parties of required regulatory approvals and to completion of final documentation.

The acquisition provides Selwyn shareholders with exploration activity at a time when Selwyn’s large scale zinc-lead Selwyn Project is focused largely on environmental assessment and engineering activities related to the evaluation of development alternatives. Selwyn remains clearly focused on the development of the Selwyn Project but believes that shareholders would benefit from successful exploration activity on the Vinata Property.

The Vinata Property is located in north central Mexico in the prolific Central Mineral Belt that hosts numerous very large silver-zinc-lead mining districts at Bismark, Cinco de Mayo, Santa Eulalia, Naica, San Martin and Fresnillo. The Vinata Project is seen as providing Selwyn an exciting opportunity to participate in the exploration for a new major silver-zinc-lead deposit along trend with the Santa Eulalia and Naica mining districts. Collectively these two mining districts have produced more than 750 million ounces of silver and significant zinc and lead.

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Chinese demand for steel to keep growing

Chinese demand for steel to keep growing for a decade

Bloomberg reported that China voracious demand for steel will keep growing for at least a decade helping to sustain Australia's mining boom.

Chinese steel demand is still low on a per capita basis and will not peak until 2024 if GDP grows at about 7% annually or a few years earlier if its rate remains higher.

Mr Huw McKay Westpac economist, Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics commodity analyst Mr Yu Sheng and Australian National University associate professor Mr Ligang Song said “The path that China takes from here will have profound implications for the global demand and supply balance.”


They said “Chinese GDP per capita grew at a compound rate of 7% between 1980 and 2008. Extrapolating current growth rates in urbanization plus investment and trade propensity, our framework produces the result that peak demand for steel will be reached when China GDP per capita level is USD 15,449. If China continues on its post-1980 trajectory of 7% compound growth, China would reach this point during 2024.”

The researchers said that China per capita income was USD 5449 in 2008, so it must almost triple to attain peak steel intensity. They said “Based on this projection, in per capita terms, China's demand for steel will be higher than the peak level reached in the West, but lower than the peaks seen in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.”

The findings are to be published in an upcoming book on China edited by Mr Ross Garnaut.

They are backed up by the Economist Intelligence Unit, whose Beijing chief Mr Stephen Joske told The Australian “China is likely to surprise on the upside in its output of key products such as steel, cement, electricity and cars over the next decade.”

He said that "At the EIU in Beijing we do very detailed a forecast of long term supply and demand by province and it paints a very strong picture overall. For China we have the quantity of steel produced rising by around 60% between now and 2020."

Once self sufficient in coal, China has turned to importing the resource, particularly the harder metallurgical or coking coal that is used in steelmaking and of which Australia is prime supplier. Figures released yesterday showed that China imported 94.2 million tonnes of coal in the January to July period.

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