Materials Sector
Japan finds rich rare earth deposits on seabed
Mar 21, 2013 07:46 EDT
Japanese researchers said Thursday they have found a rich deposit of rare earths on the Pacific seabed, with reports suggesting it could be up to 30 times more concentrated than Chinese reserves.
ThyssenKrupp to build cement plant in Indonesia
Mar 21, 2013 07:29 EDT
German heavy industry giant ThyssenKrupp said Thursday it has won a contract worth $250 million (194 million euros) to build a cement plant for Swiss group Holcim in Indonesia.
India to sell part stake in steel giant SAIL
Mar 20, 2013 12:32 EDT
India's government is to sell a stake in state-run steel giant SAIL, the steel ministry said on Wednesday, as part of an ambitious disinvestment plan to reduce the country's deficit.
London shares fall as Cyprus set to reject bailout
Mar 19, 2013 13:00 EDT
London shares closed lower as the 10 billion euros Cyprus bailout deal appeared headed for the rocks with MPs for the president's own party saying they wouldn't vote for it.
EU plans new bid to protect bees
Mar 19, 2013 10:00 EDT
The European Commission said Tuesday it will try again to get member states to back a two-year ban on insecticides harmful to bees whose numbers have been in sharp and worrying decline.
Striking gold: Earthquakes deposit precious metal
Mar 17, 2013 14:21 EDT
Solid gold can be deposited in Earth's crust "almost instantaneously" during earthquakes, said a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience on Sunday.
Marikana deaths 'regrettable': S.Africa police boss
Mar 14, 2013 11:16 EDT
South Africa's police chief Riah Phiyega Thursday told a judicial inquiry into the shooting of 34 striking mineworkers at Marikana that the incident was "regrettable."
Myanmar's Suu Kyi faces protests over copper mine backing
Mar 14, 2013 11:02 EDT
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was met with rare hostility Thursday by villagers near a controversial Chinese-backed mine that was the scene of a violent crackdown last year.
Myanmar's Suu Kyi faces flak for backing copper mine
Mar 14, 2013 08:06 EDT
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was met with rare hostility Thursday by villagers near a controversial Chinese-backed mine that was the scene of a violent crackdown last year.
Libya to invite bids for oil concessions in 2013
Mar 13, 2013 12:50 EDT
Libya plans to invite bids from foreign firms for oil concessions by the end of 2013, Oil Minister Abdelbari al-Arussi told AFP on Wednesday, adding that Tripoli wants to increase its OPEC output quota.
Myanmar probe finds phosphorus used in crackdown
Mar 12, 2013 14:52 EDT
Myanmar police used phosphorus against a rally at a copper mine last year, a parliamentary report led by Aung San Suu Kyi said Tuesday, in the harshest crackdown yet on protest under the reformist regime.
US condemns use of phosphorus in Myanmar
Mar 12, 2013 14:49 EDT
The United States said it condemned any use of phosphorus as a crowd control measure after an official Myanmar report Tuesday found the toxic agent had been used to end a rally at a copper mine.
Phosphorus used in Myanmar crackdown: Suu Kyi probe
Mar 11, 2013 23:45 EDT
Myanmar police used phosphorus in a crackdown on a rally against a copper mine last year, causing "unnecessary" injuries to dozens of protesters, a parliamentary report led by Aung San Suu Kyi said Tuesday.
3,000-plus coal workers strike in South Africa
Mar 11, 2013 11:12 EDT
Over 3,000 workers at five Exxaro coal mines in South Africa were on strike Monday over unpaid bonuses, a company spokesman said, prompting fears electricity supplies could be hit.
Greeks protest against Canadian goldmine plans
Mar 09, 2013 10:44 EST
Thousands of protesters on Saturday joined a demonstration in Greece's second city Thessaloniki against a Canadian gold mining project which locals say will cause irreversible damage to the environment.
ThyssenKrupp supervisory board chief quits
Mar 08, 2013 08:49 EST
ThyssenKrupp said Friday its supervisory board chief Gerhard Cromme, under fire for his handling of a series of scandals that has rocked the heavy industry giant, is stepping down.
Anglo American slapped with another silicosis lawsuit
Mar 07, 2013 17:12 EST
Eighteen miners who claimed they contracted deadly silicosis working at an Anglo American gold mine in South Africa slapped the firm with a class action lawsuit on Thursday, lawyers said.
Indian group gets green light to explore oil in France
Mar 06, 2013 14:56 EST
French authorities have given the Indian petrochemical group Indorama a green light to explore for oil in southwestern France, sources said Wednesday.
As Russian steel group leaves, Romanians fear layoffs
Mar 05, 2013 12:44 EST
The disposal by Russian metal group Mechel of five plants in Romania for $70.00 to an obscure trading company has raised fears of a new wave of layoffs in the struggling European steel industry.
7,000 strike at S.Africa's restive Marikana mine
Mar 05, 2013 07:01 EST
Around 7,000 workers at Lonmin's strike-torn Marikana mine in South Africa, where police shot dead over 34 people in clashes last year, briefly went on strike in a union dispute early Tuesday, the company said.
