The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) has launched a global initiative aimed at enhancing mining’s contribution to development and poverty reduction through multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Through the ‘Mining: Partnerships for Development’ initiative ICMM’s 19 member companies have made a formal policy commitment to actively seek such partnerships across six priority themes - poverty reduction, revenue management, regional development planning, local content, social investment and dispute resolution.
In launching the initiative, AngloGold Ashanti’s CEO Mark Cutifani said: “Enhancing mining’s developmental impacts is a critically important issue and needs to be undertaken through developing solid partnerships, particularly with host governments and communities.
“Together with my fellow CEOs on the ICMM, I call on governments, donors and civil society to work with us to improve the social and economic outcomes from mining investments.”
ICMM research has identified 41 economies which currently or in recent decades have relied significantly on mining.
Many of these are developing countries with high poverty levels and many are in Africa. However, while some still suffer from the so-called ‘resource curse’, others, such as Ghana, have been able to prove that this curse is not inevitable.
ICMM’s senior program director Kathryn McPhail says, “Five years of internationally renowned research – in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Bank - indicate that partnerships involving companies and other stakeholders such as governments, donor agencies and civil society, can be a powerful way to tackle development challenges.” 
In support of the commitment, ICMM has also released ‘Mapping in-country partnerships, a publication that illustrates existing partnerships across the six priority themes. They include a number of partnerships in which AngloGold Ashanti is involved, including an initiative in South Africa to improve opportunities for former mine workers, and company support in Brazil and Argentina for regional development agencies to stimulate economic diversification.
The ICMM was established in 2001 to act as a catalyst for performance improvement in the mining and metals industry. Today, the organization brings together 19 mining and metals companies as well as 30 national and regional mining associations and global commodity associations to address the core sustainable development challenges faced by the industry.
www.icmm.com/mpd

OZMINE Indonesia in Jakarta later this month will facilitate the exchange of mining information and expertise between Indonesia and Australia.
Australia’s proximity to Indonesia creates many opportunities for this exchange for the benefit of both countries and OZMINE Indonesia enables this to occur.
OZMINE Indonesia, which is organised by Austrade, is the major international mining event dedicated to exclusively showcasing the Australian mining sector in Indonesia. This year it will be held on March 30 and 31.
As well as the conference and exhibition there will be an optional site visit to Balikpapan, Kalimantan from April 1-4.
Each year OZMINE attracts regional industry players and this year will include members from Austrade’s ASEAN Mining team and their buyer delegations.
In 2009 more than 80 Australian mining companies, mining equipment and mining service suppliers exhibited at OZMINE and this year the number is expected to reach 100, with more than 2000 visitors anticipated.
As well as showcasing their products and/or services, OZMINE Indonesia will give Australian companies the opportunity to get the latest insights on Indonesian and regional mining issues from local experts.
Participants will be able to leverage Austrade’s industry network and government imprimatur to access thought leaders and hear from the Indonesian Government directly on the new Mining Law.
For information contact Hendra Purba, business development manager, mining, Austrade Jakarta, phone +62 21 2550 5323, email [email protected] austrade.gov.au or visit www.austrade.gove.au/OZMINE2010

This month’s Mineral Exploration Roundup – 2010 conference comes at an important time for Mongolia with the country’s mining industry set to take off.
The opening up of mining through new mining laws and a new investment agreement for the massive Oyu Tolgoi project as well as increasing demand for resources from neighbouring China looks set to drive Mongolia’s economy forward.
Mineral Exploration Roundup – 2010 from March 12-14 at the Conference Hall in the Russian Science and Cultural Centre in Ulaanbaatar will examine the geology and exploration of ore deposits in Mongolia and their genesis, geotectonics and metallogeny. It will also focus on the energy mineral resources of Mongolia, including uranium and coal.
The conference is expected to attract delegates from around the world who are keen to learn more about Mongolia’s emerging mining industry. There will be plenty of opportunity for discussion about the changing nature of the country’s exploration and mining potential.
The event is organized by the Ministry of Mineral Recources and Energy, Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia, Mongolian Society of Economic Geologists, The Geological Society of Mongolia, Mongolian University of Science and Technology, and the National University of Mongolia.
The first Mongolia Mineral Exploration Roundup in March 2009 was organized by the Mongolian Society of Economic Geologists and the Geological Society of Mongolia with more than 700 national and foreign geologists working throughout Mongolia in attendance.
Organizers intend to make the conference an annual event and attract even more interest from foreign companies already working or investing in Mongolia, as well as those considering this action.
Besides the program of speakers and discussion panels, delegates will have the ability to nominate the ‘best exploration geologist of the year’ and ‘the best rocks and minerals show’.
www.monseg.mn  and www.geos.mn

Australian refuelling specialist Banlaw is gearing up for continued international expansion with Singapore-based company Orianna taking a 40% stake in the company.
Banlaw’s managing director Bill Clifton says Orianna’s involvement will help Banlaw undertake more projects and meet increasing demand for its products and systems across the world.
Orianna was established last year by Jeff Barker, the former owner of Asian-based Banlaw distributor PT Fluidcon Jaya, which he sold to Atlas Copco in 2008.
Bill Clifton says, “This is a very effective partnership because Jeff Barker has extensive international experience in the industry and knows Banlaw’s products and services.
“Increasing global fuel prices makes controlling and reducing fuel wastage essential for businesses world-wide. Our partnership with Orianna means we have even greater expertise in helping companies to better manage their fuel and other hydrocarbon usage.”
He says Singapore is an excellent base from which to access the world, especially Asian markets. “Banlaw sees a bright future in Asia and is committed to serving the region.”
Jeff Barker says Banlaw is an exciting investment for Orianna. He says having personally worked with Banlaw as a distributor since the early 1990s, he understands the potential in Banlaw’s products.
“Orianna brings local Asian knowledge as well as expertise from a distributor’s view point to help Banlaw and its distributors grow the business.
“Fluidcon has had a very successful business relationship and I will be looking at creating the same environment for all distributors and customers.”
Banlaw, with the help of Fluidcon, last year completed an Aus$3.3 million project to help Indonesian mining company Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) accurately record and cut its growing fuel costs.
Bill Clifton says Banlaw has ambitious plans to take its patented refueling systems and products to the world. This year it will be working on projects in New Guinea, Canada, Indonesia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Tanzania and the USA.
Banlaw’s headquarters are in the Australian city of Newcastle where it researches, designs and manufactures.
Its products and systems include its Banlaw FuelTrack system that assists with fuel security, environmental compliance, stock reconciliation, maintenance scheduling, calculating burn rates and streamlining fuel ordering. It also manufactures fluid transfer and other hydrocarbon management systems for the mining, rail, fleet and port industries.
www.banlaw.com