Kingsrose Mining has secured firm commitments totalling around A$8.5 million under a two-tranche share placement. Proceeds will be applied primarily to ongoing mine development at the operating Talang Santo Gold Project in South Sumatra, Indonesia.

Arc Exploration Limited expects to resume drilling this month at the Trenggalek Gold Project in East Java, Indonesia. Drilling was stopped in early June at the commencement of the Islamic fasting month.

Newmont Mining Corporation has entered into a binding share sale and purchase agreement with PT Amman Mineral Internasional (AMI) to sell its 48.5% interest in PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), which operates the Batu Hijau copper and gold mine in Indonesia.

East Asia Minerals Corp has entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement with Core Mining Pte Ltd of Singapore which may result in the sale of the Sangihe Gold Project in Indonesia.

PT Merdeka Copper Gold expects to begin operations at the Tujuh Bukit Copper-Gold-Silver Project in East Java, Indonesia, by the end of the year. Development is around 40% complete and the company expects completion by December.

Work on a definitive feasibility study with Outotec for Indo Mines’ proposed iron making facility at Kulon Progo in Indonesia to produce pig iron and vanadium by product continues.

Sihayo Gold intends to use some of the proceeds from a pro rata non-renounceable entitlements offer to optimise a 2014 feasibility study on the Sihayo/Sambung project in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Churchill Mining PLC has been informed that a ruling on its ongoing tribunal with Indonesia is expected in September. The AIM-listed company has been in dispute with the Indonesian Government regarding a decision to revoke the licences covering the East Kutai Coal Project in Kalimantan.

PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) and PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) have signed a joint venture agreement (JVA) to develop a smelter grade alumina refinery (SGAR) in conjunction with Aluminium Corporation of China (Chalco). The plant is likely to be built in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

ARC Exploration’s new exploration partner PT Danusa Tambang Nusantara has started a new phase of drilling on the Trenggalek Gold Project in East Java. The program is targeting epithermal gold vein systems on the Sentul and Buluroto prospects.

THE processing plant at Sumatra Copper & Gold’s Tembang Gold-Silver Project in southern Sumatra operated an annual rate of 460,000 tonnes during January, which was 15% above nameplate capacity. As a result the company processed 39,065 tonnes of ore for 2025 ounces of gold and 54,374 ounces of silver during the month.

ASIAMET Resources is confident that a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) being carried out on its Beruang Kanan Main (BKM) deposit in Kalimantan will demonstrate the project’s viability even at current low metal prices. The PEA began in January and is advancing well in line with plan and budget with completion due by the end of March 2016.

KINGSROSE Mining has significantly improved performance at its Talang Santo gold and silver mine largely as a result of implementation of a plan to minimise the impact of water on production horizons. The improvement was typified by record ore production during the December quarter.

Manitowoc Cranes has awarded the distributorship of its all-terrain Grove cranes in Indonesia to Singapore-listed Sin Heng Heavy Machinery Limited and its subsidiary PT SH Machinery Indonesia.

Vale International S.A. has notified Southern Arc Minerals that it will not be proceeding with a potential joint venture at Southern Arc’s East Elang property in Indonesia. The joint venture was contemplated by an option and JV agreement signed on October 3, 2010.

Since the exclusive negotiation period with Indonesian company PT Cakra Mineral Tbk ended in regards to possible acquisition of Cokal Ltd, the ASX-listed company has been pursuing a number of alternative financing opportunities. Cokal, which has coal interests in Indonesia, expects to be able to make a further announcement about the way forward by the end of February.

COMPLETION of a mine expansion program at China Gold International Resources’ CSH Gold Project in Inner Mongolia resulted in increased production during the September quarter. There were 57,981 ounces produced in the three months, 20% more than the 48,124 ounces in the corresponding period of 2014.

Coal producer PT Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITM) achieved a better performance during the third quarter of 2015, booking a 23% increase in net income to US$25 million from US$20 million in the previous quarter. Externally, the downward trend of oil prices contributed to curb mining and logistics costs. Internally, cost efficiency strategies, including mining, supply chain activities and overhead reductions, kept the overall cost lower.

SINCE commencing operations in mid-October at the Derewo River Gold Project of West Wits Mining in Papua Province, site management has focused on developing the most efficient circuit for mining the 81 Creek alluvial gravels. This has involved testing the optimum set up of the sluice boxes to maximise efficiency, testing processing systems such as water cannon and venturis, and training local community members to operate the circuit.

METALLURGICAL test work at Augur Resources Wonogiri Gold-Copper Project in Central Java suggests that a coarser grind size could result in improved gold recovery while also reducing grinding time and lowering operating costs. The tests were carried out on minus 75 micron to minus 106 micron grind sizes with results were compared to the previous minus 53 micron grind.