Mining

Xstrata Coal has resumed operations at its Blakefield South mine, and expects to return to full production by mid-July.

Continental Coal and Forzando Coal Mines enter mine life extension agreement.

Aviva Corp. Ltd is pleased to announce that the Mmamantswe coal prospecting licenses in Botswana have been renewed for a further 2 years.

Alpha Natural Resources has announced the establishment of the Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of Mine Safety and Health Inc. The Alpha Foundation is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to improve mine health and safety through funding projects by qualified academic institutions, not-for-profit entities and individuals associated with those entities.

According to GBI Research, China looks set to dominate the rapidly expanding Asia-Pacific coal mining industry for at least the rest of the current decade.

Continental Coal Limited has announced that through its South African subsidiary Mashala Resources (Pty) Limited, it has entered into agreements that will allow the Company to extend the operating mine life at the Ferreira Coal Mine and its production of high quality thermal coal through the acquisition and development of the adjacent and adjoining Prospecting Right.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, one of the world’s largest industrial auctioneers, is due to sell more than 1600 industrial equipment items and trucks to the highest bidders in an unreserved public auction held in Moerdijk, The Netherlands on the 19 - 20 April.

BHP Billiton has announced the closure of the Norwich Park metallurgical coal mine, part of its BMA joint venture with Mitsubishi Corp., after a seven week review of the mine’s viability.

Thousands of coal miners have walked out of metallurgical mines in Queensland in an ongoing dispute over working conditions with coal mining giant BHP-Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA).

UK Coal has announced that it is considering closing the UK’s biggest deep coal mine, putting 800 jobs at risk.

Xstrata Coal has agreed to acquire the Sukunka hard metallurgical coal deposit from Talisman Energy Inc. for US$ 500 million in cash, subject to customary conditions.

The Australian Takeovers Panel has published a Declaration and Orders that allows FLSmidth to proceed with its offer of AU$ 11/share for Australian company Ludowici Ltd.

Arch Coal Inc. has announced that its chairman and CEO, Steven F. Leer, will retire as CEO effective 26 April 2012, the date of the company's annual shareholders meeting.

Ludowici, an Australian mining equipment supplier, finds itself in the centre of a bidding war between FLSmidth and the Weir Group.

Martin Engineering holds a symposium in Turkey to address safety issues