Editorial Overview

Mining Yearbook 2010

In the eight years since the Mining Yearbook was started, we can’t think of a more important edition than that planned for 2010.

A number of crucial developments in the mining industry are coming to a head: the recovery of the mining sector following the financial crisis and world recession; the negotiations on the mining charter and other proposed regulatory changes in South Africa; and South Africa’s infrastructural crisis.

The upshot is that unless the industry responds smartly to infrastructural and regulatory challenges, it may again miss the next phase of the metals supercycle. These, broadly, are the themes of the Mining Yearbook 2010 which, as in other years, will be produced by Allan Seccombe, Brendan Ryan, Jan de Lange and myself – journalists with more than 50 years of combined writing experience. The Mining Yearbook was first produced in 2002. Since that year, it has grown in stature and importance owing to the fact that it comprises custom-written editorial. We will continue this in 2010.

The Mining Yearbook was first produced online in 2004 soon after Miningmx was founded. Miningmx now owns the Mining Yearbook and will bring its recently developed new media to the publication’s general offering.

Editorial Scope

Metals recovery in full swing: Interviews have been requested with Anglo American, Xstrata and BHP Billiton, among other mining companies, to ascertain the market perspectives of theindustry’s heavy hitters.

South Africa’s regulatory nexus: The Mining Summit, an important meeting of industry, government and trade union representatives on March 30/31 will hammer out potential changes to mining related legislation. We will also investigate BBBEE changes in general, plans for a state-owned mining company, the nationalisation of mines debate, changes in the health and safety legislation and the functioning of the minerals department in issuing exploration and new order mining licenses.

Infrastructure crisis: Transnet is responding to the lack of rolling stock and other bottlenecks that stop mining firms getting metal to market. But is it enough, and how will the problems crimp the country’s ability to share in the next round of the supercycle? In this respect, special attention will be given to the coal, manganese and iron ore markets.

Power tariffs are set to spiral. We speak to Eskom and industry players on how changes to energy costs and infrastructure will affect business. We also attempt to understand whether Eskom will get its nuclear policy off the ground after interrupting investment in nuclear energy in 2009.

Platinum: South Africa’s platinum industry is at a fascinating stage of consolidation. Already a number of new players have entered the market – Absolute Holdings, Village Main – while others are lifting their heads again after a difficult 18 months such as Platmin, Platfields, Anooraq Resources, Bafokeng (soon to list) and Nkwe. We’ll be looking at prospects and pressure points in the sector. As a related topic, we want to get beneath the skin of Zimbabwe’s evolving platinum industry.

In our Africa report we’ll be presenting an in-depth interview with Paul Fortin, formerly CEO of Gecamines on his time at the DRC company and his views on the country’s attempts to regenerate its resources industry. Amid terrible pressure on South Africa’s gold industry, which we believe has a mighty struggle ahead of it, we look at Randgold, AngloGold Ashanti and Barrick Gold to find real value in the continent’s gold industry.

Other focus areas include a review of diamonds, the industry that was kicked hardest in the world recession; why has South African uranium failed to spark, and what do we make of the preponderance of Australian junior miners searching for uranium in Botswana?

Each of these topics will include original, custom-made interviews with top mining executives and market analysts.

Multi-media feature. For the first time, Miningmx will use its podcast facilities and its recently launched video product to bring you excerpts from key interviews conducted in the creation of the mining yearbook. These will be available online and on a DVD issued with the magazine.

For more information: rachelle@miningmx.com