A new face drilling rig for narrow tunnels and mines has been introduced by Atlas Copco. Based on its predecessor, the Boomer 104, the new Boomer T1 D offers an impressive array of technical and environmental improvements.

African Queen Mines Ltd. has now commenced its Phase 1 exploration programme on the Rongo Gold Field Project in the Kanango gold mining area of the Migori District of Nyanza Province in Southwest Kenya near Lake Victoria.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today agreed to invest £3.4 mn in
Nyota Minerals Ltd to support a gold exploration project that is expected
to provide jobs and government revenues to Ethiopia once the mine is
developed.

The World Bank has approved a US$50mn grant to the Democratic Republic of Congo to increase transparency and accountability in the mining sector so that the income from natural resources will be used for inclusive and sustainable growth.

Tata Steel, the world's seventh largest steel producer, expects coal production from its joint venture project in Mozambique to touch 5.3 million tonnes (MT) by 2011.