BHP Billiton

BHP to open new coal mine in Borneo amid concern for orangutans

whit — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 00:06:32 +0100

If you thought Shenhua and Adani had raised hackles with their plans to develop new coal mines in controversial parts of Australia, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

In a move likely to enrage environmental campaigners, BHP Billiton quietly flagged on Wednesday that it would soon start production of coal at the Haju mine in Indonesian Borneo.

Haju will initially produce about 1 million tonnes of coal a year, which is pretty small compared to the coal mines BHP already operates in Queensland.

But Haju could be the start of a much larger coal project for BHP in Indonesian Borneo known as

Indonesia: Kalimantan Villagers Lodge Land Claim Against BHP Billiton Coal Project

whit — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 17:49:31 +0100

“We welcome mining as long as they respect our way of life, our livelihood, our customary land. When they don’t, we’ll fight to the end,” says village headman Suwanto.

Murung Raya, Central Kalimantan.

USA - Selling Off Apache Holy Land

whit — Sat, 30 May 2015 15:03:26 +0100

ABOUT an hour east of Phoenix, near a mining town called Superior, men, women and children of the San Carlos Apache tribe have been camped out at a place called Oak Flat for more than three months, protesting the latest assault on their culture.

Three hundred people, mostly Apache, marched 44 miles from tribal headquarters to begin this occupation on Feb. 9. The campground lies at the core of an ancient Apache holy place, where coming-of-age ceremonies, especially for girls, have been performed for many generations, along with traditional acorn gathering.

African women say ‘NO’ to Coal!

whit — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:01:52 +0000

Coal kills people, Coal destroys health and community well-being, Coal devastates land, water and eco-systems and Coal is destroying our planet. These are the conclusions of more than fifty women grassroots activists and leaders who gathered through a Southern African exchange Women stand their ground against Big Coal in Johannesburg between 19 and 24 January 2015. Coal is the fastest growing fossil fuel and the single largest contributor (40%) to carbon emissions which cause climate change.

USA: Copper mine will hurt tribes and the environment

whit — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 10:43:24 +0000

James Anaya: Rio Tinto should make some lands off limits to mining and abandon the project if it can’t gain local support

Congress recently authorized an exchange of land so the multinational giant Rio Tinto can proceed with its Resolution Copper Mine project in eastern Arizona. The land to be conveyed to the company was taken from the Apache people more than a century ago, but Apache today continue to claim strong cultural and religious ties to the land.

The congressional authorization can be seen as a victory for the foreign-owned mining company.

USA: Senate passes huge Arizona copper mine

whit — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 12:59:25 +0000

The United States Senate has passed a controversial land swap deal, paving the way for the country’s largest copper mine to move forward, following close to a decade of roadblocks by Washington.

Senators passed the measure by 89 votes to 11 on Friday, just ahead of their Christmas recess.

The $585 billion National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 is a “must-pass” piece of legislation that Congress moves every year.

Indonesia: Central Kalimantan Railway Gets Thumbs Down from Jokowi Administration

whit — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 11:37:47 +0000

Jakarta – The Minister for National Development Planning (Bappenas), Adrinof Chaniago, said last week that he would not put the Central Kalimantan Railway in the Medium Term Development Plan for 2015-2019, thus withdrawing all central government support for the project. The project would not get the status of a Public Private Partnership and would not be provided with government guarantees.

The statement was made by Mr.

USA - Rio, BHP very close to develop U.S. largest copper mine

whit — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 10:39:35 +0000

Arizona’s lawmakers slipped Tuesday night a piece of legislation that would allow mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton to jointly build a massive copper mine in the state as part of a deal with the U.S.

Colombia - Cerrejon mine faces relocation battle as coal dust rises

whit — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:02:02 +0000

The venture is struggling to persuade residents of Las Casitas in northeastern Colombia to relocate.

Cerrejon, one of the world’s largest open-pit coal mines, is struggling to persuade some members of a small community in northeastern Colombia to relocate and may have to alter its mining strategy.

The venture – owned by BHP Billiton Plc, Anglo American Plc and Glencore Plc – is in relocation talks with residents of Las Casitas, where dust is approaching levels set by the World Bank, Vice-President of Public Affairs Juan Carlos Restrepo said in a telephone interview.

“We have unt

Fossil fuel divestment campaign targets UCL and BHP Billiton

whit — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 07:52:57 +0000

University College London under fire for sustainability institute funded by mining giant BHP Billiton, which faces protests at its London AGM

The fast-growing campaign to persuade investors to dump fossil fuel stocks has set its sights on a twin target of the world’s biggest mining company and one of the globe’s best universities.

The mining giant BHP Billiton will face protests at its AGM in London on Thursday over its £6m association with University College London (UCL) and the effects of its activities around the world.

The fossil fuel divestment campaign began in the US, wher