Mining and Natural Resources- Tag Archives - Business News and Updates

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Commercial Opportunities for Mining in Bolivia

by Our Mining Sector Experts | Oct 29, 2019

Bolivia is a country rich in natural resources that relies on their productivity as an important contributor to its GDP. It is estimated that only 10% of minerals have been extracted so far and exploration activities continue to discover rich soils. Last year Bolivia increased its production of zinc, gold, silver, lead, antimony, wólfram and ulexite. The private sector is the most important productive actor for Bolivian minerals. It was reported that between January and September of 2018, this sector contributed to around 57% of the mineral production value. In this sense, the government is aware of the importance of private contribution and it is opening up to foreign investment. In this article, we seek to outline investment opportunities and laws that govern mining contracts in Bolivia. Mining investment opportunities in Bolivia Bolivia is working to attract more private investors. The country has shown an openness to foreign investment by signing big deals with foreign firms. Due to the protection the government has applied for minerals in the past, vast natural resources have only recently become available for exploration. Currently, the country is making efforts to work with international investors to discover more minerals. An example that is becoming precedent for future investors is New Pacific's fruitful investments. New Pacific shares rose 14.6% on 27 August, when it was reported that their infill drill results from 20 Silver Sands confirmed the continuity of mineralization in specific areas, which confirmed the availability of wide zones of mineralization....

Opportunities in Bolivia’s Oil and Gas Industry

by Our Mining Sector Experts | Oct 24, 2019

Bolivia is a country rich in natural resources that are essential to modern civilization, from minerals to hydrocarbons. Oil and gas investment in Bolivia has been gaining positive attention for a while now, the country has vast natural reserves that are yet to be fully explored and its increasing supply commitments require more financing. It is reported that only 10% of Bolivia’s mineral resources have been extracted, and currently, Bolivia is the largest regional exporter of petroleum liquid gas (PLG), exporting its product to Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In this article, we seek to outline hydrocarbon legislation and current investment opportunities. Investment Opportunities for Oil and Gas in Bolivia Hydrocarbons are organic compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms. They are found in crude oils, like petroleum and natural gas and they are of major relevance because these resources are used for combustion in motor fuel applications and heating. Not surprisingly, they are of great demand in the forms of natural gas and petroleum liquid gas (PLG) for modern civilization. Bolivia has been working to become a major natural gas and PLG exporter. Currently, Bolivia is exporting PLG to 4 South American countries and has successfully negotiated access to the Illo port with Peru, which is important as it faces the Pacific Ocean and grants access to overseas markets. Additionally, Bolivia recently signed negotiations with Brazil to commercialize PLG and liquified natural gas (LNG) from 2025 to 2050. Throughout the years Bolivia has accrued commercial deals...

Outlook for MERCOSUR-Asia Relations

by Team Latin America | Jul 31, 2019

Recently, MERCOSUR has been increasing efforts to form trade agreements with different countries and alliances around the world. A trade bloc comprised of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, MERCOSUR has a lot to offer in terms of trade benefits and economic opportunity. Collectively, the bloc’s GDP amounts to over US$2 trillion, a powerful negotiating point when drawing up trade deals. With Brazil having the largest and Argentina having the fourth largest economies in South America, international trade blocs and alliances could easily get their foot in the door of the Latin American market through an agreement with MERCOSUR. With MERCOSUR’s latest trade deal with the EU complete, the focus is now on Asia. The economic and political relationships between these two regions has been slow-moving, but the two are now on the same page. Overall, the future looks promising and profitable for foreign investors and businesses looking to invest and do business. Business - Why Asia and MERCOSUR? At first glance, Asia and MERCOSUR member countries couldn’t be more different. Physical distance between the two regions is enough to deter talks of trade. Moreover, one would think that cultural, language, economic, and political barriers add an additional, overwhelming aspect to the mix. However, these initial judgments are far from the truth. Recently, the two regions realized the similarities in their approaches to economic, environmental, and developmental plans. This created a natural, comfortable environment for trade talks to startup and flourish. Relations with China China,...

Mining Opportunities in Ecuador for Gold, Silver, and Copper

by Our Mining Sector Experts | Jul 9, 2019

Being a small country amongst regional giants, Ecuador typically gets overlooked when it comes to foreign investment and foreign business incorporation. However, recent discoveries within the country’s natural resource sector are changing this reputation for the better. Moreover, changes in legal regulations and government involvement started to ‘prime the pump’ for Ecuador to achieve success in the mining industry. Competing against neighboring mining market leaders like Colombia can seem like an impossible feat. However, experts are confident that Ecuador has what it takes to be the world’s next big mining industry. Opportunities for investment and industry involvement are appearing just as quickly as they are getting snatched up. The time to learn more about Ecuador´s promising future and get involved in the market is now. Government efforts to expand the industry Once miners and researchers realized the potential of Ecuador’s mines and the value of their natural resources, the government started prioritizing mining. Laws changed and incentivizing programs and bills passed at rapid rates. Gradually, these changes achieved the mission at hand: increase foreign investment in the country’s mining sector. The first attempts in the 21st century to grow Ecuador’s mining industry were in 2013. These changes decreased the 70% windfall tax on mining company profits. Moreover, the government made the industry more attractive to foreign investors and businesses by changing the application of sovereign adjustment. Following these changes, and global advertising to economic...

Australia’s Promising ‘Value-Added’ Mining Future

by Our Mining Sector Experts | Jul 7, 2019

Much of the modern world runs on the foundations of a series of minerals found abundantly in few countries. These ‘rare earth’ minerals are some of the most valuable finds because many different industries and countries rely on them as primary resources. Historically, China controlled most of the rare earth minerals industry. However, Australia has recently shown great potential in the market. Ultimately, the goal for the country is to increase value-added processes to the sector so workers and companies benefit economically. Opportunities within Australia’s mining sector are booming, particularly within the rare earth industry and foreign business and investors are eager to get a piece of the action. Australia´s Mining Future - Global dependence on rare earth minerals Rare earth minerals are a series of seventeen different elements found in the Earth’s crust. The elements, all metals, are typically found altogether because they have complementary physical and chemical properties. This makes finding a reserve of them extremely lucrative because large quantities are discovered at one time. The value in these metals comes from their inherent properties. They all have high conductivity properties, which makes them valuable in virtually all industries these days. Given the physical and chemical properties, these seventeen metals have become essential for everyday life in the modern world. Nearly everything is dependent on the mining, refining, and processing of these minerals into functional parts and components. Most notably, products like cell phones, kitchen appliances,...

Industries Fueled by Foreign Direct Investment in New Zealand

by Legal Team New Zealand | Jul 4, 2019

New Zealand has one of the most influential economies in the South Pacific region. By welcoming and encouraging foreign businesses and investments, the country developed a thriving economy that attracts the attention of global investors every day. Successful FDI in New Zealand typically falls within a couple of stable, well-established industries. However, there are some emerging industries in the country which could offer major gains if investors act quickly. A breakdown of these industries and opportunities follows: Foreign Direct Investment in New Zealand - Marine Mining Mining for marine minerals is an emerging industry in New Zealand. Marine mining is the process of abstracting minerals from the ocean floor by an integrated mining/processing ship vessel. Scientists first recognized the ability to use minerals from the oceans in the 1970s. Unfortunately, appropriate technology or machinery wasn’t available at that time to realize this potential. Nowadays, the technology exists and investors have the monetary means to pursue this incredibly interesting industry. The seabeds are home to a variety of essence minerals. Minerals like aggregate and ironsand are fairly abundant and are important for beach replenishment and making cement. Additionally, ferromanganese and phosphorite nodules are common in New Zealand’s waters. Ferromanganese nodules can be very valuable because they typically contain nickel, cobalt, and copper, all essential and useful minerals. The phosphorite nodules can be used as fertilizer for the agriculture industry, one of New Zealand’s largest...

Commercial Potential in Australia-Colombia Mining Cooperation

by Our Mining Sector Experts | Jul 2, 2019

Both Colombia and Australia have strong, growing economies, backed by booming mining industries. Compatible capabilities open a world of opportunities for the two countries to collaborate in this sector. Colombia’s reserves provide a great variety for extraction activities: coal, nickel, gold, platinum, silver and copper. Additionally, most of the world’s emeralds are sourced in Colombia. Both countries are linked due to their “megadiverse” environmental status, only awarded to 17 countries worldwide. Opportunities exist to implement sustainable and environmentally responsible mining processes. Additionally, Australian firms are in a position to provide technologies and services to developing mining businesses in Colombia. Below, we examine why profitable commercial business opportunities can stem from Australia-Colombia cooperation in the mining industry. Australia-Colombia - Colombia’s Mining Industry Due to the growth of the emerald industry in Colombia, sustained foreign investment has solidified the mining sector in Colombia. The government has worked to create a transparent system that has lowered barriers to entry for foreign mining companies. The country has world-leading legislation that protects investors and allows 100% foreign ownership. This month, the Colombian government announced plans to standardise the mining concession system. This enhances transparency and efficiency for mining contracts, further leveraging Colombia's potential as a mining hub for Latin America. US$7.6 billion of mining projects are planned over the next five years in the gold, silver...