Asia Pacific Downunder Conference

Miners operating in or planning to enter the resources sector in the Asia Pacific will face higher political risk factors than other geographies as a direct result of the impact on the region of globalisation.

Operators of Porgera - the largest gold mine in Papua New Guinea - say they have now achieved a 60% control position on addressing a major wall failure in 2003 in the mine's massive open pit.

Pan Australian Resources Limited says it expects to bring its US$232 million Phu Kham gold and copper mine in Laos into production by mid 2008 in an environment where sustained copper shortages should support sustained higher metal prices.

A construction start is imminent on a US$133 million Indonesian zinc mine regarded as one of the highest grade undeveloped zinc lead deposits in the world and being developed by ASX-listed Herald Resources Limited.

Operators of South East Asia's only diamond mine are to expand the project's production from next month to produce up to 100,000 carats per annum.

Merger player, Oceana Gold Limited, says its proposed marriage with Climax Mining should start delivering increased production of around 555,000 ounces of gold equivalent by 2009 from their combined New Zealand and Philippines assets.

A mine development decision is expected by December on a US$45 million gold project being developed in the Philippines by ASX-listed Red 5 Limited.

Equity markets need to get used to considerably more volatilty in global metals price cycles as the "norm" rather than presume sudden movements are the end or start of bull or bear runs, according to a senior resources financier.

The first JORC resource estimate for one of Australasia's largest potential copper-molybdenum projects is expected to be announced by the end of the year, according to its Australian developer.

Australian resources companies have been asked to lift their investment in Papua New Guinea's mining sector as the country slashes its red tape to accelerate major new exploration and mine development projects.