Keywords: Brazilian mining code, EU disclosure requirements, construction costs

Welcome to the latest edition of the Mayer Brown Mining Update which focuses on some of the key legal issues and developments that have been affecting the Mining sector over recent months.

New Brazilian mining code under discussion at the National Congress: Brazilian Oil & Gas legal framework mirrored to the mining industry may not lead to the desired results.

More information on our Latin America practice.

EU Disclosure requirements for the extractive industry
The EU Accounting Directive: a new era of transparency? Significant new disclosure requirements for multinational corporations operating in the extractive and forestry sectors have been recently heralded in by the EU Commission.

Construction Costs feature: The risk of over running construction costs has taken centre stage in the mining sector. Why is this, and is there a solution?

Reaping the value of reporting: Michael Hutchinson explains how more stringent environment, social and governance reporting to meet updated regulations in the uk can offer new opportunities for mining companies.

Tungsten – the unremarkable metal with remarkable qualities: Tungsten was first discovered in 1779 and soon became known and sought after due to its remarkable properties - hardness, high density, the highest melting point (3422°C), the lowest vapour pressure and the highest tensile strength among all elements. Today tungsten is recognised as a strategic raw material. As a result, its production and supply is subject to increased controls through export quotas, mining quotas and restrictive licensing systems. Most notably China, a leading producer (and a consumer) of tungsten, has limited the number of mining licenses and foreign investments and imposed constraints on the mining and processing of tungsten as well as export taxes on tungsten products.

Mining Legislation in the Nordic Countries: The Nordic countries, particularly Sweden, Finland, Norway and Greenland are viewed as some of the most lucrative jurisdictions in the world for mining investment. Potential investors are attracted by significant geological potential, healthy economic growth and good infrastructure coupled with transparent legal frameworks. This article outlines the key legislation affecting mining companies in each of these territories.

More information on our Scandinavia practice.

Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Egypt - Navigating the Legal Minefield: The mineral wealth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Ethiopia is undisputedly vast. These countries are situated on the Arabian Nubian Shield which is geologically resource rich. The challenges do not lie so much in the discovery of natural resources, they lie in navigation of the legal and political systems within these territories and circumvention of the risks associated with investing in projects in the often volatile region of Northern Africa. This article outlines the legal framework in place for mining in these three jurisdictions.

More information on our Africa and Middle East practices.

Originally published 24 January 2014

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This Mayer Brown article provides information and comments on legal issues and developments of interest. The foregoing is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to the matters discussed herein.