Alara Resources Limited, an Australian minerals exploration company with projects in Saudi Arabia and Oman, has signed an off-take agreement for the supply of copper concentrate from Al Hadeetha Project in Oman’s Washihi Reserve

Iran has signed a US$1bn deal with private investors to develop Mehdiabad, one of the world’s largest zinc mines, which it expects to come on stream in the next four years and produce 800,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate per year

Global mining activity is struggling to recover from its downturn at the start of 2015 and last year’s depressed metals prices, combined with falling demand in China and the rest of the key world economies, has led to fears in some quarters that the bottom of the cycle may not be reached in 2016

Egypt will hold its first international tender for gold mining concessions since 2009 in early December, petroleum minister Tarek El Molla said at an economic conference

Private Iranian company Mahan Company for Mines and Industries Development (MACMID) is seeking joint venture partners to help develop copper, steel and other projects in the country, according to managing director Ebrahim Sadeghi