Zijin to Look at Shale Gas, Mine Acquisitions as Gold Drops
From Bloomberg
Zijin Mining Group (2899), China's biggest gold miner by market value, is studying a move into shale gas and will target buying super mines after falling bullion prices and rising costs cut profit.
Net profit fell 59 percent to 2.13 billion yuan (HK$2.66 billion) last year from 2012, the Shanghang, Fujian-based firm said.
Zijin will spend about 8 billion yuan to buy large gold and copper mines.
"Given what has happened in the US, shale gas has a bright future in China and we are willing to give it a try and see what may happen," chairman Chen Jinghe said in Hong Kong yesterday. "Zijin would seek partnerships with firms already holding shale assets and it would take at least three to five years before we can see any meaningful results from shale gas business."
Zijin Mining Group (2899), China's biggest gold miner by market value, is studying a move into shale gas and will target buying super mines after falling bullion prices and rising costs cut profit.
Net profit fell 59 percent to 2.13 billion yuan (HK$2.66 billion) last year from 2012, the Shanghang, Fujian-based firm said.
Zijin will spend about 8 billion yuan to buy large gold and copper mines.
"Given what has happened in the US, shale gas has a bright future in China and we are willing to give it a try and see what may happen," chairman Chen Jinghe said in Hong Kong yesterday. "Zijin would seek partnerships with firms already holding shale assets and it would take at least three to five years before we can see any meaningful results from shale gas business."