Uruguay passes new mining bill

Uruguay's Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining has announced that the Uruguayan parliament has passed the new mining bill allowing the government to collect taxes from miners' profits and imposing stricter environmental standards.
 
The government is also planning to start negotiations with the UK-based miner Zamin Ferrous regarding the Valentines project from which the company aims to produce 18 million mt of iron ore per year, according to media reports.