AUGUST 2005

America Movil to invest $160 million in El Salvador
(August 31, 2005) Copyright and all rights reserved to Reuters.
http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=mergersNews&storyID=2005-08-
31T205909Z_01_N31380247_RTRIDST_0_TELECOMS-AMERICAMOVIL-SALVADOR.XML

Telecom de El Salvador, a subsidiary of America Movil, the biggest Latin American cellular operator, is planning to expand its coverage network across the country in 2006. It seeks to primarily deploy its services in remote areas and try to win ground in communities with close ties to Salvadorean immigrants in the US.

Minería del oro acrecienta interés en exploraciones en Chile
(25 de Agosto, 2005) Todos los derechos reservados a Portal Minero.
http://www.portalminero.com/noti/noticias_ver.php?codigo=1962&fecha=08

Durante el último año y gracias a un aumento en el precio del metal, se han incrementado las exploraciones por parte de empresas auríferas en Chile, entre ellas Meridian Gold y Minera Barrick. Se prevee que para antes de fin del 2005 hayan novedades en dos proyectos grandes: Pascua Lama y Cerro Casale.

Apex Silver forms Peru exploration joint-venture
(August 9, 2005) Copyright and all rights reserved to Reuters.
http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=mergersNews&storyID=2005-08-
09T192846Z_01_N09425234_RTRIDST_0_MINERALS-PERU-APEXSILVER.XML

According to Reuters, the U.S. silver mining company has formed a joint venture with the Peruvian Cementos Pacasmayo, which is part of the Grupo Hochschild conglomerate. Apex Silver is also conducting silver exploration works in Mexico and Bolivia.

Minera brasileña Vale do Rio Doce hace enemigos con su crecimiento imparable
(August 9, 2005) Copyright and all rights reserved to The Wall Street Journal Online.
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/0,,SB112354319831908086,00.html?mod=spanish_whats_news

Según una nota publicada en Wall Street Journal, algunos clientes locales de la brasileña Vale do Rio Doce, quien junto con BHP Billiton de Australia y Rio Tinto PLC de UK, representa el 74% del comercio marítimo mundial de hierro, están entablando críticas y demandas por el elevado precio del hierro que esta impone, luego de que en el transcurso de los últimos años haya comprado a casi todas las empresas competidoras nacionales.

Newmont boss on trial in Indonesia
(August 5, 2005) Copyright and all rights reserved to CNN and to Associated Press.
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/08/04/ness.mining.ap/index.html

The Indonesian branch of Newmont Mining Corp, and its President Director, Mr. Richard Ness, have gone on trial on criminal charges of dumping toxins (high levels of mercury and arsenic) into the Buyat Bay. According to some analysts, this case will test the government’s ability to attract foreign investment while fighting against environmental crimes.