EcuaCorriente is controlled by China Railway Construction Corp

Ecuador Plans To Sign Contracts With 3 Mining Cos In August

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DOW JONES NEWSWIRES



QUITO (Dow Jones)--Ecuador's government plans to sign exploitation and
investment contracts with at least three foreign mining companies next month,
Minister of Nonrenewable Natural Resources Wilson Pastor said Thursday.


Pastor said during a mining event that five foreign mining companies are
expected to invest more than $4 billion over the next five years.


The minister said a windfall tax will be a major component of the negotiations
with the companies.


The administration of Ecuador President Rafael Correa is negotiating with,
among others, EcuaCorriente, the local unit of Canada's Corriente Resources Inc.
for its Mirador project; the local unit of International Minerals Corp. (IMZLF,
IMZ.T) for its Rio Blanco project; and Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC, K.T) for its
Fruta del Norte project.


EcuaCorriente is controlled by China Railway Construction Corp. (601186.SH,
1186.HK) and Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Co. (000630.SZ).



-By Mercedes Alvaro, Dow Jones Newswires; 5939-9728-653; mercedes.alvaro@
dowjones.com



(END) Dow Jones Newswires
07-21-11 1220ET
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