Melbourne — BHP Billiton, the world’s largest miner, and billionaire Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting are among commodity producers to have held talks over a potential entry into mining and exploration projects in Ecuador, the nation’s government said. Both producers had discussions with officials on the prospects of making investments or securing exploration leases, Mining Minister Javier Cordova Unda said on Tuesday. Cordova said he had met BHP personally. BHP has shown interest in a number of copper projects including in a potential partnership with state-owned miner Enami and Chile’s Codelco in their joint Llurimagua copper and molybdenum project, Cordova said. Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest has travelled to the nation in recent months and met Ecuador Vice-President Jorge Glas to discuss the Perth-based company’s exploration, ambassador to Australia Raul Gangotena said. BHP’s exploration programme includes work in the Americas and the producer is seeking partn...
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