ORSK, Russia, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mechel OAO , one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces that its subsidiary, Southern Urals Nickel Plant OAO, and Bateman Engineering have signed a contract on the construction of a new melting complex for Mechel's nickel plant.

Business News IN BRIEF --The UK-listed Russian oil and gas firm Urals Energy is buying a 35.3 per cent stake in a firm in East Siberia in a transaction to more than double its net proved and probable oil reserves.

Excerpt from report by Kazakh TV on 23 November [Presenter] Prime Minister Karim Masimov paid a working visit to West Kazakhstan Region today. The prime minister attended a ceremony to begin the construction of the Karashyganak-Aksay-Ural gas pipeline.

MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - Russia's Federal Natura

By Cope, Louis W Mongolia is known in western countries as tne location of rich dinosaur fossil fields. However, the country is even richer in mineral resources. The Ministry of Industry and Trade reports 6,000 mineral occurrences of 80 metals and minerals.