What is the silent killer of American entrepreneurs, and what does DNA have to do with it? Joe Abraham explains.

A recent study released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a troubling trend. The study found that the number of self-employed individuals in the US has shrunk by 2.1 million since 2006. What’s driving this trend? What does it mean for entrepreneurship? Most importantly, how is this decline impacting our economy?

Enviva LP, a leading manufacturer of processed biomass fuel in the United States and Europe, today announced that it is planning to build a 454,000 metric ton wood pellet manufacturing facility in Courtland, Virginia.

The project, which could be operational as early as the first half of 2013, is contingent on the property where the plant will be located being rezoned by Southampton County and on other permitting requirements.

Alberta is basking in its oilsands boom, but it is about to wake up to an equivalent minerals bonanza as Toronto-based DNI Metals unveils its massive minerals and rare earths deposits.

As global financial markets stagger, the metal that used to underpin them all is becoming very attractive. Toronto based and listed Continental Gold is focused on Colombia and is just two years away from large scale production.

As nations run out of money, gold returns to underpin global economics: it’s a good time to be producing it and Detour Gold has got its timing just right in its bid to exploit Canada’s largest gold deposit.

Wood Group’s new Angola-based joint venture has been awarded a contract by BP, it has been announced.

Wood Group Kianda, a joint venture involving Amílcar Nascimento—Wood Group's Angolan business partner—and Wood Group, is to be officially launched in Luanda, Angola today. Wood Group Mustang, Wood Group Kenny and Wood Group PSN will all provide their services through the joint venture.

BHP Billiton announced today that it is reviewing its presence in the diamond business, which currently consists of its interests in the EKATI Diamond Mine and the Chidliak exploration project in Canada.

South Afrcia’s Wescoal is to acquire 51 per cent of the Pegasus project in Mpumalanga Province, it has been announced.

The project—an undeveloped metallurgical and export quality thermal coal deposit with a resource of approximately 15 million tons—was previously owned by BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa. The project is located approximately 10 kilometres from Witbank, next to Exxaro’s Inyanda colliery.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Kroff, Inc, one of the fastest-growing water treatment companies in the United States, is expanding internationally with the establishment of operations in South America.

Through the creation of a new company called Kroff Chile - Tecnologias y Procesos Limitada, based in Santiago, Kroff will provide cost-effective custom-blended chemicals and processes for water and wastewater treatment to companies in a variety of industries in that country, including energy, power and mining.

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has signed a joint venture agreement with Shell, the South Gas Company and Mitsubishi Corporation on an initiative to capture natural gas in southern Iraq.

The South Gas Company (SGC), an affiliate of the Ministry of Oil, will take 51 per cent in the joint venture, the Basrah Gas Company (BGC). Shell will take 44 per cent and Mitsubishi will take five per cent.