News

Wireless electronics group Filtronic confirmed it will pay a special dividend of 40p per share to those shareholders on the register on 31 October 2008. The special dividend, which will be paid by way of an interim dividend, will amount to approximately £29.7m.

The group announced last month that it is considering paying a special dividend of 40p a share.

Encore Oil said it has dealt with a fire that broker out early Sunday morning in the ventilation system on the Energy Enhancer drilling rig. It is carrying out checks for potential damages on the rig and trying to establish the cause of the fire.

"The well is currently approximately 10 metres above the reservoir and once essential safety checks are carried out it is anticipated drilling will recommence shortly thereafter," said chief executive Alan Booth.

Coal of Africa has produced the first run of mine coal at its Mooiplaats Mine and said the development to allow two continuous miners to commence cutting coal will be completed in six to eight weeks.

Oil explorer Oilex said the appraisal program initiated recently in the western portion of the Cambay field in India has confirmed the oil potential of the shallower Miocene section. The group holds a 30% stake in the Cambay production sharing contract and another 15% through its subsidiary in India, Oilex NL Holdings.

Exploration firm Pantheon Resources said it is pleased with the progress of Jumonville #1 in the Gulf of Mexico and the progress on the permanent production facilities.

Permanent oil production facilities have now been completed with output stabilised at 700 barrels of oil a day with 350,000 cubic feet of natural gas and no water.

Energy management solutions provider GSH said David Simons, the chief financial officer and interim chairman, will leave the board with immediate effect. The group said it is currently in the process of recruiting a permanent chief financial officer.

Media products supplier Vitec has acquired Montreal-based software development company Technologies Talkdynamics.

Technologies Talkdynamics, which is an existing supplier to to Vitec's Clear-Com subsidiary of Voice over Internet Protocol software will be integrated into the Clear-Com business unit.

The gross value of the assets required is expected to be C$2.8m (£1.4m). The cost of the acquisition was not disclosed.

Mineral exploration and development company Central China Goldfields said 15 of the 18 holes in the Gangjiang licence area have returned significant mineralisation.

The company believes recent drilling results indicate "that the mineralised area around GJ15 continues northwards about 200 metres to GJ18 and secondly that mineralisation also extends 300 metres south of hole GJ16 following drill results from GJ17."