UNION MINIERE TAKES STAKE IN PANCONTINENTAL <Union Miniere SA> said in a statement that it has acquired an eight pct interest in Pancontinental Mining Ltd <PANA.S> for a sum equivalent to 1.2 billion Belgian francs. Pancontinental operates gold and coal mines in Australia and natural gas and oil fields in Canada. Union Miniere said the location of its interest within the Pancontinental group will be decided later. It did not elaborate. Union Miniere is a wholly owned subsidiary of Societe Generale de Belgique <BELB.BR>.