Battery maker Northvolt looks at sourcing cobalt from Congo

Swedish battery maker Northvolt is looking to source cobalt, used to make chemicals for electric vehicle batteries, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the company said on Friday. The... 

Transnet partially restores service on coal export line

South African freight rail operator Transnet said late Thursday it resumed partial service on the line connecting to the country's main coal export terminal, four days after two trains collided and... 

Mineral-rich Arctic region of Nunavut gains control over its resources

Canada on Thursday formally gave the giant Arctic territory of Nunavut control over its reserves of gold, diamonds, iron, cobalt and rare earth metals, a move that could boost exploration and... 

Codelco to invest $720m more in Chuquicamata copper mine

Chile's State-owned Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, submitted an environmental permit request on Thursday to modify its Chuquicamata Subterranea project at a cost of $720-million.... 

Whitehaven Coal posts strong Q2, mulls Blackwater mine stake sale

Australia's Whitehaven Coal reported a near 4% rise in quarterly production on Friday, helped by strong performance at its open-cut mines, and said it was exploring a potential stake sale in the... 

Energy Transition asked to give payment security for Greenland case

Australia's Energy Transition Minerals said on Thursday a Copenhagen arbitration tribunal ordered its unit to give payment security for the Greenland and Denmark governments' legal costs against... 

EU-backed investors plan €500m battery raw materials fund

Two of Europe's leading energy transition investors plan to raise €500-million for a battery raw materials fund, aiming to plug "significant gaps" in the region's supply chain, executives told... 

Lithium venture in Chile in talks with EV firms to invest in mine project

A joint venture valued at $1.5-billion to $2-billion that wants to become Chile’s third lithium producer is in talks with investors to bankroll its project. Simco Lithium, owned by a Singaporean... 

Serbia wants talks with Rio Tinto over Jadar lithium project

Serbia wants to hold further talks with Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto about its lithium project in the country, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday, adding that there should also be... 

Liontown shares plunge as Albemarle seeks to exit Australian lithium developer

Shares of Liontown Resources fell about 15% on Thursday to hit their lowest level in 18 months after a term sheet showed Albemarle was trying to sell its stake in the Australian lithium developer.... 

Transnet plans to partially reopen coal line after derailment

South African freight rail operator Transnet plans to reopen the first of two coal lines to the country's major coal export terminal on Thursday after it was blocked following a train collision... 

Albemarle to cut staff, pause expansions amid falling lithium prices

Albemarle, the world's largest lithium producer, said on Wednesday it will cut jobs and defer spending on a US refinery project in a wide-ranging plan to slash costs amid falling prices of the... 

Antofagasta's 2023 copper output up 2%, sees higher capex in 2024

Antofagasta on Wednesday reported a 2% rise in 2023 copper production to 660 600 metric tons on higher output at its flagship project Los Pelambres due to improved water availability. The Chilean... 

First Quantum offers voluntary retirement to over 1 500 Panama mine staff

First Quantum Minerals on Tuesday offered voluntary retirement to more than 1 500 employees at its key Panama mine, a day after announcing a major restructuring to conserve cash, which included... 

Australia's nickel producers reel from supply glut

A sharp slide in nickel prices over the past year, driven by a jump in Indonesian supply, has hit Australian nickel producers, leading to mine closures, production cuts and writedowns in recent... 

Evolution Mining eyes worst day in year-and-a-half on production miss

Shares in Evolution Mining dropped nearly 21% to post their biggest drop in about 18 months on Wednesday, after the miner's second-quarter gold production missed analyst expectations. The stock... 

Albemarle offers to sell entire stake in Liontown after failed $4.3bn bid

An Albemarle unit has put on sale its entire stake in Australia's Liontown Resources, a term sheet showed on Wednesday, after the US-based firm withdrew its proposed A$6.6-billion bid for the... 

Most cobalt producers loss-making after 2023 price slump - ERG

Most cobalt producers are likely to be losing money on every ton of cobalt they produce after a price slump last year, Benedikt Sobotka, CEO at metals miner Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), said on... 

Indonesia approves Freeport Indonesia's mining quota for 2024-2026

Indonesia has approved a mining quota for copper miner Freeport Indonesia totalling 219.8-million metric tons of copper ore for the next three years, a mining ministry official said on Tuesday.... 

S&P upgrades Vedanta Resources just days after a downgrade

S&P Global Ratings upgraded Vedanta Resources, the London-based parent of Indian miner Vedanta, on Monday, citing a more "manageable" debt maturity profile after a recent debt restructuring, which... 

One killed in flood at mine in Russia's Arctic north

One miner was killed and another injured by a flood at a coal mine in the Russia's Arctic Komi region, Russia's emergencies ministry said on Monday. Groundwater broke through into the Zapolyarnaya... 

Collapse of gold mine in Tanzania kills 22, official says

The collapse of an illegal small-scale gold mine has killed at least 22 people in northern Tanzania following heavy rains, a senior government official said on Sunday. The accident happened early... 

BYD in talks with Brazil's Sigma Lithium on supply deal - FT

Chinese electric car-maker BYD has held talks with Brazil's Sigma Lithium over a possible supply agreement, joint venture or acquisition, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. BYD met Sigma CEO... 

Indonesia targets 710Mt coal output in 2024 after record 2023

Indonesia, a major thermal coal exporter, aims to produce 710-million metric tons of coal in 2024, the Mining Minister said on Monday, after posting record output last year. Indonesia's coal... 

Codelco reaches deal with supervisers union at Chuquicamata copper mine

Chile's State-owned Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, said on Friday it had reached an agreement on a new contract with the union representing supervisors in its Chuquicamata division.... 

Kazatomprom may cut uranium production plan

he world's largest uranium producer, Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom, said on Friday it may cut its 2024 production plan due to difficulties with the availability of sulfuric acid needed for uranium... 

China's 2023 iron-ore imports hit a record high on rising demand

China's iron-ore imports in 2023 hit a record high, up 6.6% from a year before, customs data showed on Friday, thanks to stronger demand amid a lack of government-mandated steel output caps and... 

China's imports of Mongolian coal set to rise as transport improves

China's imports of Mongolian coking coal may rise to a record in 2024, after more than doubling in 2023, on improving transport links and its lower price versus domestic and international supplies,... 

China's rare earth exports rise on demand from EV, high-tech sectors

China's exports of rare earths in 2023 rose 7.3% from the prior year, customs data showed on Friday, boosted by competitive prices and growing overseas demand from electric vehicle makers and other... 

Ferrexpo reports 33% slump in annual iron-ore pellet production

Ferrexpo reported a 33% slump in annual production of iron-ore pellets on Thursday as the Ukraine-focused miner waded through a second year of disruptions caused by the Russian invasion. The... 

First Quantum's shut Panama copper mine to present initial preservation plan

The Panama unit of Canadian miner First Quantum Minerals said Wednesday that it will present to government officials the first phase of its mine preservation plan on January 16, according to a... 

De Beers approves $1bn spending at Botswana mine

Global diamond giant De Beers said it will go ahead with a planned $1-billion investment to extend the life of its flagship Jwaneng mine in Botswana, even as last year's downturn in gem demand... 

Norway Parliament votes in favour of seabed mining, as expected

Norway's Parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of allowing Arctic seabed mineral exploration, in line with a deal reached between the government and key opposition parties last month, overcoming... 

Saudi Arabia ups mineral resource estimates to $2.5 trillion - Minister

Saudi Arabia has revised upwards estimates for its untapped mineral resources including phosphate, gold and rare earths to $2.5-trillion, from a 2016 forecast of $1.3-trillion, its Mining Minister... 

US seeks to jump-start production of higher-energy uranium now made in Russia

The US is seeking bids from contractors to help establish a domestic supply of a uranium fuel enriched to higher levels for use in a next generation of reactors, a fuel currently only available in... 

AustralianSuper snaps up additional stakes in Pilbara Minerals, Endeavour Group

Pension fund AustralianSuper has raised its stake in lithium miner Pilbara Minerals and alcohol retailer Endeavour Group, two separate exchange filings showed on Tuesday. The stake increase makes... 

Alcoa to mothball Western Australia alumina refinery, up to 1 050 staff at risk

US aluminum producer Alcoa said on Tuesday it planned to stop production in 2024 at its loss-making Kwinana Alumina Refinery in Western Australia because of challenging market conditions and the... 

Zimbabwe gold output declines 15% amid electricity, forex shortages

Zimbabwe produced 30 metric tons of gold in 2023, 15% less than the previous year, official data showed on Monday, as electricity cuts and currency volatility impacted output. The Southern African... 

Palladium falls as concern EVs will destroy demand returns to the fore

Palladium prices fell by 3% on Thursday as concern the take-up of electric vehicles will destroy long-term demand unravelled some of the December gains that followed Britain's expansion of... 

Canadian dealmaking seen rebounding in 2024, led by energy, mining

Canadian energy, power and mining companies are expected to lead a rebound in dealmaking this year helped by lower interest rates, following a slump in overall mergers and acquisitions in 2023 to...