Peru grapples with red tape that’s burying giant copper projects

If political turmoil and social unrest were the hot topics at Peru’s top mining event last year, this year it’s red tape. While community opposition continues to weigh on the industry, executives... 

Chinese gold bugs lift price premium over world market to record level

China’s suddenly full of gold bugs. The market for bullion in China has surged this month, at times commanding a record premium over international prices of more than $100 an ounce, compared with... 

Glencore, Seriti weigh job cuts in South Africa due to ‘dire’ train situation

Glencore and Seriti Resources are in talks to cut hundreds of jobs in South Africa as their ability to export coal is stymied by inefficiencies at the state-run freight company. Transnet, which... 

Lithium boom in Argentina hinges on politics, Zijin unit says

Argentina is already the world’s fastest-growing producer lithium producer. But if the country wants to overtake some of its regional rivals, it needs the incoming administration to ensure business... 

Ontario Teachers’ bid for lithium stake on hold after lawsuit

A dispute between two mining firms has cast uncertainty on a Canadian pension fund’s bid to invest in one of the world’s largest lithium projects. Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan was nearing a deal... 

Peru is approaching peak copper — for now — as new mines stall

Peruvian copper production probably will rise through next year before flattening out due to a slowdown in investment, according to the head of the country’s mining society. Output from the... 

China scoops up cheap Indian iron-ore in bid to trim steel costs

ndian iron-ore exports have surged this year as steel mills, mainly in the biggest buyer China, switched to lower-grade, cheaper feed in the face of dwindling profits. Combined outbound shipments... 

Vale seals deal for potential low-carbon iron-ore complex

 Mining giant Vale and Brazil's top commercial port have signed an agreement to study the potential construction of a facility in Rio de Janeiro state that would produce low-carbon iron-ore... 

Alcoa names William Oplinger as CEO, succeeding Roy Harvey

Alcoa named William Oplinger as CEO, replacing Roy Harvey who has led the largest US aluminum producer for almost seven years. Alcoa said Oplinger, 56, who was previously chief operations officer,... 

Investors with $24tr push companies to curb nature impact

Investors overseeing $23.6-trillion of funds have kick-started a campaign to pressure 100 companies to ramp up the fight against biodiversity loss. The targeted companies include BHP Group,... 

Congo plans new copper-cobalt smelter to serve informal miners

Democratic Republic of Congo said it’s backing plans for a new domestically owned copper-cobalt plant to help formalize artisanal mining in the country, at a time when minerals crucial to electric... 

Gold miner may revive London listing after Russian asset sale

Polymetal International CEO Vitaly Nesis said the gold miner may revive its London listing once its sanctioned Russian unit has been sold. Polymetal, which generates about 70% of its sales from... 

London-listed miner says Mali lithium project not hit by new law

London-listed Kodal Minerals said its lithium project in Mali won’t be impacted by new legislation that entitles the state to a greater share of the West African nation’s mining assets. On August... 

Transnet says indebted companies are behind the calls for its CEO’s removal

South Africa’s beleaguered state ports and rail company deepened its feud with the private sector, accusing business chambers of intimidation because they owe it money. A September 12 letter from... 

Congo sees expanded UAE mining investment, seeks Inga partners

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is still looking for partners for the world’s biggest hydropower project and expects expanded mining investments from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the... 

Looming strike by miners raises worry about India Coal supplies

The world’s biggest coal producer, state-owned Coal India, is facing a potential three-day strike across its core and subsidiary units, according to a stock exchange filing, prompting fears of... 

Top Philippine nickel miners may spend $2bn in new plants

The Philippines’ two biggest nickel producers are planning to invest about $1-billion each to build processing plants, the companies’ top executives said, boosting the government’s push to develop... 

Barrick says big miners show interest in Pakistan copper project

Barrick Gold’s top executive says it’s not just Saudi Arabia interested in his company’s massive copper project in Pakistan — some major mining companies are, too. The Canadian miner’s $7-billion... 

US missing out on Namibia’s hydrogen, mineral boom, Geingob says

Namibian President Hage Geingob said the US is missing out on a chance to invest in green hydrogen projects and mineral resources in the southern African nation, while the European Union is showing... 

Fortescue says investors welcomed decisive moves on executives

Fortescue Metals Group, dealing with a string of high-level departures that has raised questions over plans to transform the group into a green-energy powerhouse, said on Tuesday that investors... 

Africa’s newest oil jackpot comes with a corruption curse

It’s touted by some as possibly the world’s biggest-ever deep-water oil find. The discovery off the shores of Namibia last year by TotalEnergies and Shell of an estimated 11-billion barrels of... 

Gold Fields will decide fate of Ghana mine within four months

Gold Fields will decide whether to keep or dispose of its stake in its smallest gold asset within the next four months, according to interim CEO Martin Preece. The Johannesburg-listed firm is... 

Wagner-linked gold miner in Sudan halts operations over conflict

A Sudanese gold mining company linked to the Russian mercenary Wagner Group has suspended operations because of conflict in the North African nation. Al-Sawlaj Gold Mining Co. has been shuttered... 

Rio Tinto CEO says Chinese steel demand is close to peaking

The chief executive officer of the world’s second-largest iron ore producer believes Chinese consumption of steel is close to topping out, with demand next year likely to be similar to 2023.... 

Rio Tinto sees building its own lithium mines as better than buying

Riio Tinto Group wants to be a “meaningful” lithium producer, but is more focused on finding and building its own mines than joining the wave of dealmaking engulfing the industry, said CEO Jakob... 

Gold market volatility slumps to lowest since start of pandemic

Gold markets haven’t been this calm since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to a deadlock between buyers and sellers that’s showing no signs of breaking. Six-month historical gold... 

Stanmore seeks $1.1bn loan for BHP mine bid

An Australian bidder for one of BHP Group’s Queensland mines is in talks with private credit funds to help finance $1.1-billion of borrowings for its acquisition. A term sheet in circulation shows... 

G7 plans Russian diamond imports ban by year-end, Belgium says

A ban on imports of Russian diamonds is expected to be agreed by Group of Seven nations in the next two or three weeks, a Belgian official said Friday. The mechanism will consist of a direct ban on... 

Kruger Park opposes new border link to Mozambique

South Africa’s biggest wildlife reserve and some local businesses are opposing plans for a new privately operated trucks-only border crossing aimed at speeding up mineral exports to ports in... 

China conjures a glut of coal as record imports swell supply

This time last year, Chinese coal prices were soaring as power plants scrambled for supplies after an historic drought caused hydropower output to collapse. The market for China’s mainstay fuel... 

De Beers ends lab-grown engagement diamonds foray as prices drop

De Beers decided to call time on offering lab-grown diamonds for engagement rings even as the man-made alternatives continue to cannibalise demand in one of the company’s most important markets.... 

Iron-ore declines as data shows China property concerns persist

Iron-ore fell for the first time this week as a lull in China’s property sector persists, with fresh data showing a recent spurt in home sales in its capital losing momentum. Prices of the key... 

Lithium, nickel miners get $110m boost from US Defence Department

Albemarle and Talon Metals are getting about $110-million in new US government funding to support the expansion of domestic mining of lithium and nickel, two metals critical to the nation’s energy... 

Minsur rolls out digital tracing to prove metal is conflict free

One of the world’s biggest tin producers is rolling out a digital tracking system for all of its output as the formal mining industry steps up efforts to distinguish itself from minerals produced... 

Chile lithium rebound offers relief to miners hit by China angst

A rebound in lithium exports from the No. 2 supplier Chile offers some relief for the nation’s two producers, SQM and Albemarle, which have been hit by slumping prices. Revenue from Chilean... 

Orano halts uranium treatment in Niger because of sanctions on Junta

French nuclear group Orano is halting the processing of uranium ore at one of its facilities in Niger because international sanctions against the military junta are hampering logistics. The crisis... 

South Africa wants $8.5bn climate plan wrapped up by COP28

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy said she expects the long-delayed implementation plan for an $8.5-billion climate pact with some of the world’s richest nations to be... 

South African mines get a faster route to Mozambique port

South Africa’s mining companies, losing out on billions of dollars in sales due to logistics bottlenecks, could soon have a quicker route to ports in neighboring Mozambique. The Logistics Co... 

Startup Summit Nanotech eye $150m funding for a new way to mine lithium

Summit Nanotech, a Canadian startup working on a way to hasten extraction of lithium from South American salt flats, plans to raise $150-million to take the technology to commercial scale. “We’re... 

Iron-ore giant Vale says China property outlook is more encouraging

No. 2 iron-ore miner Vale said the outlook for China’s steel-intensive property sector is “more encouraging” despite uncertainties, and reiterated its long-term view of the global steel market...