John Davis

Editorial specialist
John has spent more than two decades working in the international mining industry, covering everything from early-stage exploration to the final stages of metal production. His global experience includes advising mining operations in North and South America, Africa and Asia. At Metals Wire, John provides readers with a grounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing mining operations today, including regulatory impacts, sustainability efforts and advancements in mining technologies.
  • GM Boosts Investment in Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass Project to $625 Million

    Canada’s Lithium Americas announced that General Motors (GM) will increase its planned investment in the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada by nearly 90%, to $625 million, giving the automaker an ownership stake in the mine that produces lithium—a critical component for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The expanded investment follows a $2.26 billion preliminary commitment...
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  • Antofagasta Reports 15% Increase in Q3 Copper Production, Maintains Full-Year Guidance

    Copper mining giant Antofagasta reported a fifteen percent increase in third-quarter production, while maintaining expectations for full-year output to reach the lower end of its guidance range. Copper production totaled 179,000 tonnes for the three months ending September 30, up 15.3% from the second quarter. Year-to-date output stands at 463,700 tonnes, down 1.2% compared to...
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  • Nupur Recyclers Expands into Aluminium Extrusion with $2.16 Million Investment

    Nupur Recyclers Limited (NRL) announced today its expansion into aluminum extrusion manufacturing through a $2.16 million (₹180 million) investment in its subsidiary, Nupur Extrusion Private Limited. The move aims to capitalize on the growing demand for recycled materials in the solar energy and construction sectors. Shares of Nupur Recyclers Limited (NRL) were trading at $1.64...
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  • Alcoa and Aluminium Bahrain Extend Long-Term Alumina Supply Agreement

    Alcoa has announced a new agreement to supply up to sixteen and a half million metric tons of smelter-grade alumina to Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) over the next decade. The agreement, which will commence in 2026 and run through 2035, allows Alba to procure alumina primarily sourced from Western Australia, ensuring a consistent and reliable supply...
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  • Study Reveals Potential of Unused Electrical Goods in UK Copper Transition

    A recent study has found that there are approximately 823 million unused or broken electrical goods across the UK, containing up to 38,449 tonnes of copper. This quantity could supply 30% of the copper required to transition the country to a decarbonised electricity grid by 2030. Copper is a vital component for solar and wind...
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  • BHP Group Eyes Botswana Copper After Failed Anglo American Bid

    Global mining giant BHP Group has turned its attention to Botswana’s copper resources following a failed £38.6 billion bid for Anglo American. Reports indicate that the primary motivation behind the bid was BHP’s desire to acquire Anglo’s copper mines, highlighting copper’s growing importance as the world shifts away from fossil fuels. BHP has stated on...
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  • Ivanhoe Mines Sets New Production Records at Kamoa-Kakula and Kipushi Mines in Q3 2024

    Ivanhoe Mines, Inc. has reported record production figures for the third quarter of 2024 at its Kamoa-Kakula copper mine and Kipushi ultra-high-grade zinc mine, both located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Kamoa-Kakula mine, one of Ivanhoe Mines’ flagship projects, achieved a new milestone in the third quarter of 2024, producing a record...
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  • Zijin Mining Acquires Akyem Gold Mine in Ghana for $1 Billion

    Zijin Mining has announced its acquisition of 100% ownership of the Akyem Gold Mine in Ghana, previously owned by Newmont, for $1 billion. Akyem, one of Ghana’s largest gold mines, began commercial production in October 2013 and has an annual processing capacity of 8.5 million tonnes. Over the past three years, gold output at Akyem...
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  • Metals Acquisition Walks Away from $1 Billion Neves Corvo Mine, Plans $140 Million Capital Raise

    Metals Acquisition, which was believed to have considered acquiring the $1 billion Neves Corvo copper and zinc mine in Portugal, has decided not to proceed. Instead, the company announced plans to raise $140 million to reduce debt and “pursue strategic inorganic growth opportunities.” Sources also indicated that South32 had looked at the Neves Corvo asset...
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  • ILJIN Expands into Aluminum Forging with $100 Million Investment in Alabama

    ILJIN, a leading South Korean manufacturer of automotive and industrial bearings and chassis components, is making a major move into the aluminum forging market to expand its production capabilities. The company plans to invest nearly $100 million in a new forging facility in Auburn, Alabama, aimed at increasing its output of aluminum components. The new...
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  • Cunext Secures €30 Million for Green Copper Production Project

    The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has granted €30 million from the PERTE for industrial decarbonization to Cunext in Córdoba to support green copper production through recycling. The project also received an additional €5.3 million in incentives from the Regional Government of Andalusia. Banco Sabadell has established a €12 million confirming line linked to sustainability,...
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  • Hydro Appoints New Leaders for Aluminium Extrusion Units in Europe and North America

    Hydro has appointed Erik Fossum and Jeff Lehman as the new leaders for its aluminium extrusion businesses in Europe and North America, respectively. Erik Fossum will serve as the new business unit president of Extrusion Europe, succeeding Bruno D’hondt, who successfully led the unit since September 2018, delivering strong results over the period. Jeff Lehman...
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  • Japan’s Refined Copper Production to Rise 5.5% in Second Half of Fiscal 2025

    Japan’s refined copper production is expected to increase by 5.5% in the second half of fiscal 2025 compared to the previous year, according to Reuters calculations based on plans outlined by smelters. The rise is attributed to reduced maintenance activities and solid demand, particularly from the electronics and construction sectors. The financial second half in...
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  • Iran’s Aluminium Ingot Production Rises Slightly in First Five Months of Year

    Iran produced 264,617 tonnes of aluminium ingots in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-August 21), according to data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Reconstruction Organization (IMIDRO). This marks a slight increase of 1% compared to the same period last year. The production increase was...
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  • Rusal Considers $156 Million Share Buyback Amid Board Deliberations

    Russian aluminium giant Rusal is considering a share buyback valued at approximately 15 billion rubles ($156 million), following a review by the company’s board of directors. The board has begun a preliminary assessment of the potential buyback, noting that it could be favorable for shareholders overall. However, no final decision has been made, and the...
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  • Dundee Precious Metals Releases Preliminary Third Quarter Production Results

    Dundee Precious Metals has released preliminary production figures for gold and copper for the third quarter and the nine months ending September 30, 2024. The company’s Chelopech and Ada Tepe mines are reported to be on track to meet their 2024 production guidance despite some operational challenges. David Rae, President and CEO of Dundee Precious...
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  • Shanghai Nickel Prices Surge on Supply Disruptions

    Shanghai nickel prices jumped nearly 6% on Tuesday, reaching a three-month high as trading resumed following a week-long holiday. The most-traded November nickel contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) rose 3.4% to 135,470 yuan ($19,304 per metric ton) after peaking at 138,800 yuan, the highest since July 9. Meanwhile, three-month nickel on the London...
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  • Premier African Minerals Considers Strategic Options for Zulu Lithium Plant

    Premier African Minerals Limited is considering various strategic options for its Zulu lithium plant, located at the Fort Rixon lithium mine in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Province. These options include a potential full or partial sale, or bringing in an investment partner through a joint venture. The company reported an operating loss of $12.03 million for...
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  • Moscow Exchange Introduces New Futures for Copper, Aluminium, Nickel, and Zinc

    Starting October 8, the Moscow Exchange will begin trading new futures contracts for copper, aluminium, nickel, and zinc. These contracts will have a quarterly circulation term, aligning copper and nickel futures with the existing quarterly terms for aluminium and zinc, which previously had one-month terms. The new contracts will feature lots that are 10 times...
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  • Vale Plans to Triple Copper Production as New CEO Gustavo Pimenta Takes the Helm

    Vale is considering opportunities to significantly increase its copper output, potentially tripling production, as it seeks to catch up with industry competitors, according to the company’s newly appointed president, Gustavo Pimenta. In a statement made on Wednesday, Pimenta highlighted that Vale currently produces 350,000 tonnes of copper annually, while the largest global producers generate around...
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  • Vale Temporarily Halts Operations at Onça Puma Nickel Plant After Storm

    Operations at Vale’s Onça Puma nickel plant in Ourilândia do Norte, Pará, have been temporarily suspended following damage to the local power transmission network caused by a severe windstorm on Saturday, October 5. According to Vale, the network is expected to be fully restored by October 15. Vale estimates that this interruption will reduce nickel...
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  • Hindustan Zinc Reports Strong Q2 FY25 Metal Production Growth

    Hindustan Zinc has released its production figures for the second quarter of FY25, showcasing a notable increase in both mined and refined metal production. In the first half of FY25, the company achieved its highest-ever mined metal production, reaching 519,000 tonnes, a 2% rise compared to the same period last year. Refined metal output also...
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  • Chariot Shifts to Pilot Plant Strategy to Meet U.S. Lithium Demand

    Chariot is accelerating its plans to become a lithium producer by shifting focus to a pilot plant strategy at its Black Mountain lithium project in Wyoming. The company aims to supply spodumene concentrate to meet growing U.S. demand, responding to an expected rebound in lithium prices. This strategic pivot, away from large-scale exploration, follows internal...
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  • Stephen Rowland Appointed President of International Copper Association

    Stephen Rowland has been appointed as the new President of the International Copper Association (ICA), succeeding Shehzad Bharmal, Executive Vice President and COO of Teck Resources, who led the ICA for the past two years. Glencore, a prominent member of the ICA since 2013, remains actively involved in the organization, which serves as a global...
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