Lara Browne

Editor-in-Chief
With over 15 years of experience in financial journalism, Lara has become a recognized voice in global metals markets. Her career spans several continents, allowing her to develop a deep understanding of market movements, investment strategies and the broader financial implications of metal mining and production. Her editorial leadership at Metals Wire ensures that all content is not only timely but also insightful, providing a comprehensive look into the sector. Lara’s approach focuses on making complex market trends accessible to both industry insiders and general readers.
  • Glencore Digs Deep into Recycling to Meet Surging Copper Demand

    Global mining giant Glencore is tapping into a new quarry—not in the earth, but in America’s junk drawers, old phones, and landfills—in its bid to meet the surging demand for copper driven by the energy transition and data boom. Outside its 97-year-old copper smelter in Quebec, Canada, shredded electronics, obsolete computer cables, and scrapped vehicles...
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  • Glencore Tests New Copper Extraction Technology at Chilean Mine

    Glencore is advancing efforts to extract more copper from lower-quality ore at its Lomas Bayas mine in northern Chile. The company has started on-site testing of a new leaching technology developed by Ceibo, a Chilean startup supported by BHP Group. The move comes as part of the mining industry’s push to increase metal yields from...
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  • Peru’s Copper Production Drops 1.2% in September Amid Lower Output from Key Mines

    Peru’s copper production fell by 1.2% in September compared to the same month last year, reaching 232,423 metric tons, according to data released by the Ministry of Energy and Mines on Tuesday. Peru, one of the world’s largest copper producers, produced 2.76 million metric tons of copper last year. The monthly decline in copper production...
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  • Nickel Prices Expected to Stay Rangebound in 2025 Amid Supply Surplus

    The nickel market, which heavily relies on demand from the stainless steel and electric vehicle (EV) sectors, is proving to be challenging to forecast due to its volatility. After a significant spike in 2022 triggered by geopolitical events, nickel prices have since stabilized but remain sensitive to shifts in market conditions. Nickel demand is closely...
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  • Kico Mining Plant in Kipushi Reopens After 30 Years of Inactivity

    On Sunday, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi inaugurated the Kico mining plant in Kipushi, reopening the site after over three decades. The revitalization is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines and Gécamines, aiming to produce 100,000 to 140,000 tonnes of high-grade crude zinc annually. The restart is expected to generate jobs and support infrastructure improvements, benefiting...
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  • Oman Launches Aluminium Initiative in Suhar to Drive Industrial Growth

    The Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion has launched the Aluminium Initiative in Suhar, in the North Al Batinah Governorate. This ambitious project aligns with Oman’s Industrial Strategy 2040, aiming to diversify the economy and promote sustainable industrial growth. The initiative seeks to create an integrated economic cluster focused on downstream aluminium industries, emphasizing...
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  • Gold Prices Rebound as Russia-Ukraine Tensions Boost Safe-Haven Demand

    Gold prices surged on Monday, climbing 1.9% to close at $2,611.73 per ounce after six consecutive days of losses. The increase came as the U.S. dollar paused its rally, and renewed uncertainty from the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict rekindled demand for safe-haven assets. FXStreet analyst Christian Borjon Valencia noted that gold rebounded from a two-month low...
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  • Copper and Aluminium Prices Slip Amid Tariff Concerns and Market Uncertainty

    Copper prices edged lower on Monday as investors awaited developments on potential U.S. tariffs and anticipated economic stimulus from China. Aluminium also retreated, reflecting market response to China’s recent decision to scrap export rebates. By 1125 GMT November 18, three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) dipped 0.1% to $8,994.50 per metric ton, extending...
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  • African Lithium Production Set to Surge Amid Price Fluctuations

    After a year of declining lithium prices due to a surplus market, some analysts are optimistic that the market will recover by 2030. For African nations, keeping development on schedule will be critical as they look to capitalize on the anticipated resurgence. Countries such as Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and others are positioning themselves to increase lithium...
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  • Albemarle CEO Warns Pivoting Away from China for Lithium Supply Chains May Be Unfeasible

    Kent Masters, CEO of Albemarle, the world’s largest lithium producer, has expressed concerns about shifting critical mineral supply chains away from China in North America and Europe, calling it economically impractical under current market conditions. “We were trying to pivot to the West… the prices we see in the market don’t really allow us to...
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  • Korea Zinc’s Battery Precursor Technology Recognized as National Core Technology

    Korea Zinc, the world’s largest producer in the non-ferrous metals sector, has had its patented technology for processing secondary battery precursors officially recognized by the South Korean government as a national core technology. This designation means that the government will manage the technology with special oversight, particularly in matters of mergers and acquisitions involving foreign...
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  • Events, Trends and Forecasts: 11– 15 November

    Oman to Become a Major Copper Exporter by 2027 The official groundbreaking ceremony for the Mazoon Copper project, a copper ore mining and beneficiation facility, has taken place in Oman, with Minerals Development Oman as the investor. The general contractor is the Canadian firm Lycopodium, which will provide all the necessary engineering, procurement, and construction...
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  • Tirex Resources to Begin Copper and Gold Production in Albania

    Tirex Resources, a Canadian company based in Vancouver, has concluded its exploration activities in Albania and informed the government of plans to convert several exploration concessions into mining concessions. The company aims to begin production soon in six deposits in the Mirdita region, focusing on copper, gold, and zinc extraction. The volcanic deposits in the...
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  • BHP’s Mike Henry Highlights $250 Billion Needed for Copper Demand Surge

    BHP Group Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Mike Henry emphasized that soaring global demand for copper will necessitate an investment of $250 billion over the next decade. This major capital requirement is expected to drive further mergers and consolidations in the mining industry, as companies seek to pool resources and expertise. “New deposits in certain key...
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  • Klockner & Co to Build New Aluminum Processing Facility in Columbus

    Klockner & Co has announced plans to construct a new aluminum flat-rolled processing facility on the campus of Aluminum Dynamics LLC in Columbus. The new facility is intended to expand Klockner’s product and service portfolio, with ramp-up expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. This investment aims to enhance the company’s growth in both the...
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  • Chinese Zinc Producers Rush to Deliver 40,000 Tons to Shanghai Futures Exchange

    Chinese zinc producers are racing to deliver between 30,000 and 40,000 metric tons of refined zinc to warehouses registered with the Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) ahead of the November contract expiry on Friday, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the situation. This significant delivery is expected to raise zinc stocks in the ShFE...
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  • Veolia Introduces New Copper Retrieval Method for Nuclear Decommissioning

    Veolia has introduced a new method for retrieving copper from electrical cables in decommissioned nuclear facilities as part of its “GreenUP” programme. The trial phase involved processing 12 tonnes of cables, which were stripped of their contaminated plastic coating. The cables were then cut and packaged into drums for safe treatment using high-temperature incineration. After...
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  • BHP Group to Spend at Least $7 Billion on Copper Extraction at Escondida Mine

    BHP Group is expected to invest at least $7 billion in copper extraction from the Escondida mine in Chile in the coming years, according to analysts quoted by Reuters. Representatives of BHP may announce these plans next week during a roadshow for the Escondida and Spence deposits. Copper is a critical element in BHP’s long-term...
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  • Increased Use of Recycled Copper and Aluminium Could Help China Address Copper Resource Constraints

    On November 13, 2024, the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) stated that increased utilization of aluminium and recycled copper could help China manage its limited copper resources. Ge Honglin, Chairman of CNIA, emphasized that Chinese smelters face challenges due to constrained copper concentrate supplies, which is impacting their profitability. He noted that smelter profits...
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  • Li-Cycle Secures US$475 Million Loan from U.S. Department of Energy for Rochester Hub Project

    Lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycler Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., based in Toronto, has entered into an agreement for a loan of up to US$475 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The loan consists of up to $445 million in principal and up to $30 million in capitalized interest and is being provided through the DOE’s...
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  • China to Invest $5 Billion in Zambia’s Mining Industry by 2031

    China has announced plans to inject up to $5 billion into Zambia’s mining industry by 2031, with the goal of boosting copper and cobalt production. The investments will be facilitated through a newly established entity, the Chinese Mining Enterprise Association in Zambia, as stated by the Zambian government on November 13, 2024. The Chinese government,...
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  • Alumil India Launches Loop 80, Pioneering 80% Recycled Aluminium for Architectural Systems

    Alumil India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Alumil Group, has launched Loop 80, a groundbreaking certified aluminium product containing 80% recycled material, setting a new global standard for sustainability. This follows the success of Loop 60, the company’s first certified recycled aluminium, introduced in 2023. Loop 80 represents a significant advancement, achieving an impressive 87%...
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  • Constellium Implements LIBS Technology to Advance Automotive Aluminium Recycling

    Constellium SE has announced a major advancement in aluminium recycling for the automotive industry by implementing Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology at an industrial scale. Developed in collaboration with German recycling specialist OSR GmbH & Co. KG and a premium European automotive manufacturer, this initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions across the automotive supply chain...
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  • Iran’s Aluminum Production Sees Decline, While Bauxite and Alumina Outputs Grow

    According to data from Iran’s Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), Iran’s aluminum ingot production in the first seven months of the current year totaled 352,423 tonnes, marking a decline from the 367,091 tonnes produced during the same period last year. The decline reflects challenges in production across the country’s main aluminum...
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