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.
  • SWA Lithium and Koch Sign License Agreement for Lithium Extraction Technology

    SWA Lithium, the joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor, has entered a license agreement with Koch Technology Solutions (KTS) for the use of its Li-Pro™ Lithium Selective Sorption (Li-Pro LSS) technology at the South West Arkansas (SWA) Project. This technology will be deployed at the commercial plant for the first phase of the SWA...
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  • Events, Trends and Forecasts: 21 – 25 October

    CATL to Produce Lithium-Ion Batteries in Indonesia Indonesian state-owned corporation Indonesia Battery has formed a joint venture with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) to establish a lithium-ion battery production facility for electric vehicles. Capital investment in the project is expected to be at least $1.2 billion, with a production capacity of up to 15 gigawatt-hours...
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  • Russia Increases Alumina Imports from China Amid Supply Challenges

    Russia has significantly increased its alumina imports from China, largely due to supplies from the Hebei Wenfeng New Materials (HWNM) plant, where Russian aluminum giant Rusal acquired a 30% stake. From January to September 2024, alumina imports from China to Russia rose by 43% year-on-year, reaching 1.2 million tons, according to data from the General...
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  • Vale Posts Q3 Net Profit of $2.41 Billion, Beating Estimates Despite Lower Iron Ore Prices

    Brazilian mining giant Vale reported a third-quarter net profit of $2.41 billion, beating analysts’ expectations, despite a 15% drop from a year earlier. The decline was largely driven by lower iron ore prices and additional provisions related to the 2015 Mariana dam disaster. The $2.41 billion profit exceeded analysts’ estimates of $1.65 billion, according to...
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  • US Urges G-7 Allies to Consider Sanctions on Russian Palladium and Titanium

    The United States has reportedly urged Group of Seven (G-7) allies to consider imposing sanctions on Russian palladium and titanium as the Biden administration explores new strategies to pressure President Vladimir Putin’s war effort in Ukraine. A person familiar with the matter revealed that Biden administration officials floated the possibility during a meeting of G-7...
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  • Nickel Market Faces Pressure Amid Growing Surplus and New Discoveries

    Nickel prices are expected to remain under pressure as the market struggles with a substantial surplus and new supply prospects. Analysts point to the recent discovery of nickel at the Wedei prospect in Papua New Guinea (PNG), which has contributed to the challenging market conditions by increasing production and exacerbating oversupply concerns. “Our nickel price...
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  • Taseko Mines Reaches Key Milestones at Florence Copper Project in Arizona

    Taseko Mines announced that construction at its Florence copper project in Arizona is now nearly 40% complete, keeping the first production target on track for the fourth quarter of 2025. Since construction began earlier this year, the Canadian miner has logged nearly 300,000 work hours without any reported injuries or environmental incidents. There are currently...
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  • Events, Trends, and Forecasts: October 14 – 18

    When discussing the aluminium market, China is always the focal point as both the largest producer and consumer of aluminium globally. Prices for the metal are closely tied to developments there, and currently, there are signs of a slowdown in aluminium demand in China, which is poised to impact the global market. Meanwhile, transformation processes...
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  • Fleet Space Accelerates Drill Targeting at Thomson’s Belt-Scale Gold and Copper Project

    Fleet Space Technologies has been engaged to accelerate drill targeting at Thomson’s belt-scale gold and copper project. This initiative involves a large-scale geophysical survey using ExoSphere real-time 3D Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) imaging across a 5,500 km² area. The survey aims to gather extensive 3D subsurface data to identify belt-scale geological structures, including cross-arc formations...
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  • Events, Trends, and Forecasts: October 7 – 11

    The global lithium market is abuzz with Rio Tinto’s acquisition of Arcadium Lithium for a record amount, a move that could reshape the landscape for lithium producers. Additionally, a new player may enter the copper market, while significant changes loom for the aluminium and zinc sectors. TotalEnergies Eyes Entry into Copper Market French oil and...
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  • Events, Trends and Forecasts: September 30 – October 4

    The first week of October 2024 has concluded, bringing significant updates that shape the current state and outlook of the global non-ferrous metals market. Below are some of the key highlights. LME Eyes Hong Kong for Non-Ferrous Metal Warehouses The London Metal Exchange (LME) is considering several locations near Hong Kong to establish non-ferrous metal...
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  • Sienna Resources Expands Stonesthrow Gold Project in Saskatchewan

    Sienna Resources has significantly expanded its Stonesthrow Gold Project in Saskatchewan, now covering approximately 18,350 contiguous acres of gold-prospective land directly bordering Ramp Metals Inc. This expansion comes after Ramp Metals announced multiple gold mineralization zones, including 73.55 grams per tonne of gold and 19.50 grams per tonne of silver, and a strategic investment led...
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  • Emerita Resources Reports Positive Phase I Metallurgical Testing Results for Iberian Belt West Project

    Emerita Resources has provided an update on the metallurgical testing program for its wholly-owned Iberian Belt West (IBW) Project. Conducted in collaboration with Wardell Armstrong International and SRK Consulting, Phase I of the program aimed to demonstrate the production of commercial-grade concentrates from the La Romanera and La Infanta deposits, which are part of the...
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  • ProLogium Leads the Charge with Innovative Battery Tech at AABC Europe

    ProLogium, a global leader in lithium ceramic battery technology, highlighted its innovations at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC) Europe on May 16. Founder Vincent Yang discussed ProLogium’s reimagined battery architecture, featuring a ceramic separator that enables high-capacity anode materials and solid-state electrolytes. This new structure supports rapid charging and high energy densities, enhancing performance...
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  • Glencore Enhances Forklift Safety Measures at Recycling Facility with Advanced ELOshield System

    Glencore, a global leader in commodity trading and mining, has successfully reduced safety incidents involving forklifts at its recycling facility in Rhode Island by implementing the ELOshield proximity detection system from Elokon. This innovation was highlighted in a new case study released by Elokon on National Forklift Safety Day. Glencore selected ELOshield for its advanced...
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  • Spot Gold Rebounds to $2,310 Amid Anticipation of U.S. Inflation Data and Fed Decision

    On Monday (June 10th), spot gold rallied $17 after a sharp decline in the previous session, breaking through the $2,310 per ounce mark. According to FXStreet analyst Christian Borjon Valencia, gold prices have strengthened despite a rise in US Treasury yields. Upcoming U.S. inflation data and a Federal Reserve resolution could significantly influence gold’s future...
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  • Hillgrove Resources Reports 17% Increase in May Copper Production

    Hillgrove Resources has announced a 17% increase in May copper production, reaching 840 tonnes compared to April’s 719 tonnes. All key operational metrics, including throughput, feed grade, and recovery, have shown continuous improvement. In May 2024, the company processed 84,789 tonnes of milled ore, with a copper grade of 1.09% and a recovery rate of...
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  • Rio Tinto Boosts Stake in Boyne Aluminium Smelter to 73.5%

    British-Australian resources giant Rio Tinto announced it will acquire Mitsubishi Corporation’s 11.65% stake in the Boyne Aluminium Smelter and Refinery (BSL). The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. BSL, located on Boyne Island in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia, is a joint venture involving Rio Tinto, YKK Aluminium, Sumitomo Chemical, and others. This acquisition follows...
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  • Bravura to Commence Lithium Production in Zimbabwe Amid Price Slump

    Bravura Holdings, owned by Nigerian tycoon Benedict Peters, plans to start production at a Zimbabwean lithium project early next year, according to a company official. Despite the current weak price of lithium, the company remains committed to commissioning the Kamativi lithium tailings project by 2025, Bravura’s group general manager Gbenga Ojo told reporters in Harare...
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  • China’s Lithium-Ion Battery Industry Sees Growth from January to April 2024

    According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China’s lithium-ion battery industry maintained a growth trend from January to April 2024. Data from industry standards and association calculations show that total production of lithium batteries in China exceeded 282 GWh during this period, marking a year-on-year increase of 17.5%. In the energy storage sector,...
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  • Richards Bay Minerals Secures 140MW Wind Power in New PPA

    Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) has signed a renewable power purchase agreement (PPA) with Khangela Emoyeni Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd, securing 140MW of wind energy from a new wind farm in the Western and Northern Cape Province. This project is expected to reduce RBM’s annual carbon emissions by 20%. The 20-year PPA involves African Clean Energy...
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  • Hindalco Industries Postpones Novelis Inc’s $945-Million IPO Amid Valuation Concerns

    Hindalco Industries, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has delayed the proposed $945-million initial public offering (IPO) of its US subsidiary Novelis Inc. Experts attribute the postponement to concerns that potentially below-premium valuations for Novelis could negatively impact the valuation of the consolidated Indian entity listed in Mumbai. Novelis cited “market conditions” as...
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  • Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources Plans Lithium Plant in Kazakhstan

    The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) aims to establish a plant in Kazakhstan to produce lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, as reported by Trend. This development was discussed during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction, Kanat Sharlapaev, and representatives from KIGAM and SK ECOPLANT. Representatives from KIGAM and SK...
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  • Three RUSAL Directors Resign from Board Effective June 27, 2024

    Three directors of RUSAL—Mikhail Khardikov, Evgeny Kuryanov, and Evgeny Vavilov—have decided to resign from the company’s board of directors, effective June 27, 2024, coinciding with the annual shareholders’ meeting. This announcement was made in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. None of the directors have offered themselves for re-election. Upon their resignation, they...
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