The critical minerals sector faced a turbulent 2024, as new supply outpaced short-term demand growth in immature markets, causing a sharp decline in prices. This pricing pressure slowed deal-making activity and limited financing options for many developers. Despite these challenges, the outlook for 2025 remains optimistic, driven by long-term demand growth, increasing government support, and...
READ MOREBattery Mineral Resources (BMR) has announced the continued production and shipment of copper concentrates from its Punitaqui mineral processing facility in Chile. Between September and November 2024, the company supplied a total of 2,755 dry metric tonnes (DMT) of copper concentrates, marking significant progress in its production targets. Of the total, 1,131 DMT were delivered...
READ MOREUkraine has delayed signing a minerals agreement with the United States, with reports suggesting the deal will now be finalized after Donald Trump assumes office as US President. The move allows Trump, rather than current President Joe Biden, to announce the agreement, positioning it as a win for his incoming administration. Ukrainian officials and business...
READ MOREGunnison Copper has announced progress in the construction of the fully permitted Johnson Camp Mine (JCM) in southeast Arizona, with first copper production expected by mid-2025. The company confirmed that mining activities, including pre-stripping, have begun following the mobilization of the mining fleet. The latest update builds on the August 2024 report, which highlighted the...
READ MOREVedanta Resources (VRL), the London-headquartered metals and mining firm, is expected to encounter funding gaps of $850 million in FY25 and $1.4 billion in FY26, according to a report by CreditSights. While the firm’s recent bond restructuring has eased short-term refinancing risks, access to funding remains constrained, and its interest burden remains high. CreditSights identified...
READ MOREAn independent review of the Panguna copper mine on Bougainville Island, a territory in the South Pacific, has identified several pressing issues, including unstable structures, potential landslide hazards, and contamination of soil and water in nearby areas. The mine, once operated by Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto, ceased operations in 1989. Rio Tinto divested its...
READ MOREThe U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions on Russia’s Gazprombank have created a significant challenge for the $4.8 billion expansion of Uzbekistan’s Yoshlik copper mine. This project, managed by state-owned Almalyk, is key to nearly doubling the country’s copper production by 2026. However, the sanctions, which remove Gazprombank from the international payments system, may disrupt the critical...
READ MORELithium chemicals manufacturer Lepidico Limited has become the latest casualty of the global oversupply of lithium, with KordaMentha appointed as administrators. The company’s board of directors named Richard Tucker and Paul Pracilio of KordaMentha as Voluntary Administrators for Lepidico Limited and its subsidiaries, including Lepidico Holdings, Bright Minz, Li-Technology, Mica Exploration Areas, and Silica Technology....
READ MORECuba is striving to maintain its nickel production despite the combined pressures of the US blockade, disruptions in the national electrical grid, and volatile international market prices. The country’s primary nickel operations are concentrated in the eastern province of Holguín, where two mining sites are active: the Ernesto Che Guevara plant, a fully Cuban venture,...
READ MORELundin Mining Corporation has announced a definitive agreement to sell its Neves-Corvo operation in Portugal and Zinkgruvan operation in Sweden to Boliden AB for up to $1.52 billion. The transaction includes an upfront cash payment of $1.37 billion and up to $150 million in contingent payments based on future copper and zinc prices. The deal...
READ MOREUzbekistan has unveiled an ambitious plan to process up to 300,000 tons of copper annually within its domestic market. Ural Yusupov, Deputy Minister of Mining and Geology, shared the country’s vision during the International Congress on “Mining Industry and Geology of Uzbekistan and Central Asia.” To achieve this goal, Uzbekistan is developing industrial clusters, technoparks,...
READ MORECopper production in Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, is forecasted to reach between 5.4 and 5.6 million tons in 2025, according to the National Mining Association (Sonami). This projection reflects continued optimism about the sector’s stability and growth. Chilean mining companies anticipate copper prices to range between $4.20 and $4.50 per pound next year,...
READ MOREThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $17 million in funding for projects aimed at advancing critical materials innovation while promoting sustainable, economic, and efficient supply chain solutions. Spanning 11 states, these initiatives focus on strengthening manufacturing processes for essential technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, high-efficiency motor magnets, high-performance lithium-ion batteries, and power...
READ MOREGlobal copper smelting activity reached its highest level since February last month, as average smelter inactivity fell to 13.4%, down 2.7% from October, according to Earth-i’s Savant Global Copper Monitoring Index. The index, which tracks smelter performance using satellite data, highlighted significant gains outside of China, reversing typical trends. China, responsible for over 40% of...
READ MORENickel prices continue to struggle, recently hitting their lowest levels since 2020, as Indonesia’s surging production reshapes the global market. Despite rising demand from stainless steel and electric vehicle (EV) battery sectors, supply growth has outpaced expectations, leading to sustained market surpluses. Indonesia’s nickel smelting industry has grown dramatically since the government banned nickel ore...
READ MOREBritish mining company Savannah Resources has concluded the administrative easement process for its Minha do Barroso lithium project in Boticas, Portugal. This step grants the company immediate access to land within the C-100 Mining Concession, marking a key milestone for the project’s progression. Savannah had previously reached agreements to purchase over 100 plots of land...
READ MORERio Tinto has announced plans to expand the capacity of its Rincon lithium project in Argentina to 60,000 tonnes per year, aiming to leverage the favorable long-term outlook for lithium driven by the global energy transition. The London-based mining giant has approved a $2.5 billion investment in its first commercial-scale lithium operation, positioning lithium as...
READ MOREReElement Technologies, a subsidiary of American Resources Corporation, has successfully demonstrated the technical and economic feasibility of producing rare earth elements (REEs) from controlled carbon waste streams. This breakthrough leverages proprietary refining processes and abundant feedstock to unlock value from waste materials, with processing capabilities planned at the company’s Kentucky Lithium facility. Updated analyses of...
READ MORETalon Metals has been awarded a \$2.47 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to advance research and development of novel techniques for extracting minerals from nickel sulphide ores and tailings. The 15-month initiative will focus on Talon’s Tamarack project, which includes an underground nickel-copper mine in Minnesota and a battery mineral processing...
READ MOREThe acquisition of Khoemacau Copper Mining by MMG has opened doors to realizing the full potential of this resource-rich project in Botswana. MMG, a global mining company with operations across four continents, brings the financial backing and technical expertise needed to drive growth and transformation. Logic Sebopeng, General Manager of the mine, described the acquisition...
READ MOREDevelop Global is making substantial progress on the redevelopment of its Woodlawn copper-zinc mine in New South Wales, with first production anticipated in the June quarter of next year. The refurbishment of the processing plant, now 50% complete, is being undertaken by GR Engineering Services (GRES) and Develop’s in-house team, positioning the mine for rapid...
READ MOREAmerican Rare Earths has announced a significant rare earth deposit discovery at its Halleck Creek project in Wyoming, USA, initially valued at $37 billion. The deposit contains critical minerals such as neodymium, dysprosium, praseodymium, samarium, and terbium, essential for manufacturing electronic devices, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense technologies. Notably, only 25% of the total...
READ MOREBolivia, home to the world’s largest lithium reserves, is struggling to compete with its South American neighbors Chile and Argentina in tapping into the lucrative lithium market. The region, known as the Lithium Triangle, holds about 60% of the global lithium supply, essential for producing batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy storage....
READ MOREAs the world accelerates towards green energy solutions, experts are raising concerns about an impending copper shortage that could threaten efforts to provide clean and affordable energy. Swiss bank UBS forecasts a supply deficit of over 200,000 tons by 2025, while the International Energy Forum emphasizes the urgent need for over a billion tons of...
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