Rio Tinto in Ongoing Discussions to Secure Future for Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter
The owner of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, Rio Tinto, is actively engaged in detailed negotiations to secure a new power agreement essential for the smelter’s continuation. The future of the facility, which plays a significant role in Southland’s economy, has been uncertain, prompting concerns among local businesses about the potential impact of its closure at the end of the...
Hindustan Zinc Announces Production Figures for Q4 and FY 2024; Silver Output Hits Record High
Hindustan Zinc has disclosed its production data for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, witnessing a mixed performance in mined and refined metal outputs but achieving a record high in silver production. In the January-March quarter of 2024, mined metal production slightly decreased by 1% year-over-year to 299,000 tonnes but saw an 11% increase from...
Full Circle Lithium Signs Deal with Second US Client for Lithium Production
Full Circle Lithium (“FCL”), a leading manufacturer and recycler of lithium products in the United States, has announced a new partnership with a second US-based specialty industrial and chemicals company to extract and process lithium from the company’s lithium-rich brine. This arrangement will leverage FCL’s proprietary direct lithium extraction processing technology, known for its high efficiency and purity levels. Under...
SPC Nickel Advances with Metallurgical Test Program at West Graham Project
SPC Nickel has commenced a significant metallurgical test work study on mineralization from its West Graham Ni-Cu Project. The study, conducted by Vale Canada, a subsidiary of Vale Base Metals, aims to evaluate the potential recoveries, mineralogy, and grindability of the project’s mineralization. This initiative follows the release of SPC Nickel’s Maiden Resource Estimate earlier this year and represents a...
Electra Battery Materials Partners with Eurasian Resources for Cobalt Supply
Electra Battery Materials has entered into a significant agreement to bolster the North American battery supply chain by securing a deal with Eurasian Resources Group. This partnership marks a strategic move to process cobalt hydroxide at Electra’s battery-grade cobalt sulfate refinery located north of Toronto, Canada. The collaboration aims at reducing North America’s dependency on foreign cobalt refiners, aligning with...
Local Communities and Experts Criticize Zimbabwean Government Over Chinese Miner’s Alleged Violations
In Zimbabwe, the Bikita Minerals lithium mine, primarily invested in by Chinese company Sinomine Resource Group, has become the focal point of intense scrutiny from local communities and experts. Allegations of environmental and social standards being overlooked for lucrative lithium projects have surfaced, sparking concerns over the government’s enforcement of its own laws. Despite Zimbabwe’s “Look East Policy” and the...
E3 Lithium Completes $1.8 Million Alberta Innovates Grant with Final Payment
E3 Lithium, a leading lithium development company in Canada, has announced the receipt of the final installment of $375,000 from a $1.8 million CAD grant awarded by Alberta Innovates in 2021. This grant was pivotal in scaling up E3 Lithium’s Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology from a laboratory prototype to a field pilot plant, marking a significant step towards the...
Unicorn Mineral Resources Expands Exploration Strategy to Include Africa
Unicorn Mineral Resources, a prominent mineral exploration and development entity focusing on zinc, lead, copper, and silver in Ireland, has announced an ambitious expansion of its exploration strategy to include East and Southern Africa. This strategic decision, backed unanimously by the Board of Directors, comes following a proposal from Executive Director Jason Brewer, who joined the company in December 2023....
Metallurgical Industries Holding Reassesses Development Cost for Egyptalum Factory
The Metallurgical Industries Holding Company is taking a strategic step to recalibrate the investment required for the modernization of the Egyptalum Factory Complex. Amid economic fluctuations, the initial estimate of $315 million is under revision, with projections now ranging between $400 and $450 million. This revision will be finalized upon the completion of the assessment by a newly formed technical...
US Primary Aluminum Production Dips Slightly in January 2024
The latest report from the United States Geological Services (USGS) indicates a slight decrease in US domestic primary aluminum production in January 2024, totaling 63,000 metric tons (t). The average daily production stood at 2,020 t, showing a marginal decline from December 2023, maintaining a level comparable to January 2023, yet marking a significant 24% reduction from January 2022. In...
Indonesian Coal Miner Harum Energy Diversifies into Nickel Amid Energy Transition
PT Harum Energy, an Indonesian coal mining company, has strategically expanded into the nickel sector by acquiring a controlling 51% stake in PT Blue Sparking Energy. This move, detailed in a stock exchange filing, involves the conversion of a loan to the nickel processing company into equity, with Blue Sparking issuing new shares valued at approximately $206 million for the...
Cobalt Blue Advances on Australian Cobalt Sulphate Refinery Project
Cobalt Blue Holdings is making significant progress in developing Australia’s first Cobalt Sulphate Refinery, marking key milestones in its journey towards enhancing the country’s position in the global battery supply chain. The company has successfully processed large-scale feedstock samples from third parties and initiated detailed engineering design for the refinery, with permitting processes set to commence in mid-2024. The project,...
Palladium Market Sees Volatility Amidst Global Economic Shifts and Supply Constraints
The international palladium market, crucial for its use in gasoline vehicle emission purification catalysts, continues to experience price fluctuations around the $1,000 per troy ounce mark. Despite the dampening effect of China’s sluggish economic recovery, a decrease in production from Russia—responsible for about 40% of global supply—coupled with other factors, is exerting upward pressure on prices. Market analysts are closely...
Bindura Nickel Corporation Faces Profitability Challenges Amidst Shutdown and Falling Nickel Prices
Bindura Nickel Corporation (BNC), a key player in the nickel mining industry, has issued a warning to its shareholders and potential investors regarding an expected significant downturn in profitability for the remainder of the fiscal year 2024. This downturn is attributed to an extended shutdown period combined with the prevailing low nickel prices on the global market, potentially impacting the...
Shanghai Futures Exchange Aims for Nickel Futures Internationalization Amid Global Pricing Shift
The Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) is set to explore and implement a nickel futures internationalisation strategy, the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) disclosed in a recent report. This initiative seeks to capitalize on the evolving global nickel pricing landscape, according to Zhang Ming, the SHFE’s deputy general manager. In response to the challenges facing the London Metal Exchange (LME),...
Hindustan Copper Sees Record MIC Production and Ore Output in FY24
Hindustan Copper (HCL), India’s pioneering copper producer, has reported a notable increase in its metal-in-concentrate (MIC) production and ore output for the fiscal year 2023-24, marking significant milestones in its operational achievements. The company announced an MIC production of 27,404 tonnes and an ore production of 3.78 million tonnes for the year, the latter being the highest in the last...
Vale Indonesia Targets 70,800 Tons of Nickel Production in 2024
Vale Indonesia has set its nickel production target at 70,800 tons for the year 2024, maintaining a stable output compared to the previous year’s production of 70,728 tons. This announcement was made in Jakarta by the company’s Head of Communication, Bayu Aji. Despite the fluctuating prices of nickel in the market, Vale Indonesia reported a positive performance in 2023 and...
Mitsubishi Materials Announces Metals Production Forecast for First Half of Fiscal Year 2025
Mitsubishi Materials has released its production plans for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. According to the announcement, the company expects to produce 37,349 metric tons of refined copper, 2,515 metric tons of refined lead, 3,933 kilograms of refined gold, and 29,667 kilograms of refined silver each month from April 2024 to September 2024. This...
India Seeks International Partnerships for Critical Mineral Processing Tech
India is actively seeking collaborations with leading critical mineral producers worldwide, including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan, to import processing technology into the country. This initiative aligns with India’s strategy to auction critical mineral mines and emphasizes the government’s ambition to establish domestic processing facilities for these valuable resources. Officials from the mines ministry...
Kazakhstan at a Crossroads: Lithium Reserves and the Push for Domestic Production
Kazakhstan finds itself at the center of international attention following the discovery of significant lithium reserves, valued at $15.7 billion, in the eastern part of the country. Western interest, particularly from the HMS German industrial concern, in extracting this critical resource for energy storage technologies underscores the strategic importance of lithium in the global transition to green energy. The recent...
