Public Debate Arises Over Lithium Mine Project in Auvergne, France
A substantial lithium mining initiative is underway at Échassières in the Allier region, orchestrated by Imerys, with an anticipated start date in 2028. This project, strongly backed by both the state and local officials, has sparked controversy among the residents concerned about potential environmental impacts, particularly on soil quality and water access. Imerys France stands as a formidable entity in...
Mineral Resources to Establish Lithium Processing Hub at Lake Johnston
Mineral Resources has finalized a Binding Heads of Agreement with Poseidon Nickel to purchase the Lake Johnston nickel concentrator plant and its associated land. The company plans to transform Lake Johnston into a key lithium processing hub in the southern Goldfields region, aligning with its strategy to enhance lithium processing capabilities. This acquisition enables Mineral Resources to process fines from...
Midland and Rio Tinto Launch Lithium Drilling Program at Galinee Project
Midland Exploration, in collaboration with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada (RTEC), has officially commenced a significant drilling program at the Galinee project, strategically positioned about 8 kilometers east of Winsome Resources’ Adina lithium deposit. This initiative marks the project’s first drilling endeavor, showcasing the partners’ commitment to advancing lithium exploration. The Galinee project, entirely owned by Midland, entered into an option...
K92 Mining Announces Suspension of Underground Operations at Kainantu Gold Mine
K92 Mining has reported a temporary halt to underground operations at its Kainantu Gold Mine following an incident on March 10, 2024, which resulted in the death of an employee. The company clarified that the incident, occurring within the mining lease, is considered non-industrial and suspicious, prompting an immediate pause in processing operations for three days, although stockpile processing has...
Hanrui Cobalt Confirms Production Operations Remain Unaffected
Nanjing Hanrui Cobalt, a leading cobalt producer in China, has dispelled market rumors about a production halt at its Jiangxi plant, affirming that operations continue as normal. Amidst speculation that an incident had disrupted production, Huang Yunyue, the company’s general counsel and operations manager, clarified to Reuters that Hanrui maintains a steady monthly output of 480 to 500 metric tons...
Copper Prices Decline Amid Profit-Taking and Strengthening Dollar
Copper prices experienced a downturn in London’s trading session on Tuesday, as market participants engaged in profit-taking following the metal’s recent surge, and as the dollar gained strength in anticipation of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates. The three-month copper contract on the London Metal Exchange (LME) saw a decrease of 1.0%, settling at $9,000 per metric ton....
A New Frontier: Russia’s Standing in the Face of Indonesian Dominance in Nickel Market
The global nickel markets have witnessed significant shifts, largely due to Indonesia’s assertive entry, offering cheaper supplies and thereby reshaping the competitive landscape. Notably, the price of nickel plummeted by more than 40% over two years, illustrating the impact of Indonesia’s aggressive market strategy. Despite this, there’s a consensus among experts that Russia, with its superior quality nickel and coal,...
American Rare Earths Advances Halleck Creek Project Following Positive Scoping Study
American Rare Earths has disclosed the results of the Halleck Creek Scoping Study Technical Report, conducted by Stantec Consulting Services Inc. The project, located in Wyoming, USA, showcases promising economic potential and has been greenlit by the company’s board for further development. Key findings from the study include:
Marubeni Corporation Secures $2.5 Billion for Sentinella Copper Mine Expansion
Marubeni Corporation has successfully negotiated a loan agreement amounting to $2.5 billion, or approximately 370 billion yen, with eight financial institutions spanning Japan, Canada, South Korea, Germany, and other countries. This funding is earmarked for the expansion of the Centinela copper mine in Chile, a venture Marubeni co-owns with the British firm Antofagasta. The expansion, decided upon last December, is...
Sinomine Resource Anticipates Growth in Lithium Salt Product Output and Sales for 2024
Sinomine Resource has projected a steady increase in the production and sales of its lithium salt products throughout 2024. This optimism is underpinned by the recent completion of significant production lines at the Bikita Lithium Mine in Zimbabwe, including a 2 million ton/year lithium feldspar and a 2 million ton/year spodumene production line. These developments have enabled continuous shipment of...
Indonesia Sets Ambitious Production Quotas for Nickel and Other Metals
Indonesia has taken a significant step in the mining sector by issuing production quotas totaling 152.62 million metric tons for nickel ore and 44,481.63 tons for tin ore within the current year, as stated by a senior official from the mining ministry during a parliamentary session on Tuesday. This move is part of the government’s broader initiative to regulate and...
Ionway Considers Gijón for New Battery Component Plant Amid Global Location Review
Ionway, a joint venture between Umicore and Volkswagen’s Powerco, is in the spotlight as it reviews potential sites for its second electric vehicle battery components factory, with Gijón, Spain, in contention. Despite progressing with environmental procedures for a project at El Musel port, the company confirms that no definitive location decision has been made. The selection process emphasizes the importance...
Glencore Reopens Zinc Smelter in Nordenham Amid Fluctuating Zinc Prices
Glencore has resumed operations at its Nordenham zinc smelter in Germany. The facility, which ceased operations in November 2022 due to surging electricity costs across Europe, is now back in action as of the end of 2023. This move comes amid fluctuating zinc prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME), which saw a drop to their lowest in seven months...
Breakthrough in Light-Emitting Materials: Palladium-Based Compounds for Next-Gen LEDs
A team of chemists has achieved a significant breakthrough by developing new light-emitting materials based on organic palladium compounds, potentially heralding a new era for LED technology. This discovery could pave the way for the next generation of LEDs, finding applications in smartphone displays, monitors, and even night vision devices. The research, backed by a grant from the Presidential Programme...
Hydro Extrusions Announces Sale of Fabrication Unit in Kaunas, Lithuania
In a significant move within the metals industry, Hydro Extrusions has finalized an agreement to divest its fabrication unit located in Kaunas, Lithuania, to VE Invest UAB. This announcement, made on Monday, marks a pivotal transition for the facility, which employs approximately 170 individuals across two sites within Kaunas. Primarily, this unit has been instrumental in supporting Hydro’s extrusion operations...
Weekly Metals News – March 11-15
The Battle for Dominance: LME vs. CME The London Metal Exchange (LME), a longstanding pillar in the global metal trade, is encountering stiff competition from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). The competition is heating up as the CME makes strides in gaining a foothold in the aluminum contracts market, attracting an increasing number of participants and transaction volumes. Despite this...
Vale Indonesia Explores New $2 Billion Nickel Processing Plant
In a recent announcement from Jakarta, PT Vale Indonesia is set to potentially invest in a new high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) plant located on Sulawesi island. The project, which carries an estimated cost of 30 trillion rupiah (approximately $1.91 billion), aims to enhance the production of mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP). MHP is a crucial component in the manufacturing of electric...
Experimental Tantalum Smelting Initiative Launched by Solikamsk Magnesium Plant and Ekaterinburg Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Plant
Solikamsk Magnesium Plant, together with Ekaterinburg Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Plant, has embarked on experimental operations in the production of metallic tantalum. This development marks a significant stride in the metallurgical industry, showcasing the successful smelting of an eight-kilogram tantalum ingot from powder at the facilities of Ekaterinburg Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Plant. The tantalum powder, a critical component in this process,...
Boliden Announces Major Investments in Copper and Precious Metals Production
Boliden, a key player in the metals industry, has announced a significant investment of SEK 4.8 billion (approximately USD 460.8 million) in a new tank house at its Rönnskär site. This strategic move is set to boost the production of copper cathodes and precious metals, reaching full capacity by the latter half of 2026. Alongside this development, Boliden has also...
China’s Primary Aluminum Production Rises by 5.5% in Early 2024
China’s production of primary aluminum reached 7.1 million tons in the first two months of 2024, marking a 5.5% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth comes as producers in Yunnan province resume operations that were previously halted due to power restrictions. Industry experts predict that the resumed production could boost the province’s annual output by an...
