Zambia’s largest mines are turning to South Africa’s Eskom Holdings to combat a severe energy crisis caused by a historic drought. This crisis has depleted the country’s hydropower resources, threatening the shutdown of the Kariba Dam, the world’s largest man-made reservoir, which supplies the majority of Zambia’s power. The drought has reduced power generation, leaving households with only three hours...
Mining news
TMC and PAMCO Complete First Phase of Commercial-Scale Processing of Polymetallic Nodules
TMC the metals company, a player in the exploration of deep-sea battery metals, has announced the production of high-temperature calcine during the initial phase of a large-scale commercial processing trial. The project involves processing 2,000 tonnes of polymetallic nodules from the seafloor, in partnership with Pacific Metals (PAMCO) at their Hachinohe Rotary Kiln Electric-Arc Furnace facility in Japan. The trial...
Australian Company Perfect Metals Develops Low-Temperature Process for Tin Production
Perfect Metals, an Australian company, has developed a new low-temperature electrolytic process to convert cassiterite directly into high-purity tin powder. This innovative process could revolutionize tin production by reducing energy inputs and enhancing sustainability. Electrolytic processes are widely used for metal purification and electroplating, and Perfect Metals has previously applied these technologies to chrome powder production in 2023. Now, they...
Andrada Mining Partners with SQM to Develop Namibia’s Lithium Ridge Asset
Andrada Mining has announced a partnership with Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), one of the world’s largest lithium chemicals producers, through its subsidiary SQM Australia. The agreement, pending approval from the Namibian Competition Commission, will focus on developing Andrada’s Lithium Ridge asset (ML133) in Namibia. Key highlights of the partnership include:
Boliden Seeks Strategic Status for Finland’s Kevitsa Mine Under EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act
Boliden has applied to have its Kevitsa mine in Finland designated as a strategic project under the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), as announced on the company’s LinkedIn page and highlighted by Metal Supply. The Kevitsa mine contains 14 of the 17 raw materials that the EU has classified as essential for industries involved in the green transition....
BMI Predicts Growing Tin Shortage and Price Surge by 2032
BMI, a division of Fitch Solutions, has revised its forecast for the global tin market, projecting an escalating shortage and further price increases in the coming years. Tin prices, which averaged $18,730 per ton between 2016 and 2020, have surged to over $32,000 per ton, driven by a supply deficit. The tin market has been severely affected by disruptions in...
Aurubis Launches Advanced Sludge Processing Plant in Belgium, Boosting Metal Recycling
Aurubis has officially inaugurated its new Advanced Sludge Processing by Aurubis (ASPA) plant at its Beerse site in Belgium, marking a major step forward in sustainable metal recycling. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to efficiently extract tin and precious metals from anode sludge, a byproduct of electrolytic copper refining produced at Aurubis’ sites in Beerse and Lünen, Germany. This €33...
Eurasian Resources Group Secures $150 Million Pre-Export Finance Deal with Glencore and Bank of China
Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a Luxembourg-based diversified natural resources company, has announced a pre-export finance agreement with Glencore International AG and the London Branch of Bank of China Limited. This agreement will allow ERG to borrow up to $150 million, which will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The financing is supported by a supply agreement...
Sinomine Resource Group’s Namibia Smelter Holds Significant Germanium Reserves
China’s Sinomine Resource Group has announced that its Tsumeb Smelter in Namibia contains 746 metric tons of germanium, a vital mineral used in chipmaking, infrared technology, fiber optic cables, and solar cells. The company revealed plans to explore the feasibility of upgrading the existing copper smelting production line at the smelter to include germanium and zinc smelting capabilities, aiming to...
Alcoa Faces Stability Concerns Over Massive Bauxite Residue Stockpiles in Western Australia
Alcoa is storing approximately 368 million cubic meters of caustic bauxite residue, known as red mud, across three refineries in Kwinana, Pinjarra, and Wagerup, Western Australia. The amount of waste, which could fill Perth’s Optus Stadium more than 350 times, has not been confirmed as stable according to recent assessments, raising significant concerns about the safety of these storage areas....