Costs of EV battery material cobalt hydroxide jump on Congo export restrictions

Prices of cobalt hydroxide used to make chemicals for electric vehicle (EV) batteries have risen sharply this year due to cobalt export restrictions from top producer Democratic Republic of Congo,... 

Zimbabwe's President changes mines minister, statement says

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has removed Winston Chitando as mines minister and replaced him with Polite Kambamura, the government said in a statement on Monday. No reason was given for... 

Iron-ore extends losses as Simandou project starts supply

Iron-ore futures prices extended declines on Tuesday, as the big Simandou project in Guinea, west Africa shipped its first ore, raising prospects of more supply at a time when demand in top... 

Anson inks lithium supply MoU with US's Nusano for nuclear use

Australia's Anson Resources said on Monday it signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Utah-based firm Nusano to supply lithium chloride for use in nuclear and advanced manufacturing... 

Where coal once reigned, Virginia eyes data centers

The demise of the coal industry left the US Appalachian region in tatters, with lost jobs, spoiled water and countless miles of abandoned underground mines. Now entrepreneurs are eyeing the rural... 

EIA to ditch some existing reports and launch new surveys on minerals, data centers

The US Energy Information Administration will ditch some of its reports, launch new surveys on data centers and critical minerals next year, and tweak its flagship Annual Energy Outlook, the... 

Nornickel fully restores cobalt production after repairs from 2022 fire

Russian mining and metals giant Norilsk Nickel has fully completed the reconstruction of its cobalt production facility in the Murmansk region, which was damaged in a fire three years ago, the... 

Congo sets new export conditions to keep tight grip on cobalt

Congo has set new conditions for cobalt exporters, according to a government circular reviewed by Reuters, potentially complicating a recently introduced quota system as the country seeks to keep a... 

EU's rare earths push is 10 years late, Boliden CEO says

The EU should have taken action on rare earths 10 years ago, the boss of Swedish miner Boliden said on Friday, commenting on the European Commission's plan to fast-track three-billion euros... 

India's Adani, Hindalco seek Peru copper assets as demand surges

Indian conglomerate Adani and miner Hindalco Industries are exploring investments in Peru's copper sector, either through joint ventures or by taking stakes in existing mines, a senior Peruvian... 

Swedish miner Boliden says it will spend less capital in 2026

Swedish miner Boliden plans to lower its capital expenditures to 15-billion Swedish crowns ($1.6-billion) in 2026, 500 million crowns less than it expects to spend this year, it said on Friday.... 

Copper producer Freeport would pursue M&A only if 'stars and moon' align, CEO says

Copper producer Freeport-McMoRan would pursue an acquisition if "the stars and the moon" aligned, but is not counting on deals to grow and is focused on developing existing assets, its CEO said on... 

US minerals projects seek 'industrial vision' from Washington to compete with China

Washington must move even faster to bolster critical minerals projects and offset Beijing's grip on the world's supply of the building blocks for electronics, weapons and a range of other goods,... 

Niger accuses France's Orano of radioactive pollution as uranium row deepens

Niger has accused French nuclear fuel group Orano of "predatory behavior" and environmental crimes, escalating a bitter dispute over control of the West African nation’s uranium mines. The... 

Australian union members back strike at Woodside's Pluto LNG 2

An overwhelming 99% of Offshore Alliance members have voted to strike at Woodside Energy's Pluto LNG 2 facility, according to results released on the organisation's Facebook page on Thursday.... 

Morocco's OCP receives $525m AfDB credit guarantee to aid low-carbon push

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a credit guarantee of up to €450-million, or about $525.4-million, to support the low-carbon goals of Moroccan fertiliser and phosphates producer... 

Eramet eyes manganese, lithium growth in turnaround plan

Eramet aims to deliver more manganese from Gabon and lithium from Argentina as part of efforts to strengthen its finances, which have been hit by falling profits and rising debt, the French mining... 

Vulcan bags €2.2bn financing package for German lithium project

Vulcan Energy Resources said on Wednesday it had secured a financing package of €2.2-billion that would allow it to begin construction at its Lionheart lithium and renewable energy project in... 

Appian talking to US, Australia on critical minerals after IFC deal

Appian Capital Advisory said it is in talks with the US and Australia about replicating the critical minerals investment partnership it recently agreed with a World Bank division. The private... 

UK has no immediate plans for critical minerals price floor, Minister says

Britain has no plans to match the United States in supporting domestic rare earth companies with a price floor to cut reliance on dominant producer China, Industry Minister Chris McDonald said. So... 

Mali recovers $1.2bn in arrears from miners, eyes annual windfall under new code

Mali has recovered 761-billion CFA francs ($1.2-billion) in arrears from mining companies following a sweeping audit, its finance minister said, marking one of the country’s biggest clawbacks from... 

Namibia's President appoints new mines, energy and industry Minister

Namibia's President on Tuesday appointed Modestus Amutse as the Southern African country's new Minister of Mines, Energy and Industry. Amutse's appointment comes after President Netumbo... 

France's Orano says uranium convoy from seized Niger mine poses safety risks

French nuclear fuels group Orano said on Monday a uranium shipment from its expropriated SOMAIR mine in northern Niger last week posed "serious safety and security risks”, citing threats of... 

India weighs Mongolian coking coal imports despite transport hurdles, source says

India is assessing the viability of importing coking coal from Mongolia despite transport bottlenecks, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, as New Delhi seeks to diversify supplies of... 

Indonesia could impose coal export levy next year

Indonesia could impose a coal export levy next year, finance minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa told reporters on Wednesday without providing further detail. The finance ministry has also said they... 

JSW's plan for voluntary job reductions draws high interest from workers, CEO says

An internal survey at Polish coal miner JSW showed more than 6 000 employees were interested in a planned workforce reduction, almost double the number eligible for the scheme, acting CEO Boguslaw... 

Codelco offers US clients copper at record premiums

Chile's state-owned copper producer has offered to sell copper at record premiums above $500 a metric ton to US customers with contracts based on London Metal Exchange copper prices, two sources... 

China's overcapacity crackdown reaches copper, but market impact unlikely

China's decision to shelve a series of planned copper smelters is unlikely to have an impact on historically tight markets unless it is followed by more measures to curb output in the world's... 

Canada rolls back climate rules in energy deal with Alberta

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney signed an agreement with Alberta's premier on Thursday that rolls back certain climate rules to spur investment in energy production, while encouraging... 

AfDB, EIB lend Mauritania $275m for railway upgrade

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a financing package worth $275-million to help Mauritania upgrade its main railway corridor. Under the agreement,... 

Zimbabwe to hike royalties on gold producers to cash in on recent record prices

Zimbabwe will hike royalties on gold producers as it moves to take advantage of recent record high bullion prices, a 2026 national budget speech showed on Thursday. As part of a raft of revenue... 

Platinum prices rise as China launches new futures contracts

Spot platinum prices rose on Thursday as the start of the futures trading on the China's Guangzhou bourse provided support to the overall liquidity for the metal. The contracts are the first... 

China's overcapacity crackdown reaches copper, but market impact unlikely

China's decision to shelve a series of planned copper smelters is unlikely to have an impact on historically tight markets unless it is followed by more measures to curb output in the world's... 

Comex copper premium here to stay, LME executive says

Copper prices on the US Comex exchange will enjoy a premium over the London Metal Exchange that is likely to persist over the next 18 months, an LME executive said on Thursday, citing uncertainties... 

Australia set to overhaul environment laws in deal with Greens

Australia will overhaul its environment laws in long-awaited reforms after the Greens party agreed to back the centre-left Labor government's legislation on the final day of parliament for the... 

US group sues Apple over Congo conflict minerals

A US-based advocacy group has filed a lawsuit in Washington accusing Apple of using minerals linked to conflict and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda despite the... 

Proposed Teck-Anglo merger is subject to national security review, Canada says

Canada will submit the proposed merger of Anglo American and Teck Resources to a national security review, Industry Minister Melanie Joly said on Wednesday. Joly also said Ottawa would come to a... 

Deutsche Bank raises 2026 gold price forecast

Deutsche Bank on Wednesday raised its 2026 gold forecast to $4 450/oz from $4 000/oz, which it had projected two months ago, citing stabilising investor flows and persistent central-bank demand.... 

Codelco's record China copper offer sparks threats to walk away, sources say

Chilean copper heavyweight Codelco's record high offers to Chinese copper buyers are leading some to declare they will opt out of next year's term contracts as questions grow about the relevance of... 

Mercuria's copper bull forecasts more price records next year

A squeeze in global copper markets will tighten again next year, pushing up prices of concentrate and refined metal to new highs, the head of metals research at commodity trader Mercuria said on...