Infrastructure reform key to lift South Africa’s growth, says BER

South Africa must invest R200-billion to revive its frayed railways, half that amount again to upgrade water infrastructure, and tackle bottlenecks in both electricity and governance to achieve an... 

One by one, world leaders in Davos fall in line in Trump era

He’s not showing up in person, and his video address will come as the World Economic Forum is already winding down. But Donald Trump is still what everyone wants to talk about in Davos. Fans like... 

Alcoa sees higher aluminum shipments in 2025 despite looming tariff threats

Alcoa, the largest US aluminium producer, expects higher annual shipments of the lightweight metal in 2025 due to rising demand for the material used in everything from automobiles to window... 

World’s biggest cobalt miner sees 2025 output approaching record

The world’s biggest cobalt miner, which churned out a record amount of the battery metal last year, is targeting similar levels of production for 2025 following a ramp-up at two African mines.... 

Bolivia steps up lithium dealmaking despite growing opposition

Bolivia is stepping up efforts to tap the world’s biggest lithium deposits, readying deals with new investors to build processing plants despite low prices and growing opposition from lawmakers and... 

China’s Zijin vies with Glencore after record year for profits

Zijin Mining Group racked up record annual profit after a growth burst that made the Chinese firm as big as global commodities giant Glencore, although it has softened its output targets for this... 

Sasol plots new route to emission goal after refocusing on coal

Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi is seeking a new path for South Africa’s second-largest polluter to reach its emissions target after doubling down on coal to run its fuel and chemicals production. The... 

Iron-ore and other metals drop after Trump’s China tariff threat

Iron-ore and most base metals fell after US President Donald Trump said that he could hit China with 10% tariffs on all imports, suggesting February 1 as the possible start date. Futures of the... 

Saudi-Barrick Gold deal in Pakistan held up on terms

Pakistan’s deal with Saudi Arabia for the sale of a stake in the copper and gold mining project controlled by Barrick Gold is still in the process of negotiating key details, including where the... 

Barrick considers sale of stake in Chilean copper mine

Barrick Gold is looking to sell its stake in a relatively small Chilean copper mine, as the company focuses on bigger and more profitable operations elsewhere, according to people with knowledge of... 

Gold holds gain as reduced threat of US trade war hurts dollar

Gold held an advance as President Donald Trump held off from imposing sweeping trade tariffs against China and other nations on his first day in office, which hurt the US dollar. Bullion traded... 

Rio Tinto and Glencore spoke for months about deal that was once taboo

When Glencore proposed a combination with Rio Tinto Group a decade ago, the larger company turned it down after just a few days. News this week that the two spent several months in negotiations in... 

Sasol plans reviving chemical unit and explore potential IPO

Sasol is looking to revive its international chemical business, including a sprawling US complex, to boost earnings and open up an option to potentially list it, according to the company’s chief... 

Canada wants G7 talks on metals pricing to counter China’s sway

Canada wants its allies to explore a pricing floor for critical minerals to address what it views as market interference from China, the dominant supplier of metals key to the energy transition.... 

Copper in longest winning streak since 2017 on China demand hopes

Copper headed for an eighth day of gains, its longest winning streak since 2017, as fresh economic data from China brightened the demand outlook in the top metals-consuming nation. The industrial... 

Rio Tinto, Glencore discuss mining's biggest-ever potential merger

Rio Tinto Group and Glencore have held early stage talks about combining their businesses to create a behemoth to rival longstanding industry titan BHP Group. The discussions took place as recently... 

Rio Tinto shares fall after report of Glencore deal talks

Rio Tinto Group shares fell as much as 1.8% in Sydney after Bloomberg News earlier reported the world’s second-biggest miner held early-stage talks with Glencore Plc about a deal. The stock was... 

Trump’s environmental pick worked for Musk-backed advocacy group

Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the Environmental Protection Agency, has been a consultant to a wide swath of conservative organizations, including one of Elon Musk’s... 

Trudeau, Premiers spar over using resources as trade weapon

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers of Canada’s provinces are in high-stakes talks over how far to go in using oil and other commodities as a weapon if the US starts a regional trade... 

Eroding glut of rare earths could halt two-year price downtrend in 2025, analysts say

Prices of rare earth minerals are likely to stabilise in 2025 after a two-year downturn, as China slows mining output to protect domestic producers and growing demand from electric vehicles and... 

Uranium fever collides with industry's dark past in Navajo country

A few miles south of the Grand Canyon, thousands of tons of uranium ore, reddish-gray, blue and radioactive, are piled up high in a clearing in the forest. They’ve been there for months, stranded... 

Aluminum rises on EU’s possible Russia ban, China supply trends

Aluminum ticked higher, with the European Union considering import restrictions on Russian metal and Chinese production growth expected to slow. The metal climbed toward $2 600 a ton in London,... 

Arafura Rare Earths gets A$200m boost from Australia

Arafura Rare Earths will get A$200-million from Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund to support a new mine and processing facility, the latest move by Western nations to boost supply chains of... 

South Africa shuts trade route with Botswana after record rains

South Africa suspended operations at a key border crossing with Botswana after heavy rains caused flooding. Water levels reached a point where it “significantly compromises the safe and efficient... 

Iron-ore advances after record China imports boost demand hopes

Iron-ore surged back above the $100-a-ton threshold after data showed China’s annual imports of the steel-making ingredient reached a record and its trade surplus soared. Futures gained for the... 

Copper extends rally as dollar weakens on Trump tariff report

Copper extended this year’s rally on a report the incoming Trump administration will slowly ramp up trade tariffs rather than impose sizable levies in one go. The report, based on unnamed sources,... 

Greenland is ready to cooperate with Trump, Prime Minister says

Greenland’s prime minister said he will seek a closer relationship with the US, highlighting the Arctic island’s push for independence amid renewed interest from Donald Trump. “We have started a... 

Ontario pitches Trump on mining deals with tariffs looming

The leader of Canada’s most populous province is pitching a “renewed strategic alliance” with the US on critical minerals, as President-elect Donald Trump threatens crippling tariffs on the... 

Veteran mining banker teams up with former Anglo American CEO Cutifani to chase M&A revival

In his two decades at Bank of America Corp as a mining banker, Omar Davis worked on several transactions with former Anglo American boss Mark Cutifani. They’ve now teamed up again to set up a... 

Mali to get $1.2bn from miners after talks

Mali is set to get 750-billion CFA francs ($1.2-billion) from miners in the first quarter this year following an overhaul of its mining sector. In late December, Mali had received 500-billion CFA... 

Zijin in talks to buy $6bn China lithium producer

Zijin Mining Group, one of China’s most acquisitive miners, says it’s in discussions to buy shares and potentially to take over Zangge Mining a lithium and potash producer. Zijin is in talks with... 

Indonesia’s coal production hits record as energy needs rise

Indonesia’s coal production reached a new high in 2024 amid rising demand for energy both domestically and globally. Last year’s output was at 831-million tons, according to preliminary data... 

Australia’s most populous states face gas shortfalls from 2027

Australia’s east coast is expected to have a shortfall of domestic gas supply from 2027 unless new gas fields are soon brought online, according to the nation’s top consumer watchdog. Sydney and... 

BlackRock leaves major climate group amid Wall Street exodus

BlackRock is exiting one of the world’s biggest climate finance groups for investors after being targeted by Republican politicians for its efforts on global warming. The money manager said... 

Trump tariff fears spark disconnect in silver and copper markets

Copper and silver futures in New York are surging above rival international price benchmarks as traders ramp up bets that Donald Trump will impose hefty import tariffs on the metals as part of a... 

Indonesia nickel move may cut global supply 35%, Macquarie says

Potential cuts to Indonesian nickel mine output could remove more than a third of global supply from the market, according to Macquarie Group, presenting a significant upside risk to prices. The... 

China to keep tapping coal to meet its energy security needs

Cheap coal will continue to provide the ballast for China’s energy security in the coming year, according to the country’s top industry grouping. Output is likely to rise 1.5% in 2025 for a ninth... 

Canada's Wilkinson warns Trump against an oil trade war

Donald Trump’s claim that the US doesn’t need anything from Canada is “simply false,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Energy Minister and a potential candidate in the contest to replace Justin... 

Codelco taps debt market to fund record copper-mine investments

Codelco is tapping the bond market to the tune of about $1.5-billion to help fund record investments needed to retain its status as the world’s biggest copper producer. Chile’s state mining firm... 

Brazil offers $815m to back strategic minerals projects

Brazil is offering about $815-million in financing for projects aimed at boosting development of strategic minerals within the South American nation. BNDES and government funding agency Finep,...