Commodities

  • Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Workers Face Liability Over Strike

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Employees of the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) who have been on strike since January 31 may face disciplinary action, according to a company statement released on Saturday. Over 700 workers have walked off the job, demanding wage increases. ZCMC management stated that some employees failed to report to work, while others left their...
    READ MORE
  • Hindalco’s Rohit Pathak Appointed to International Copper Association Board

    BY Lara Browne
    Rohit Pathak, CEO of Copper Business at Hindalco Industries, has been appointed to the Board of Directors at the International Copper Association (ICA), recognizing his leadership and contributions to the global copper industry. In this role, Pathak will help shape international strategies, focusing on sustainability, industry growth, and best practices in copper production. His expertise...
    READ MORE
  • Nornickel Projects Modest Growth in Nickel Production for 2024

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Nornickel, a leading Russian miner, has outlined its production targets for base and precious metals in 2024, forecasting a slight increase in nickel output. The company expects nickel production to rise by 1.2%, reaching 204-211 thousand tonnes. Copper output is projected to remain stable at 363-373 thousand tonnes, with an additional 66-70 thousand tonnes of...
    READ MORE
  • Tartana Minerals in Talks for Mungana Processing Plant Agreement

    BY Lara Browne
    Tartana Minerals Limited is engaged in advanced discussions with Mt Garnet Mineral Finance Pty Ltd (MGMF) regarding a potential agreement to access the Mungana Processing Plant. The agreement would allow Tartana to mine its copper ore and transport it 25 kilometers to the Mungana facility for processing into copper sulphide concentrate. With an annual processing...
    READ MORE
  • Podium Minerals Joins World Platinum Investment Council

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Podium Minerals Limited has become the first Australian PGM developer to join the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) as a pre-production member. The WPIC, founded by leading platinum group metals (PGM) miners and producers, serves as a global authority on platinum market intelligence and investment. As a member, Podium will gain access to WPIC’s extensive...
    READ MORE
  • Alkemy Capital Partners with Veolia for Lithium Hydroxide Processing in UK

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    British investment firm Alkemy Capital Investments plc has signed a partnership agreement with American company Veolia Water Technologies Inc. to establish the first lithium hydroxide processing line at Tees Valley Lithium (TVL) in Teesside, UK. The partnership will leverage Veolia’s expertise in lithium recycling and advanced artificial intelligence technologies to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and...
    READ MORE
  • Trump’s Proposed Tariffs on Aluminium and Copper Raise Cost Concerns

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Donald Trump’s proposed import tariffs on aluminium and copper have sparked concerns over potential price increases for consumer goods. Industry analysts fear that restricting imports could reduce metal availability, impacting production and raising costs for end-use manufacturers. Trump announced his intent to impose tariffs on key metals, including those used in US military hardware, during...
    READ MORE
  • The Growing Importance of Lithium Battery Recycling

    BY Lara Browne
    Lithium battery recycling is emerging as a key solution for reducing environmental impact and securing future supplies of critical battery metals. A Stanford University study highlights that recycling lithium-ion batteries emits less than half the greenhouse gases (GHGs) of traditional mining while using only a quarter of the water and energy. Recycling defective scrap materials...
    READ MORE
  • Rusal Faces Rising Production Costs Despite Alumina Acquisition

    BY Lara Browne
    Russian aluminum producer Rusal is experiencing increased production costs despite acquiring a 30% stake in Chinese alumina producer Hebei Wenfeng New Materials (HWNM) for $264 million in 2023. The investment granted Rusal access to 1.4 million tonnes of alumina annually, replacing lost supply from Ukraine’s Nikolayev refinery and Australia, which had accounted for 40% of...
    READ MORE
  • Saudi Aluminum Casting Foundry Begins Trial Operations

    BY Lara Browne
    Saudi Aluminum Casting Foundry, a subsidiary of Obeikan Glass, has commenced trial operations at its aluminum casting facility in Al-Madina Al-Munawwara Industrial City. The facility is set to produce a range of aluminum products as part of its manufacturing and casting processes. The company stated that the pilot phase will continue until factory equipment is...
    READ MORE
  • Alba Launches Pilot Programme for Electric AlF3 Feeding Vehicle

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter on a single site, has initiated a pilot programme to test an electric, battery-powered Aluminium Fluoride (AlF3) feeding vehicle. The vehicle, developed by Techmo Car S.p.A., is currently undergoing evaluation in Reduction Lines 4, 5, and 6. The trial will assess the vehicle’s performance and efficiency, with...
    READ MORE
  • MAC Copper Targets 23% Growth in Copper Production by 2026

    BY John Davis
    MAC Copper aims to boost copper production by 23% by 2026, driven by expansion projects at its CSA mine in Cobar, New South Wales. Over the next 18 months, the company plans to increase output through key initiatives. In 2024, MAC Copper raised production by 13% to 41,128 tonnes at a C1 cost of $1.92/lb....
    READ MORE
  • Former U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo Joins ACG as Non-Executive Director

    BY John Davis
    ACG has announced the appointment of Michael R. Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State, as a Non-Executive Director. Pompeo, who served as the 70th U.S. Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021 and as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2017 to 2018, brings extensive geopolitical expertise and a strong global network to...
    READ MORE
  • Hydro and Rio Tinto Collaborate on Carbon Capture for Aluminum Smelters

    BY Lara Browne
    Hydro and Rio Tinto have announced a partnership to develop carbon capture technology aimed at reducing emissions from aluminum smelters. The companies plan to invest approximately $45 million over five years, with research and development efforts taking place at Hydro’s facilities in Norway and Rio Tinto’s locations in Europe. Both companies will continue their independent...
    READ MORE
  • Rusal to Double Aluminium Powder and Paste Production in Irkutsk

    BY Lara Browne
    Rusal is expanding its production capacity for advanced aluminium powders and pastes in the Irkutsk region, aiming to double its output. These materials are crucial for aerated concrete production, making Rusal a key supplier to Russia’s construction industry. The expansion is being carried out by OOO Metalcom, which oversees Rusal’s powder business. The company operates...
    READ MORE
  • Rio Tinto’s RBM Secures 230 MW Wind Energy Deal to Cut Emissions

    BY Lara Browne
    Rio Tinto’s 74%-owned South African subsidiary, Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), has signed a deal with independent power producer Red Rocket South Africa for 230 MW of wind energy. The renewable power will supply RBM’s smelting and processing facilities at its Richards Bay ilmenite operation, the company announced on January 30. Red Rocket is developing the...
    READ MORE
  • Mangrove Lithium Secures $35M for North America’s First Electrochemical Lithium Refinery

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Canadian company Mangrove Lithium has secured a $35 million (C$50.61 million) investment to construct a lithium refining plant in Delta, British Columbia. The facility, expected to be operational by late 2025, will be North America’s first electrochemical lithium refining facility, strengthening the lithium supply chain and enhancing regional energy security. The plant will produce battery-grade...
    READ MORE
  • India’s Energy Transition Hinges on Copper and Critical Minerals

    BY Lars Jensen
    Copper, dubbed the “metal of electrification,” is essential for solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles (EVs), and power grids. With EVs requiring nearly four times more copper than internal combustion vehicles, its availability is crucial to India’s carbon-constrained future. Demand for copper is expected to double to 50 million metric tons by 2035, driven by...
    READ MORE
  • KBR Wins Contract for Weardale Lithium Brine Extraction Facility

    BY John Davis
    KBR has been awarded a contract by Weardale Lithium for the development of one of Europe’s key lithium brine extraction demonstration facilities in Eastgate, County Durham, UK. Under the agreement, KBR will provide technology licensing and proprietary engineering design for the plant. The facility aims to scale up to a commercial production target of 10,000...
    READ MORE
  • Lundin Mining Subsidiary Fined $3.3M Over Alcaparrosa Mine Sinkhole

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Minera Ojos del Salado, a subsidiary of Lundin Mining, has been fined $3.3 million by Chile’s Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente (SMA) following an investigation into the 2022 sinkhole at the Alcaparrosa mine. The ruling also mandates the continued closure of the mine due to four environmental violations. Mining operations at Alcaparrosa have been suspended since...
    READ MORE
  • Tanzania Signs $2.15B Deal with China for Railway to Burundi Nickel Mine

    BY Lars Jensen
    Tanzania has signed a $2.15 billion agreement with two Chinese firms to build a railway connecting its main port of Dar es Salaam to a nickel mine in Burundi. Tanzania Railways Corp. awarded the contracts to China Railway Engineering Group Ltd. and China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group Co. Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa stated...
    READ MORE
  • BHP Plans Copper Smelter and Refinery Expansion in South Australia

    BY John Davis
    BHP Group has commissioned Fluor Australia and Hatch Pty to oversee the staged expansion of its copper smelter and refinery facilities in South Australia, including at Olympic Dam, one of its largest copper projects. The first phase will see an investment of over A$40 million ($25 million) for strategy and planning. Phase one of the...
    READ MORE
  • Norsk Hydro Takes Full Ownership of HydroVolt Battery Recycling Venture

    BY Lars Jensen
    Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro has announced plans to acquire the remaining 28% stake in HydroVolt, its battery recycling joint venture with Northvolt, for NOK 78 million (approximately USD 7.4 million). The move comes as Northvolt files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with the transaction expected to be finalized by the end of March. HydroVolt was...
    READ MORE
  • Global Zinc Market Faces Supply Shift Amid Production Changes

    BY Lara Browne
    The global zinc market saw a reduction in supply shortage in November 2024, easing to 52,900 tons from 65,400 tons in October, according to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group. Despite a cumulative shortage of 33,000 tons from January to November, this was a significant shift from the 312,000-ton surplus recorded in the same...
    READ MORE