Hunan Zhongke Electric, one of China’s leading lithium-ion battery anode material suppliers, has committed to investing $1.1 billion (8 billion yuan) in a manufacturing facility at Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone, marking the largest battery materials investment in the Middle East. The project will establish an integrated production base with annual capacity of 200,000 metric...
READ MOREThe Indonesian Nickel Miners Association has received government approval to establish a domestic metal exchange targeting a first-half 2026 launch, as the world’s largest nickel producer seeks greater influence over global pricing after nickel ended 2024 at four-year lows. The exchange will initially focus on nickel pig iron futures contracts before expanding to other nickel...
READ MOREResearchers at Freiberg University in Germany have developed a hydrogen-based direct reduction process for tin smelting that eliminates carbon emissions while achieving over 99% metal purity. The breakthrough technology uses 3 grams of hydrogen per 100 grams of cassiterite concentrate at 1,300°C, offering a low-carbon alternative to traditional carbon-based tin production methods that have dominated...
READ MOREA chlorine gas leak at Kazakhstan’s Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Plant has raised concerns about potential supply disruptions that could drive global titanium prices up at least 15-20%, according to observers’ forecasts. The incident at UKTMP, which supplies 11% of global titanium production and 18% of aerospace-grade metal, highlights the concentrated nature of titanium supply...
READ MOREAnne Oxley, co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Brazilian Nickel, has been elected Chairperson of the Nickel Institute, the global trade association representing leading nickel producers worldwide. The appointment, announced on June 3, 2025, positions Oxley to lead the industry’s efforts in promoting responsible nickel production and supporting the metal’s role in the transition to...
READ MOREValterra Platinum, formerly Anglo American Platinum, commenced trading on the London Stock Exchange on June 2, 2025, marking the completion of its demerger from global mining company Anglo American. This move is a key component of Anglo American’s broader strategy to restructure its portfolio and concentrate on core assets, following the rejection of a $50...
READ MOREVale, Brazil’s largest mining company and a major global iron ore and nickel producer, and Brazil’s National Electric System Operator, the country’s power grid management authority, have reached an impasse over electricity allocation that threatens a $555 million nickel expansion project. ONS rejected Vale’s request to increase power consumption to 200 megawatts at its Onca...
READ MOREBHP Group, the world’s largest mining company and biggest iron ore producer, and Rio Tinto, a British-Australian multinational and the world’s second-largest mining company, have experienced share price pressure despite projections of massive demand increases for critical minerals. The International Energy Agency forecasts copper demand will increase 50%, nickel demand will more than double, and...
READ MOREMopani Copper Mines (MCM) is advancing underground infrastructure projects aimed at unlocking 8.5 million tonnes of copper ore over the next four to five years, as part of efforts to significantly raise copper cathode production. CEO Charles Sakanya stated that the company’s goal is to double cathode output to more than 500,000 tonnes within 10...
READ MOREPlatinum prices surged last week to their highest levels in two years, posting the strongest five-day gain in over a year as investors responded to new research forecasting a deeper-than-expected global supply deficit. The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) now projects that platinum supply in 2025 will fall to a five-year low of just 7...
READ MOREIn Hachinohe, Japan, representatives from major metals traders and manufacturers—including Mitsubishi, Glencore, and Panasonic Energy—recently gathered at a nickel plant to examine samples of deep-sea ore retrieved from the Pacific Ocean floor. The event, organized by Canadian mining company The Metals Company (TMC), showcased materials collected from about 4,000 meters below the ocean’s surface. Attendees...
READ MORENornickel, a leading global mining company, and Rusnano, a state-backed Russian technology investment corporation established in 2007 to develop and commercialize innovative technologies, have announced plans to create a joint venture focused on extracting valuable metals from industrial waste materials. Rusnano, founded with significant government funding as part of Russia’s modernization efforts, specializes in investing...
READ MORERio Tinto announced on Thursday that CEO Jakob Stausholm will step down later this year after nearly five years in the role. The company confirmed that Stausholm will remain at the helm until a successor is appointed, with a formal selection process now underway. Internal candidates expected to be considered include Chief Commercial Officer Bold...
READ MOREBHP and Lundin Mining Agree to Jointly Acquire Filo Corp., Establish Copper Joint Venture in Vicuña DistrictBHP and Lundin Mining Corporation have agreed to jointly acquire 100% of the Toronto-listed Filo Corp., which wholly owns the Filo del Sol copper project in the Vicuña district, spanning Argentina and Chile. The companies will subsequently form a...
READ MOREGlobal platinum production overview Platinum is a vital precious metal with applications in automotive catalysts, industrial processes, and jewelry. In recent years, its role in green hydrogen technologies and fuel cells has expanded its strategic value. Global platinum production reached approximately 236 metric tons in 2024, with South Africa accounting for over 70% of the...
READ MORERio Tinto has signed a final joint venture agreement with Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM) for the development of the Winu copper and gold project in the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia. The deal gives SMM a 30% stake in the project for up to $430.4 million. Under the terms, SMM will pay $195 million...
READ MOREVedanta Group, controlled by Anil Agarwal, announced plans to explore and develop critical mineral assets in six Indian states: Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh. These critical minerals, including copper, cobalt, nickel, chromium, vanadium, tungsten, and Platinum Group Elements (PGEs), are essential components in rapidly advancing technologies such as wind power systems, electricity...
READ MORESouth32 has announced that Chief Executive Officer Graham Kerr will step down in 2026 after over a decade in the role. The company has named Matthew Daley, currently technical and operations director at Anglo American, as his successor. Daley will join South32 as deputy CEO on February 2, 2026, before assuming the top position later...
READ MOREThe Trump administration has moved to expedite federal permitting for U.S. mining projects, adding Resolution Copper in Arizona and several others to the Federal Permitting Dashboard as part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic mineral supply chains. The dashboard, managed under the FAST-41 initiative, is designed to increase transparency and accountability in the permitting...
READ MORETin is rapidly gaining attention as a crucial material in a range of emerging technologies, particularly in the energy sector. Recent research highlights tin’s role in advancing sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), where tin-based anode materials have demonstrated the ability to significantly improve volumetric energy density—a critical factor in making SIBs competitive with established lithium-ion batteries (LIBs)....
READ MOREImplats has reported a 6% decrease in 6E Group production for the quarter ended 31 March 2025, with output totaling 780,000 ounces, compared to 827,000 ounces during the same period last year. The decline was largely driven by operational challenges, including the impact of required maintenance at South African smelters and constrained mining fleet availability...
READ MOREThe International Nickel Study Group (INSG) has forecast a global nickel market surplus of 198,000 metric tons for 2025, marking the third consecutive year of oversupply as production continues to outpace demand. The group projects global primary nickel production will reach 3.735 million tons this year, while usage is expected to total 3.537 million tons....
READ MOREThe United States is moving rapidly to secure its position in the global race for critical minerals following a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump on April 24, 2025. The order, titled “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources,” directs federal agencies to expedite the exploration and extraction of seabed minerals in U.S....
READ MOREUzbekistan has officially begun industrial-scale production of the rare metal rhenium, according to the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AGMK). The launch follows several years of scientific research and development by AGMK specialists, who in 2021 developed a process to produce rhenium with a purity of 99.9% using hydrogen reduction of ammonium perrhenate. Production is...
READ MORE
