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Australia | Oceania

  • Glencore Warns Multiple Australian Smelters Face Closure as China's Capacity Expansion Crushes Global Margins

    Glencore Warns Multiple Australian Smelters Face Closure as China’s Capacity Expansion Crushes Global Margins

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Glencore, the Anglo-Swiss mining giant led by CEO Gary Nagle, has accelerated its decision timeline for the Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery to September 2025, warning that multiple Australian processing facilities face imminent closure due to Chinese overcapacity driving treatment charges to record negative levels. The company estimates monthly losses of $30 million...
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  • Rio Tinto in Bailout Talks to Secure Future of Tomago Aluminium Smelter Amid Energy Crisis

    Rio Tinto in Bailout Talks to Secure Future of Tomago Aluminium Smelter Amid Energy Crisis

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining and metals companies, is in advanced negotiations with the Australian federal and New South Wales state governments over a multibillion-dollar bailout package for its Tomago aluminium smelter in New South Wales. The future of the facility—Australia’s largest aluminium producer and single biggest electricity user—has been thrown into...
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  • Mining Giants BHP and Rio Tinto Face Stock Pressure Despite Electric Vehicle Demand Surge

    Mining Giants BHP and Rio Tinto Face Stock Pressure Despite Electric Vehicle Demand Surge

    BY Lars Jensen
    BHP 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...
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  • Rio Tinto Finalises Joint Venture with Sumitomo Metal Mining for Winu Copper-Gold Project

    Rio Tinto Finalises Joint Venture with Sumitomo Metal Mining for Winu Copper-Gold Project

    BY Lara Browne
    Rio 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...
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  • South32 CEO Graham Kerr to Step Down in 2026, Anglo American’s Matthew Daley Named Successor

    South32 CEO Graham Kerr to Step Down in 2026, Anglo American’s Matthew Daley Named Successor

    BY Lars Jensen
    South32 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...
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  • IGO Cuts Greenbushes Lithium Mine Capex Forecast as Market Weakness Persists

    IGO Cuts Greenbushes Lithium Mine Capex Forecast as Market Weakness Persists

    BY Lara Browne
    IGO Ltd has reduced its fiscal 2025 capital expenditure forecast for the Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia, now expecting to spend A$700 million to A$800 million (USD $447–$511 million), down from its previous estimate of A$850 million to A$950 million (USD $543–$607 million). The company attributed the cut to a review and optimization of...
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  • Cobalt Blue and Iwatani Partner on Australia’s First Cobalt Refinery

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Cobalt Blue has entered into a binding agreement with Iwatani Australia to jointly advance development of the Kwinana cobalt refinery in Western Australia. The agreement sets the framework for progressing the project toward a final investment decision (FID) by December 31, 2025. Key conditions to be satisfied before a final decision include verification that cobalt...
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  • Liontown Resources Commences Underground Lithium Production at Kathleen Valley

    BY Lars Jensen
    Liontown Resources has officially begun underground production at its Kathleen Valley operation in Western Australia, marking a historic milestone as Australia’s first underground lithium mine. The initial blast occurred at the Mt Mann orebody, initiating the transition from open pit to underground mining, which will continue through the 2025–26 financial year (FY26). This development is...
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  • Mount Isa Copper Mine to Close After Over a Century of Operation

    BY Lars Jensen
    Glencore has confirmed that its Mount Isa copper mine in north-west Queensland will cease production at the end of July 2025, marking the end of over 100 years of continuous operation. The closure, initially announced in October 2023, is attributed to low ore grades and aging infrastructure that render the mine no longer economically viable....
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  • Aurelia Metals Gains Approval to Triple Ore Processing Capacity at Federation Mine

    BY Lara Browne
    Australian metal producer Aurelia Metals has received approval from New South Wales authorities to triple the volume of ore it can transport from its Federation mine to its Peak processing facility. The change in project consent, announced on March 28, allows the company to move up to 600,000 tonnes of mixed metal ore per year,...
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  • LME Zinc Prices Surge as Nyrstar Cuts Production, Market Eyes $3,000 Mark

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    London Metal Exchange (LME) zinc futures climbed nearly 3% last week, closing at $2,972.5 per metric ton, as supply concerns intensified following a planned production cut by Nyrstar, one of the world’s largest zinc smelters. Nyrstar announced it will reduce output at its Hobart zinc smelter in Australia by 25% starting in April 2025. The...
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  • Tennant Mining Begins Commissioning at Nobles Gold Processing Plant

    BY Lars Jensen
    Tennant Mining has commenced commissioning at its Stage 1 Nobles Project gold processing plant, with first gold production moved ahead from the second half of 2025 to June. The near-completion of construction and the finalization of Pan African Resources PLC’s A$77.4 million buyout in December have positioned the company for long-term expansion. Managing Director Peter...
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  • Navarro’s Claims on Australian Aluminium Face Scrutiny

    BY John Davis
    Peter Navarro, former trade adviser to Donald Trump, has accused Australia of undermining the U.S. aluminium market through subsidies and unfair competition. His claims, published in USA Today, have sparked debate, particularly regarding their accuracy and implications for Australia’s trade relationship with the U.S. Navarro alleged that Australia and Canada were launching “frontal assaults” on...
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  • Pilbara Minerals Sees Lithium Demand Recovery Despite Reporting Loss

    BY John Davis
    Australia’s largest pure-play lithium producer, Pilbara Minerals, expects demand recovery amid the restart of a major lithium mine and refinery in China, despite posting a net loss for the half-year ending December 31. The company reported a net loss of A$69 million ($44 million) as lithium carbonate prices fell approximately 87% from their 2022 peak...
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  • Tomago Aluminium: energy transition risks and strategic future

    BY John Davis
    Tomago Aluminium in Australia’s aluminium ecosystem Tomago Aluminium is the largest aluminium smelter in New South Wales and a key player in Australia’s broader aluminium production network. Located near Newcastle, the smelter is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (51.55%), Gove Aluminium Finance Limited (GAF) (25.2%) (representing CSR Limited and AMP Life), and Hydro Aluminium...
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  • Everest Metals Extracts First Gold at Revere Project in Western Australia

    BY Lara Browne
    Everest Metals has successfully extracted its first gold during the commissioning phase of a bulk sample program at the Revere Gold Project in Western Australia. The program has so far produced 1.4 tonnes of gold concentrate and remains ongoing. The bulk sampling program has validated the company’s understanding of the gold mineralization and geo-metallurgical characteristics,...
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  • South32 Receives Federal Environmental Approval for Worsley Mine Development

    BY Lars Jensen
    South32 has confirmed that Worsley Alumina has received environmental approval from the Australian Federal Government for the Worsley Mine Development Project under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). The approval comes with conditions that align with those set by the State Government, which granted its environmental approval on December 20, 2024. The project...
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  • BHP leadership and board strategy: current status and future outlook

    BY Lara Browne
    Leadership at BHP: strategic timing and implications BHP’s leadership succession continues to be a focus for investors and analysts. Chairman Ken MacKenzie remains at the helm, having overseen a period marked by major corporate restructuring, recovery efforts following the Samarco dam disaster, and BHP’s controversial bid for Anglo American. CEO Mike Henry, in his fifth...
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  • Lycopodium Awarded DFS for Hydrogen Sulphide Plant at Kalgoorlie Nickel Project

    BY Lara Browne
    Lycopodium has been awarded the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the design engineering of the Hydrogen Sulphide Plant at the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) – Goongarrie Hub in Western Australia. The project, managed by Kalgoorlie Nickel Pty Ltd (KNPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ardea Resources Limited, represents a large-scale, multi-decade nickel operation located 70 kilometers...
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  • Rio Tinto Eyes Renewable Energy for Aluminium Smelters as Battery Costs Drop

    BY Lars Jensen
    Rio Tinto is exploring the use of intermittent renewable energy for its aluminium smelters, citing falling battery prices as a key factor in making the shift economically viable. Jerome Pecresse, head of Rio’s aluminium division, stated that transitioning to renewable power supported by battery storage is becoming increasingly feasible for the Boyne smelter in Queensland...
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  • Nimy Resources and M2i Global Partner to Secure Gallium Supply for U.S. Defense

    BY John Davis
    Nimy Resources has entered into a non-binding collaboration agreement with M2i Global to support the U.S. Department of Defense in securing a sustainable supply of gallium. The partnership aims to strengthen the supply chain for gallium, a critical material used in semiconductors, radar, and aerospace technologies. Under the agreement, M2i Global will pursue a gallium...
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  • Polymetals Resources Advances Endeavor Mine Restart in New South Wales

    BY Lara Browne
    Polymetals Resources is making steady progress on the restart of its Endeavor silver-lead-zinc mine near Cobar, New South Wales. The company is currently focused on surface and underground refurbishment activities. In December, several pieces of mobile underground equipment arrived on-site, facilitating the commencement of underground development rehabilitation. Particular attention is being given to the high-grade...
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  • 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...
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  • Platinum vs palladium: price, durability and key differences

    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...
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