The Indonesian government has revoked the mining permits of four nickel companies in the ecologically fragile Raja Ampat archipelago, a UNESCO Global Geopark renowned for its marine biodiversity. The decision, announced by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, follows a high-profile public campaign by Greenpeace Indonesia that exposed significant environmental damage from mining activities....
READ MOREHunan 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 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 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 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 MORECurrent Zinc Price Trends Zinc market has experienced notable fluctuations in early 2025, shaped by macroeconomic uncertainty, shifts in industrial demand, and evolving supply conditions. As of Q1 2025, the zinc price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) is averaging around $2,450 per metric ton, reflecting a modest recovery from the late-2023 lows of $2,300/t....
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 MORECurrent Platinum Price Trends As of Q2 2025, platinum prices are showing modest recovery from their 2023 lows. The metal is currently trading around $950–$1,000 per ounce, up from sub-$900 levels seen during the economic slowdown of 2023. Key drivers of recent price behavior include: Despite historically being more expensive than gold, platinum price is...
READ MORECurrent Aluminum Price Trends The aluminum market in 2025 reflects ongoing volatility shaped by energy prices, geopolitical tensions, and shifting industrial demand. As of Q2 2025, aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) are averaging around $2,300 per metric ton — a modest recovery from the lows of late 2023. Recent fluctuations are driven...
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 MOREGlobal copper production overview The global copper industry continues to expand, driven by accelerating demand from energy transition technologies, electric vehicles, and infrastructure projects. In 2024, global copper production reached approximately 22.8 million metric tons, with significant contributions from Chile, Peru, China, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chile remains the leading producer, accounting for...
READ MOREGlobal nickel production overview Nickel plays a pivotal role in modern industry, especially as a key component in stainless steel and batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). In 2024, global nickel production was around 3.0 million metric tons, driven by demand from China and accelerating EV adoption. Indonesia leads the world in nickel output, accounting for...
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 MOREChina imported nearly 3 million tonnes of copper ore and concentrate in April, setting a monthly record as smelters in the country struggle with tight feedstock supply and collapsing treatment charges. The surge in imports is expected to alleviate some pressure in the domestic market, where a growing number of smelters have been operating with...
READ MOREThe government of Guinea has initiated the process of withdrawing Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) mining licence, escalating a dispute over customs duties that began in October 2024. The move follows the suspension of EGA’s bauxite exports and mining operations in the country. According to sources cited by Reuters, Guinea has officially notified EGA of the...
READ MOREA team of chemists from Chemnitz University of Technology and the University of Innsbruck has developed a new copper-based catalyst capable of activating and transferring molecular hydrogen at low pressure, enabling reactions previously considered impractical under mild conditions. Led by Professor Johannes Teichert (Chemnitz) in collaboration with Professor Fabian Dillmann’s group (Innsbruck), the researchers reported...
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 MORERefined nickel production in China reached 36,250 tonnes in April, up 6% from March and 47% higher year-on-year, according to data from Shanghai Metals Market (SMM). Over the first four months of 2025, total output rose to 131,000 tonnes, marking a 31.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The rise in refined nickel...
READ MORERio Tinto, in partnership with Indium Corporation, has successfully extracted its first primary gallium as part of a research and development project aimed at establishing a North American supply of this critical mineral. The gallium was sourced from bauxite processed at Rio Tinto’s Vaudreuil alumina refinery in Saguenay, Quebec—the only alumina refinery in Canada. The...
READ MOREZambia’s copper sector posted a robust start to 2025, with production rising about 30% year-on-year in the first quarter, according to Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe. Output reached approximately 224,000 metric tons between January and March, up from around 173,000 metric tons during the same period in 2024. The increase was largely attributed to higher production...
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....
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