Standard Lithium and Equinor secure $225m US grant to develop lithium extraction facility

Standard Lithium said on Thursday SWA Lithium, a jointly-owned unit with energy firm Equinor, has closed on a $225-million grant from the US Department of Energy (DoE). The company said the grant,... 

Biden administration moves to protect more of Alaska refuge from drilling

President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday moved to put more of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge off limits to oil and gas development, in a last-minute bid to complicate... 

Lynas flags challenging conditions ahead in rare earths market

Rare earths miner Lynas missed market forecasts for its second-quarter revenue and warned on Friday it expects tough market conditions to prevail in the coming quarter on subdued demand from China,... 

Zambia says Saudi's Manara interested in its copper assets

Saudi Arabia's Manara Minerals is looking for critical minerals projects in Zambia to invest in, the Southern African country's mines minister Paul Kabuswe told Reuters on Thursday. Manara and... 

Chile to lift copper output 6% in next decade, with peak in 2027

Chile, the world's No. 1 copper producer, will boost its output of the red metal to 5.54-million metric tons in 2034, representing a 5.6% increase from 2023, state-run copper commission Cochilco... 

South Africa mine rescue ends, anger rises over 78 deaths in police siege

South African rescuers ended their attempts on Thursday to find anyone left in an illegal gold mine where at least 78 people died during a police siege, as a local volunteer described the horror of... 

South Africa accused of 'horrific' crackdown as 78 corpses pulled from besieged mine

At least 78 dead bodies have been pulled from an illegal gold mine in South Africa where police cut off food and water supplies for months, in what trade unions called a "horrific" crackdown on... 

Savannah seeks compulsory land purchases at Portuguese lithium mine

Savannah Resources is seeking Portuguese government approval for the compulsory purchase of land around its Barroso lithium mining project, in a test of Europe's commitment to boost its minerals... 

Footage shows trapped miners, dead bodies underground after South Africa raid

At least 400 illegal miners remained trapped underground in South Africa two months after a police raid, a group working on behalf of the miners said on Monday, which provided footage of dozens of... 

Barrick to suspend operations in Mali after gold seized

Canadian miner Barrick Gold said it will have to suspend mining operations in Mali after the government seized gold stocks from the company's Loulo-Gounkoto complex and flew them out by helicopter... 

MMG to resume work at Queensland mine with fire threat contained

Mining firm MMG said on Tuesday it expects to resume operations at its Dugald River zinc mine in Queensland later in the day after an approaching grassfire near its perimeter was contained. MMG,... 

China 2024 iron-ore imports hit record on resilient demand, steel exports

China's iron-ore imports in 2024 rose to a record high for a second year, customs data showed on Monday, as lower prices spurred buying while demand remained resilient due in large part to massive... 

Mali starts seizing gold stocks at Barrick site, company memo says

Mali's government has begun enforcing a provisional order to seize gold stock at Barrick Gold's Loulo-Gounkoto site, the Canadian miner said in a note to Malian staff, warning again that it may... 

As Trump renews push for Greenland, mineral wealth takes centre stage

US President-elect Donald Trump last week reiterated his interest in taking control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, which could be useful for the US because of its strategic... 

China's coal imports hit record high in 2024

China's coal imports rose 14.4% in 2024 to a record high, official data showed on Monday, as lower international coal prices spurred buyers to substitute imports for domestic supply. Coal imports... 

Lithium prices to stabilise in 2025 as mine closures, China EV sales ease glut, analysts say

Lithium prices are expected to stabilise in 2025 after two years of steep declines as shuttered mines and robust electric vehicle sales in China soak up an oversupply, although the potential for... 

Indonesia sets 2025 nickel ore mining quota at around 200Mt

Indonesia has set a quota of around 200-million metric tons for nickel ore mining this year, a senior mining ministry official said on Friday, adding this could be cut if miners failed to comply... 

Vedanta gets $300m loan commitment for debt refinancing

Indian miner Vedanta's parent on Friday said it has secured commitments from Barclays, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Mashreq totaling $300-million in loan tenors of three years and three months. The... 

US lobbied Greenland rare earths developer Tanbreez not to sell to China

US and Danish officials lobbied the developer of Greenland's largest rare earths deposit last year not to sell its project to Chinese-linked firms, its CEO told Reuters, adding it has been in... 

Congo rebels muddy minerals market with illegal Rwanda exports, says UN report

Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo fraudulently exported at least 150 metric tons of coltan to Rwanda last year, leading to the largest contamination of the Great Lakes Region's mineral... 

Gold ETFs drew first net inflow in four years in 2024, WGC says

Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) registered a modest net inflow of $3.4-billion in 2024, their first inflow in four years, even though their holdings fell by 6.8-metric tons, the... 

Codelco copper output up in 2024

Copper production from Chile's Codelco, the world's largest producer of the red metal, reached 1.328-million metric tons last year, according to an internal document seen by Reuters on Wednesday.... 

Shell writes down Namibia oil discovery in blow to country

Shell will write down around $400-million overan oil discovery offshore Namibia that it deemed commercially unviable in a blow to the southern African country's efforts to become a crude... 

Alaska wildlife refuge drilling auction yields no bids, US says

The US Interior Department said on Wednesday a congressionally mandated oil and gas drilling lease auction in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge received no bids from energy companies.... 

Penguins and red tape: Chile says 'no' to $2.5bn Dominga mine again

Chile's government on Wednesday denied an environmental permit for the proposed Dominga iron and copper mine, siding with critics concerned over impacts to penguins and parrots at the $2.5-billion... 

Two bids made for Glencore stake in New Caledonia's Koniambo Nickel

Two potential buyers for Glencore's stake in mothballed New Caledonian nickel producer Koniambo Nickel SAS (KNS) have submitted offers following site visits late last year, KNS said. Part of a... 

China becomes world's second-largest holder of lithium reserves, Xinhua reports

China's lithium reserves have risen from 6% to 16.5% of the global total, making it the world's second-largest holder of lithium reserves, state media reported on Wednesday. The world's top... 

Alaska sues Biden administration over oil and gas leases in Arctic refuge

The US state of Alaska has sued the Biden administration for what it calls violations of a Congressional directive to allow oil and gas development in a portion of the federal Arctic National... 

Lithium Americas raises reserve estimate for Thacker Pass, appoints new CFO

Canada's Lithium Americas said on Tuesday it has raised the reserve estimate for the Thacker Pass lithium project and also appointed industry veteran Luke Colton as the new CFO, effective January... 

Syrah Resources secures loan waiver amid Mozambique unrest

Australia's Syrah Resources said on Tuesday it has secured a waiver for default events under its United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) loan of $150-million, granting it... 

Biden to ban offshore oil, gas drilling in vast areas ahead of Trump term

US President Joe Biden will ban new offshore oil and gas development along most US coastlines, a decision that President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to boost domestic energy production, may... 

China's 2025 iron-ore imports set to hit new high even as steel demand dwindles

China's iron-ore imports are likely to hit a new high in 2025 as traders stockpile cheap ore for the world's top consumer despite a protracted property crisis continuing to weigh on Chinese steel... 

Freeport Indonesia in talks with government on copper concentrate exports

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) is in discussions with the government about being able to continue copper concentrate exports until its new Manyar smelter returns to full operations, a spokesperson... 

Chile files environmental charges against Anglo American copper mine

Chile's environmental regulator has filed four charges against the major Los Bronces copper mine, controlled by Anglo American, for noncompliance with environmental permits, the agency said on... 

Lithium Americas and GM close joint venture for Thacker Pass mine

Lithium Americas said on Monday it has closed its joint venture with US automaker General Motors to develop the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada. The miner's CEO, Jonathan Evans said that the... 

Arcadium Lithium shareholders approve $6.7bn Rio Tinto deal

Arcadium Lithium said on Monday its shareholders have voted in favour of a $6.7-billion sale to Australian mining giant Rio Tinto. Shares of Arcadium Lithium rose about 7% in extended trading... 

Lure of Anglo's copper mines could test BHP's spending resolve

BHP, the world's biggest miner, would need to offer a minimum 40% premium over Anglo American's share price to make a renewed takeover bid now the rival's value has been boosted by asset sales, two... 

France's Orano launches arbitration against Niger over mining licence

French nuclear fuels company Orano said on Friday it had started arbitration proceedings against Niger, after Niger withdrew the mining licence of Orano's subsidiary Imouraren. Niger's military-led... 

China's coal imports from Australia rise to highest level since April 2020

China's coal imports from Australia rose to their highest in more than four years in November, customs data showed on Friday, as shipments continue to recover from an unofficial ban on Australian... 

Copper giant Peru foresees another production plateau in 2025

Peruvian copper production is expected to remain flat in 2025 for the third straight year, according to the country's top mining association and industry analysts, as declining ore grades and a...