Vale backs Brazil critical minerals fund in nod to government

Vale is committed to investing in Brazil’s first fund to support critical minerals as it seeks to diversify, the new chief of the world’s No. 2 iron-ore supplier said Wednesday. Vale has 90% of... 

South African CEOs see ‘green shoots’ as economic mood improves

Sentiment about South Africa has improved since the formation of a coalition government but the nation needs to be cautious about complacency, according to chief executive officers at two of the... 

South Africa’s reforms in spotlight as nation woos investors

South Africa will need to expedite reforms that can boost economic growth to sustain investor inflows that have flooded in since the formation of a coalition government, according to the world’s... 

South Africa courts UK investors to fund infrastructure plans

South Africa’s infrastructure development agency has restructured its pipeline of planned projects to make them more attractive to the private sector as state officials court investors in the UK.... 

Mashatile sees South Africa's growth accelerating in 2025

Economic growth in South Africa is expected to accelerate next year as the country recovers from output-sapping power cuts and the nation’s new coalition government focuses on investing in... 

Panama sees exports of stockpiled First Quantum copper as viable

Panama’s finance chief said he sees no good reason why First Quantum Minerals shouldn’t export the large volume of copper stockpiled at its shuttered mine in the country. The government is working... 

Chile pinpoints new lithium areas for private-sector development

Chile has identified new lithium areas that will be offered to the private sector as authorities attempt to tap more of the world’s biggest reserves of the battery metal, despite a current glut in... 

China stimulus likely to boost Australian economy, Chalmers says

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers hailed China’s new stimulus effort as a “really welcome development” for both his nation and the global economy after meetings with counterparts in Beijing during... 

Glencore copper mine in Congo locked in €800m royalty row

A Glencore-owned copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo is embroiled in a row over royalties with local tax authorities. The government body – known by its French acronym DGRAD – says that... 

Rio Tinto aims to produce copper in Arizona by end of decade

Rio Tinto aims to start churning out copper from a long-delayed mining project in Arizona by the end of the decade, according to CEO Jakob Stausholm. “From a permitting point of view, we are... 

South Africa household wealth rises to highest level in a year

South Africa’s household wealth rose in the second quarter as an increase in the market value of their assets outstripped that of their liabilities — in part due to a strong stock market rally, the... 

Zijin wants its Africa copper mine to rival the world’s biggest

China’s Zijin Mining Group Co. is considering an expansion of its jointly-owned copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo that would place it among the world’s biggest single sources of the... 

Harris vows to create US critical minerals stockpile, incentives

Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to create a national stockpile of critical minerals, saying a cache of the materials used in everything from batteries to defense systems is needed for economic... 

US-led group weighs funding more mineral projects to counter China dominance

A US-led coalition of countries is looking at funding more minerals projects using a financing network aimed at combating China’s dominance of metal supply chains. The Minerals Security... 

China mining heavyweights partner with Zimbabwe on lithium mine

Chinese miners Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Tsingshan Holding Group are defying low lithium prices to develop a deposit of the battery metal with a Zimbabwean state company. The two firms already... 

China’s Tianqi to keep fighting for role in SQM lithium deal

Tianqi Lithium vowed to continue its battle for a say in a planned deal to share ownership of one of the world’s biggest lithium operations, a case the company sees as crucial for future Chinese... 

Australia clears coal mine expansions in hit to green goals

Australia approved the expansion of three coal mines, sparking criticism of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s administration and its efforts to keep emissions in check. The government cleared an... 

South Africa’s coalition government triggers wave of investment

The formation of South Africa’s business-friendly coalition government has triggered a wave of investment announcements and positive sentiment not seen in years, spurring hope that Africa’s biggest... 

Trafigura’s new boss is ex-soldier who says profit comes first

A couple of months ago, the man in line to be Trafigura’s next CEO, Richard Holtum, gathered the commodity trader’s staff in Singapore. His message was a simple one, according to several people... 

Australia eyes completion of US critical minerals pact this year

Australia expects to conclude an agreement with the US over critical minerals before the end of the year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. Critical minerals and their supply chain will be... 

Rio Tinto chair warns mining deals won't solve supply crisis

The world needs more mines to cope with rising demand for key energy-transition metals like copper, as mergers and acquisitions will not plug a looming supply gap, Rio Tinto Group chairman Dominic... 

Zambian miners resist State taking bigger stake in resources

Zambian mining companies met with the government to resolve differences over a proposed legal change that would potentially give the state a bigger share of its mineral resources. Draft... 

Biden awards $3bn to boost domestic battery production

American Battery Technology and lithium-producer Albemarle are among 25 companies getting more than $3-billion in funding from the Biden administration to boost domestic production of advanced... 

Economists split on how deep South Africa’s easing cycle will be

South Africa’s first interest-rate cut since 2020 quickly divided economists over how much further it will go after making a cautious 25 basis point start to the easing cycle, despite the Federal... 

Base metals enjoy strong week with boost from Fed, China demand

Copper surged to a two-month high to cap a strong week for metals, helped by the Federal Reserve’s half-point rate cut. Base metals have advanced with other global risk assets after Fed Chair... 

A $90bn World Bank plan to electrify Africa gets under way

A plan to bring electricity to 300-million Africans by 2030, backed by an initial pledge of $30-billion from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, has begun to be implemented with an... 

Treasury’s Guma leaves, reform unit to remain priority

South Africa’s National Treasury said its “pool of skilled and competent officials” is sufficient to ensure that the work of the unit responsible for economic-growth enhancing structural reforms... 

Gold’s record surge dampens China’s holiday shopping enthusiasm

Gold’s months-long, record-breaking surge is keeping consumers at bay in China, tarnishing what should be one of the busiest times of the year for jewelry retailers in the world’s biggest buyer.... 

A copper M&A frenzy masks big miners’ hesitation to build

In the dusty, treeless outback of Southern Australia, a brand new mining camp is home to a hundred workers, putting in 12-hour days, two weeks at a time. Dozens of trucks are scattered across the... 

South Africa seen sticking to modest rate cut despite Fed cut

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will likely lower interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, despite a larger-than-expected overnight move by the Federal Reserve as it turns the screws on... 

Rand gains with SARB poised for first rate cut in four years

The rand gained Thursday morning ahead of a South African Reserve Bank interest rate decision, where the central bank is expected to deliver its first cut since July 2020. The currency strengthened... 

Gold rises to record after Fed makes first rate cut since 2020

Gold advanced to a record high after the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by a half a percentage point Wednesday, in an aggressive start to a policy shift to boost the labor... 

Barrick suspends Papua New Guinea mine after deadly clashes

Barrick Gold suspended operations at a gold mine in Papua New Guinea after violent clashes in the area killed two company employees. Mining was halted in a move to protect employees at the Porgera... 

BHP’s fertiliser boss bets on low-cost potash to challenge rivals

BHP Group expects its $10.6-billion potash mine in Canada to make money even with weakened fertilizer prices, says the head of the project. Jansen mine is expected to produce potash at costs that... 

Gold miners say they’re now disciplined as dealmaking heats up

With gold prices at a record high, mining companies are back hunting for deals while trying to reassure investors that they’ve learned from past mistakes of overspending. There has been a flurry... 

Gold-rich Sudan talks mining With Russia as war alliances shift

Gold-rich Sudan discussed boosting cooperation in the mining sector with Russia, as Moscow strengthens ties with the North African nation’s military-led government amid a 17-month civil war. A... 

South African Treasury to coax funds to invest in infrastructure

South Africa’s National Treasury is working on measures to encourage private investment in infrastructure projects, an initiative it hopes will silence calls from other quarters in the government... 

Zambia mines lobby calls on government to halt reforms

Zambia’s Chamber of Mines said proposed legislative and policy reforms pose “an unprecedented threat” to investors’ rights and will undermine the country’s ambitions to quadruple copper production.... 

China’s Zijin vows to keep investing in Canadian mining despite crackdown

Zijin Mining Group, China’s most valuable mining company, says it won’t be deterred by the Canadian government’s measures to limit foreign involvement in its mining sector. The Chinese gold and... 

Newmont on track to get at least $2bn from asset sales, COO says

Newmont, the world’s biggest gold miner, said it’s on track to raise $2-billion — if not more — from selling smaller mines and development projects. “We’ll get at least that,” COO Natascha Viljoen...