MINEX Forum

Tag: critical minerals

  • Kazakhstan to Open Internationally Accredited Rare-Earth Laboratory

    Kazakhstan to Open Internationally Accredited Rare-Earth Laboratory

    Kazakhstan is set to establish an internationally accredited geo-analytical laboratory in Astana to support its growing role in global supply chains for rare-earth metals (REEs).

    Minister of Industry and Construction Yersayin Nagaspayev confirmed that agreements have been reached with global laboratory brands RCI Inspection and PARAGON to certify the new geo-analytical center, which is scheduled to open by mid-2026 under the National Geological Service. The laboratory will house core storage and archival repositories, providing transparent and reliable data to researchers and potential investors.

    The initiative follows President Tokayev’s 8 September address to Parliament, in which he stressed the strategic significance of rare-earth elements for Kazakhstan’s long-term economic future. He directed the government to launch at least three high-tech production facilities for rare-earth metals within the next three years, underscoring their growing importance in global technology and trade.

    The government’s plan outlines four strategic priorities for domestic processing: producing battery materials, recycling, manufacturing heat-resistant alloys for jet turbines, and producing semiconductor materials. To achieve these goals, Kazakhstan is actively forging partnerships with the European Union, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and China.

    Planned projects include a gallium plant, the production of high-purity manganese sulfate and graphite for batteries, and the manufacturing of nickel-based superalloys. Additionally, pilot programs for recycling permanent magnets are set to begin next year, in collaboration with European partners, marking a concrete step towards a more sustainable and value-added rare-earth industry.

  • Anglo American and Teck Resources Agree $53bn Merger to Create Global Copper Giant

    Anglo American and Teck Resources Agree $53bn Merger to Create Global Copper Giant

    Anglo American has reached an agreement to merge with Canada’s Teck Resources in a $53bn (£39bn) deal that will form one of the world’s largest copper producers, following both companies’ successful defence against recent takeover attempts.

    The combined group, to be called Anglo Teck, will be headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, reflecting Canadian government efforts to safeguard its critical minerals sector. While the new company will keep Anglo’s primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, it will also be listed in Johannesburg, Vancouver, and New York. Anglo has held its London listing since 1999.

    The merger is expected to deliver $800m in annual cost savings within four years, with around $60m anticipated from board and head office “rationalisation,” raising the likelihood of job losses at Anglo’s London headquarters. However, the companies pledged that Canada would see “no net reduction in the number of employees,” in line with government legislation.

    Under the terms, Anglo shareholders will own 62.4% of the new entity, while Teck investors will control 37.6%. Although the deal represents a 17% premium to Teck’s share price, the companies presented it as a zero-premium merger because Anglo plans to issue a $4.5bn special dividend to its shareholders before completion.

    Anglo’s chief executive Duncan Wanblad, who will lead the new group from Vancouver, described the transaction as a “true merger of equals,” stressing its significance for Canada and its role in supporting critical mineral strategies globally. Teck CEO Jonathan Price will become deputy chief executive, with copper expected to contribute more than 70% of earnings by 2027.

    The merger follows Anglo’s defence against a £39bn takeover bid by BHP and Teck’s rejection of Glencore’s £16.6bn offer in 2023. Analysts say the deal marks a dramatic turnaround for Anglo, which has repositioned itself as an industry consolidator.

    The new company will bring together six major copper assets in Chile and other “world-class jurisdictions,” a move that both executives say will position the business at the heart of the global transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles.

    If approved, the deal will be one of the largest in mining history, second only to the $90bn Glencore-Xstrata merger in 2013. Shares in both Anglo and Teck surged more than 10% after the announcement, signalling strong investor confidence.

  • Ukrainian Mining Sector Receives Investment Boost from the the American-Ukrainian Investment Fund

    Ukrainian Mining Sector Receives Investment Boost from the the American-Ukrainian Investment Fund

    The inaugural meeting of the American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund Steering Committee took place in Kyiv on 3rd September, marking a significant step in attracting private investments into Ukraine’s key industries. The fund was established as a pivotal mechanism to enhance Ukraine’s economic recovery and growth by involving the private sector in rebuilding critical infrastructure and mining sectors.

    The meeting, which was attended by representatives from both the Ukrainian and American governments, was chaired by Prime Minister Yulia Sverdenko. The American delegation included Scott Besant, the US Treasury Secretary, Connor Holman, Chief Investment Officer at the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Robert Stebbins, DFC’s Vice President.

    During the session, the committee finalised the operational regulations, established specialized subcommittees, and granted powers to open bank accounts, select fund administrators, and appoint investment advisors. The next step is identifying key pilot projects for investment, with discussions scheduled for later this month when DFC representatives visit Kyiv.

    Lithium and Gold Reserves in Kirovograd: A Major Mining Contest Launched

    One of the most pressing topics to emerge from the meeting was the Ukrainian government’s announcement of a competition to develop the Lithium Deposit of Dobro, located in the Kirovograd region. The project offers a lucrative opportunity for extracting nine strategically significant minerals, including lithium, gold, niobium, and beryllium. The competition is open to both Ukrainian and international firms with experience in natural resource exploitation and adequate financial and technical capabilities. However, companies from aggressor nations and those in sanctioned jurisdictions will not be allowed to participate.

    The government is looking to partner with firms willing to invest a minimum of $12 million in geological surveys and a further $160 million in industrial extraction and beneficiation activities. The agreement will be long-term, spanning 50 years, with the state retaining ownership of the resources until they are allocated through the contract.

    Ukraine’s Oil and Gas Transparency: The Launch of the National Well Registry

    In another landmark move, Ukraine’s State Geological Survey (Derzhgeonadra) has launched the National Oil and Gas Well Registry, a digital platform providing transparent access to over 12,500 well records. This new database will include active, suspended, and monitoring wells, and aims to streamline access to essential geological data for government bodies, natural resource users, and the public. This initiative strengthens Ukraine’s commitment to better resource management and international best practices in natural resource transparency.

    Ukraine’s Role in the Global Mineral Economy

    Ukraine’s mining sector is attracting attention not only for its rich mineral reserves but also for its growing role in the global economy. The upcoming Mineral Deal Forum, scheduled for 24th September in Kyiv, will bring together government officials, business leaders, and investors to discuss the future of Ukraine’s mining industry and its critical minerals. Key figures from the Ukrainian government, such as Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka and Minister of Economy Yegor Perelygin, will speak at the forum, alongside business leaders like Serhiy Pylypenko, the CEO of Kovalska Group, a leading construction firm that has successfully navigated the challenges of wartime operations.

    The forum promises to be a key event for understanding how Ukraine plans to integrate its vast natural resources into the global supply chain, particularly for critical minerals required in industries like renewable energy and electronics.

    Gold Hits Record Highs: What This Means for Mining Investments

    Meanwhile, the global price of gold has reached new heights, with the spot price of an ounce (31.1g) surging to $3,645 per ounce. This sharp increase in value, which has doubled over the last three years, comes amid rising global instability and the possibility of changes in US Federal Reserve policies. Investors are flocking to gold as a safe haven, which could signal further growth for mining industries worldwide, including in Ukraine.

  • Savannah Resources Pushes Back on Claims Portugal Withheld Barroso Mine Data

    Savannah Resources Pushes Back on Claims Portugal Withheld Barroso Mine Data

    Savannah Resources (LON: SAV) is pushing back against media reports that a United Nations committee has accused Portuguese authorities of violating international law during the approval process for the company’s Barroso lithium project.

    In a statement to MINING.COM, Savannah’s Communications Manager António Neves Costa said that two of the public bodies named in the UN document have clarified their positions, stating that no step of the licensing process was carried out in violation of Portuguese law.

    The clarifications follow a report by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee, which alleged that Portugal failed to guarantee citizens’ rights to environmental information and participation during the project’s licensing process.

    The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) said the Barroso project underwent the longest public consultation period ever granted to an industrial project in the country, spanning more than 110 days. The Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N) also rejected the suggestion that it withheld information, stating that all documents were made available in line with national law.

    According to Reuters, the UN committee’s findings have reinforced calls from local residents and environmental groups for the project’s license to be revoked. The APA, while noting a “divergent interpretation” of the Convention, maintains that it acted in strict compliance with administrative procedures.

    Savannah Resources is seeking to develop what it calls Western Europe’s largest mine of spodumene, a hard-rock form of lithium. The company plans to build four open-pit mines in northern Portugal, with the goal of producing enough lithium annually for 500,000 to one million electric vehicle batteries. First output is slated for 2027.

  • Allied Critical Metals Hits High-Grade Tungsten at Borralha, Strengthening Europe’s Strategic Supply

    Allied Critical Metals Hits High-Grade Tungsten at Borralha, Strengthening Europe’s Strategic Supply

    Allied Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: ACM; OTCQB: ACMIF; FSE: 0VJ0) has reported one of the highest-grade tungsten intercepts in Western exploration, marking a breakthrough at its 100%-owned Borralha Tungsten Project in northern Portugal.

    Drill hole Bo_RC_14/25 returned 12.0 metres at 4.27% WO₃, including 6.0 metres at 8.39% WO₃ from 252 metres downhole. The result confirms visual observations of massive wolframite and highlights a high-grade breccia corridor within the mineralized system. Allied says the intercept validates its geological model and positions Borralha among Europe’s most promising undeveloped tungsten assets.

    More than 2,500 metres of drilling across nine holes have been completed, with visible wolframite and chalcopyrite encountered in several holes. Drilling, temporarily paused in August due to fire season restrictions, resumed September 1 with two rigs, aiming to complete 4,200 metres in Phase 1. An additional 1,528 metres of fully funded drilling is scheduled for Q4 2025.

    The campaign is designed to expand and upgrade resources under NI 43-101, collect material for metallurgical testing at 65% WO₃ concentrate grades, and deliver a Mineral Resource Estimate (Q4 2025) and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) by year-end.

    The update comes as tungsten prices surge to $545 USD/MTU, up 40% in four months, amid growing demand and tightening Chinese export controls.

    “Allied’s exceptional tungsten grades place Borralha among Europe’s most exciting critical mineral projects,” CEO Roy Bonnell said. “We are confident this will become a cornerstone asset for Western supply chains at a time of heightened strategic need.”

    Borralha, a past-producing tungsten district, is advancing through environmental permitting, with a final decision expected by late 2025 or early 2026. Tungsten is classified as a Critical and Strategic Raw Material by both the EU and the US, vital for defense, AI, and EV technologies.

  • Mining Turns to Waste Reprocessing, AI, and Bio-Tech to Meet Global Copper and Critical Metal Demand

    Mining Turns to Waste Reprocessing, AI, and Bio-Tech to Meet Global Copper and Critical Metal Demand

    The global pivot away from fossil fuels is creating unprecedented demand for copper and other critical minerals, but the mining industry faces a daunting challenge: falling ore grades, scarce new discoveries, and project timelines that can stretch over a decade. To bridge the gap, miners are reviving old waste, deploying advanced processing technologies, and turning to artificial intelligence.

    Between 1910 and 2010, an estimated 100 million tonnes of copper were discarded into tailings ponds, according to Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute. These legacy deposits are now being seen as a resource. Rio Tinto has already extracted scandium and tellurium from waste streams, while Hudbay Minerals is evaluating re-mining opportunities at its closed Flin Flon mine in Canada. Australia’s Cobalt Blue Holdings is studying pyrite tailings as a potential sulphur source, and India’s Hindustan Zinc has committed $438 million to process 10 million tonnes of tailings per year at its Rampura Agucha mine.

    At the same time, miners are working to reduce waste from new operations. Glencore’s ISAMill and Albion Process are enabling higher recovery rates with lower water use, while US bio-tech firm Allonnia has developed D-Solve, a microbial process that removes impurities like magnesium. At the Eagle nickel mine in the US, Allonnia is piloting a system that boosts nickel grades by 18% while cutting impurities by 40%.

    Artificial intelligence is becoming a central driver of efficiency. BHP uses generative AI and digital twin technology at its Escondida copper mine in Chile to optimize blasting, blending, and mill performance. Freeport-McMoRan, working with McKinsey, trialed AI at its Baghdad mine in Arizona, achieving a 5–10% increase in copper production. Rolling this out across its US operations could add 90,000 tonnes of copper annually — equivalent to a new $1.5 billion processing plant, but without the decade-long construction timeline.

    The push to reprocess waste, integrate bio-engineering, and apply AI represents a quiet revolution in one of the world’s oldest industries. If successful, it could transform mining from one of the planet’s most polluting activities into a cleaner, more efficient sector — ensuring that the energy transition has the metals it needs.

  • Torngat Metals Secures Rare Earth Supply Deal with German Magnet Maker VAC

    Torngat Metals Secures Rare Earth Supply Deal with German Magnet Maker VAC

    Montreal-based Torngat Metals has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with German company Vacuumschmelze (VAC) to pursue a long-term supply agreement for rare earth oxides. The non-binding deal was formalised in Berlin on Tuesday, marking a significant step in diversifying the global rare earth supply chain.

    The agreement was signed by Torngat Metals CEO Yves Leduc and VAC CEO Erik Eschen, with the attendance of Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson and Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche. Both nations have been actively seeking to reduce dependence on China, which currently dominates the global rare earths industry, particularly for technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and defence systems.

  • Montenegro to Modernize Mining Laws in Line with EU Standards, Focus on Sustainability and Critical Minerals

    Montenegro to Modernize Mining Laws in Line with EU Standards, Focus on Sustainability and Critical Minerals

    Montenegro is preparing a new set of mining and geological exploration laws aimed at making the sector more sustainable, investor-friendly, and aligned with European Union standards, according to Marko Vučinić, acting director general of the Directorate for Geology and Mining at the Ministry of Energy and Mining.

    “Our goal is to support the economy and simplify procedures, but also to make mining environmentally sustainable, with a special focus on rehabilitation, recultivation, and protecting the Montenegrin stone brand,” Vučinić told the Gazette of the Chamber of Commerce.

    The new law on geological exploration, expected by the end of the year, will harmonize Montenegro’s framework with EU practice while simplifying procedures. It will place particular emphasis on hydrogeology, water resource management, and seismicity, given the country’s earthquake-prone geography. A geological cadastre will also be established to provide investors with greater transparency and facilitate decision-making.

    Vučinić stressed that the mining sector is an important employer in Montenegro, with over 5,000 jobs, covering not only mines but also the extraction of technical and construction stone. Currently, 53 concessions are active for detailed geological research and mineral exploitation.

    He noted that Montenegro possesses significant resources critical to the EU, including bauxite, lead, zinc, barite, and construction stone. The Varina copper deposit and the Red Mud Basin in Podgorica, rich in rare minerals, are among the country’s key strategic assets.

    The upcoming mining law will target illegal exploitation, streamline permitting, and strengthen quality control, with Croatia’s framework serving as a model. The government hopes to see parliament debate the laws in the autumn session.

    A further challenge lies in addressing the shortage of mining and geology professionals, as Montenegro lacks a dedicated faculty. Vučinić said the government is considering establishing new academic programs and offering scholarships to attract students to the sector.

  • Ukraine’s Titanium Ore Exports Plunge 93% in First Seven Months of 2025

    Ukraine’s Titanium Ore Exports Plunge 93% in First Seven Months of 2025

    Ukraine’s exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates collapsed by 93.6% year-on-year in January–July 2025, falling to just 277 tonnes, according to data from the State Customs Service (SCS). In monetary terms, exports dropped 93.1% to $496,000.

    Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Egypt were the main destinations, accounting for 35.61%, 35.01%, and 29.38% of export revenues respectively. On the import side, Ukraine purchased 24 tonnes of titanium ores worth $39,000 from China (94.87%) and Uzbekistan (5.13%) during the period.

    Exports of other critical ores — niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium — reached 2,466 tonnes worth $3.95 million, with Spain (48.90%), Germany (24.53%), and Italy (17.19%) as the top buyers. Imports of these ores totalled 294 tonnes worth $774,000, mainly from Spain, China, and the Czech Republic.

    Ukraine’s titanium ore exports had already fallen sharply in 2024, down 37.5% in volume to 7,284 tonnes and 40% in value to $11.65 million. The main buyers last year were Turkey, Egypt, and Poland.

    The SCS noted that discrepancies in official statistics are due to confidentiality rules covering military and dual-use goods, with certain titanium shipments aggregated under “Other goods.” Deliveries from mining companies may therefore differ from published customs data.

    Ukraine’s titanium ores are mined primarily by PJSC United Mining and Chemical Company (operating the Vilnohirsk and Irshansk plants), LLC Mezhyrichensky GZK, LLC Valky-Ilmenit, and Velta, which operates the Birzulivskoye mine with a 240,000-ton annual capacity for ilmenite concentrate.

  • Romania Renews Licence for Country’s Only Graphite Deposit at Baia de Fier

    Romania Renews Licence for Country’s Only Graphite Deposit at Baia de Fier

    Romania’s government has officially renewed the exploitation licence for the nation’s sole graphite deposit, located in Baia de Fier, Gorj County. The decision, signed by Minister of Economy Radu Miruță, grants state-owned Salrom the right to resume mining operations at the site.

    Graphite, a critical raw material used in conductors, mobile phone components, and the nuclear industry, has experienced surging demand globally. Minister Miruță said the licence renewal ensures the resource “remains the property of Romania” while delivering economic value domestically.

    “Today I signed the government decision by which Romania receives the exploitation licence for graphite from Baia de Fier. An extremely valuable mineral, sought after throughout the world, remains the property of Romania and will produce value for our economy,” Miruță said, adding that securing the licence was one of his key priorities.

    Although Salrom previously held the licence, mining activity had stopped. With operations now set to restart, Miruță stressed that the first steps will involve securing the mining perimeter and preparing for production. He noted that the project will create jobs, drive local economic growth, and stand as “a source of pride for Romanians.”

    The move forms part of a broader government strategy to safeguard and develop Romania’s strategic mineral resources in the national interest.