MINEX Forum

Website: Eurasia.com

  • Kazakhstan’s Coal Industry Advocates to Remain Under Industrial Ministry

    Kazakhstan’s Coal Industry Advocates to Remain Under Industrial Ministry

    Kazakhstan’s coal industry should remain under the Ministry of Industry and Construction rather than being transferred to the Ministry of Energy, according to the Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises (AMME). The proposal was voiced by AMME representative Tulegen Mukhanov during a ministry meeting.

    Mukhanov emphasized that the Ministry of Industry plays a crucial role in developing the sector, addressing export challenges, railway logistics, and ensuring the timely supply of coal for communal and residential needs during the heating season.

    Additionally, the ministry has worked with mining enterprises, research institutions, and potential investors to develop a national coal chemistry industry program. As part of this initiative, a scientific and technical center for coal chemistry is planned at the Institute of Coal Chemistry and Technology.

    Upon learning of the government’s intention to transfer oversight of the coal sector to the Ministry of Energy, AMME conducted a survey among mining companies. The respondents unanimously opposed the move and expressed their willingness to appeal directly to the Prime Minister and the President.

    Although Kazakhstan’s coal industry was previously under the Ministry of Energy, it was later separated—a structure that coal companies now wish to maintain. They argue that the Energy Ministry already oversees multiple sectors, while the current arrangement under the Ministry of Industry is more effective.

  • East Star Resources Discovers New Copper and Gold Deposits in Kazakhstan

    East Star Resources Discovers New Copper and Gold Deposits in Kazakhstan

    British company East Star Resources Plc has released interim results from its geological exploration at three sites in Kazakhstan—Verkh-Uba, Talovskoye, and Snezhnoye. Having operated in the country for over three years, the investor is searching for copper and gold, with Verkh-Uba being considered the most promising site.

    In early February, the company completed drilling three exploratory wells at Verkh-Uba, discovering new copper deposits beyond previously explored areas. A total of 238 core samples have been sent to the ALS KazLab laboratory in Karaganda for analysis. According to a preliminary JORC estimate, the deposit contains 20.3 million tonnes of ore with an average copper content of 1.16%, zinc at 1.54%, and lead at 0.27%.

    East Star Resources plans to continue exploration in 2025 to assess the site’s development potential. The company aims to start open-pit mining of non-ferrous metals in the coming years.

    In addition to copper deposits, the Snezhnoye site has also shown potential, with initial studies identifying a significant gold anomaly in an area previously used for small-scale artisanal mining.

  • Aurubis Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Driven by High Metal Prices and Copper Demand

    Aurubis Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Driven by High Metal Prices and Copper Demand

    Aurubis, Europe’s largest copper producer, posted stronger-than-expected first-quarter earnings, fueled by rising metal prices, strong copper product sales, and increased revenue from sulphuric acid. The company also benefited from lower costs, contributing to a 17% year-on-year rise in pre-tax earnings to €130 million ($135 million), surpassing analyst estimates of €126 million.

    CFO Steffen Hoffmann highlighted the growing demand for sulphuric acid, widely used in fertilizers and the chemical industry, which is helping offset declining refining fees for copper concentrate. Analysts predict a sharp drop in benchmark refining fees from $80 per tonne to around $20–$25 in 2025, posing a challenge for smelters like Aurubis.

    Despite concerns over potential U.S. tariffs, Hoffmann reaffirmed the company’s strategic focus on local production. Aurubis is expanding its recycling plant in Georgia, adding a second module that will increase blister copper output from 35 to 75 kilotonnes.

    The Hamburg-based company, which recycles raw materials into copper anodes, cathodes, and wire rods, expects the artificial intelligence (AI) boom to drive further demand for its wire rod products, a crucial component in data centers.

    Aurubis confirmed its full-year outlook, maintaining confidence in sustained demand and strategic expansion.

  • Savannah Resources Halts Lithium Prospecting in Portugal Amid Landowner Injunction

    Savannah Resources Halts Lithium Prospecting in Portugal Amid Landowner Injunction

    London-based Savannah Resources has suspended exploration work at certain sites of its lithium project in northern Portugal following a legal injunction filed by local landowners. The injunction, issued by the Mirandela Administrative Court, challenges the Portuguese government’s decision to grant the company access to privately owned land for prospecting activities.

    The ruling only affects areas not owned by Savannah, but it has forced the company to temporarily halt operations that had been ongoing for the past two months. Savannah acknowledged the legal challenge, stating that it had anticipated the move and is handling the process with “serenity.”

    The Barroso lithium deposit, which Savannah is developing, is considered one of Europe’s most significant sources of spodumene, a key mineral for battery production. Recent prospecting results indicate that the deposit may exceed the previously estimated 28 million metric tons of high-grade lithium. The company aims to begin commercial production in 2027.

    To develop its four-mine project, Savannah requires approximately 840 hectares of land. Currently, the company controls only a fraction of this area, with private owners holding 24% and communal lands making up 75%. In December, the Portuguese government granted Savannah temporary access to over 520 hectares of non-owned land for a one-year period.

    The project has faced opposition from local communities and environmental groups, raising broader concerns about the European Union’s strategy to secure domestic sources of critical raw materials and reduce reliance on China. Despite the setback, Savannah remains confident in resuming work soon, stating that it has dealt with similar legal challenges in the past.

  • Weardale Lithium Gets Green Light for UK’s Largest Lithium Extraction Plant

    Weardale Lithium Gets Green Light for UK’s Largest Lithium Extraction Plant

    Weardale Lithium has secured planning approval to build the UK’s largest lithium extraction facility in the North East, marking a major step toward strengthening the country’s domestic supply of critical minerals. The Durham County Council unanimously approved the project, paving the way for a demonstration plant that integrates direct lithium extraction (DLE) with carbonization to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.

    The project, backed by London-based Marechale Capital, will be developed at a former cement works site in Eastgate, a brownfield area well-suited for redevelopment. The facility aims to produce at least 10,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually once scaled to commercial production.

    CEO Stewart Dickson called the approval a “significant milestone” for both Weardale Lithium and the UK’s electrification ambitions, aligning with the government’s critical minerals and battery strategy. “The North East has all the requisite enablers to deliver our borehole-to-battery strategy,” he added.

    DLE, a low-impact and low-carbon method of lithium extraction, will be powered by renewable energy where possible. Weardale Lithium has contracted KBR (NYSE: KBR) to provide technology licensing and proprietary engineering design for the demonstration plant.

    The project represents a multi-million-pound investment in the local economy. Initially, it will create 20 to 50 jobs, with an estimated 125 positions during full commercial operations. The company predicts the facility will contribute approximately £1 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the North East region.

  • Ukraine’s Steel Industry Faces Crisis After Closure of Last Coking Coal Mine

    Ukraine’s Steel Industry Faces Crisis After Closure of Last Coking Coal Mine

    Ukraine’s steel producers are scrambling for alternatives after the country’s last operating coking coal mine in Pokrovsk shut down on Jan. 13. Metinvest Group, the mine’s owner, halted operations and evacuated workers as Russian forces advanced on the Donetsk Oblast town.

    The Pokrovsk mine, valued at around $1.8 billion before the war, was the last Ukrainian-controlled source of coking coal, a critical raw material for steelmaking. With its closure, domestic steel producers must now rely on costly imports, threatening Ukraine’s global competitiveness in the industry.

    “To produce 7.5 million metric tons of steel in 2024, we would need to import 1.9 million tons of coal. We have doubts whether such quantities can be secured, and import costs will further strain steelmakers,” said Oleksandr Kalenkov, head of Ukraine’s steelmakers’ association.

    Once a global top-10 steel producer, Ukraine has slipped below 20th place since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Annual coke production plummeted from 23.7 million tons in 2013 to just 2.7 million tons in 2023, reflecting the loss of key production sites in occupied territories.

    With no immediate domestic alternative, steelmakers, including Metinvest and ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, will turn to imports from Poland, Australia, and the U.S. However, the added costs—estimated at $50 per ton for Australian coking coal—will raise steel production expenses by 11%, squeezing already thin profit margins.

    Before the war, the Pokrovsk mine supplied 66% of Ukraine’s steel industry with coking coal. Finding a replacement will require nearly 3 million tons of imports, but logistical and economic challenges loom large. Poland, the primary source of Ukraine’s coke imports (85% in 2024), has limited export capacity. Meanwhile, shipping coal from overseas can take over six weeks.

    Despite the industry’s struggles, steel remains a cornerstone of Ukraine’s economy, contributing 5.7% of GDP in 2023. While production grew 21% last year, forecasts for 2025 suggest a sharp decline. Without Pokrovsk, steel output could drop to as little as 2-3 million tons, potentially cutting 1% off GDP.

    Although global coking coal prices are currently low, Ukraine’s reliance on imports will inflate costs, impacting post-war reconstruction efforts. With domestic mining investments unlikely during wartime, Ukraine may eventually be forced to import steel itself, further increasing reconstruction expenses already estimated at nearly $500 billion.

  • Planning Permission Granted for UK’s Largest Lithium Extraction Facility

    Planning Permission Granted for UK’s Largest Lithium Extraction Facility

    Weardale Lithium, a groundbreaking natural resources development company situated in County Durham, has received unanimous planning permission from Durham County Council to establish the UK’s most extensive lithium extraction facility. The facility is set to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from geothermal groundwaters and aims to scale up to a commercial production target of minimum 10,000 tonnes per annum.

    Located at the former cement works in Eastgate, Weardale, the facility marks a significant regeneration and redevelopment scheme, bringing the brownfield site back into sustainable use while providing both local and regional economic benefits. The project is aligned with the UK Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy and Battery Strategy and will establish a robust, long-term, and economically viable supply chain of critical minerals.

    Using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, lithium will be extracted from geothermal groundwaters in a low-impact, low-carbon, and low-water usage method. Weardale Lithium has already engaged multinational firm KBR Inc. to provide technology licensing and proprietary engineering design for the plant. The proprietary engineering design is based on an integrated technology offering, which has already successfully produced battery-grade lithium carbonate at pilot scale.

    The demonstration plant’s construction will create between 20 and 50 jobs on site, with an additional employment boost in the local construction sector and supply chains. During the commercial phase, Weardale Lithium estimates approximately 125 highly skilled jobs will be created in the region, generating around £1 billion Gross Value Added (GVA) for the North East.

    The approved planning application represents a multi-million-pound investment in the local and regional economy, with the facility set to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate using renewable energy sources and a proven end-to-end process. The company’s goal is to make a significant contribution to the transition to a carbon-zero economy in the UK.

    Weardale Lithium is committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility, ensuring the extraction of lithium has a lower carbon footprint and higher sustainability credentials (low water consumption and low waste) than other lithium sources. The development is expected to provide national supply resilience and security with a lower environmental impact for electric vehicle and battery energy storage systems.

  • Azerbaijan’s Mining Industry Production Volume Revealed for 2024

    Azerbaijan’s Mining Industry Production Volume Revealed for 2024

    The production volume in Azerbaijan’s mining industry totaled 41.2 billion manats in 2024, according to data from the State Statistics Committee.

    This represents a decrease of 3.7 billion manats or 8.3% compared to the previous year. In 2023, the mining industry production volume was 44.9 billion manats.

    Key figures for 2024:

    • Metal ore mining: 382 million manats
    • Other mining sectors: 256 million manats
    • Mining industry services: 2.5 billion manats

    Other sectors within the mining industry also contributed to the overall production volume. The extraction of metal ores accounted for 382 million manats, while other mining activities generated 256 million manats. Additionally, mining-related services amounted to a production value of 2.5 billion manats.

    Despite the year-over-year decrease, the mining sector continues to play a major role in Azerbaijan’s economy, accounting for a significant portion of the country’s industrial output

  • National Environmental Data Bank System of Kazakhstan (NBDES) Goes into Full-Scale Operation

    National Environmental Data Bank System of Kazakhstan (NBDES) Goes into Full-Scale Operation

    ASTANA, Kazakhstan – The National Bank of Data on the State of the Environment and Natural Resources (NBDSOSiPР) has been successfully introduced into industrial exploitation. The main objective of the system is to ensure the principle of “single window” access to the entire infrastructure of the ecological fund, thereby promoting effective interaction between the government, natural resource users, and the general public.

    The NBDSOSiPР is designed to collect, store, and process data on the state of the environment and natural resources in Kazakhstan. It aims to improve the efficiency of environmental monitoring, analysis, and decision-making by providing a unified platform for accessing and sharing environmental information.

    The system is expected to enhance transparency and public participation in environmental management, as well as to support the implementation of the country’s environmental policies and international commitments.

    The launch of the NBDSOSiPР is a significant step towards modernizing Kazakhstan’s environmental management system and promoting sustainable development. It is anticipated that the system will contribute to the improvement of the country’s environmental performance, the protection of its natural resources, and the well-being of its people.

  • DTEK Energy Introduces New Coal Longwalls to Support Thermal Power Stations

    DTEK Energy Introduces New Coal Longwalls to Support Thermal Power Stations

    DTEK Energy’s coal mining enterprises continue to work on meeting the needs of thermal power plants, especially during the peak of the heating season.

    In January, DTEK Energy put two new coal faces into operation, the first of 2025, the company reported.

    “We must not only think about this heating season but also prepare for the summer peaks in demand and the next winter. We are working as a team—energy specialists, miners, and engineers. We are now introducing coal faces to ensure a stable supply of resources for our thermal power plants,” said DTEK Energy’s CEO, Oleksandr Fomenko.

    In 2024, the company’s investment in Ukrainian coal mining amounted to UAH 7.5 billion. These funds were directed towards the development and repair of major mine workings, equipping coal faces, providing mines with tunnelling equipment, underground mine transport, and projects to support production capacities.

    Previously, it was reported that DTEK would receive €62.8 million from the European Commission and $46.1 million from the US government.

    DTEK Energy ensures a closed cycle of electricity production from coal. As of January 2022, the company’s installed capacity in thermal generation was 13.3 GW. The company has established a full production cycle: coal mining and enrichment, engineering, and maintenance of mining equipment. It is part of the DTEK group, owned by Rinat Akhmetov. Currently, a large part of DTEK group’s thermal generation capacities have been destroyed due to Russian attacks.