MINEX Forum

Website: Europe.com

  • Ukraine Opens Lithium Tender at Dobra Deposit Amid Ownership Dispute

    Ukraine Opens Lithium Tender at Dobra Deposit Amid Ownership Dispute

    Ukraine has launched a tender for the right to develop the Dobra lithium deposit in the central Kirovohrad region, a move hailed as a cornerstone of its new minerals cooperation deal with the United States. The announcement, made by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, underscores Kyiv’s strategy to leverage its critical mineral wealth — estimated at around 5% of global reserves — to attract Western investment and reduce dependence on China for processing.

    Lithium, essential for battery production, is considered one of Ukraine’s most strategic assets, with the Dobra site believed to hold significant reserves. The government said the winning bidder would sign a 50-year agreement and commit to at least $179 million in investment covering geological exploration, production, and enrichment. “We expect an investor who will ensure not only extraction but also the development of value-added,” Svyrydenko noted.

    The tender, however, risks being overshadowed by a looming legal dispute. Nasdaq-listed Critical Metals (NASDAQ: CRML) and its top shareholder, Australia’s European Lithium (ASX: EUR), claim rights to the project. Board member Mykhailo Zhernov told the Financial Times in July that the Dobra licence had been due to go to Petro Consulting — later acquired by European Lithium — under a prior court ruling. “It is our licence, it is our rights. You cannot propose something for another investor before you finish with us,” Zhernov said. Neither company has provided documentation to substantiate the claim.

    Meanwhile, US-backed mining investor TechMet, which counts Washington among its largest shareholders, confirmed it will bid. CEO Brian Menell said the company has been evaluating the project since 2023 and sees it as a strategic opportunity.

    The Dobra tender is the first major initiative under the April minerals cooperation agreement between Kyiv and Washington, part of President Donald Trump’s transactional approach to Ukraine. The pact gives US firms preferential access to mining projects, with profits earmarked for reinvestment in Ukraine.

  • 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.

  • Dundee Precious Metals Shareholders Approve Adriatic Metals Acquisition and Corporate Rebranding

    Dundee Precious Metals Shareholders Approve Adriatic Metals Acquisition and Corporate Rebranding

    August 13, 2025

    Toronto, Canada – Dundee Precious Metals Inc. (TSX: DPM) has announced the results of its special meeting held on August 13, 2025, where shareholders overwhelmingly approved two key resolutions: the issuance of common shares in connection with the acquisition of Adriatic Metals plc and a name change for the company.

    Shareholder Approval for Acquisition and Name Change

    Shareholders voted to approve the issuance of DPM common shares as part of its proposed acquisition of Adriatic Metals plc, to be effected by a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act. Additionally, shareholders approved an amendment to the company’s articles to change its name to “DPM Metals Inc.” or another name as approved by the board of directors, subject to regulatory approval.

    The voting results were as follows:

    Share Issuance: 121,852,918 votes in favor (99.73% of votes cast), 329,765 votes against (0.27%).
    Name Change: 125,346,665 votes in favor (99.81% of votes cast), 236,902 votes against (0.19%).
    A total of 122,182,683 shares were voted for the share issuance, representing approximately 73.19% of the issued and outstanding DPM shares. For the name change, 125,583,567 shares were voted, representing approximately 75.23% of the issued and outstanding DPM shares.

    Adriatic Shareholder Approval

    DPM also confirmed that Adriatic Metals plc has received the requisite shareholder approvals for the scheme of arrangement at its Court Meeting and General Meeting, both held earlier today.

    Next Steps and Completion of Acquisition

    The completion of the acquisition remains subject to the sanctioning of the scheme by the High Court of Justice in England and Wales, the delivery of a copy of the Court’s order to the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales, and the satisfaction or waiver of other conditions set out in the scheme document. The hearing for the Court’s sanction is currently scheduled for August 29, 2025. As announced by Adriatic, the scheme is expected to become effective on September 3, 2025.

  • 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.

  • Historic Swedish Church Completes Epic Relocation by LKAB

    Historic Swedish Church Completes Epic Relocation by LKAB

    In a meticulously orchestrated feat of engineering, the iconic Kiruna Kyrka, a 1912 red wooden church weighing 672 tonnes, arrived at its new location in the Arctic town of Kiruna on Wednesday after a two-day, five-kilometre (three-mile) journey. The relocation was necessitated by the expansion of Europe’s largest underground mine, operated by LKAB.

    The church, which began its journey on Tuesday, inched forward at a pace of half a kilometre per hour on two remote-controlled flatbed trailers. Its arrival around 2:30 pm (1230 GMT) was celebrated with a musical fanfare, marking the culmination of a complex logistical operation.

    Kiruna’s entire town centre is being relocated due to the LKAB iron ore mine’s deepening excavations, which have compromised the stability of the ground. The church’s new location, chosen to preserve its character and connection to its surroundings, has been rotated 180 degrees, positioning the altar to face west—a symbolic gesture towards the town and its residents.

    The relocation has captivated widespread attention, with large crowds gathering along the route to witness the historic event. Lisa Weber, a 26-year-old real estate agent from Germany, travelled to Kiruna specifically to see the relocation, describing it as a “historical” moment. “It’s something that you do once in your life, or see once in your life,” she told AFP.

    King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden participated in the festivities, engaging with the Argentinian driver, Sebastian Druker, who remotely controlled the trailers using a joystick. The king also joined an attempt to set a world record for the largest “kyrkkaffe” (a coffee break following a church service).

    The town’s relocation process, which began nearly two decades ago, is expected to continue for years. The new town centre was inaugurated in September 2022. LKAB has offered financial compensation or rebuilding services to those affected by the relocation, with 23 historic buildings already moved before the church.

    Despite the meticulous planning, not all residents are satisfied. Critics, including local podcast hosts Alex Johansson and Magnus Fredriksson, have expressed dissatisfaction with LKAB’s handling of the relocation. “LKAB maybe didn’t read the room so well when they destroyed the whole town and then they stage this huge street party for the people,” Fredriksson remarked to broadcaster SVT.

    LKAB’s discovery of Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earth elements near the Kiruna mine in 2023 has added another layer of complexity to the situation. These elements are crucial for the green transition, particularly in the manufacturing of electric vehicles. However, activists argue that mining operations are detrimental to the region’s pristine forests, lakes, and traditional Sami reindeer herding practices.

    The relocation of the church alone is estimated to cost LKAB 500 million kronor ($52 million). Designed by Swedish architect Gustaf Wickman, the church features a blend of architectural influences, including designs inspired by the Indigenous Sami people. The church’s handblown glass windows were removed before the move and replaced with painted plywood. The separate belltower will be relocated next week.

    As Kiruna continues to adapt to the demands of modern industry, the relocation of the Kiruna Kyrka stands as a testament to the town’s resilience and the intricate balance between progress and preservation.

  • Chvaletice Manganese Project Highlights EU’s Critical Minerals Delivery Gap in Central Europe

    Chvaletice Manganese Project Highlights EU’s Critical Minerals Delivery Gap in Central Europe

    In the quiet industrial belt east of Prague, the Chvaletice Manganese Project is being touted as Europe’s best chance to secure a domestic source of high-purity manganese for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Led by Canada-listed Euro Manganese, the project would extract 50,000 tonnes of battery-grade manganese sulphate per year from decades-old tailings — without opening a new mine.

    Endorsed by the European Commission under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and backed by the European Investment Bank and EIT InnoEnergy, Chvaletice is the only Czech project on the EU’s Strategic Projects list. Yet despite feasibility studies and EU support, construction has not begun. Final environmental permits and grid access approvals are still pending.

    The CRMA, which came into force in May 2024, promises 27-month fast-track permitting for Strategic Projects. But in Czechia — as in Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary — this has not yet been transposed into national law, leaving projects like Chvaletice in limbo.

    Across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), multiple projects have been named under the CRMA, from Poland’s lithium and rare earth ventures to Slovakia’s proposed Magnon Green Energy separation plant near Nitra. None have yet reached financing or construction. A Penta Group analysis warns of “technical, financial, social, and geopolitical” barriers delaying progress.

    The funding gap is also stark. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates the EU spends just 0.05% of GDP on critical raw materials — far less than the US (0.2%) or Australia (0.39%). In CEE, governments have prioritized downstream EV battery plants, while upstream mining and processing projects receive little public funding.

    China’s dominance in CRM processing compounds the risk. The country controls over 80% of rare earth refining and nearly all natural graphite processing. In July, Beijing tightened export controls further, adding gallium, antimony, and manganese to its restricted list.

    Industry leaders warn that unless Europe accelerates CRM development, it will remain strategically vulnerable. “The EU may as well be a province of China,” AMG Lithium CEO Stefan Scherer recently remarked, urging a “continental-scale investment surge.”

    For now, Chvaletice stands as CEE’s flagship. But with the EC due to revise its Strategic Projects list in early 2026, its future hinges on whether Czech authorities can align laws and issue permits in time. “Brussels has recognised the urgency,” Euro Manganese CEO Matthew James said. “But unless national systems accelerate, these projects will miss the transition window.”

  • Critical Metals Reports Thick Rare Earth and Gallium Intercepts at Tanbreez in Greenland

    Critical Metals Reports Thick Rare Earth and Gallium Intercepts at Tanbreez in Greenland

    Critical Metals (Nasdaq: CRML) has reported strong drilling results from its Tanbreez project in southern Greenland, one of the world’s largest undeveloped heavy rare earth deposits outside China.

    The standout intercept came from hole DDH-C-24 at the Fjord deposit, returning 65 metres grading 0.55% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from surface, including 25.5% heavy rare earth oxides (HREO) and 90 parts per million (ppm) gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃). Gallium is a key energy transition material used in semiconductors, solar panels, and LED technologies.

    “These incredible results underscore the strategic value of Tanbreez as a rare earth elements and gallium project with scale, grade, and a high proportion of critical heavy rare earths,” said CEO and executive chair Tony Sage. “With China’s total control over the rare earth market globally, securing sources of these critical minerals has become paramount for US defence capabilities and national security.”

    Additional assays included 61.3 metres grading 0.5% TREO, 26% HREO, and 100 ppm Ga₂O₃ in hole DDH-B-24; 41 metres at 0.52% TREO, 26.9% HREO, and 95 ppm Ga₂O₃ in DDH-A2-24; and 40 metres at 0.48% TREO, 27.1% HREO, and 100 ppm Ga₂O₃ in DDH-A1-24. Mineralisation remains open at depth, with over 1,500 metres drilled this year and further results pending.

    While grades are lower than some high-grade global rare earth projects, the bulk tonnage and high proportion of heavy rare earths position Tanbreez alongside large-scale deposits such as Kvanefjeld in Greenland and Norra Kärr in Sweden.

    According to a March preliminary economic assessment, Tanbreez has a pre-tax net present value of $2.8–$3.6 billion (at 12.5–15% discount rates) and an internal rate of return of 180%. Current resources stand at 25.4 million tonnes indicated at 0.37% TREO and 19.5 million tonnes inferred at 0.39% TREO.

    The news comes shortly after the US Department of Defense deepened its support for domestic rare earth production through a partnership with MP Materials, highlighting growing geopolitical urgency around supply chain diversification.

    Critical Metals shares fell 6.9% on Monday to $5.43, giving the company a market cap of $534.4 million.

  • Military Metals Targets Strategic Antimony-Gold Potential in Slovakia’s Tiennesgrund Project

    Military Metals Targets Strategic Antimony-Gold Potential in Slovakia’s Tiennesgrund Project

    Military Metals (CSE: MILI) says its Tiennesgrund Antimony-Gold Project in eastern Slovakia could play a key role in bolstering Europe’s strategic resource independence. Following a preliminary field inspection and historical data review, CEO Scott Eldridge highlighted the project’s potential to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals under the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act.

    “Antimony is listed as a critical raw material under the EU’s CRMA, and our project has potential to support the continent’s ambition to secure domestic supply chains for essential minerals,” Eldridge said. “We’re proud of the possibility that we may contribute to Europe’s resilience in the face of global resource volatility and will seek to help power the technologies that drive the green and defence sectors.”

    The 13 km-long, 0.8–1.4 km-wide property hosts numerous historical adits, where mineralised material remains visible in waste dumps. Historical sampling indicates antimony grades between 2.5% and 39.4%, and gold grades from 0.07 g/t to 9.6 g/t.

    A field campaign is planned for October 2025 to study structural controls of mineralisation and define drill targets. The program will include trenching, sampling, and mapping, with drill testing to follow where results indicate significant concentrations of antimony and gold.

    Military Metals, based in British Columbia, focuses on acquiring and advancing mineral projects with a particular emphasis on antimony, a metal critical to batteries, renewable energy systems, flame retardants, and advanced technologies such as liquid metal batteries and solar panels.

    Antimony prices have remained stable since July, with Shanghai Metals Market data showing No.1 ingot prices between ¥185,000 and ¥188,000 ($39,456–$40,092) per tonne.

  • 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.

  • Military Metals Targets Strategic Antimony-Gold Potential in Slovakia’s Tiennesgrund Project

    Military Metals Targets Strategic Antimony-Gold Potential in Slovakia’s Tiennesgrund Project

    Military Metals (CSE: MILI) says its Tiennesgrund Antimony-Gold Project in eastern Slovakia could play a key role in bolstering Europe’s strategic resource independence. Following a preliminary field inspection and historical data review, CEO Scott Eldridge highlighted the project’s potential to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals under the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act.

    “Antimony is listed as a critical raw material under the EU’s CRMA, and our project has potential to support the continent’s ambition to secure domestic supply chains for essential minerals,” Eldridge said. “We’re proud of the possibility that we may contribute to Europe’s resilience in the face of global resource volatility and will seek to help power the technologies that drive the green and defence sectors.”

    The 13 km-long, 0.8–1.4 km-wide property hosts numerous historical adits, where mineralised material remains visible in waste dumps. Historical sampling indicates antimony grades between 2.5% and 39.4%, and gold grades from 0.07 g/t to 9.6 g/t.

    A field campaign is planned for October 2025 to study structural controls of mineralisation and define drill targets. The program will include trenching, sampling, and mapping, with drill testing to follow where results indicate significant concentrations of antimony and gold.

    Military Metals, based in British Columbia, focuses on acquiring and advancing mineral projects with a particular emphasis on antimony, a metal critical to batteries, renewable energy systems, flame retardants, and advanced technologies such as liquid metal batteries and solar panels.

    Antimony prices have remained stable since July, with Shanghai Metals Market data showing No.1 ingot prices between ¥185,000 and ¥188,000 ($39,456–$40,092) per tonne.