Copper - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Panama Demands First Quantum Drop Legal Action for Mine Talks

March 16, 2025March 16, 2025 Constance

Panama is urging First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM) to immediately withdraw its legal proceedings against the government if the company is serious about negotiating a restart of its shuttered Cobre Panama mine. President Jose Raul Mulino announced that he has authorized the export of stockpiled copper concentrate from the open-pit mine, adding that First Quantum must compensate Panama since the material will be processed abroad. “The concentrate is being wasted, and Panama has invested heavily in it,” Mulino stated during a press conference in Panama City. “The mine’s future will… Read More Here

International Copper

Panama Clears First Quantum to Export Stockpiled Copper

March 15, 2025March 15, 2025 Constance

First Quantum Minerals has received approval to begin exporting stockpiled copper from its halted Cobre Panama mine, signaling a possible shift toward negotiations for a restart. Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, announced on Thursday that he had authorized the shipment of copper concentrate accumulated at the mine, which has been shut down since late 2023. “I authorized the removal of the material that is just sitting there. It’s being wasted, and Panama has invested a significant amount of money in it,” Mulino stated. He added that First Quantum must reimburse… Read More Here

Copper Mining in DRC

China’s Refined Copper Imports Surge as Congo Supply Booms

March 13, 2025March 13, 2025 Constance

China is set to increase its imports of off-exchange refined copper this year, driven by soaring production in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and concerns over potential supply disruptions from U.S. scrap restrictions, according to analysts and traders. The surge highlights China’s growing dependence on Congolese refined copper, which now accounts for a significant share of its imports. The DRC, bolstered by years of Chinese investment in mining, has become the world’s second-largest copper producer. Much of its exports to China consist of equivalent grade (EQ) copper—metal that meets… Read More Here

International Copper Exploration New Mining Projects

BHP to Invest A$40 Million in Botswana Copper Exploration with Cobre

March 13, 2025March 13, 2025 Constance

Mining giant BHP has committed up to A$40 million to explore potential Tier 1 copper-silver deposits in Botswana through a partnership with Australia-listed Cobre. Announced on Monday, the agreement provides funding to advance Cobre’s Kitlanya East and Kitlanya West copper projects, located along the northern and southern basin margins of the Kalahari Copper Belt. Under the earn-in agreement, BHP will invest up to $25 million (approximately A$40 million) in exploration expenditure to acquire a 75% stake in the Kitlanya projects. An initial $5 million will be invested within the first… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Copper Economy

DRC’s Copper Exports Hit Record 3.1 Million Tonnes in 2024

March 13, 2025March 18, 2025 Constance

For the first time in its mining history, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) exported a record 3.1 million tonnes of copper in 2024, according to a March 6 report from the Congolese Ministry of Mines. This represents a 13% increase from 2023, driven by strong performances from the country’s largest copper mines. Key Contributors to Growth Copper exports from the DRC could grow further in 2025, supported by a 3.7% increase in global demand, as forecasted by Commodity Insights. Additionally, the CRU Group estimates that the DRC’s copper output… Read More Here

International Copper

Franco-Nevada’s Arbitration with Panama Advances as Hopes Rise for Cobre Panama Restart

March 11, 2025March 11, 2025 Constance

Arbitration between Franco-Nevada (TSX, NYSE: FNV) and Panama over the fate of the $10 billion Cobre Panama copper mine is progressing, with a tribunal set to hear the case in October 2026. The dispute follows the 2023 closure of the mine, which forced Franco-Nevada to take a $1 billion impairment charge. Franco-Nevada had a gold-copper streaming agreement with First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM), the mine’s owner and operator. The legal uncertainty hasn’t deterred investor optimism, with Franco-Nevada’s stock reaching a 52-week high of C$212 per share and its market capitalization… Read More Here

International Copper

Freeport-McMoRan Pushes for Copper’s Critical Mineral Status Amid U.S. Policy Shifts

March 11, 2025March 11, 2025 Constance

Freeport-McMoRan is urging U.S. President Donald Trump to designate copper as a critical mineral, a move that would unlock substantial tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act and bolster domestic production, CEO Kathleen Quirk said Monday. Trump recently told Congress he would take “historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals,” though details remain unclear. Copper plays a crucial role in power generation, electronics, and construction, yet it is absent from the U.S. Geological Survey’s critical minerals list, which currently includes lithium, nickel, and 48 other minerals. If classified… Read More Here

Copper International

Peru Seeks Talks with U.S. Over Proposed Copper Tariffs

March 11, 2025March 11, 2025 Constance

Peru is preparing to send a delegation to meet with U.S. officials following the Trump administration’s announcement of potential copper tariffs that could impact Peru’s largest export product. “The rules of the game are changing quickly under the new North American administration,” Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Montero said in Lima on Monday. Peru aims to protect its economic interests and mitigate the impact of any restrictive U.S. trade measures. As the world’s third-largest copper supplier, Peru exports some of its semi-processed copper to the U.S., though most is shipped… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Copper Press Release Zinc

Ivanhoe Mines Reports Strong Copper and Zinc Production in the First Two Months of 2025

March 9, 2025March 9, 2025 Constance

Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chairman Robert Friedland and President & Chief Executive Officer Marna Cloete announced an update on year-to-date production at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc mine, also in the DRC. Kamoa-Kakula delivered near-record copper production in January of 45,477 tonnes and 40,849 tonnes during the shorter month of February. Daily copper production averaged over each month totaled 1,467 tonnes per day (tpd) in January and 1,459 tpd in February. These achievements are just… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Cobalt Copper Lithium

US and DRC in Talks Over Critical Minerals Deal

March 9, 2025March 9, 2025 Constance

The United States is engaging in exploratory discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over a potential agreement that would grant the US access to the country’s critical minerals in exchange for military support. The DRC government reportedly initiated discussions two weeks ago, following an interview in which President Félix Tshisekedi stated that the Trump administration had expressed interest in the nation’s vast mineral resources. The DRC is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, accounting for over 70% of global production. The… Read More Here