Copper - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

FQM Highlights $3.5 Billion Economic Loss From Cobre Panamá Suspension

May 20, 2026May 20, 2026 Constance

Cobre Panamá Mine Closure Costs Panama Billions, First Quantum Says First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM) says the suspension of its Cobre Panamá copper mine has cost Panama an estimated $3.5 billion in lost economic contribution over the past two years, highlighting the growing financial impact of the prolonged shutdown. In its 2025 Tax Transparency and Economic Contributions Report, the Canadian mining company said it contributed $4.1 billion across its operating jurisdictions last year, bringing its total direct economic contribution to governments over the past eight years to $9.6 billion. Zambia… Read More Here

International Copper Corporate News New Mining Projects

Ivanhoe Electric to Deploy Advanced Tunnel Boring Machine at Arizona Copper Project

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026 Constance

Ivanhoe Electric invests $64.7m in tunnel boring technology for Santa Cruz copper project development in Arizona US minerals exploration company Ivanhoe Electric plans to acquire a purpose-built Crossover XRE tunnel boring machine (TBM) and integrated materials handling system for development of the Santa Cruz copper project in Arizona, at a cost of approximately $64.7 million. The equipment will be supplied by US tunnelling technology company The Robbins Company, which recently repurchased the machine from Anglo American. The TBM was previously used at Anglo American’s Grosvenor coal mine in Queensland, Australia,… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Cobalt Copper

Illegal Mining Pressure Intensifies in DRC as ERG Reports Major Losses and Security Failures

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026 Constance

ERG accuses organized illegal mining networks of costing up to $2bn annually in DRC copper and cobalt concessions Pressure is escalating across mining concessions in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) alleges that large-scale illegal mining networks are operating across several of its copper and cobalt sites in Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces. According to an internal report cited by industry sources, ERG’s subsidiaries including Comide, Swanmines, and Boss Mining estimate annual losses approaching $2 billion due to repeated incursions by artisanal and semi-organised miners into… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Copper

Zambia approves limited sulphuric acid exports to DRC as copper smelters resume shipments

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026 Constance

Zambia Eases Sulphuric Acid Export Ban as Copperbelt Supply Conditions Improve Zambia has approved the resumption of limited sulphuric acid exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after easing restrictions introduced earlier this year, according to the country’s trade minister. The decision allows two major copper producers Chambishi Copper Smelter and Mopani Copper Mines to restart shipments of the key industrial chemical used in copper and cobalt processing. Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, generates around 2 million metric tons of sulphuric acid annually as a byproduct of smelting operations.… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Copper Gold New Mining Projects

Barrick Advances Lumwana Super Pit Expansion as Copper Output Rises

May 12, 2026May 12, 2026 Constance

Barrick’s Lumwana Copper Expansion in Zambia Remains on Track for 2028 Production Target Construction of the Lumwana Super Pit copper expansion project in Zambia remained on schedule and within budget during the first quarter of 2026, mining giant Barrick Gold announced on Monday, 11 May. The company confirmed that the first lift of the mill building wall was successfully completed during the quarter. Mill shells have already been delivered to the site, while the first shipments of structural steel are expected before the end of June. Barrick expects 2026 capital… Read More Here

Copper Economy Mining in DRC

DRC Eyes One of World’s Largest Copper Mines Under Chinese-Backed Proposal

May 10, 2026May 10, 2026 Constance

DR Congo Could Host One of the World’s Biggest Copper Mines as China Expands Critical Minerals Footprint The Democratic Republic of the Congo could soon host one of the world’s largest copper mines under a proposal by a subsidiary of China Railway Group, as global competition for critical minerals intensifies between China and the United States. A unit of the Chinese state-owned company, known as CREC, met with Congolese Mines Minister Louis Watum on Thursday to discuss a major mining project expected to produce between 200,000 and 500,000 metric tonnes… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Cobalt Copper Corporate News Taxes

Ivanhoe Mines Posts Q1 Loss After Kamoa-Kakula Tax Hit Despite Strong Copper Expansion Push

May 8, 2026May 8, 2026 Constance

Ivanhoe Mines Reports Q1 2026 Loss Amid Kamoa-Kakula Tax Settlement and Expands Copper Growth Strategy Ivanhoe Mines, a Canadian mining company, reported a net loss of $2-million and a total comprehensive loss of $35 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. This marks a sharp reversal from the same period in 2025, when the company recorded a profit of $122-million and total comprehensive income of $128 million. The company attributed the decline mainly to its share of losses from the Kamoa Holding joint venture in the Democratic Republic of… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Copper Corporate News

Jubilee Metals Reports Strong Copper Output Growth as Zambia Expansion Gains Momentum

May 6, 2026May 6, 2026 Constance

Jubilee Metals Boosts Copper Production by 29% Amid Roan Ramp-Up and Molefe Mine Expansion Zambia-focused copper producer and resource developer Jubilee Metals has reported a 28.7% year-on-year increase in total saleable copper production, reaching 2,177 tonnes for the nine months ended March 31. Output from the Roan concentrator surged to 1,999 tonnes of copper units, marking a 112.7% increase compared with the same period last year. At the Sable refinery, copper cathode production rose to 957 tonnes, up from 751 tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. Commissioning of… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Copper Corporate News Mergers & Acquisitions

Virtus Minerals Advances Chemaf Takeover in DRC with Key Regulatory Review

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Constance

Virtus Minerals Moves Forward with Chemaf Acquisition in DR Congo, Strengthening Oversight of Copper and Cobalt Assets The acquisition of Chemaf’s mining assets has entered a critical administrative phase in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On April 29, 2026, the Director General of the Mining Registry, Popol Mabolia Yenga, met with the Chairman of the Board of Virtus Minerals, the new owner of Chemaf. Chemaf (Congo Eastern Mining Frontier) primarily operates mining sites in the southern provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga, at the heart of the country’s copper belt… Read More Here

International Coal Copper Corporate News

Glencore Reports Mixed Q1 Output as Copper Rises and Coal Production Declines

May 4, 2026May 4, 2026 Constance

Glencore Q1 Results: Copper Output Up 19% While Coal Production Falls 22% Amid Weather and Operational Disruptions Diversified mining and commodities group Glencore reported mixed production results for the first quarter, with strong growth in copper output offset by declines in steelmaking coal and cobalt production, alongside stable performance in other segments. Steelmaking coal output falls sharply Glencore’s steelmaking coal production fell 22% year-on-year to 6.5 million tonnes. The decline was driven by pit sequencing changes at Elk Valley Resources in Canada, adverse weather conditions in Queensland, Australia, and a… Read More Here