International - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Rio Tinto and Glencore Abandon Plans for $232 Billion Mining Mega-Merger 1

Rio Tinto and Glencore Call Off $232 Billion Merger Talks Amid Governance and Valuation Disputes Rio Tinto and Glencore have terminated discussions over a proposed mega-merger that would have created the world’s largest mining company, with a combined market value of approximately $232 billion. The collapse comes just ahead of a deadline for Rio Tinto to submit a firm offer. After nearly a year of intermittent negotiations, talks broke down within 24 hours, with Rio announcing it was no longer pursuing a merger or other business combination with Glencore, citing… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Lithium

Zimbabwe to Launch Africa’s First Lithium Sulphate Plant at Bikita Mine

February 15, 2026February 15, 2026 Constance

Zimbabwe to Commission Africa’s First Lithium Sulphate Plant, Strengthening Its Role in the Global EV Battery Supply Chain Zimbabwe is preparing to inaugurate Africa’s first lithium sulphate processing plant, marking a significant milestone in the country’s mineral beneficiation strategy. The facility is being developed by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), the country’s largest lithium producer, with financial backing from Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. The plant, located at Huayou’s Bikita Mine in southeastern Zimbabwe, has attracted approximately US$500 million in investment and has now reached the equipment commissioning phase a key step… Read More Here

International Corporate News Diamond

Letšeng Diamond Mine Reports 36% Revenue Drop in 2025

February 8, 2026February 8, 2026 Constance

Letšeng Mine in Lesotho Sees Sharp Revenue Decline Amid Global Diamond Market Challenges The Letšeng diamond mine in Lesotho, known for producing some of the world’s highest-value diamonds per carat, experienced a significant revenue decline in 2025. Gem Diamonds, the mine’s owner, reported on February 4, 2026, that Letšeng generated $97.7 million, down 36% from $152.8 million in 2024. The drop is attributed to a 14% fall in production and a 20% decrease in the average price per carat, which fell from $1,390 in 2024 to $1,105 in 2025. Exceptional… Read More Here

International Corporate News

Glencore Suspends Major Horne Smelter Investments Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

February 8, 2026February 8, 2026 Constance

Glencore Halts $1-Billion Horne Smelter Upgrade Over Quebec Regulatory Dispute Glencore Canada has suspended major investments at its Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda after failing to reach an agreement with the Quebec government by its self-imposed January 31 deadline regarding long-term operating conditions. The company announced it is “forced to immediately suspend all investments related to emissions reduction and facility upgrades” and to implement a demobilisation plan at the smelter. Investments at its CCR refinery in Montréal Est will also be scaled back over the medium term. Negotiations with provincial authorities,… Read More Here

International

Madagascar Reopens Mining Sector After 16-Year Permit Freeze

February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 Constance

Madagascar Lifts 16-Year Mining Permit Moratorium, Reopening Critical Minerals Sector but Keeps Gold Restrictions Madagascar has lifted a 16-year moratorium on issuing new mining permits for most minerals, reopening a sector that is central to Africa’s critical minerals race and the island nation’s evolving geopolitical and economic strategy. The decision was announced late Thursday by the Council of Ministers, chaired by the President of the Republic, ending a suspension that had been in place since 2010. The moratorium was originally imposed to address governance weaknesses, reduce corruption risks, resolve overlapping… Read More Here

Corporate News International Mining Personality

Ivanhoe Atlantic CEO Bronwyn Barnes Resigns Amid Rail, Regulatory, and Geopolitical Pressures

February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 Constance

Ivanhoe Atlantic CEO Steps Down as Iron Ore Projects Face Rail Access and Guinea Regulatory Challenges Bronwyn Barnes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ivanhoe Atlantic, has resigned after four years leading the Liberian- and Guinean-focused iron ore developer. The company is majority-owned by U.S.-Canadian billionaire Robert Friedland. Her departure comes at a time when Ivanhoe Atlantic is navigating a complex mix of infrastructure constraints, regulatory hurdles, and heightened geopolitical scrutiny. Ivanhoe Atlantic’s export strategy is heavily dependent on access to Liberia’s Yekepa–Buchanan rail corridor, which connects the Mount Nimba… Read More Here

International Economy

Africa Becomes Net Debt Repayer to China as Lending Strategy Shifts

January 30, 2026January 30, 2026 Constance

China Scales Back Africa Lending as Debt Repayments Overtake New Loans After two decades of heavy financing, the financial relationship between China and Africa has entered a new phase, marked by a sharp reversal in capital flows. Africa is now a net payer to China, repaying more in debt service than it receives in new Chinese loans. According to The Great Reversal, a report published on January 27 by ONE Data (ONE Campaign), net financial flows from China to Africa fell dramatically from $30.4 billion between 2010 and 2014 to… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics International

Lobito Atlantic Railway Records New Operational Milestones at End of 2025 and Early 2026

January 30, 2026January 30, 2026 Constance

Lobito Atlantic Railway Sets Traffic and Port Handling Records, Strengthening Lobito Corridor At the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) achieved significant operational milestones, reinforcing the Lobito Corridor’s position as a strategic logistics platform for regional and international trade. In December 2025, LAR recorded its highest monthly throughput to date, handling 37,000 tonnes of cargo across both domestic and international traffic. Building on this momentum, January 2026 marked another landmark achievement when LAR facilitated the arrival of the largest sulfur bulk carrier ever handled… Read More Here

International Infrastructural Development

AfDB Approves Reallocation of $98 Million to Complete Strategic Road Corridor in Western Tanzania

January 30, 2026January 30, 2026 Constance

African Development Bank Redirects $98 Million to Upgrade Bulamata–Uvinza Road, Boosting Regional Trade in Western Tanzania The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved the reallocation of US$98 million in project savings to finance the completion of a key road infrastructure project aimed at improving regional connectivity in western Tanzania. The decision, endorsed by the AfDB Boards of Directors on 10 December 2025, allows unused funds from the completed Transport Sector Support Programme to be redirected to the Bulamata–Uvinza Road Upgrading Project (Lot B). The total cost of the project… Read More Here

International Economy Gold

Tanzania to Monetise Part of Gold Reserves to Fund Infrastructure

January 29, 2026January 29, 2026 Constance

Tanzania Plans Partial Sale of Gold Reserves as Foreign Aid Declines in 2026 Tanzania is planning to sell a portion of its gold reserves to finance priority infrastructure projects, as international development assistance continues to decline. The announcement was made on Monday, January 26, 2026, in London by the Minister of State for Planning and Investment, Kitila Mkumbo, following instructions from President Samia Suluhu Hassan to the Bank of Tanzania. “Governments are no longer willing to provide aid to Africa, so we are reorganising our financing strategy,” the minister said,… Read More Here