International - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Zimbabwe to Ban Lithium Concentrate Exports by 2027 to Boost Local Processing

June 15, 2025June 15, 2025 Constance

Zimbabwe will prohibit the export of lithium concentrates starting in 2027, as part of its broader effort to increase local processing of the valuable mineral, Mines Minister Winston Chitando announced on Tuesday. As Africa’s leading producer of lithium—a key component in batteries used for renewable energy technologies—Zimbabwe previously banned the export of raw lithium ore in 2022. Since then, the government has been encouraging miners to add value locally by processing more of the mineral within the country. Most lithium mining operations in Zimbabwe are operated by Chinese companies, which… Read More Here

International Gold

Gold Rush Transforms Zimbabwe’s Filabusi Amid Record Prices

June 15, 2025June 15, 2025 Constance

In Filabusi, a small town in southeastern Zimbabwe, the streets are lined with gleaming BMW X5s and Land Rover Defenders. Modern houses—paid for in cash—are springing up across the landscape, and whisky in local bars is sold exclusively by the bottle. This transformation has been fueled by a surge in gold prices over the past three years, culminating in a historic high in 2025. The rally, spurred in part by global economic uncertainty and intensified during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, has turned gold into a safe-haven asset—and… Read More Here

Gold International

Mali Partners with Russia to Launch State-Controlled Gold Refinery

June 14, 2025June 14, 2025 Constance

Mali’s government announced plans to establish a state-controlled gold refinery in partnership with Russian firm Yadran, aiming to boost revenue from its bullion exports. The move comes as West African nations push for greater returns from their natural resources amid rising global commodity prices. The new company, SOROMA-SA, will be majority-owned by the Malian state with a 62% stake, while Yadran will hold the remaining 38%, according to Economy and Finance Minister Alousseni Sanou. The refinery will be constructed on a five-hectare site near Bamako’s airport and is designed to… Read More Here

International Copper Technology & Innovation

Chilean Startup Ceibo Delivers First Copper Cathodes Using Innovative Leaching Technology

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 Constance

A Chilean startup backed by BHP Group has produced its first copper cathodes from a demonstration plant at a mine site in northern Chile, marking a key milestone in efforts to extract more metal from lower-grade ores. Ceibo extracted the copper from sulfide ores at a site owned by Compañía Minera San Gerónimo (CMSG), using its proprietary leaching technology, the companies announced in a joint statement on Tuesday. Ceibo joins a growing list of companies—including Jetti Resources and Rio Tinto’s Nuton venture—developing advanced leaching techniques to economically recover copper from… Read More Here

International Copper

Peru Projects $4.8 Billion in Mining Investment for 2025 Amid Rising Informal Mining Concerns

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 Constance

Peru’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Jorge Montero, announced on Tuesday that the country expects to attract $4.8 billion in mining investment this year, with copper production projected to reach 2.8 million metric tons. The projection marks a slight increase from 2024, when Peru produced approximately 2.7 million tons of the red metal. Speaking at a press conference, Montero also raised concerns about the growing presence of informal and illegal mining in two key copper-producing regions—Apurímac and Arequipa, both located in southern Peru. Apurímac is home to Las Bambas, one… Read More Here

International Mining Policy

African Mining Leaders Call for Bold Policy Reforms at Mining in Motion 2025

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 admin

African mining ministers at the Mining in Motion 2025 summit called for inclusive, transparent reforms to formalize artisanal and small-scale mining, promote local value and strengthen governance for sustainable sector development African mining ministers from Ghana, Liberia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) emphasized the need to review and reform Africa’s mining codes during the Mining in Motion 2025 summit in Accra. Highlighting the role strengthened policies play in enhancing responsible governance, local value creation and the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), ministers outlined how evolving… Read More Here

International Gold

Mali Halts Artisanal Gold Mining During Rainy Season for Safety

June 3, 2025June 3, 2025 Constance

Mali’s Ministry of Mines has suspended all artisanal gold mining activities from June to September to protect workers from the risk of landslides during the rainy season. The decision follows meteorological forecasts predicting heavy rainfall between June 15 and September 30. “The reason for this suspension is quite simply safety,” a ministry spokesperson told Reuters via text message. This move comes months after Mali, Africa’s second-largest gold producer, banned the issuance of new artisanal mining permits to foreigners in March, following a series of fatal accidents that claimed dozens of… Read More Here

International Corporate News Gold

Barrick Seeks World Bank Intervention as Mali Threatens to Seize Major Gold Mine

May 31, 2025May 31, 2025 Constance

Barrick Gold has turned to the World Bank’s arbitration tribunal in an attempt to block the Malian government from taking control of its Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine, amid a deepening legal dispute that threatens the company’s long-standing operations in the West African nation. The move follows the Malian government’s request to a local court to place the mine under provisional administration—a decision expected on June 2. If the court sides with the government, an appointed individual or organization could take over and potentially restart operations at the mine, which has been… Read More Here

Gold International

Burkina Faso Set to Boost Gold Output as New Mines Come Online

May 31, 2025May 31, 2025 Constance

Burkina Faso is on track to increase industrial gold production in 2025, driven by the ramp-up of operations at Soleil Resources International’s Youga mine and the anticipated launch of West African Resources’ Kiaka project. According to Aristide Belemsobgo, Director General of Mines and Geology at the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries, output from large-scale mining operations is projected to rise by 4% to 55.7 tonnes this year. Gold remains Burkina Faso’s top export earner, a status reaffirmed by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who took power in a 2022… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Cobalt

Australia’s Cobalt Blue Secures Three-Year Feedstock Deal with Glencore for Kwinana Refinery

May 31, 2025May 31, 2025 Constance

Australia’s Cobalt Blue has signed a three-year agreement with global commodities giant Glencore to supply up to half of the feedstock required for its Kwinana Cobalt Refinery (KCR). Under the deal, Glencore will provide a minimum of 3,750 tonnes of cobalt hydroxide sourced from its Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) and Mutanda Mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The KCR facility, jointly developed by Cobalt Blue and Japan’s Iwatani Corporation in Western Australia, is set to become Australia’s first cobalt sulfate plant catering to lithium-ion battery markets and… Read More Here