Today's Mining Pulse
Indonesia grants export monopoly to state trader, targeting $66B in resource revenues
Indonesia’s employers association and major mining cartels have endorsed President Prabowo Subianto’s new export monopoly, giving exclusive rights to state‑controlled trader PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI). The policy aims to capture roughly $66.13B in annual resource revenues and curb historic tax leakage estimated at $908B.
Also developing:
Arconic Expands in Iowa
Arconic Corp. announced a $175 million expansion of its Davenport Works casthouse in Iowa, dubbed Pit 10. The project will boost aluminum ingot casting capacity, increase scrap utilization, and improve energy efficiency. It is expected to create 40 new jobs and become fully operational by 2028. The Iowa Economic Development Authority granted $6.55 million in tax credits to support the investment.
Multiple Offshore Campaigns on TGS Seismic Vessel’s Agenda
TGS has scheduled multiple acquisition campaigns for its Ramform Vanguard seismic vessel, beginning in mid‑March and extending into the third quarter. The program starts with an oil‑and‑gas site survey before moving to two offshore‑wind contracts, leveraging the vessel’s Ultra High...
China Merchants Unit Orders LNG-Powered Yangtze Bulkers
China Merchants’ subsidiary Changhang Freight has placed an order for two 20,000 dwt LNG‑powered bulk carriers from Jiangxi New Jiangzhou Shipbuilding. The vessels are river‑sea direct bulkers designed for Grade A navigation on the Yangtze River, enabling seamless operation between inland waterways...
NZAOA Adds Transition Targets to Revised Target-Setting Framework
The Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA) has released the fifth edition of its target‑setting framework, introducing explicit transition targets for members. The update tightens expectations on asset managers, requiring disclosure of climate‑solution contributions and more rigorous engagement protocols. By...
Go-Ahead for North Sea Drilling Ops with Odfjell Drilling-Managed Rig
Norway’s regulator Havtil has approved Wellesley Petroleum to drill an exploration well in block 35/10 of the North Sea. The 35/10 16 S well, part of the Carmen appraisal under licence 1148, will be drilled in 365 m water using the Deepsea Yantai...
Gold Digger: Drums of War Have Gold Bugs Calling for US$6000
Gold prices are being pushed higher as Middle East conflict escalates, with Argonaut raising its 12‑month target to $6,000 per ounce and State Street assigning a 35% probability to a bull case of $5,500‑$6,250. Safe‑haven demand has lifted gold ETF...
Listeners Are Back Pitching Their Top Mining Stocks
In this episode the hosts reopen their listener‑driven stock‑pitch format, giving retail investors a platform to recommend junior mining companies. Two pitches dominate the discussion: Auric Mining (AWJ), a cash‑generating gold producer in Western Australia with a low market cap...
US Pushes Formal Venezuelan Critical Minerals Value Chain
US critical minerals talks in Caracas signal a push for a formal Venezuelan mining value chain. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/us-critical-minerals-supply-chain-in.html
ARM Confirms Bid to Build Ngqura Manganese Terminal
Rainbow Minerals (ARM) confirmed its participation in a joint‑venture bid with Transnet to build the Ngqura Manganese Ore Export Terminal in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The proposed facility would handle 16 Mt of manganese annually, with scope to expand to 22 Mt....
Gold Buying Prices in Zimbabwe per Gram/ Ounce, 6 March 2026
Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) published its official gold buying rates for Zimbabwe on 6 March 2026. The fire‑assay cash price tops the table at $155.94 per gram ($4,850.28 per ounce) for gold above 100 g, while SG 90 %+ gold is priced at $155.12 per...
$53M Grant to Support Development of Critical Metals Refining Industry
The Australian Government has committed $53 million through the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program to launch the Critical Metals for Critical Industries (CMCI) CRC. The initiative brings together 62 industry and research partners to develop domestic refining processes for critical metals...
Amex Exploration Signs Exploration Agreement with Apitipi Anicinapek Nation of Ontario
Amex Exploration Inc. has signed an Exploration Agreement with the Apitipi Anicinapek Nation (AAN) to collaborate on its Perron West, Abbotsford and Hepburn projects in Ontario. The deal creates a community fund tied to Amex's exploration spend and opens employment,...
Irving Resources Announces Further Drilling Results at the Yamagano Joint Venture, Kyushu, Japan
Irving Resources reported high‑grade gold assay results from drill hole 25SY-003 at the Yamagano joint venture in Kyushu, confirming an eastward extension of mineralized veins. The hole intersected multiple zones, including a 1.0‑metre interval grading 23.36 gpt Au and 9.12 gpt Ag,...
BCM Resources Corp Hires Drillers for Upcoming Thompson Knolls Exploration Program
BCM Resources Corp announced a fully‑funded 2026 drill campaign at its 100% owned Thompson Knolls porphyry‑skarn Cu‑Ag‑Au‑Mo discovery in British Columbia. The program contracts National EWP to operate a Schramm Epiroc 685 reverse‑circulation rig and TonaTec Exploration to run an...
China Lithium Prices Plunge Amid Weak EV Demand, War Uncertainty
China lithium prices tumble as weak EV sales, Middle East war cloud demand outlook https://t.co/8TqB23mggy
Carnavale’s BFS Drilling Drives Kookynie Closer to Gold Production
Carnavale Resources has finished a five‑week drilling campaign at its Kookynie gold project in Western Australia, delivering 8,500 m of infill RC holes and six large‑diameter diamond cores for metallurgical testing. The program upgrades the 842,000‑tonne indicated resource (4.3 g/t Au, 117,000 oz)...
RANKED: Top 20 Automakers by Battery Metals Spending
The global passenger EV market grew 18% YoY in 2025, pushing battery capacity deployment past 1 TWh for the first time. Raw‑material costs for lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt and manganese reached $15.6 billion, an 11% rise over 2024 but still half of...
AMEC Submission Targets Workforce, Infrastructure Gaps
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) submitted recommendations to a Senate inquiry urging the Australian government to boost community engagement, infrastructure investment, and workforce development for the critical minerals sector. The proposal calls for increased funding for Prescribed...
Weir to Supply ENDURON® HPGR for Platreef Phase 2 Expansion
Weir Group has secured a contract to provide its ENDURON® high‑pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) for the Phase 2 expansion of Ivanhoe Mines’ Platreef project in South Africa. The HPGR circuit will be integrated into the tertiary crushing stage of the new...
Black Bear Eyes Shafter Resource Upside with High-Grade Silver Strike
Black Bear Minerals announced a high‑grade silver intercept at its Shafter project in Texas, reporting a 9.1 metre core averaging 240 g/t Ag from a depth of 214.3 m. The interval also contained 1.1% lead, 1.8% zinc and 0.1 g/t gold, with a 1.5 m...
Mammoth Energy Services Inc (TUSK) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Mammoth Energy Services reported $16.4 million revenue in Q2 2025 but posted a $35.7 million GAAP net loss, driven largely by a $31.7 million non‑cash impairment on its Northern White Sand mine. The quarter featured three major portfolio moves: a $108.7 million sale of infrastructure...
Market Morsel: Why It’s Important to Understand the True Value of Our Grain.
The article explains that grain basis is the difference between local spot prices and futures contracts, serving as the local market adjustment on top of global pricing. In Australia, wheat basis is measured against CBOT wheat futures in Australian dollars...
US Trade Deal Steals a Fifth of Indonesian Wheat Demand From Australia
Indonesia has signed a memorandum of understanding to import roughly 2 million tonnes of wheat annually from the United States, representing about 17% of its total wheat demand. The deal effectively earmarks a fifth of the market for U.S. exporters, removing...
First Nations Coalition Says Indigenous Equity Key to Faster Mining Approvals in Canada
The First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) is championing Indigenous equity ownership as a catalyst for faster mining and energy project approvals across Canada. By providing technical, regulatory and financial support, the coalition helps First Nations move from consultation to...
LIT: Lithium And Battery Technology Remains Bullish (Downgrade)
Analyst Andrew Hecht downgraded the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT) from buy to hold after a pronounced rally from its April 2025 lows. He cites continued volatility but notes a bullish longer‑term chart and an anticipated lithium supply...
CNRL Says It Will Delay $8-Billion Mine Expansion Until Carbon Pricing Rules Are Clear
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. announced it will postpone its $8.25 billion Jackpine mine expansion in northern Alberta until federal and provincial carbon‑pricing and methane‑regulation frameworks are clarified. The delay will shave $310 million from CNRL’s 2026 capital budget and pushes back engineering...
SANY Highlights AI Service Assistant and Remote Control at CONEXPO 2026
At CONEXPO 2026 SANY unveiled its AI Service Assistant (SASA), RootPilot 3D guidance system, and a 5G‑enabled Remote Control that let visitors operate an excavator 6,500 miles away. The company also highlighted telematics that integrate location, hours and maintenance data...
Windward Daily Brief March 5: Conflict Reaches Indian Ocean as Hormuz Remains Shut
The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively shut on March 4, with only five vessels recorded, while traffic through Bab el‑Mandeb surged to 23 crossings, outpacing recent averages. Suez Canal activity fell to 23 transits, below trend levels, and diversions around the...
Glencore Backs Kazakh Entrepreneur’s ERG Stake Bid
Glencore has offered an $800 million pre‑payment to finance Kazakh entrepreneur Shakhmurat Mutalip’s $1.4 billion bid for a 40% stake in Eurasian Resources Group (ERG). The funding would be secured against future ferrochrome deliveries, helping Mutalip outpace a rival offer from ERG...
Zambian Govt Reaffirms Support for Sustainable Artisanal Mining in Central Province
Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development reaffirmed its commitment to legal, organised and sustainable artisanal small‑scale mining (ASM) in Central Province. The government, together with district authorities, traditional leaders and security agencies, will enforce regulations and expand a land‑facilitation...
French Delegation Explores Investment Opportunities at Kalumbila Multi-Facility Economic Zone
A high‑level French embassy delegation toured Zambia’s Kalumbila Multi‑Facility Economic Zone to assess investment prospects in the country’s mining supply chain. Hosted by First Quantum Minerals, the visit highlighted the zone’s 5,000‑hectare footprint, fiscal incentives and ready infrastructure. Kalumbila MFEZ’s...
PDAC 2026 Hosts Another Successful PDAC in Toronto
The 94th Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in Toronto drew more than 32,100 attendees and set a record with over 1,300 exhibitors. Speakers highlighted strong commodity markets and growing governmental recognition of minerals as essential to economic...
PYZ: A Hold Despite Its Concentrated Portfolio Of Inflation Beneficiaries Prone To Deep Drawdowns
PYZ is an Invesco Dorsey Wright Basic Materials Momentum ETF that concentrates on metals, mining and chemicals, aiming to capture inflation‑benefiting stocks with strong price momentum. While the fund has delivered impressive year‑to‑date returns, it has lagged broader material ETFs...
Coal Demand Splits; Warrior Met Poised for Rebound
Macro: coal demand bifurcates—metallurgical firm, thermal pressured. Key factors: Warrior Met's Q4 strength; Peabody's diversified mix. Risks: regulation, China slowdown. Trade: Buy Warrior Met on pullback. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Bullion Gold Plans a 25,000 M Drilling Program on Its Terragold Project
Bullion Gold Resources is preparing a 25,000‑metre diamond drilling campaign on its Terragold gold project in Senneterre, Québec, slated for spring 2026. The work follows receipt of Impact Exploration Work permits and aims to gather data for a National Instrument...
Bridge Collapse Disrupts DRC’s Key Copper Export Route
Severe flooding caused a bridge collapse near the Kasumbalesa border crossing, halting the main copper export corridor between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. The blockage stopped trucks carrying copper and cobalt, threatening the flow of these critical minerals...
Resolute Mining Grows Gold Inventory with Côte D’Ivoire Additions
Resolute Mining announced a 60% increase in its gold resource estimate, now totaling 347 million tonnes at 1.6 g/t gold and over 17.63 million ounces. The boost stems from the $150 million acquisition of the Doropo and ABC projects in Côte d’Ivoire, which added...
Seafarers Maintain the Right to Refuse to Sail Through Mideast Gulf Region
Seafarers can now refuse to sail through the Middle East Gulf after the threat level was raised to its highest, according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Bargaining Forum. The agreement allows crew to decline voyages in...
OPINION: If We Want to Build a Stronger Canada and Protect Ontario, We Must Empower Greater Sudbury – by Paul...
Mayor Paul Lefebvre urges the federal government to designate Greater Sudbury as a Special Economic Zone, allowing the city to capture a larger share of revenues from its abundant nickel and copper mines. He argues that these critical minerals underpin...
Greenwashing Risk Is Widespread, Survey of 3,500 Companies Finds
A new study of 3,574 companies with climate commitments finds that 96% exhibit at least one greenwashing risk indicator. The seven‑point test highlights missing Scope 3 targets, vague offset usage, and lack of interim goals as the most common flaws. Only...
Connected by Design: Managing the Digital Mine in Systems, Not Silos
Underground mines now rely on real‑time digital infrastructure for traffic control, autonomous equipment, ventilation and safety monitoring. When that digital foundation fails, production stops just as it would for a broken loader or pump. Yet many operators still treat these...
NexGen Receives Final Federal Approval for the Rook I Uranium Project
NexGen Energy announced that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has granted final federal approval and a licence to prepare the site and construct the 100%-owned Rook I uranium project. The approval follows provincial clearances and a two‑part commission hearing, allowing...
Mining Giant Rio Tinto Will Prospect for Copper in Sahtu – by Avery Zingel (CBC News North – March 02,...
Rio Tinto has secured 26 prospecting licences along the Keele River in the Sahtu region of the Northwest Territories, aiming to locate copper deposits. The licences allow the company to explore and potentially stake mineral claims, marking its first major...
PDAC 2026: Gold and Copper Are the Go-Tos as Investors Seek Tangible Assets Amid Ongoing Global Uncertainty – by Jane...
At PDAC 2026, mining executives warned that investors are rotating from growth‑focused assets to tangible value plays, spotlighting gold and copper. They cite a weakening U.S. dollar and persistent geopolitical uncertainty as catalysts for the shift. Mining equities, which once...
Metal Movers: Inside the Global Tungsten Squeeze
The episode examines the sharp rise in global tungsten prices, tracing it from China's export controls to a deeper, structural supply shortage caused by aging mines, limited investment, and reduced output. Experts explain how the squeeze affects both Chinese domestic...
Nickel Nationalism Holds Back Indonesia’s Clean Tech Ambitions – by Riandy Laksono (East Asia Forum – March 5, 2026)
Indonesia’s 2020 ban on raw‑nickel exports sparked a surge in domestic smelting and processing, positioning the country as a textbook case of resource‑based industrialisation. Yet its clean‑technology ambitions remain modest: EV exports totaled only US$12 million in 2024, dwarfed by Thailand’s...
How to Bring Private 5G to Life in Mining: A Five-Step Path to Safer, Smarter Operations
Private 5G is positioned as the backbone for digital transformation in mining, delivering industrial‑grade connectivity for automation, real‑time analytics, and safety systems. Operators face two practical questions: how to launch a trial and how to scale the network site‑wide. A...
US Invites Proposals to Boost Supply of Tungsten and 12 Other Critical Minerals
The Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) announced that the U.S. military is inviting proposals to develop domestic production of 13 critical minerals, including tungsten, arsenic and nickel, with submissions due March 20, 2026. The request covers the entire value chain—from...
Strait Closure Ripple Effects Threaten Sulphur, Copper, Global Markets
Further to what we said about the impact that the closing of the Strait of Hormuz has on the sulphur market… and therefore African copper production… Craig Tindale maps out that this is only one small piece of a giant...
Speak up for Our Sector
Maritime leaders face a perfect storm of geopolitical turmoil, regulatory uncertainty and shrinking investment, threatening the sector’s ability to meet decarbonisation and infrastructure goals. Intent Communications CEO Namrata Nadkarni urges a single, data‑driven voice through the 2025‑26 ICS Maritime Barometer Survey...