Today's Mining Pulse
Indonesia grants export monopoly to state trader DSI, targeting $66bn 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 PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia. The policy seeks to capture roughly $66.13 billion in annual resource revenues—about 23.4% of exports—and to curb $908 billion in historic tax leakage.
Also developing:
TGS Targets Eastern Niger Delta with New 3D Survey
TGS has launched the Nigeria Laide multi‑client 3D seismic survey covering about 11,700 sq km in the eastern Niger Delta. The project, executed with NUPRC and SeaSeis Geophysical, uses the GeoStreamer dual‑sensor system and advanced broadband acquisition. It delivers data suitable for pre‑stack time migration and Q‑pre‑stack depth migration, targeting complex thrust belts, anticlines and shale diapirs. The high‑fidelity dataset aims to give operators greater confidence in evaluating deep‑water prospects.
LEGO Group Invests in Nature and Technology-Based Carbon Removal Projects
The LEGO Group is committing an additional DKK 18 million (≈US$18 million) to four carbon‑removal projects, expanding its portfolio of nature‑based and technology‑based solutions. The investments include restoring over 14,000 hectares of degraded tropical forest in Mexico and three tech projects—biomass geological storage, mineralization...
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Polysilicon Prices Slide Amid Low Operating Rates
The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association reported polysilicon operating rates fell to just 32% of capacity, extending an oversupply that pushed polysilicon prices lower and softened wafer prices across all grades. Wafer prices dropped 3‑8% after the Chinese New Year,...
Trans Canada Gold to Explore Harrison Lake Gold Project, British Columbia
Trans Canada Gold Corp. announced a Spring 2026, 14‑hole diamond drilling campaign at its Harrison Lake Gold Project in southwestern British Columbia. Phase 1 will test a 102‑metre interval grading 3.54 g/t gold, while Phase 2 targets high‑grade zones that previously returned up to 21.4 g/t...
Northam Starts Initial Work on Zondereinde Expansion
Northam Platinum has approved a R500 million capital programme to widen an existing exploratory hole at its Zondereinde mine, creating an option to boost PGM output beyond 400,000 ounces per year. The reamed shaft will reach 1.4 km depth, a technical challenge...
US LNG Giant Exercises Option for More Newbuild Vessel Charters From Ocean Yield and NYK
Cheniere Marketing International, a subsidiary of Cheniere Energy, exercised its option to charter additional new‑build LNG carriers from Ocean Yield and NYK Line, potentially expanding its fleet to eight vessels. The optional ships will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries...
Riverside Expands Porphyry Copper Targets at Ariel Project, Mexico
Riverside Resources announced early 2026 assay results from its 100%-owned Ariel copper project in Sonora, Mexico, revealing high‑grade silver (up to >10 oz/t) and lead (5.4% Pb) in vein samples and promising porphyry copper alteration signatures. The 1,640‑hectare, fully permitted district‑scale target...
VLCC Rates – How High and for How Long?
The crude tanker market is experiencing a sharp surge, with VLCC spot hires topping $200,000 per day and one‑year time‑charter equivalents reaching $135,000. Baltic Exchange data show composite VLCC rates near $169,000 daily, while International Seaways (INSW) reported Q4 2025...
Athena Gold Plans Acquisition of Forester Gold Project in Ontario
Athena Gold announced an all‑share acquisition of the 4,900‑hectare Forester Gold Project in north‑western Ontario, securing a full interest while inheriting a 2% net smelter return royalty that can be repurchased for $2 million. The project sits less than 30 km from...
Electric Vehicles and Industrial Policy Could Transform African Economies
African nations sit atop a critical share of the world’s cobalt and other minerals essential for electric‑vehicle batteries, yet most of the value is still captured abroad. The author argues that proactive industrial policy—mirroring China’s use of special economic zones,...
Excalibur Metals Completes Sampling, Plans Drilling at Bellehelen Project, Nevada
Excalibur Metals announced completion of detailed mapping, sampling, and a CSAMT geophysical survey at its Bellehelen silver‑gold project in Nevada, and has finalized drill hole locations for the Spyglass Ridge target. The company will commence a 3,000‑metre reverse‑circulation drill program...
The Uranium Deal 10 Years in the Making (Brandon Munro)
In this episode, host Jonas interviews uranium expert Brandon Munro about Bannerman Resources' landmark deal with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), which sees CNNC acquire a 43% stake in the Etango uranium project in Namibia. Munro explains the decade‑long journey,...
Eni Can Take Venezuelan Oil to Settle Gas Debts, CEO Says
Eni’s chief executive Claudio Descalzi announced that, following a recent easing of U.S. sanctions, Venezuela can now settle its roughly $3 billion gas debt by delivering oil. The debt stems from gas supplied by the Perla offshore field, which Venezuela’s PDVSA...
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation Launches EOI for Renewable Energy Offtake in Western Australia’s Pilbara
Indigenous‑led Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has opened an expression of interest for commercial and industrial customers to purchase renewable electricity from its expanding Pilbara portfolio. Its flagship hybrid wind‑solar‑battery project, Baru Marnda, secured Strategic Project status and appears on the national...
Petra Diamonds Warns Rand Strength a “Major Headwind”
Petra Diamonds reported a $6 million operational cash outflow and a net loss of $188 million for the six months to December, driven by lower sales and a strengthening South African rand. Average realised prices held at $104 per carat, above last...
GRX26 Unveils Industry-Led Program Shaping Australia’s Global Competitive Advantage
The Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX26) launched its inaugural three‑day program in Perth, featuring eight plenary keynotes, more than 30 speakers and a full resources‑value‑chain agenda. Highlights include discussions on resource diplomacy, lunar‑inspired extraction, net‑zero mining and Indigenous economic inclusion,...
Barry FitzGerald: Exploration Success Drives Benz Beyond $1bn, and Goldie Could Accelerate Again
Benz Mining Corp’s market capitalisation surged past $1 billion, up from just $50 million when it bought the Glenburgh and Egerton projects in November 2024. The company is executing a 250,000‑metre drilling campaign at Glenburgh, driving resource upgrades that could lift the...
Malaysia’s TTVision Enters India’s Solar Manufacturing Market
Malaysia’s TTVision Holdings Berhad will launch a joint‑venture manufacturing plant in India in the second half of 2026 to produce automated optical inspection and high‑speed processing systems for photovoltaic production lines. The facility will act as a localized integrator linking...
Vanadium Flow and Lithium-Ion Combine in World’s Largest Grid-Forming Hybrid Storage Plant in China
China’s Inner Mongolia region has commissioned a 300 MW/1,200 MWh hybrid battery energy storage system that blends lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) modules with vanadium redox flow cells. The plant, located in the Kubuqi Desert, uses Sineng Electric’s grid‑forming converters to deliver rapid response, virtual...
TotalEnergies Signs Preliminary Deal to Offtake Alaskan LNG for 20 Years
TotalEnergies has signed a letter of intent with Glenfarne to purchase up to 2 million tons of LNG per year from the Alaska LNG project for 20 years, pending a final investment decision. The project is being built in two phases: a...
CMA CGM Fills Gap Between Japan and Europe
France’s CMA CGM has introduced Ocean Rise Express, a weekly direct service that links Japan and South China with North Europe. The route is operated solely by CMA CGM using a fleet of fourteen 7,000‑to‑10,000 TEU vessels, calling ports such as Kobe, Yokohama,...
Waiting for the Next Cycle Could Sink Your Shipping Strategy
Shipping is undergoing a structural reset as geopolitics forces trade routes to shift, turning volatility into a permanent operating condition. The Red Sea crisis and sanctions on Russian energy demonstrated how quickly voyages lengthen and insurance costs rise, exposing owners...
Glencore Expands Cusco Copper Hub with Quechua Acquisition
Glencore buys Quechua in Peru to strengthen its Cusco copper hub around Antapaccay and Coroccohuayco. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/glencore-acquires-quechua-copper.html
Better Blasting: Eureka Mine and AECI Mining Partner to Drive Downstream Efficiencies
Eureka Mine in Zimbabwe has replaced legacy shock‑tube blasting with AECI’s IntelliShot® electronic initiation system, giving engineers millisecond‑accurate control over detonations. The upgrade enabled blast sizes to jump from 30,000 to 110,000 bcm and cut monthly blast frequency from ten...
NT TOs Win $54M Compensation over McArthur River
Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory have secured more than $54 million in compensation from the Federal Court for the loss of native‑title rights linked to the McArthur River mine. The judgment is the first Australian ruling to award “just terms”...
Codelco and Rio Tinto Strengthen Major Projects Development and Execution Plan in Chile
Codelco and Rio Tinto signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the BMO Global Metals conference to create a strategic framework for joint mining projects in Chile. The MoU aims to blend Codelco’s local leadership with Rio Tinto’s global project‑execution expertise, targeting faster...
Gold Digger: Are Hedges Bad? It’s Not that Simple, Stupid
Gold’s surge to record highs has exposed Australian miners to massive opportunity costs, with hedging contracts costing the sector over A$1 billion per quarter. Euroz Hartleys reports a $670 million loss in September and $1.08 billion by year‑end as forward contracts were unwound,...
Mastermyne Bounces Back
Mastermyne reported a strong first‑half recovery after losing contracts at the Grosvenor and Moranbah North coal mines due to ignition‑related shutdowns. The company attributed the earlier downturn to external factors and highlighted safety upgrades that enabled the resumption of operations....
New Chinese Entrant Into the Cape Sector
National Fortune Shipping Group, a Chinese firm incorporated in April 2025, announced the acquisition of two second‑hand capesize bulk carriers—NF Fortune and NF Future—at $18.5 million each. The vessels, the 177,200‑dwt Mikata and the 185,900‑dwt Ally, were built in 2005 and...
Latrobe Magnesium Hits De-Risking Milestone in Critical Mineral Production Process
Latrobe Magnesium’s demonstration plant in Victoria produced roughly 20 tonnes of magnesium oxide (MgO) over a continuous two‑week run, confirming the viability of its patented low‑carbon extraction process. The achievement de‑risks the company’s transition to full‑scale magnesium metal production, slated for...
Strategic Lithium Reserve Needed to Stabilize Supply
I’ve submitted formal comments into the docket. My core message: supply diversification alone is not enough. If we want durable investment in allied lithium production and processing, we must address price volatility. Lithium’s boom-bust cycles have repeatedly delayed capital formation and midstream...
NITI Aayog Panel Calls for Public-Private Push to Boost India's Critical Minerals Self-Reliance
The NITI Aayog‑led National Critical and Strategic Minerals Committee called for a joint public‑private drive to accelerate exploration, research and partnerships for India’s critical minerals. Despite sizable reserves, limited exploration has left the country heavily import‑dependent on lithium, rare‑earth elements,...
WA Takes Its Critical Minerals Roadshow to North America
Western Australia’s Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael is leading a delegation of critical‑minerals firms on a trade mission to Canada and the United States. The team will hold meetings in Toronto, New York and Washington DC to promote Australian lithium, rare‑earth...
Routing Software Wins LNG Carriers on Crew-First Approach
Knutsen LNG France has selected Syroco Live, an AI‑driven routing platform, for fleet‑wide deployment after a successful 2024 trial on four vessels. The system promises to boost navigation safety, cut fuel consumption by roughly 10% and lower greenhouse‑gas emissions while...
Nornickel Forecasts Nickel Surplus, Tight Copper Post‑2025, PGM Rally
Nornickel sees nickel surplus, tighter copper after 2025, and a renewed PGM rally led by investor demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/nornickel-nickel-surplus-and-copper.html
Petronas Carigali Taps Singapore Firm for Newbuild FPSO
Petronas Carigali awarded a 15‑year firm charter to Singapore‑based OceanSTAR Elite for a new‑build FPSO supporting the Sepat Integrated Redevelopment Project offshore Peninsular Malaysia. OceanSTAR will design, construct, install, operate and maintain the vessel, the third unit using its standardized...
Artemis Cracks Open Titan East Gold Zone with Deeper Drilling Results
Artemis Resources announced that diamond drilling at its Titan East shear zone in the Karratha gold project has confirmed downdip continuity of gold mineralisation. The best intercept was 4.7 metres grading 2.3 g/t gold, including a 1.3‑metre sub‑interval at 6.38 g/t, from...
Terra Powers up Southwest PGM Sulphide Hunt with $85m War Chest
Terra Metals secured an $85 million institutional placement at A$0.37 per share, with Washington H. Soul Pattinson acting as cornerstone investor. The capital boost targets the Southwest prospect, where recent drilling revealed a world‑class platinum‑group‑metal sulphide system within the broader Dante project. Assays...
Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Natural Resource Partners L.P. reported $42 million of free cash flow in 2025 and $190 million over the trailing twelve months, while net income reached $31 million. The partnership retired nearly $130 million of debt, leaving $70 million outstanding, and maintained a 75‑cent per unit...
Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc (AMR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Alpha Metallurgical Resources reported Q4 2025 adjusted EBITDA of $28.5 million, a 32% decline from the prior quarter, driven by lower tonnage and reduced coal inventory values. Total shipments fell to 3.8 million tons, while metallurgical coal realizations modestly improved to a...
Exploration Round-Up: True North Secures Legacy Mine Funding
True North Copper secured a $400,000 Queensland Government grant to assess legacy waste at its Mt Oxide project, aiming to determine reprocessing potential. The non‑dilutive funding supports drilling, laboratory assays, and metallurgical testing, with a partnership with Regeneration Enterprises for...
JV Video: Arbitration Finance Moves Into the Mainstream, Says Burford Capital
Arbitration finance has shifted from a niche service to a mainstream strategic tool for mining companies facing investor‑state and commercial disputes. Multi‑million‑dollar claims and lengthy litigation have driven firms to seek third‑party funding to cover legal costs and manage balance‑sheet...
Delfin LNG Pipeline Explosion Underscores Dangers of Fossil Fuel Infrastructure, Casts Doubt on Project Viability
On February 3, a 28‑mile gas pipeline belonging to the Delfin LNG project exploded near Holly Beach, Louisiana, creating an 80‑foot fire and injuring an operator who has filed a $1 million lawsuit. The blast occurred on a 50‑year‑old pipeline repurposed...
New Found Gold’s Hammerdown Project Shows $199M NPV in Positive Study
New Found Gold released a positive preliminary economic assessment for its Hammerdown gold project, reporting an after‑tax net present value of $199.2 million at a $3,475/oz gold price. The open‑pit mine is slated to reach commercial production in the second half...
Ballard Mining Hits Million-Ounce Gold Resource
Ballard Mining announced that its Baldock deposit within the Mt Ida project has reached a one‑million‑ounce indicated and inferred gold resource. The infill drilling program added 76,000 ounces, raising the deposit to nine million tonnes at 3.5 g/t, while the broader Mt...
AMSZ to Conduct Q1 Technical Visit at Pickstone Peerless Mine
The Association of Mine Surveyors of Zimbabwe (AMSZ) will hold its first‑quarter technical visit at the Dallaglio Pickstone Peerless Mine on 27 March 2026. The eight‑hour event offers members hands‑on exposure to one of Zimbabwe’s premier gold producers and awards five CPD...
SME Hosts Successful MINEXCHANGE Event in Salt Lake City
More than 7,400 mining professionals gathered at the Salt Palace Convention Center for SME’s MINEXCHANGE conference in Salt Lake City. The opening keynote, "Regaining America’s Mineral Dominance," featured Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox, USGS Director Dr. Ned Mamula, and Resolution...
Construction Begins on Berens River Bridge, a Key Link for Frontier Lithium’s PAK Project – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario...
Construction of the Berens River bridge has begun in northwestern Ontario, with M.D. Steele Construction appointed as the primary contractor. The bridge will provide a permanent road crossing for Frontier Lithium’s PAK open‑pit mine, located 175 km north of Red Lake. The...
Due Diligence Required as More Biofuel Feedstocks Used
NorthStandard released a white paper outlining the rapid uptake of biofuels in commercial shipping, noting a twelve‑fold increase in testing volumes to over 1 million MT between 2021 and 2025. Current 5‑10% bio‑blend usage satisfies the 2022 FuelEU Maritime requirement, but upcoming...
These ASX Resources Stocks Are Aiming to Hit FID in 2026
Australian junior miners on the ASX are converging on final investment decisions (FID) for projects slated for 2026. Aura Energy aims to secure a Q3 2026 FID for its Tiris uranium project in Mauritania, backed by a $20 million placement and...