Today's Mining Pulse
Indonesia grants export monopoly to state trader DSI, targeting $66bn in resource revenues
Indonesiaâs employers association and major mining cartels have endorsed President Prabowo Subiantoâs new export monopoly, giving exclusive rights to stateâcontrolled PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia. The policy seeks to capture roughly $66.13âŻbillion in annual resource revenuesâabout 23.4% of exportsâand to curb $908âŻbillion in historic tax leakage.
Also developing:
đ„New Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing - Vanderbilt Minerals, LLCđ„
The episode examines Vanderbilt Minerals, LLCâs recent Chapter 11 sale filing, tracing its roots back to the 1916-founded R.T. Vanderbilt Company and its evolution from paper clay mining to industrial talc production. It highlights the longâstanding regulatory challenges with OSHA over asbestos classifications of talc minerals and the resulting litigation that began in the 1980s and surged in the 2000s. The discussion underscores how these legal and compliance pressures contributed to the companyâs decision to seek bankruptcy protection after fourteen years of preparation, with Jones Day representing the debtor.
DRC, Belgium, and KoBold Metals in Dispute Over Colonial Mineral Archives
A dispute has emerged between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, and U.S. firm KoBold Metals over access to colonial-era geological archives housed at Belgiumâs AfricaMuseum. The DRC wants to partner with KoBold to digitize data on cobalt, lithium and...
Kolwezi to Host DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialization Forum in October 2026
The Democratic Republic of Congo will host the inaugural DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialization Forum in Kolwezi from 7 to 9 October 2026, coâhosting with the DRCâAfrica Battery Metals Forum. The event targets cobalt and lithium, aiming to shift the...
Jubilee Metals Reports Strong Half-Year Copper Performance in Zambia
Jubilee Metals reported a strong first half of 2025, with Roan achieving its 30,000âtonneâperâmonth feed target and saleable copper output rising 8.7% to 1,543 tonnes. The company kept its fullâyear production guidance of 4,500â5,100 tonnes despite seasonal rain disruptions. Roan...
ZCCM-IH to Construct Access Roads at Kikonge Mine as Govt Moves to Formalise Artisanal Mining
ZCCM Investments Holdings has begun constructing access roads to the Kikonge Mine in Mufumbwe, signalling a concrete step in Zambiaâs drive to regularise artisanal and smallâscale mining. The government, led by Mining Minister Paul Kabuswe, linked illegal mining to the...
DRC Subcontracting Regulator Cancels Kibali Contracts, Orders Legal Tender Process
The Democratic Republic of Congoâs Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting (ARSP) has voided contracts between the Kibali Gold Mine and three service firmsâKMS, Boart Longyear and TAI Servicesâciting nonâcompliance with subcontracting regulations. The audit, conducted in November 2025, found the contractors...
DRC Launches AXIS Programme and Sovereign Gold Reserve Token Framework
The Democratic Republic of Congoâs Ministry of Mines and the Social Fund signed an agreement to launch the AXIS Programme and its Sovereign Gold Reserve Token (SGRT), a debtâfree financing tool linked to gold production. Led by the FSRDC with...
Africa: Africa's Regional Blocs Must Prevent a Silent Scramble for Critical Minerals
A new scramble for Africa's critical mineralsâlithium, cobalt, graphite, platinumâgroup metals and rareâearth elementsâis driven by global greenâenergy supply chains. The article argues that regional blocs such as SADC, ECOWAS and EAC must coordinate policies to move from rawâmaterial exports...
Coal Demand Set for Uptick on Rising Power Needs
Indiaâs power demand rebounded sharply in December, posting a 6.3% rise, and continued climbing in January as a harsh winter and improving economic activity spurred electricity consumption. The surge is expected to lift coal demand, reversing a period of weakness...
Gold Digger: Why Gold Remains the Marketâs âBiggest Tradeâ
Triple Eight Capitalâs Roscoe Widdup warns that gold remains the marketâs biggest trade, with bullion prices poised to climb above $5,000 per ounce. He highlights that top gold miners are trading at less than 10âŻtimes forward cashâflow, a steep discount...
The US Is Still Bleeding Coal Jobs, Trump Or No Trump
President Trump continues to tout coal while the industry sheds jobs at an accelerating pace. U.S. coalâgenerating capacity fell by 57âŻGW during his two terms, outpacing the 48âŻGW loss under Obama and 41âŻGW under Biden. Employment in coal mining has...
Hubei STR to Open 50kâton Anode Recycling Plant 2026
Hubei STR will launch a 50,000 t/yr anode recycling plant in March 2026 as China battery scrap rises. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/hubei-str-anode-recycling-plant-will.html
REalloys Secures 5âYear RareâEarth Deal, Boosts Saskatoon Expansion
REalloys signs 5-year SRC deal for NdPr, Dy, Tb and funds Saskatoon capacity expansion. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/realloys-rare-earth-supply-deal-with.html
Fault Lines in Nevada: Governance, Gold, and the Future of NGM
Newmont Corporation filed a formal notice of default against Barrick Gold over the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, citing alleged mismanagement and resource diversion. The JV, formed in 2019, gives Barrick a 61.5% operating stake while Newmont holds 38.5% of...
Iran's Survival Shift Fuels Chaos Amid China Metal Competition
Teheran now believes it's marked for death, writes @ctindale Once survival replaces strategy, restraint evaporates & chaos becomes leverage Anyone who thinks this isnât about oilâspecifically balancing Chinaâs grip on metalsâsimply isnât paying attention #Geopolitics #Iran #Deterrence #EnergySecurity #PowerPolitics #Risk #MiddleEast #StrategicStability
Full EV Fleet by 2026 Cuts WA Emissions Over Half
While renewables boom in WA, WA electric vehicle adoption half the global adoption rate of 25% If WA's vehicle fleet was 100% electric in 2026 with renewables penetration at 55%, more than half of WA transport emissions would have been eliminated @RogerCookMLA
From Courtroom to Capital Markets: Why US Tariff Instability Matters
The Supreme Court narrowed presidential tariff authority, prompting the administration to rely on alternative statutes and refusing refunds for collected duties. This creates a new layer of substitution and retroactivity risk that markets now price into tradeâpolicy expectations. For capitalâintensive...
Japan's Deep-Sea Rare Earths: Promise Meets Extraction Hurdle
Japanâs deep-sea rare earth find at Minamitorishima sounds like a game-changer. And on paper, it is. The 50-50 mix of light and heavy rare earths is impressive, especially since heavy elements are the truly scarce ones. The bad news is itâs...
Jan Gas Futures Near $5, Could Slip Below $4.40
January Natural Gas vs. Lower Energy, Rates Goals - The January natural gas future (Jan27) is typically the tip of the price curve and will be tops in relevance around the US midterms, with a potential downward bias. Preexisting trends...
How Can IAA Bring Local Cleantech Manufacturing?
The article argues that embedding Union content criteria in the EUâs Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) is the only viable lever to build a resilient, locally sourced battery industry. By conditioning public subsidiesâsuch as EV purchase incentivesâon a minimum share of...
U.S. Produces 300 Mining Engineers vs Chinaâs 3,000
Hereâs an important story in the Washington Post, with a link below, about how the United States forgot how to mine anything and what it is costing our nation today. If America wants to reduce its dependence on imports from...
Almonty Raises $112.5M for Global Tungsten Expansion
Almonty seeks $112.5mn to advance Montana tungsten, Portugal Panasqueira expansion, and Korea Sangdong Mo drilling. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/almonty-tungsten-funding-targets-1125mn.html
New Partnership to Keep Thompson Mine Open, Eyes Expansion After Partial Sale â by Eric Westhaver (CBC News Manitoba â...
Vale Base Metals has sold a majority stake in its Thompson nickel mine to a consortium of Exiro Minerals, Orion Resource Partners, and the Canada Growth Fund. The new Exiro Nickel Company will operate the mine, backed by up to...
CEO Warwick Smith Discusses Deal Strategies at American Pacific
Resource Expert Sean Brodrick interviews Deal-maker CEO Warwick Smith of American Pacific Mining Corp $USGDF $USGD.CA https://t.co/9vg3VBGu4A https://t.co/fs6rz3m196
Beyond Bullish Forecasts: Deep Dive with YJ Lee
Episode 229 of the @globallithium podcast with YJ Lee. The bullish forecasts are only a small part of the conversation. @usuallyYJLee https://t.co/Dkg19Dg7Lg
Wall Street Bears Turn Tail After Gold Rises to $5,100/Oz, Main Street Bullishness Unchanged as Iran Tensions Mount â by...
Gold prices rebounded from earlyâweek weakness, reclaiming the $5,000 support level and climbing to $5,100 per ounce by weekâs end. The initial dip was tied to reduced Chinese demand during the Lunar New Year, but safeâhaven buying spurred by rising...
Gold and Silver Surge Amid Iran Tensions, CNY Break Ends
Gold back over $5100 USD and Silver over $84 USD. We have a potential Iran conflict, and the end of the CNY break next week. https://t.co/Eac6sG80np
Mineral Resources Posts Interim Profit on Onslow Boost, Lithium Rebound
Mineral Resources swings to interim profit on stronger Onslow output, lithium rebound https://t.co/DOTSeLY4pB via @KitcoNewsNOW
Corb Lund Launching Water Not Coal Petition Campaign Friday in Lethbridge, with Event Saturday in Calgary â by Stephen Tipper...
Southern Alberta country singer Corb Lund has relaunched his âWater Not Coalâ petition campaign to ban new coal exploration and mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. He received official clearance from Albertaâs Chief Electoral Officer and has...
Push Renewables, Not Nuclear, for WAâs Future
Let's build WA's future around renewables and green iron, not gullibly back nuclear and last century subs that have already been strategically neutralised by drones Hey @AlboMP - what the hell is wrong with Labor backing nukes?
B.C.âs Booming Mine Industry Is Scrambling to Recruit More Workers â by Derrick Penner (Vancouver Sun â February 19, 2026)
British Columbiaâs mining sector is experiencing a rapid boom as gold and silver prices reach historic highs and Canada intensifies its focus on critical minerals like copper and nickel. The surge has created a sharp demand for skilled workers, especially...
True North: A Look at the Development of the Most Northerly Base Metal Mine in the World â by Ailbhe...
The Polaris zincâlead underground mine on Little Cornwallis Island, Nunavut, is the worldâs most northerly baseâmetal mine. Discovered in 1971 after a sevenâyear Cominco exploration program, the first drill hole intersected a Mississippi Valleyâtype orebody. The deposit holds about twenty...
Mine. Mine. Mine. How One Corrupt Billionaire Kicked Off the Global Cobalt Spree â by Nicolas Niarchos (Vanity Fair â...
Dan Gertler, an Israeli businessman, leveraged deep political connections to dominate Congo's cobalt mining, turning the country into a linchpin of the global battery supply chain. His network of opaque contracts and bribes enabled Western tech firms to secure cheap...
Teck Getting a Handle on Chilean Mineâs Engineering Problems, CEO Says â by Niall McGee (Globe and Mail â February...
Teck Resources CEO Jonathan Price says the engineering setbacks at the QB2 mine in Chile will be resolved by the end of 2026, clearing a major operational hurdle. The company is awaiting final antitrust clearance for Anglo American's US$20âŻbillion noâpremium...
Nutrien Sees Potash Demand Growing Again This Year After Record Harvest â by Daniel Johnson (CP24/Canadian Press â February 19,...
Nutrien Ltd. projects potash demand to expand for a fourth straight year, targeting sales of 14.1â14.8 million tonnes in 2026. Benchmark potash prices are roughly 20% higher than a year earlier, reflecting tighter market fundamentals. CFO Mark Thompson highlighted constrained...
âWhen to Bet Big on Junior Mining Stocks with Investor Erik Wetterlingâ
Investor Erik Wetterling, known as The Hedgeless Horseman, breaks down why junior mining stocks remain undervalued despite recent market corrections after the VRIC event. He stresses patience, the "wall of worry" mindset, and the shift from goldâsilver focus to baseâmetal...
I-80 Gold Advances Recapitalization Plan as Project Development Continues
i-80 Gold Corp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $21.3âŻmillion, an 8.3% decline from the prior year, while net loss widened to $85.6âŻmillion. The company completed a ClassâŻ3 study for the Lone Tree autoclave refurbishment, confirming 2,268âŻt/day capacity and a $430âŻmillion...
Kagem Mining Celebrates Four-Year Lost Time Injury-Free Safety Milestone
Kagem Mining Limited has been officially recognized by Zambia's Minerals Regulation Commission for completing four consecutive years without a lostâtime injury, a first in the countryâs mining sector. The milestone underscores the companyâs disciplined safety planning, continuous training, and adherence...
TFM Showcases Economic Impact and Calls for Energy Reform at DRC Breakfast During Mining Indaba
Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) told Mining Indaba delegates it has delivered roughly US$8âŻbillion to the Democratic Republic of Congoâs public treasury since 2006 and supports about 20,000 jobs. The mine, a CopperâŻMarkâcertified operation, allocates 0.3% of revenue to community projects...
Tungsten Breaks Into CMI Top 5 Consideration as Supply Risks Reshape the Critical Minerals Watchlist
The Critical Minerals Institute (CMI) has elevated tungsten to a topâ5 candidate on its 2025 watchlist, citing Chinaâs 80%âplus production share and the lack of domestic U.S. sources. In the interview, Director AlastairâŻNeill also highlighted copper, gallium, cobalt, uranium and...
Copper: Imminent Supercycle or Mostly Hype?
In this episode, Doomberg examines the recent surge of interest in copper, dissecting whether the metal is on the brink of a genuine supercycle driven by supply constraints and booming demand, or if the hype is largely speculative. He outlines...
Kerem Usenmez on Volta Metalsâ Rare Earths, Gallium, Lithium, Cesium and Tantalum Project Ontario
Volta Metals Ltd., a Canadian criticalâminerals explorer, is advancing its Springer RareâEarth Project in Ontario after drill hole SL25â23 returned 81âŻg/t GaâOâ over 132âŻm, including 110âŻg/t over 15.7âŻm. The company, which also targets lithium, cesium and tantalum, controls about 11âŻkm...
Chinaâs Green Mining Policies Cut Coal Emissions by 43.6 Million Tons Annually, Study Finds
Chinaâs decadeâlong green mining agenda has slashed carbon output from raw coal by an estimated 43.59âŻmillion tons each year across its 14 largest coal bases, which together produce 96.6% of national output. Policy intensity surged more than tenfold after 2011,...
Yukon Metals Taps 250 G/T Gold at Carter
Yukon Metals Corp. announced a 2025 rockâsampling program at its CarterâŻGulch property that returned a spectacular 250âŻg/t gold assay from a quartzâvein float, with an average of 17.8âŻg/t across nine samples above 1âŻg/t. The highâgrade results prompted the company to...
Summer School on the Governance of Extractive Industries in Anglophone Africa
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy and the Natural Resource Governance Institute are launching a oneâweek summer school on extractiveâindustry governance for Anglophone Africa. The program brings civil society, media, researchers and government officials together to address policy gaps and...
Gold Poised for Reversion as Oil Bears Down
Is Gold the Next Big Commodity Trade? Historic Reversion Risks - Geopolitical tensions could add fuel to crude oil's bear market as it approaches good resistance while heightening peak signals in gold's bull market. The metal has reached historic extremes...
Supply Scare Could Deepen Brentâs Bear Market
A Supply Scare Can Add Fuel to Brent Downtrend - What will end crude's downtrend may be a top commodity question of 2026. A supply scare that spikes prices might fuel more of the same -- US-led Western Hemisphere production...
Liberia: Workers Stage Violent Protest in Yekepa
Workers at AFCON, an Indian contractor for ArcelorMittal Liberia, staged a violent protest on Feb 18 at the Yekepa mining camp, leaving a police officer wounded and 27 arrests. The unrest, sparked by stagnant wages and unmet benefits, follows a...
Gold's Parabolic Surge May Be Overheated, Reversion Likely
The Rock May Be Too Hot - Gold vs. Commodities - Inflation is notably absent from gold's parabolic rally, which may suggest a too-hot rock if history is a guide. From a base of 100 in 1964, gold in terms...
NovaGold Opts Singleâphase Donlin Build at $5,000 Gold
"We have looked at building [the Donlin project] in phases, but given the current price environment of about $5,000 an ounce, it's our current thinking to build the project in a single build," said @NOVAGOLD 's CEO Greg Lang. ...