Today's Mining Pulse
JERA receives first LNG cargo from Australia's Barossa gas project
JERA took delivery of its first liquefied natural gas cargo from the Barossa gas project, arriving at the Futtsu LNG terminal on June 12. The Barossa field can produce about 3.4 million tonnes of LNG per year, with JERA entitled to roughly 425,000 tonnes annually, expanding its diversified supply mix.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Ganfeng invests $319M in Australian Mount Marion lithium mine
Sodium-Ion Batteries Key to EU Competitive Edge, Says EESC President
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is pushing sodium‑ion batteries to the forefront of the EU’s industrial strategy, urging the next 2028‑2034 Multi‑Annual Financial Framework to allocate dedicated funding. EESC President Séamus Boland argues that sodium‑ion technology offers a cheaper, more environmentally friendly alternative to lithium‑ion cells. The committee proposes an “industrial pathway” that integrates both lithium and sodium technologies, backed by stakeholder debates and a forthcoming study. This move aims to secure Europe’s competitive edge in the global battery market.
Copper Must Stay Above $6 to Avoid Deflationary Dominoes
Atlas' Burden Shifting to $6 Copper? Bitcoin's Gravity Pull - Copper may need to remain above $6 a pound or else. If the economically and stock-market-sensitive industrial metal follows falling Bitcoin, iron ore, crude oil and Chinese government-bond yields, it...
Copper Above $6 Offers Poor Risk‑Reward for New Longs
A Lot Riding on Copper Remaining Over $6 - Copper, the S&P 500 and US Treasury 30-year yield on the same scale may emphasize the implications of some normal reversion. That the metal hasn't had a year since 2021 without...
EU States Give Final Approval to Omnibus Package to Cut Sustainability Reporting and Due Diligence Requirements
The European Council gave final approval to the Omnibus I simplification package, dramatically scaling back the EU's corporate sustainability reporting and due‑diligence rules. The agreement retains a 1,000‑employee threshold for the CSRD but adds a €450 million revenue floor, cutting roughly...
Copper Overheated: Price Spike Signals Potential Deflation
Is Copper a Prudent Short? Next to its industrial commodity and inflation companions -- iron ore, Brent crude oil and Chinese Government 10-year Bond yields (CGBs) -- copper might be too hot. From a base of 100, starting with our iron...
Brazil Cuts Bitcoin Miner Import Duty to Zero and Companies May Plug Them Into Stranded Solar Next
Brazil's foreign trade council approved a resolution that eliminates import duties on high‑efficiency SHA256 Bitcoin miners—those above 200 TH/s and under 20 J/TH—effective through January 2028. Three days later, French utility Engie signaled interest in installing such miners at its 895 MW Assu...
Anglo American Earnings: Improved Copper and Iron Ore Results Offset by Its Other Businesses
Anglo American posted a 6% year‑over‑year rise in adjusted EBITDA to $6.9 billion, driven by higher copper and iron‑ore prices, while losses in its other divisions slashed net profit after tax 70% to $610 million. The company kept its final dividend at...
Liberia: Lofa Group Proposes Mining Ownership Model for Wologizi
The Lofa Senior Professionals Group hosted a workshop on Feb 19 2026 to unveil a ten‑year roadmap for a Liberian‑owned mining venture in the Wologizi Range. The plan proposes a three‑tier ownership split—40% government, 40% strategic investor, 20% community trust—and seeks $1.5‑2.5 billion...
Environmental, Community Groups to Challenge Regulators’ Approval of Dominion’s Gas Plant
Three climate‑justice nonprofits have filed a Virginia Supreme Court notice to appeal the State Corporation Commission’s approval of Dominion Energy’s $1.47 billion, 944‑megawatt Chesterfield natural‑gas plant. The appeal, filed through the Southern Environmental Law Center, invokes the Virginia Environmental Justice Act...
Microsoft Signs 1.8 Million Ton Carbon Removal Deal to Restore African Rainforest
Microsoft has signed a 15‑year agreement with Sierra Leone‑based Rainforest Builder to purchase up to 1.8 million carbon removal credits. The credits will be generated by Project Buffalo, a large‑scale reforestation effort that aims to plant over 10 million trees across 15,000...
DRC Replaces Top Officials at State Mining Company
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s president has replaced Gecamines’ chairman and CEO, appointing former justice minister Deogratias Ngele Masudi as chairman and EY mining partner Baraka Kabemba as chief executive. Gecamines, a state‑owned miner with minority stakes in copper‑cobalt projects...
ICCM Says Government Policy Has Tightened the Metals Cycle
The International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) warned that heightened government oversight is tightening the global metals cycle, curbing the explosive price spikes typical of past supercycles. In its 2025 Tax Contribution Report, ICMM members paid $37 billion in taxes...
Nike Sources 100% Clean Electricity for Japan Operations
Nike Japan has secured a virtual power purchase agreement with Mitsui & Co. that delivers renewable energy certificates from 16 domestic solar farms, covering 100 % of the retailer’s electricity consumption across stores, distribution centers, and offices. The deal incorporates 3 MW...
Bringing Aramine AutoNav Tele Loader to Life at Reward Gold Mine
RCT has installed Epiroc’s AutoNav Tele on an Aramine L350D loader at the Reward Gold mine in New South Wales, enabling remote operation in narrow‑vein underground conditions. The loader arrived from France and required a custom‑built mini AutoNav hut due...
In Big Boost, Cabinet May Approve Critical Minerals Pacts with Germany, Canada: Report
The Union Cabinet is set to approve Joint Declarations of Intent with Germany and Canada on critical minerals. The agreements will target joint exploration, sustainable mining, supply‑chain resilience and technology transfer for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare...
Automation Disappoints for Whitehaven
Whitehaven Coal partnered with Caterpillar to install autonomous haulage system (AHS) trucks at its Daunia underground mine, expecting a significant boost in productivity. The AHS rollout delivered lower than projected tonnage and frequent downtime, undermining the anticipated efficiency gains. These...
Congo-Kinshasa: Journalists Investigating Fatal Mining Disaster Denied Access
Journalists probing the Rubaya coltan landslide that killed more than 200 miners were barred by M23 rebels on Jan. 28, highlighting a tightening media blackout in eastern DRC. The disaster, tied to unsafe artisanal mining, underscores the mineral‑fuelled conflict between rebel...
ZIDA Urges Swift Rollout of E-Cadastre System as Investor Demand for Clarity Grows
The Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) is pressing the government to fast‑track the launch of an E‑Cadastre system that digitally records mining tenements. The platform, long delayed, is now slated for a 2025 rollout after recent investor inquiries at the...
EU Fleets Law Could Provide Over Half the EV Sales Carmakers Need in 2030 — New Research
Transport & Environment research finds that an EU fleet‑electrification law could provide 57 % of the electric‑vehicle sales carmakers need to meet their 2030 CO₂ targets, but only if the Commission raises the proposed targets. The current draft sets an average 45 % EV...
Harmonised Regulation, PPPs Key to Unlocking SADC Energy Capital — Moyo
Zimbabwe’s Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo used the opening of the second SADC Sustainable Energy Week to call for tighter regulatory harmonisation and stronger public‑private partnerships across the region. He argued that aligned laws, tariffs and standards would boost...
TNC Gets Qld TLC
The Queensland government has granted True North Copper $400,000 under its Collaborative Development Program to evaluate the potential value of legacy mine waste at the Mt Oxide site in the state’s northwest. The funding is intended to fund detailed sampling, metallurgical...
Road to Ring of Fire Reaches Milestone as Marten Falls First Nation Approves Environmental Assessment – by Dan Bertrand (CTV...
Marten Falls First Nation has filed the final environmental assessment for a 184‑kilometre all‑season access road linking the remote community to the provincial highway network north of Nakina. The submission, announced jointly with Ontario’s government, represents a key milestone in...
Ontario Mining at a Moment of Consequence: Turning Policy Commitments Into Global Leadership – by Priya Tandon (Canadian Mining Journal...
Ontario’s mining sector faces heightened global competition as nations vie for critical minerals essential to clean energy and technology. The province’s policy framework emphasizes certainty, efficiency, and reliability to lure investment. Industry leaders argue that turning policy commitments into concrete...
B.C. to Speed up Three Critical Mineral Projects – by Daisy Xiong (Business In Vancouver – February 2026)
British Columbia announced early government backing for three critical‑mineral projects—Northisle Copper, Suns Copper’s Berg, and Defense Metals’ rare‑earth venture—by adding them to the province’s Critical Minerals Office. The move is designed to fast‑track assessment and permitting processes. Northisle is projected to...
The Surprising Story Of Bonaire’s Salt Pyramids – by Joseph V Micallef (Forbe Magazine – April 22, 2019)
The salt pyramids of Bonaire, towering white mounds on the Caribbean island, have evolved from a historic salt‑export hub into a signature visual for visitors. In the 17th‑19th centuries, Bonaire’s salt was a linchpin in trade routes linking the original...
New Anomalies Serve-Up Camp-Scale Potential for Loyal Metals at Highway Reward
Australian explorer Loyal Metals has used high‑resolution gravity imaging to identify a large, vertically extensive copper‑gold volcanogenic massive sulphide (VHMS) system at its Highway Reward project in Queensland. The newly defined anomaly extends well beyond the historic mine’s deepest level...
Visible Gold Reinforces Precious Metals Potential at Argent’s Kempfield
Argent Minerals reported the first visible gold at its Kempfield polymetallic project, intersected in diamond hole AKDD212 at roughly 194 m depth within Lode 100. The coarse, free gold particles occur alongside carbonate veining in sulphidic volcanic rocks, confirming high‑grade gold shoots...
EU Sets Recycled Plastics Targets, Expands to Steel, Aluminium
EU agrees recycled plastics targets for cars, with future recycled steel and aluminium rules under end-of-life vehicles regulation. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/eu-end-of-life-vehicles-regulation-sets.html
Japan's New Rare Earth Find Won't Shift Global Supply
Japan has identified a large rare earth deposit of its own, but it's not going to change global supply dynamics. Here's the situation... #rareearths #japan #geopolitics https://t.co/2WX7oeO6Jm
Operational Upgrades Drive Record Month for Pilbara Ports
Pilbara Ports posted a record 67.9 million tonnes of cargo in January 2026, a 12% increase over the same month last year. The surge was driven by operational tweaks at Port Hedland, including revised ebb‑tide vessel guidelines and enhancements to the...
US Needs Domestic EV Demand to Counter China’s Rare‑earth Dominance
.@dunne_insights: “China controls roughly 70 percent of rare earth mining and over 90 percent of processing capacity. Without a thriving domestic EV industry creating sustained demand, America lacks the economic incentive to build the…supply chains.” https://t.co/hU5loovdzh
Why Copper May Give Silver a Major Boost
The author’s long‑standing bullish thesis on copper is now materialising, with the base metal entering a sustained up‑trend that also benefits silver. Recent market data shows copper prices accelerating as renewable‑energy projects, electric‑vehicle production, and infrastructure spending drive demand. At...
West Coast Silver Scout Drilling Reveals Potential Elizabeth Hill Growth Opportunities
West Coast Silver’s 76‑hole air‑core scout program in Western Australia has extended near‑surface, high‑grade silver mineralisation at the Elizabeth Hill project up to 150 m north of the historic mine and into the southern Munni Munni fault corridor. Standout assays include 3 m...
Australia Secures Fixed‑Price Power for Tomago Smelter Post‑2028
Australia moves toward a fixed-price power deal to keep Rio Tinto’s Tomago aluminium smelter running after 2028. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/tomago-aluminium-smelter-power-purchase.html
Tomingley Discovery Continues to Expand Alkane’s Opportunities
Alkane Resources announced the discovery of a new gold‑bearing geological structure at its Tomingley project in New South Wales, backed by both underground and near‑mine drilling. The campaign returned high‑grade intercepts, including 5.9 m at 31.0 g/t Au underground and 8.7 m at...
Regis Builds Momentum with Fresh Tropicana Reserve Boost
Regis Resources has issued an updated mineral resource statement for its 30% stake in the Tropicana joint venture, now reporting 5.4 million ounces of gold resources and 1.9 million ounces of ore reserves. The growth stems from systematic drilling that expanded mineralisation...
Expanded US Mining Would Boost Manufacturing's Material Possibilities
The United States is advancing domestic mining projects in Alaska, California, Pennsylvania and Nebraska to produce critical elements such as cobalt, copper, scandium, gallium and germanium. By securing these inputs, manufacturers can revisit alloy families previously deemed too costly or...
BOEM Proposes Regulation Revision to Support Mineral Exploration
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued proposed revisions to its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) hard‑mineral regulations, aiming to accelerate exploration and development of critical minerals. The changes align with Executive Orders 14285, 14154 and 14192, which prioritize...
Litchfield Minerals Eyes Hot Targets in North Australian Craton
Litchfield Minerals, an ASX‑listed junior explorer, has entered BHP’s Xplor accelerator and secured a US$500,000 grant to accelerate its flagship Oonagalabi copper‑zinc‑silver‑gold project in the North Australian Craton. The Oonagalabi drill program has returned broad intercepts—161 m at 0.5 % Cu and...
Soaring Tanker Costs Force West African Oil Price Cuts
West African crude traders are slashing discounts as freight rates to Asia surge to a five‑year peak and the Brent‑Dubai exchange‑for‑swaps (EFS) spread widens to about $2 per barrel. The higher shipping costs and broader EFS premium have pushed West...
Kazakhstan to Supply Fresh Uranium to India Under New Deal to Fuel Nuclear Power Plants
Kazakhstan’s state‑controlled miner Kazatomprom announced a new contract to supply fresh uranium to India, reinforcing the latter’s nuclear fuel pipeline. The deal follows earlier agreements that delivered 2,100 tonnes in 2009 and 5,000 tonnes between 2015‑19. While exact volumes were...
First Indian Diesel Cargo Arrives in Europe After New Russian Sanctions Take Effect
A tanker chartered by Reliance delivered about 100,000 tons of diesel to Rotterdam, marking the first Indian petroleum fuel cargo to reach the Amsterdam‑Rotterdam‑Antwerp hub since the EU imposed sanctions on Russian‑crude derived products. The vessel, Proteus Bohemia, loaded in India’s...
How Rare Earth Elements Power Hybrid Car Batteries and Transform Transportation
Hybrid car batteries, paired with compact rare‑earth‑based electric motors, have reshaped vehicle efficiency by enabling high‑power assist, regenerative braking, and smoother launches. Neodymium‑iron‑boron magnets deliver the torque density needed for these systems, while dysprosium and terbium protect performance at elevated...
Global CO2 Levels Set to Flatten, Then Decline
I expect we will see similar results worldwide soon, country by country. A flattening of CO2, followed by a decline, as renewables replace coal and gas, and EVs displace gasoline/diesel.
Fortescue Bets on Green Iron Amid
Fortescue’s green iron bet in a €300 per tonne iron world #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/o9SQlmpEPc https://t.co/oEuy12U2pf
Namibia: Record Production At B2gold As Open Pit Winds Down
B2Gold’s Otjikoto Mine in Namibia delivered 199,139 ounces of gold in 2025, hitting the top of its guidance range and helping the company post a record $3.06 billion in revenue. The firm’s three flagship mines collectively produced 926,434 ounces, while a...
USCF Launches Iron Ore Index Fund for Futures
New: @USCFInvestments files for a an Iron Ore Index Fund. Will invest in Iron order futures contracts. https://t.co/RHtnD2joQb
SigmaLithium Forecasts 240k‑tonne Annual Output, 520k
.@SigmaLithium providing formal guidance just a few weeks after restarting mining under owner/operator model: ◦12 months annualized forward production: 240,000 tonnes ◦24 months annualized forward production: 520,000 tonnes $SGML 👇
Gold Overvalued? Questioning Its Safe‑Haven Status
Is the store-of-value, gold, too stretched to be considered a safe haven? https://t.co/nC6Jxgznlb #gold #bonds @markets https://t.co/VvCZYA742S
Explosive Silver Junior Rio Silver Under Analyst Spotlight
Rio Silver $RYO.V $RYOOF Don Durrett and John Feneck take a closer look at Rio Silver. Must-watch if you like explosive Silver juniors ... https://t.co/XbSRRs7hRq