Today's Mining Pulse
Updated 1h ago
Uranium Royalty to acquire Sweetwater Royalties in $1.1B deal
Uranium Royalty announced a $1.1 billion acquisition of Sweetwater Royalties, valuing the combined entity at roughly $1.9 billion including debt. The new US‑based parent will seek a Nasdaq listing, with Orion Resource Partners holding 43% and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan 16% of the company.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Virtus acquires DRC cobalt and copper miner Chemaf for $30M
NATO Allies Refuse to Join U.S. Hormuz Blockade, Deepening Rift With Trump
NATO allies publicly declined President Donald Trump's proposal to block maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, insisting they will only act after hostilities with Iran cease. The United States scheduled the blockade for 1400 GMT, targeting vessels bound for Iranian ports, while Iran has already limited the strait to its own ships. Britain, France and other European members are instead organizing a defensive, multinational escort mission to reopen the waterway once a diplomatic settlement is reached. The refusal deepens the rift between Trump and the alliance, raising questions about NATO cohesion.
Clarification of Rhenium APR Catalytic Grade Price Assessment Specification: Pricing Notice
Fastmarkets announced that its MB-RE-0001 rhenium APR catalytic grade price assessment will be quoted in US dollars per kilogram of rhenium (USD/kg Re) rather than per kilogram of material. The product name will be updated to reflect this unit change, while...
Sego Resources Intersects 100 Metres of 0.626 Gpt Gold, Including 24.37 Metres of 0.958 Gpt Gold
Sego Resources announced intersecting 100 m of 0.626 g/t gold, including a 24.37 m sub‑interval grading 0.958 g/t, in drill hole DDH25‑69 within the Southern Gold Zone of its Miner Mountain copper‑gold project near Princeton, BC. The same hole also returned 19 m at 0.85 g/t...
M&A: Denarius Targets Emerita in Spain’s Zinc-Copper Belt
Denarius Metals has tabled a non‑binding all‑share offer for Emerita Resources, pricing the deal at a 15% premium to Emerita’s April 10 close. The transaction would value Emerita between $25 million and $29 million, depending on its fully diluted share count, and...
KoBold Launches AI-Driven Lithium Push in DRC
KoBold Metals, backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, has launched the largest lithium exploration campaign ever, covering 13 licences and over 3,000 sq km in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral‑rich Manono region. The effort uses artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, airborne...
PTM Mulling Partnerships with Furnace Operators to Process Waterberg Concentrate
Platinum Group Metals (PTM) is evaluating collaborations with smaller South African furnace operators to process concentrate from its Waterberg project in the Bushveld Complex. The company may stage smelting capacity, beginning with T‑Zone mining before expanding to the larger F‑Central...
BEML Secures $36.38 Million Export Order From West Asia Region
BEML Limited announced a $36.38 million export contract with customers in West Asia for heavy‑earth‑moving equipment that has been re‑engineered for high‑intensity infrastructure projects. The deal also bundles a comprehensive maintenance and lifecycle‑support package, ensuring long‑term equipment availability. This win lifts...
Silverco Tables PEA Results for Cusi Mine in Mexico
Silverco Mining released a preliminary economic assessment for its Cusi mine in northern Mexico, indicating a low‑capital restart that could produce 2.5 million ounces of silver per year. The PEA projects an after‑tax net present value of $104 million, an internal rate...
Hormuz, Trump, & The Carbon Paradox
The analysis quantifies how the March‑April 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis suppressed fossil‑fuel demand, producing a net avoidance of roughly 10 million tonnes of CO₂ across aviation, road transport, shipping and natural‑gas sectors. Aviation saw the largest cut, with about 4.7 Mt...
Beyond Line of Sight: How Private 5G Powers Remote Mining at Scale
Newmont has teamed with Ericsson to roll out private 5G networks across its Tier One mines, replacing unreliable Wi‑Fi with a single, low‑latency cellular platform. Early pilots on Lihir Island and at Peñasquito demonstrated that a handful of strategically placed towers...
Aluminum Hits 4-Year High on Trump’s Blockade of Hormuz
Aluminum prices surged to a four‑year peak on the London Metal Exchange, reaching $3,570 a ton after President Donald Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports. The spot‑cash spread widened to $95.50 a ton, the strongest backwardation since 2007, reflecting...
Chinese Miner Boosts Rare Earth Prices
China Northern Rare Earth Group, the world’s largest producer of light rare earths, announced a sharp increase in concentrate prices for the second quarter of 2026. The company lifted prices for 50% rare earth oxide concentrates, signaling tighter supply in...
India Rises as China Slows in Mineral Demand Shift
Vale is accelerating iron ore shipments to India as the country’s steel production is projected to double by 2030, signaling a pivot away from China’s once‑dominant demand base. Chinese steel output has plateaued around 1 billion tonnes, while India’s broader industrial...
Prairie's Saskatchewan DLE Plant Nears Completion
Prairie Lithium announced that its commercial‑scale direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant in Saskatchewan is nearing construction completion. The ASX‑listed firm expects to commence its first lithium production in the fourth quarter of 2026. The facility will process lithium‑rich brine using...
Summer School on Managing Africa’s Extractive Future in the Energy Transition
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), backed by NRGI, will host the 2026 AFREIKH Summer School on extractive‑industry governance in Accra, Ghana, from August 18‑28. The intensive week‑long program targets civil‑society, media, and government professionals from Anglophone Africa, offering...
Iran War Fuels Energy Surge, Disrupts Global Mining Supply Chains
The 2026 US‑Israel war with Iran is driving up energy prices and creating logistics bottlenecks that jeopardize mining operations worldwide. Analysts say the conflict is exposing a structural weakness in the sector, from power‑intensive smelters to fragile transport routes, and...
Hogan Lovells Expands Ukrainian Mandate
Law firm Hogan Lovells has broadened its Ukrainian engagement to include a 50/50 partnership that will develop critical mineral and energy projects under the newly launched US‑Ukrainian Investment Fund. The firm’s mandate now spans the Ministry of Economy, the Agency for...
Wah Kwong Unit Lines up Green Methanol Supply Deal
Wah Kwong’s fuel subsidiary Venture Energy has signed a supply agreement with Shanghai Shenji Energy to import ISCC‑certified green methanol, with first deliveries slated for the first half of 2026. The methanol, derived from municipal waste, crop residues and livestock...
Coal Stock Adequate for 90 Days Available: Union Coal Minister Kishan Reddy
India’s coal reserves have risen to over 200 million tonnes, enough to power the nation for about 90 days. This marks a jump from the previous 21‑25‑day buffer and follows a second consecutive year of hitting 1 billion tonnes of coal production....
Eni Invests $70MM in Canadian Battery Feedstock Project
Italian energy giant Eni is injecting $70 million USD in equity into Quebec‑based Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) and will purchase up to 15,000 tonnes per year of graphite concentrate from the second phase of NMG’s Matawinie Mine. The deal gives Eni an...
2026 Oil Demand Rises 1.4 Mb/D
"In 2026, global oil demand is forecast to grow by a healthy 1.4 mb/d year-on-year (y-o-y), driven almost entirely by demand from non-OECD regions, mainly China, India and Other Asia. On a quarterly basis, the global oil demand in 2026...
Cattle Poised for Major Correction Despite Bullish Hype
Cattle may have a sizable correction coming. The bullet proof to the upside mentality seems to have taken over full force.
Lithium Ionic Confirms Valid Title to Mineral Claims in Brazil
Lithium Ionic Corp. confirmed it holds valid, registered title to its Brazilian mineral claims, including the flagship Bandeira Project. The company cited independent legal opinions and records from Brazil’s National Mining Agency to refute speculation of prior ownership. Lithium Ionic...
US‑Australia Invest $
Australia and US boost support for critical minerals with $3.5 billion Not clear where processing will be done, or where mine to magnet chain happens.... https://t.co/OpCtNNHYup
Iran Faces Imminent Well Shutdowns, Negotiations Uncertain
Looking at the limited empty oil tankers inside the Persian Gulf, plus Tehran’s onshore storage, Iran will need to shut in wells in 10-15 days (the same process its neighbours faced 5-6 weeks ago). Would that prompt Iran to change...
Liberia: Bea Mountain Produces $1.65 Billion in Gold a Year. Its Contract Gives Liberia 3 Percent
Vice President Jeremiah Koung toured Bea Mountain Mining’s New Liberty Gold Mine, which now processes about 30,000 tons of rock monthly to produce roughly 900 kg of gold, generating an estimated $1.65 billion in annual revenue. The operation has moved from open‑pit to...
OPEC Projects 2026‑27 Production Growth in Key Nations
🔹OPEC's view of production growth in selected countries in 2026 and 2027. 🔹What do you think? What do you agree with and what you do not? Why? https://t.co/QAin921hCr https://t.co/WK2gAcAKWe
Natural Diamond Prices Plunge over 50% Since 2022
Competition FTW: "The price of natural diamonds has fallen more than 50% since 2022, and is now at its lowest level on record" https://t.co/9Qn6ZnMKXq https://t.co/o1BkZ6Kl92
Zambia Positions Itself as a Strategic Hub for Global Copper Investment
Zambia’s ambassador to China urged global investors to help the country reach its goal of producing 3 million tonnes of copper annually by 2030. The appeal was made at the 21st Copper Industry Conference and Expo 2026, highlighting Zambia’s high‑grade reserves, stable,...
Lloyds Metals & Energy to Use Metso for Iron Plant Expansion
Lloyds Metals & Energy (LMEL), an Indian iron miner and steelmaker, has contracted Metso to deliver ten Larox fast‑opening filter presses for its iron beneficiation plants. The equipment will support LMEL's ongoing expansion of its pellet production capacity, though the...
Friedland Warns About Strait of Hormuz Impact on Copper Mining
Ivanhoe Mines Co‑Chairman Robert Friedland warned that the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens sulfur supplies essential for copper leaching, potentially curbing global copper output. He noted that roughly 20% of worldwide copper production depends on sulfuric‑acid leaching,...
Chalice Taps Cutifani’s Firm for WA Palladium Push
Chalice Mining has hired Odin Partnership, led by former Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani, as a strategic adviser for its Gonneville palladium‑nickel‑copper project in Western Australia. The advisory team, which also includes ex‑Anglo director Tony O’Neill and former Bank of...
CoBank Commodity Report Flags Rising Input Cost Pressures
CoBank’s latest Knowledge Exchange report warns that soaring diesel and fertilizer costs are outpacing gains in grain prices, tightening budgets for U.S. farmers and rural businesses. Diesel spikes could add roughly $2,000 per farmer, while fertilizer inputs have risen 20‑40%...
Gold Deliveries Rise 8.2% in First Quarter as March Slump Exposes Policy Fallout
Zimbabwe’s gold deliveries rose 8.2% year‑on‑year in Q1 2026, reaching 9,311.92 kg, but March volumes dropped 16.4% to 2,854 kg. The sharp March decline stemmed from the short‑lived 10% ZiG retention policy and payment disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. Small‑scale...
From Indaba to the Budget: Will Fiscal Policy Unlock Mining-Led Growth?
South Africa’s mining sector, responsible for roughly 6% of GDP and about R440 billion ($23 billion) in annual output, is hampered by chronic freight bottlenecks. At the February Mining Indaba, industry leaders called for policy certainty and reliable logistics, prompting Finance Minister...
MINEX 2026 Marks Turning Point in Funding Access for Small-Scale Miners – YMF
The MINEX 2026 conference in Zimbabwe placed financing for artisanal and small‑scale miners at the forefront, with the Young Miners Foundation calling the event a breakthrough for unlocking capital. For the first time, a sizable cohort of commercial banks and financiers...
Step-Out Drilling Expands AbraSilver Gold Zone, Boosting Resource Growth
AbraSilver $ABRA.TO expands gold zone at Oculto East, Diablillos Phase VI step-out drilling hits broad intercepts beyond current open-pit limits. Mineralization remains open strong resource growth potential ahead.
Gold Production Rises, Cash Surges, Guidance Stays Steady
Minera Alamos $MAI.V $MAIFF Q1 2026: Produced 8,734 oz gold at Pan mine Sold 9,134 oz Cash up to $46M (from $34M YE2025) ~18k oz cumulative since Oct 2025 acquisition. 2026 guidance unchanged: 32-38k oz.
Africa: Ecocide in Venezuela - Oil, Mining and the Risks of Foreign Investment
Western oil and mining firms are re‑entering Venezuela after U.S. sanctions licences, but satellite data shows a surge in oil spills, toxic flaring and deforestation. In Lake Maracaibo alone, 504 slicks covering 10,428 km² have been identified, while the Orinoco Belt’s flare...
Copper’s 2026 Rally Threatened by Equity Market Decline
Copper's Big Green Candle Risks Turning Red in 2026 The last three down years for copper (2015, 2018, 2022) coincided with drops in the US stock market, suggesting a dependency on a rising equity tide in 2026. Full report on the...
The Future of Uranium Enrichment Is Being Developed Today
Uranium enrichment, a longstanding U.S. vulnerability, is seeing a shift from traditional gas‑centrifuge plants to next‑generation laser technologies. Centrus Energy secured a $900 million DOE contract to expand HALEU and LEU capacity at its Ohio facility, while laser firms Silex/Global Laser...
Iran Conflict Triggers Oil Shortage, Reshapes Market Winners
The Iran war has slashed oil exports from the Persian Gulf, creating a global supply shortage that's just starting to hit markets. As prices are driven up and broader economic impacts unfold, winners and losers will begin to emerge. Full Newsletter:...
Massive Infill Drilling Hits 11.5 G/T Gold, PFS 2027
$FVL.TO - ~50,000m infill drilling w/ 6 rigs targeting higher-grade zones - Recent hit: 11.54 g/t Au over 29.5m within 216.4m @ 2.44 g/t Au - >90% recoveries targeted; technical team strengthened - PFS on track for early 2027
Uncertainty Clouds Jubilee’s Copper Ambitions
Jubilee Metals posted strong interim numbers driven by its Roan processing plant, which delivered 1,246 t of copper and pushed revenue up 70 % to $14.1 million, but the business remains dominated by low‑margin third‑party feedstock. The company’s 72 % stake in the Molefe...
Asian LNG Imports Plummet to Six-Year Low on Middle East Crisis
Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports have slumped to the lowest level since June 2020, with the 30‑day moving average falling below 600,000 tons. The decline follows the escalation of the Middle East conflict, which has cut roughly 20% of global LNG...
Liberia: Bea Mountain CEO Announces Expansion Will Provide Over 2,000 Employment Opportunities for Liberians
Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC) announced a major expansion that will double its gold processing capacity from four to eight million tons per year. The project is projected to raise the workforce from 9,000 to over 11,000, adding more than...
Indonesia Nickel Tailings Landslide Exposes Waste‑Management Gaps, Threatens Global Battery Supply
A February 2026 landslide at PT QMB’s filtered‑tailings facility in Morowali killed an excavator operator and revealed serious design flaws. Experts warn the incident could curtail Indonesia’s nickel output—now 59.5% of global supply—raising alarms for battery manufacturers worldwide.
China Mandates Export Licenses for Gallium and Germanium, Sparking U.S. Supply‑Chain Alarm
China has required export licences for gallium and germanium, two rare‑earth metals vital to U.S. semiconductors and optics. The policy, introduced in 2025 and expanded in 2026, triggered price spikes and a swift strategic response from Washington and Brussels, highlighting...
Iran-Linked Tankers Sail Through Hormuz Before US Blockade
Two tankers tied to Iran slipped through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, exiting the Gulf just before the United States initiates a blockade of Iranian ports and coastal facilities. The vessel Auroura was loaded with Iranian oil products, while...
Floatel Seals Equinor Vessel Deal in Brazil
Floatel International has turned a letter of intent into a three‑month contract for its semisubmersible accommodation vessel Floatel Victory at Equinor’s Bacalhau field in Brazil. The work, scheduled to start mid‑2026 after completing the current Karoon campaign, includes options to...
