Today's Mining Pulse
Chinese financing fuels a $98 billion mineral power shift
A wave of $98 billion in Chinese financing and heightened U.S. diplomatic activity has thrust critical minerals into the geopolitical spotlight. Resource‑rich nations such as the DRC, Brazil and Zambia are leveraging their mineral wealth to negotiate better terms and assert greater control over strategic industries.
Also developing:
TMC the Metals Company (TMC) Moves Closer to Deep-Sea Mining Approval
TMC the Metals Company announced that NOAA has determined its consolidated deep‑seabed mining application is in substantial compliance with the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. The approval covers a 65,000‑square‑kilometer area in the Clarion‑Clipperton Zone, estimated to contain about 619 million tons of wet polymetallic nodules, with up to 200 million tons of upside potential. These nodules are rich in nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese—key metals for batteries, defense and clean‑energy technologies. The compliance finding moves TMC closer to launching commercial mining operations in the Pacific.
Electra Restarts Construction and Reports 2025 Financial Results
Electra Battery Materials announced the restart of construction on its Ontario cobalt sulfate refinery, approving a US$73 million budget and securing US$82 million in financing, including US$20 million from the U.S. Department of War and US$28 million from Canadian government sources. The company completed...
Codelco Expects to Churn Out Slightly More Copper This Year
Codelco, Chile's state‑owned miner, forecasts producing 1.344 million metric tons of copper in 2026, a slight increase from 1.333 million tons in 2025 and within its 1.331‑1.357 million‑ton guidance range. The company is working to recover from a 25‑year low caused by declining...
NOAA Ship Rainier to Map for Critical Mineral Deposits in U.S Pacific Waters
In early April NOAA’s hydrographic survey vessel Rainier will begin a two‑leg expedition to map more than 8,000 square nautical miles of federal waters around Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll. The first leg will deploy multibeam echo‑sounders to capture high‑resolution...
Signal Vs. Permission: The Lag Between Insight and Capital
The article contrasts a "signal economy"—where geologists and analysts spot early patterns—with a "permission economy" where institutions wait for validated narratives before moving capital. It uses the recent gold sell‑off, driven by a global liquidity squeeze, as a case study...
UK DLE Projects Push for Simpler Li Buildouts
Direct lithium extraction (DLE) projects in the UK will only generate cashflow if their process flowsheets are simplified and early engineering is rigorously applied, conference delegates said. Developers face a trade‑off between compressing engineering schedules to meet funding windows and...
Fastmarkets Proposes to Launch US Bismuth, Indium Price Assessments: Pricing Notice
Fastmarkets announced plans to introduce fortnightly price assessments for bismuth and indium on a Delivered‑Duty‑Paid (DDP) US basis starting May 1. The bismuth benchmark will be quoted in USD per pound with a minimum 1‑tonne contract, while indium will be priced...
The Hydrogen Stream: Capacity Outlook Grows, Deals Shift
GlobalData projects global low‑carbon hydrogen capacity could reach 82.3 mtpa by 2030, up from 2.2 mtpa active in early 2026 across 460 projects. Only 2% of that future capacity is operational, with most projects still in feasibility or early stages. Meanwhile, Topsoe...
Slovakia Interested in Gas From Offshore Romanian Neptun Project
Slovakia announced its interest in importing gas from Romania’s Neptun Deep offshore project as its Russian gas deliveries are set to cease by 2027. Prime Minister Robert Fico said Slovakia would use existing infrastructure to purchase gas on a commercial...
China PV Industry Brief: China Adds 32.48 GW Solar as Polysilicon Prices Fall
China’s National Energy Administration reported 32.48 GW of new solar capacity installed in January‑February 2026, a 17.7% year‑on‑year decline, while total generation capacity reached 3.95 TW, with solar climbing to 1.23 TW (+33.2%). Polysilicon prices fell sharply, with weekly drops of up to...
Helium and Sulfur Shortages Threaten Mining and EVs
We are just weeks from major disruptions to mining, EVs, and all such things due to Helium and Sulfur shortages It is not the end of the world, but it will likely end the business cycle unless solved within 7-10 days...
LaFleur Minerals Files PEA Technical Report Supporting Restart of Gold Production at Beacon Gold Mill, Québec
LaFleur Minerals filed an NI 43-101 technical report backing its Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Swanson Gold Deposit and the restart of the fully‑permitted Beacon Gold Mill in Québec. The PEA forecasts a 65% after‑tax IRR and an NPV of...
Alaska Ore Tests Beat Military‑Grade Specs, Raising Strategic Mineral Stakes
Independent testing of ore from a newly identified Alaskan deposit found it exceeds military‑grade quality thresholds. The discovery could reshape U.S. supply chains for defense‑critical minerals, intensifying the clash between mining advocates and conservation groups.
EnergyX Starts up 250tpa DLE Plant
EnergyX, a privately held lithium developer, has commissioned its 250‑tonne‑per‑year direct lithium extraction (DLE) demonstration plant, Project Lonestar, near Texarkana, Texas. The facility is the first U.S. plant to process lithium‑rich brine from the Smackover formation, using proprietary solvent‑based extraction...
Great Pacific Gold Raising $20 Million From Upsized Financing
Great Pacific Gold Corp. announced it is upsizing its public unit offering to raise approximately $20 million, up from the previously targeted $15 million. The company will issue up to 42.6 million units at 47 cents each, each unit comprising one common share and...
SmallCap-Investor Interview Mit Patrick Highsmith, Chairman Von FireFox Gold
FireFox Gold (WKN: A419WJ) is focusing on its Mustajärvi project in Finland’s Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, a region historically underexplored due to heavy glaciation. Recent drilling has returned high‑grade gold intersections, suggesting the company is nearing a genuine discovery. The...
WATCH: FLNG Mooring System Slides in Place Offshore Congo
France’s marine contractor Geocean, together with China’s Wison New Energies, has completed the installation of a floating LNG (FLNG) mooring system in the Marine XII block off Congo’s Pointe Noire. The operation placed driven anchor piles, a submerged swivel and yoke,...
U.S. Great Lakes Shipping Stands Still Due to Ice Conditions, Lack of Icebreakers
U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighters are immobilized in the St. Marys River and Whitefish Bay after the Soo Locks opened, as ice up to two feet thick—covered by three feet of snow—blocks passage. The sole U.S. heavy icebreaker, the Coast Guard cutter...
Minerals Council CEO Reiterates Need for Coordinated Cross-Govt Policy Environment
Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane urged a coordinated cross‑government policy framework and a revival of exploration confidence to meet soaring global demand for energy metals. He highlighted South Africa’s declining mining output—11 % lower than in 1994 and a...
Paragon to Address BC Exploration Restrictions with Combined PhotonAssay, Veracio Lab Offering
Paragon Advanced Labs has launched a combined laboratory service in British Columbia that merges PhotonAssay’s rapid, non‑destructive gold analysis with Veracio’s high‑energy whole‑rock scanning. The integrated workflow delivers geochemical results in days rather than weeks, allowing exploration teams to adjust...
DOUG CASEY'S EXPERT ROUNDTABLE SPOTLIGHTS MIDNIGHT SUN MINING: My Take as a Roundtable Member
Midnight Sun Mining (MDNGF) unveiled a new resource estimate for its Kaziba Main copper‑oxide deposit and highlighted recent drill results at the Dumbwa target in Zambia’s Copper Belt. The update was presented to Doug Casey’s Expert Roundtable, where analysts such...
New Joint Project Aims to Bring Subsea Chemical Storage Technology to Deployment
Oilfield services firm NOV has launched a joint industry project with Equinor and Petrobras to qualify a subsea chemical storage unit up to 200 m³ for field deployment. The initiative aims to cut topside footprint, reduce vessel usage, and support long...
Atlantic Nickel Announces First Blast at Santa Rita Underground Mine Access Portal
Atlantic Nickel, together with Appian Capital Advisory, has kicked off underground development at Brazil's Santa Rita mine with an inaugural blast that opened the first access portal. The project, employing sublevel caving, targets an annual output of roughly 30,000 tonnes...
EU and Australia Seal Eight-Year Free-Trade Pact, Unlocking Critical Minerals
The European Union and Australia have signed a comprehensive free‑trade agreement after eight years of talks, eliminating most tariffs on goods and creating a dedicated pathway for critical minerals. The pact is expected to boost Australian exports, tighten supply chains...
PRIO Brings Second Wahoo Well Online Off Brazil
Brazilian independent producer PRIO has placed a second well at its offshore Wahoo field into production, delivering a stable output of 12,000 barrels of oil per day. The company plans to bring the third and fourth wells online and adjust...
Third Train on the Cards for LNG Project, Unleashing More Australian Gas
Japan’s Inpex and U.S. firm Formentera have formed a joint venture to develop the Beetaloo Basin’s shale gas, acquiring 68,000 net acres for $208 million with an option for up to 75,000 more acres at $266‑$411 million. The partnership will feed a...
Leave Your Valuables on the Way Out
Turkey’s central bank sold roughly $3 billion of gold last week, cutting its reserves to 772 tonnes – the steepest weekly decline since August 2018. The sale is part of $26 billion in foreign‑currency sales since the Iran‑related war began, wiping about $35 billion from...
Cleanova Boosts Seawater Injection Capacity on Gulf of Mexico Platform
Cleanova upgraded an existing seawater filtration system on a Gulf of Mexico oil platform, boosting injection capacity by nearly 50% without halting production. The company replaced original filter elements with its CleanMax high‑flow cartridges, improving flow rates and biofouling resistance....
How Uranium Will Help Power the AI Revolution
Uranium is emerging as a strategic pillar of the global energy transition as AI data centers drive unprecedented electricity demand. Tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon are directly funding nuclear projects and small modular reactors, creating a new demand...
Europa Oil & Gas Secures License Extension Off Ireland
Europa Oil & Gas received Irish government approval to extend its FEL 4/19 license until January 2028, providing additional time for technical studies and partner outreach. The license covers the Inishkea West gas prospect, estimated at roughly 1.5 trillion cubic feet of low‑risk gas....
The Tech Download: How Russia Could Profit From Iran War Helium Supply Chain Disruption in the Chip Sector
The Iran‑U.S. conflict has halted Qatar’s helium output, wiping out roughly a third of global supply. With Qatar accounting for over 30% of the market, helium prices have spiked, prompting semiconductor makers to seek alternative sources. Russia, the world’s third‑largest...
Soybean $12 Barrier Demands $100+ Oil, Crop Shortfalls
Soybean's $12 Ceiling Alongside $120 Crude Oil - It may take some combination of WTI crude oil staying above $100 a barrel, a poor Brazilian crop and a Corn Belt drought for soybeans to stay above $12 a bushel. Alongside...
Grain Producers Hedge as Futures Signal Mild Profitability
March Selling When They're Yelling in Grains - A takeaway from the March 24-25 Bloomberg Farm, Food & Fuel Summit in Kansas City was that many Corn Belt grain producers used recent price increases to hedge. Corn and soybean futures...
Antofagasta PLC – Copper Growth Delivery Going Hand in Hand with Innovation
Antofagasta PLC highlighted how its 2025 innovation program is driving copper growth and operational efficiency. Deployments include autonomous truck fleets at Centinela, AI‑powered SIRO platforms boosting SAG mill availability to 94.4% and recoveries, and a trolley‑assist trial with Komatsu and...
LNG, VG, NEXT Surge After Australian LNG Outage
Looks like $LNG, $VG, and $NEXT are going higher and higher after the loss of Australian LNG. https://t.co/aF1BJEMbd2
PTX Metals Secures Ontario Funding, Boosting Mining Momentum
PTX Metals $PTX.V $PANXF Welcomes Ontario Support Through OJEP Funding, Highlights Growing Momentum in Province's Mining Sector https://t.co/o77K62JCAB https://t.co/eIJTMgva5h
Eni Exits Consortium for Oil and Gas Exploration Offshore Israel
Italian energy major Eni announced its withdrawal from a three‑partner consortium seeking offshore natural‑gas exploration licenses in Israel. The group, which also includes Dana Petroleum and Ratio Energies, had been awarded six prospective licenses in Cluster G during Israel’s fourth offshore...
Libya’s NOC and Chevron Agree Study Offshore Libya
Libya’s National Oil Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding with Chevron to conduct a technical study of offshore Block NC146, an unexplored area that recent geological data suggests is promising. The study will evaluate the block’s discovery potential, aiming to add...
Helium Shortage Threatens Semiconductor Production, Says CEO
NEW ODD LOTSL The helium shortage @tracyalloway and I talk to Nicholas Snyder, CEO of North Americah Helium about a commodity with a surprising number of industrial applications, including and especially the semiconductor industry https://t.co/QjwqFhMsdO
Iran’s Gas Attacks Threaten Persian Gulf Aluminum Production
Aluminum production in the Persian Gulf is going bye-bye. As Iran ramps up strikes on gas fields, pipelines, and power plants, the countries that depend upon cheap natural gas will no longer be able to run their smelters. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/HA7AqLgHqP...
Pickstone Peerless Embarks on Fully Digital Journey, Surveying at the Core
Pickstone Peerless Mine, owned by Padenga Holdings, is launching a full‑scale digital transformation in Zimbabwe’s narrow‑reef underground sector. The mine, which resumed underground production in September 2023 after a massive dewatering and map‑rebuilding effort, is prioritising surveying as the backbone of...
Etu Energias to Acquire Azule Energy’s Stakes in Angola’s Offshore Blocks
Portuguese‑based Etu Energias has signed a sale‑and‑purchase agreement to acquire Azule Energy’s 20% stake in Block 14 and 10% stake in Block 14K, offshore Angola. The deal, valued at up to $310 million including $115 million in contingent payments, replaces a previously aborted consortium...
U.S.–Indonesia $33 Billion Trade Deal Draws ‘Extractive Colonialism’ Criticism Over Mining Expansion
The United States and Indonesia signed a $33 billion trade agreement that eases U.S. access to Indonesia’s critical minerals and fossil‑fuel sectors. Activists and watchdogs label the pact ‘extractive colonialism,’ warning it could accelerate mining, weaken export controls and deepen environmental...
Go-Ahead for North Sea Drilling Ops with Saipem’s Rig
Norwegian authorities have approved Aker BP to commence exploration drilling on the Norwegian Continental Shelf using Saipem’s Scarabeo 8 semi‑submersible rig. The consent covers well 36/4‑2 in block 36/4 under production licence 1153, which runs until 2030, and a pilot hole 35/10‑U‑1 in licence 1182S...
EACON’s Autonomy Deployed on 120 Battery-Electric Trucks at Zhundong Mine
EACON’s ORCASTRA® autonomous haulage system is now running on 120 Tonly TLE138 battery‑electric trucks at China’s Zhundong open‑pit coal mine, creating one of the world’s largest single‑site electric fleets. The trucks, each with a 90‑ton payload, have collectively logged more...
Gold Prices Bounce Back After Morning Drop
Vietnam's Saigon Jewelry Company saw its gold‑bar price rebound 0.59% to VND 171.6 million (≈$6,517) per tael after a morning dip, while gold‑ring prices also edged higher. Globally, spot gold surged 2% to $4,466 per ounce, driven by a softer U.S. dollar...
Coal India to Spend ₹3,300 Crore for New Coking Coal Washeries
Coal India announced a ₹3,300 crore ($398 million) investment to build eight new coking‑coal washeries, adding 21.5 million tonnes per year of washing capacity by FY30. The plan includes a ₹300 crore ($36 million) upgrade of existing facilities and leverages Tata Steel’s technical expertise. Combined with...
US Takes Stake in Graphite Miner Syrah Resources
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is converting a $31 million loan into roughly a 20 percent equity stake in Australian graphite miner Syrah Resources, making it the agency’s second‑largest shareholder. An additional $15 million will be disbursed to Syrah’s Balama mine in...
Barry FitzGerald: Looking for Upside in the Oil Crisis? Find It in ASX Lithium Stocks
A surge in petrol and diesel prices caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade is creating a tailwind for lithium demand, especially from electric‑vehicle (EV) buyers seeking to avoid record fuel costs. Macquarie’s research now expects the global lithium market...
How Capital Cycles Create 100 Baggers (Django Davidson)
In this episode, Django Davidson explains the capital cycle framework—a supply‑focused, mean‑reverting approach to investing that emphasizes measurable supply constraints over demand storytelling. He traces its origins to Jeremy Hosking’s experience with the PC boom, outlines how capital misallocation drives...