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:
Ecuador’s Broken Oil Industry Faces Violent Headwinds
Ecuador’s oil output is collapsing as landslides, aging pipelines and a wave of sabotage slash production. The country’s role as a transshipment hub for roughly 70% of the world’s cocaine has sparked a 20‑fold surge in fuel theft and violent attacks on oil facilities. Government finances are under strain, with the 2025 fiscal deficit swelling to $5.3 billion—about 4% of GDP—driven by higher security costs and a 15% drop in oil revenue. Recent pipeline ruptures and a major 2025 spill forced temporary shutdowns, pushing daily lifts to historic lows.
Indigenous Groups Demand Halt to Belo Sun Amazon Gold Mine
More than 120 Indigenous protesters, led by Indigenous women, have occupied a federal building in Altamira, Brazil, demanding that authorities block the license for Belo Sun's Volta Grande gold mine on the Xingu River. A February 13 court ruling reinstated...
Sheepmeat Export Update February 2026
Australian sheepmeat exports slipped 10% year‑on‑year in February to 46,890 tonnes, yet remained 12% above the five‑year February average. China stayed the top buyer with 9,325 tonnes, but its shipments fell 26% YoY, while the United States imported 8,079 tonnes, down 16% YoY...
Liberia: Bong County - Lawmakers Suspend Hurine Mining Operations for License Violations
Lawmakers in Liberia’s House Committee on Land, Mines, and Energy ordered an immediate suspension of Hurine Mining Company’s operations in Bong County after confirming the firm exceeded the limits of its Class B mining license. The action follows a complaint by...
Caterpillar and Fortescue Extend Command for Hauling Agreement for Western Australia Mines
Caterpillar has renewed its MineStar Command agreement with Fortescue’s Chichester Metals and FMG Solomon to supply and operate autonomous haulage software at three Western Australian mines. The extension continues a decade‑long deployment that began in 2012, reinforcing safety, reliability and...
Iran Discovers Strait of Hormuz Leverage Is Unreliable
As with its nuclear program, Iran can not unlearnt new knowledge. And Tehran has learnt lots in the last 4 weeks. Iran assumed the Strait of Hormuz gave it a lever. But its effectiveness was unproven, and it didn’t know...
The $826 Billion Shift: Why Metal ETFs Are Reshaping — and Distorting — the Future of Supply
Metal and mining exchange‑traded funds now control roughly $826 billion, with 84% allocated to physical metal ETFs—gold alone accounts for about $577 billion. By contrast, funds that own mining equities represent just over 12% of assets, leaving critical‑mineral ETFs at a modest...
Arizona State Auction of 160 Acres Fuels Fight Over Hudbay's Copper World Mine
The Arizona State Land Department is auctioning a 160‑acre parcel near Vail for $993,000 to Canadian miner Hudbay Minerals, a critical step for its $1.7 billion Copper World copper project. Local officials and residents, fearing toxic tailings and air pollution, have...
KCM’s Copper Grade A “REC” Brand Reinstated by LME After Responsible Minerals Audit
London Metal Exchange has reinstated Konkola Copper Mines’ Grade A “REC” copper brand after an independent Responsible Minerals Initiative audit. The audit verified KCM’s full compliance with international responsible sourcing, transparency and due‑diligence standards. Acting CEO Malcolm Mewett called the decision...
MMG Kinsevere Strengthens University Partnerships to Support Mining Sector Transformation in the DRC
MMG Kinsevere joined the third Industry University Forum alongside Gécamines, KCC, Mutanda Mining and KICO to discuss the DRC mining sector’s shift toward sulfide ore processing and advanced technologies. The company highlighted the transition’s demand for higher‑level engineering skills and...
Precious Metals Rally, Juniors Lead; Stay Ready
Very encouraging move in precious metals off the lows. Silver and copper are leading, with juniors outperforming seniors and explorers showing strong upside today. That said — the day and week are far from over. After leaning optimistic recently, some caution is warranted...
InvestorTalk Alert: Kevin Keough From Oreterra Metals Corp. To Host on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 9:00 AM EST
Oreterra Metals Corp. will host an InvestorTalk on March 24, 2026, featuring CEO Kevin Keough. The company recently closed a $9.7 million (≈ $7.2 million USD) oversubscribed private placement, fully funding a two‑phase, ~10,000‑metre drill program at its flagship Trek South copper‑gold prospect in British...
Weight of Freight: Guinea’s Grip on the Capesize Market
In this episode, Richard Stevenson of Pendle Commodity Investments explains why capesize freight rates surged in early 2026, highlighting the unexpected boost from Guinea’s bauxite shipments and elevated bunker costs due to Middle‑East tensions. He outlines the political risk of...
Acid Prices Surge as Hormuz Sulfur Supply Tightens
Kamoa-Kakula's #copper smelter is currently producing 1,600 tonnes of high-strength sulphuric acid per day. We are currently selling this acid for between $470/t and $500/t to local mining operations in the DRC Copperbelt that critically need the acid to leach...
Latin America’s Lithium, Copper Boom
Global demand for copper and lithium is surging as electrification, AI data centers, and defense spending accelerate, pushing copper prices up 53% to around $13,000 per ton and keeping lithium in a $11,500‑$28,500 range. Analysts forecast a copper production deficit...
First Low‑Carbon Copper Anodes Shipped via Lobito Railway
The first batch of 99.7%-pure copper anodes produced by our new smelter at Kamoa-Kakula was recently delivered to the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola. This shipment of anodes was the first to be transported along the Lobito Railway Corridor....
Excelsior: Metals Market Mash-Up – Navigating The Turbulent Seas
The metals sector has been rattled by sharp price swings throughout 2026, leaving investors uncertain. In this context, junior miner Silver Viper announced an 11.70‑million‑ounce resource estimate featuring high‑grade intersections of 9.18 g/t gold and 352 g/t silver. The company is simultaneously...
Volvo FH Autonomous Truck Fleet Now Hauling All Production for Brønnøy Kalk
Volvo Autonomous Solutions has expanded its Autona/earth platform at Norway's Brønnøy Kalk limestone mine to run three shifts, allowing a fleet of nine Volvo FH autonomous trucks to handle the entire five‑kilometre haul route around the clock. The trucks, equipped...
Ceva Logistics to Offer Maritime Transport for End-of-Life Batteries
Ceva Logistics, a French logistics firm within the CMA CGM Group, has launched a maritime service to ship used lithium‑ion EV batteries from island regions to continental Europe. The solution uses five specially adapted containers with a combined capacity of 30 tonnes,...
$4 Billion LNG Lawsuit Going Ahead as Arbitration Starts
Singapore‑based Sinolam International has launched a $4 billion arbitration claim against Panama under the Panama‑Singapore free trade agreement, alleging unlawful cancellation of a 441 MW LNG‑to‑power project license. The dispute, filed with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), stems...
Fresh LNG Gig in Africa Lands on Spanish Player’s Worksheet
Spain’s Reganosa has secured a project‑management consultancy contract to oversee construction of a new LNG import terminal in Dakar, Senegal. The terminal will feature a 137,000‑cubic‑meter floating storage unit, quay‑based modular regasification, and later on‑shore expansion including truck‑loading bays and...
West Kitikmeot Secures ATCO Backing
West Kitikmeot Resources Corp. secured a C$10 million (US$7.4 million) investment from Calgary‑based ATCO Ltd., granting the infrastructure firm a 40 % equity stake. The funding will support the staged development of the Grays Bay Road and Port Project, an all‑season 230‑km road...
Zimbabwe: Rio Zim Challenges Cancellation of 40-Year Mining Grant
Mining giant Rio Zim has filed a High Court suit challenging the Ministry of Mines’ August 2025 cancellation of Special Grant No. 849 for the Sengwa coal fields. Rio Zim, which has spent over $5 million on exploration and feasibility studies, argues...
Epiroc Ground Support and Master Builders Solutions to Advance Next-Generation Chemical Solutions for Mining
Swedish equipment maker Epiroc Ground Support has partnered with chemical specialist Master Builders Solutions to co‑develop next‑generation mining chemicals. The collaboration’s first product, BoltX‑P, is a thixotropic resin that promises greater durability, improved sustainability and faster supply response. By combining...
WTI May Top Near $120 by 2026, Echoing 2008
WTI Peaks and Recessions: $120 (2026), $147 (2008), $130 (2022) - WTI crude oil was near unchanged for the week ending March 20 despite the Strait of Hormuz remaining mostly closed, suggesting a potential topping process reminiscent of 2008. Roughly...
2026 Commodity Pump‑Then‑Dump May Hit WTI Crude
Crude vs. 2026 Commodity Pump-Then-Dump Pattern - Front-month US natural gas futures surged roughly 100% to the January peak, then reversed to about a 15% decline by March 20. Will WTI crude oil follow? Silver and copper have also shifted...
BP and ADNOC’s JV Ready to Kick Off Mediterranean Gas Hunt with Valaris Rig
BP and its UAE partner ADNOC, through the Arcius Energy joint venture, are launching a multi‑well drilling campaign off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast using Valaris’s DS‑12 drillship. The campaign will target two exploration wells, Atoll West and Nofret, as part of...
Liberia: Bea Mountain Mining Corporation Responds to Epa Statement On Marvoe Creek Incident
Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC) responded to a recent EPA statement linking a fish‑mortality incident at Marvoe Creek to its operations. BMMC highlighted that it had originally detected and reported the incident on 24 February and that EPA’s earlier analysis found...
China Copper Stocks Fall on War-Driven Price Drop
China’s refined copper inventories shrank by 78,700 tons in the week to March 23, falling to 486,200 tons—the steepest weekly drop this year. The decline was driven by a roughly 12% price plunge on the London Metal Exchange this month, spurred...
Iran War Pushes up Miners’ Diesel Costs
The Iran‑Israel conflict has nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz, sending Singapore diesel swaps soaring to about $180 a barrel—almost double pre‑conflict levels. Fortescue Metals Group, the world’s fourth‑largest iron‑ore producer, said a 10‑cent diesel price shift translates to $70 million...
Olympio Lands Best-Ever Gold Hit in Quebec
Olympio Metals announced its best‑ever gold intercept at the Paquin prospect of the Bousquet project in Quebec, reporting a 7.5‑metre interval grading 41.81 g/t gold from 182 metres depth. The result comes from phase‑two drilling, which completed seven holes totaling 1,639 metres and...
Cementation Africa to Equip Mindola Shaft for the Future of Nkana Mine
Cementation Africa is upgrading Mopani Copper Mines' Mindola shaft in Zambia to extend the life of the Nkana mine. The project involves installing a permanent headgear, new winders, and an overland conveyor, followed by a 3D scan to correct shaft...
Long-Term Copper Bull, Short-Term Bear: 2008 Lessons
OK, let’s get this out in the open so we all know where we stand. I’m a long-term #copper bull. But I’m a short-term copper bear. And this is why. I was both a long-term and short-term copper bull in 2008 –...
Fire Hits Oil Production at Major Libyan Field
The National Oil Corp reported a valve leak that sparked a fire on the Sharara‑to‑Zawiya pipeline, cutting roughly half of the field’s 330,000 bpd capacity. Production losses were mitigated by diverting crude to the El Feel and Hamada pipelines, and the...
Spotlight: “She’ll Be ‘Right, Mate” – Can Your Robot Pass the Turing Test?
Ben Miller argues that autonomous earth‑moving equipment should be judged by a mining‑industry version of the Turing Test – can seasoned operators tell a machine from a human driver? He notes that even the most mature autonomous haulage systems from...
SA Rues Gold’s Plunge – and It Could Get a Heap Worse
Gold prices have fallen 17% since their January peak, pulling South Africa's all‑share JSE index down 14.8% as gold miners, once 20% of the top‑40, saw sharp sell‑offs. The decline is linked to leveraged positions unwinding after gold’s rally to...
How Caledonia Mining Slashed Diesel Reliance to 2% Amid Global Fuel Volatility
Caledonia Mining Corporation has cut diesel use for power generation to just 2% of its electricity mix in 2025, down from 8% in 2020. Solar installations now provide roughly 20% of the Blanket Mine’s power, while the remainder comes from...
Efficiency Wins Amid Middle East Oil Volatility
Chaos in the Middle East is a wake-up call for oil and gas producers. When volatility rises, efficiency becomes the ultimate resource... The real winners are those who can extract oil and gas from wells more effectively and efficiently. This...
U.S. Gains Most From Hormuz Crisis, Timing Crucial
No matter how you slice it, the United States stands to gain the most from the Hormuz crisis—but keep the timeframes separate, or the picture gets muddled fast. 👇👇👇
Oil Prices Slip Despite Months-Long Supply Recovery
By now, everyone knows it will take months for oil supplies to recover from this fiasco. And yet the oil price dropped pretty sharply on today's fake TACO. That seems significant to me...maybe, if we get a proper resolution, markets...
Brent Crude Slides Below $100, Still Above Pre‑crisis Levels
CHART OF THE DAY: Brent crude oil has settled today below $100 a barrel (at $99.94 a barrel). As the chart shows, still way higher than pre-crisis levels, but also well below the peak reached during the early days of...
Heliostar Metals Secures Full Ownership of Utah Goldstrike
Mngt at @HeliostarMetals adds another piece to its growing #gold story, acquiring a 100% interest in the Goldstrike project in Utah. Check out JV's list of the company's momentum already this year. Plus, his take on gold's selloff and 2 baby...
US‑China Trade War Threatens 2025 Economy; Cooperation Needed
NEW: The US and China put parts of the global economy at risk in 2025 through their trade war over critical minerals & technology. Here I explore a novel path for Washington and Beijing to 'cooperate' over *HOW* they reduce their...
Sultan Al Jaber’s CERAWeek Speech Highlights Energy Transition
Worth to read the speech that Sultan al Jaber, the CEO of UAE-state owned oil giant ADNOC, just delivered at CERAWeek (by video conference for obvious reasons). https://t.co/ATookvzJEA
Physical Oil Scarcity Outpaces Futures Pricing, Says Chevron CEO
Chevron CEO Mike Wirth says the physical oil market is tighter than the financial oil market is reflecting, particularly for refined products. The scarcity, particularly in Asia, is “not fully priced in the oil futures curve,” he says. #CERAWeek
U.S. Oil Production Likely Plateaued, Growth Hinges on Prices
Chevron CEO Mike Wirth says that U.S. oil production probably reached a “plateau” over the last 6 months or so — too early to say whether growth would re-start as it would depend whether current prices stay or not.
US SPR Release Targets Up to 3 Million Barrels Daily
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the US flow rate from the SPR exchange would amount to be 1.0-1.5m b/d and says the total IEA release would come close to 3m b/d. (Those are the first flow rates estimates publicly discussed...
Watch Miners Rise as Metal Prices Bottom
A Classic End to A major Gold and Silver Correction like we're seeing occurs when Metal Prices Fall but Miners Hold steady then Begin to rise, giving the all-clear signal- that's what investors should be watching this week. $GLD $SLV...
Cashing Out High, Targeting Beaten‑Down US Junior Silver
During VRIC and Bmo it was very clear we needed a healthy shakeout. Glad i had one position get bought out for cash near the top. So I’ll be able to redeploy into beaten down junior silver miners...
Gold and Silver Discount Window Nearing End, Bullish Reversal Ahead
Bullish reversal coming…discount window in gold and silver going to come to an end soon. https://t.co/Yd9oNzf6ao