Pilot Crushtec Targets European Growth at Hillhead with Stage V TwisterTrac
Pilot Crushtec will showcase its new TwisterTrac VS350E Stage V mobile crusher at the Hillhead exhibition in the UK from June 23-25, 2026. The machine complies with the EU’s stringent Stage V emissions rules and features a dual‑power system that can run on a generator or grid electricity. The company is using the event, which attracts about 20,000 visitors, to court European distributors and expand its footprint beyond South Africa and its existing UK base. Over 100 TwisterTrac units have been sold worldwide, most outside the company’s home market.
Delayed Publication of Nickel, Cobalt MHP Payable Indicators Cif China, Japan and South Korea
Fastmarkets announced that the publication of its nickel and cobalt mixed‑hydroxide precipitate (MHP) payable indicators on a CIF China, Japan and South Korea basis was delayed on April 2 due to a reporter error. The affected assessments – MB‑NIO‑0004 for nickel...
Current Price of Oil as of April 7, 2026
Oil’s benchmark Brent crude rose to $113.40 a barrel on April 7, 2026, up $2.15 from the previous day and roughly 75% higher than a year ago. The price jumped 33.85% over the past month, reflecting tighter supply and renewed geopolitical...
Oil Prices Rise as Hormuz Stays Shut Ahead of Trump Deadline, Strikes on Iran Intensify
Oil prices jumped as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, with Brent at $111.16 a barrel and U.S. WTI nearing $116, creating a rare WTI premium over Brent. President Trump gave Iran until midnight GMT to reopen the strait, threatening...
War in Iran Drives Russian Oil Prices to a 13-Year High
Russian Urals crude surged to $116.05 a barrel on April 2, the highest level in over 13 years, as the Iran‑linked oil rally lifts global prices. The price far exceeds the $59 per barrel budget assumption, delivering a windfall that eases Kremlin...
First Quantum Could Process Cobre Panama Stockpiles
First Quantum Minerals is seeking Panamanian government approval to extract and process millions of tonnes of copper ore stockpiled at the Cobre Panama mine. The paperwork, if finalized, would allow the company to move the ore, generate substantial tax payments,...
More Renewable Power for South Africa’s Platinum, Iron-Ore, Diamond Mines
Anglo American and EDF, through their Envusa joint venture, have brought 380 MW of renewable capacity online in South Africa with the Umsobomvu wind farm and Mooi Plaats solar project, and a third 140 MW wind farm, Hartebeesthoek, is slated for June...
Lachlan Star Starts Drilling at New Waverley Project, WA
Australian junior Lachlan Star has begun a 1,000‑metre diamond drilling program at its newly acquired New Waverley Gold Project in Western Australia’s Norseman district. The campaign will test historic high‑grade quartz reef intercepts, including 4.1 m at 12.53 g/t and a 0.65 m...
MEGA Resources Mobilises to Tumblegum South Project
MEGA Resources has mobilised workers to Star Minerals’ Tumblegum South Gold Project in Western Australia, initiating site preparations such as topsoil removal, stockpiling and the installation of offices and communications infrastructure. A blast‑hole drill rig is slated to arrive in...
Greenland Set to Reject Kvanefjeld Rare Earth Licence
Greenland’s government has issued a draft decision to refuse renewal of the exploration licence for the Kvanefjeld rare‑earth project, invoking the 2021 ban on uranium mining. The move targets Energy Transition Minerals’ (ETM) application to extend its permit for a...
Liberia: Government Sends Mining Team to Nimba County to Investigate Reported Gold Discovery
Liberia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has deployed a team of engineers and geologists to Tappita in Nimba County to investigate circulating reports of a gold rush. Led by Assistant Minister Emmanuel Vaye, the mission will verify the existence of...
Dolphin Drilling Nears Deal for North Sea Harsh-Environment Rig
Dolphin Drilling, the Oslo‑listed offshore contractor, signed a letter of intent to extend the contract for its Paul B. Loyd Jr. semi‑submersible rig through August 2030, potentially adding up to five more years of work. The rig, a 600‑metre water‑depth, harsh‑environment platform,...
Antimony Resources Begins Studies for Bald Hill Project
Antimony Resources (ATMY) has launched technical and environmental studies to secure permits for its Bald Hill antimony project in southern New Brunswick, Canada. The firm engaged GEMTEC Consulting Engineers and Scientists to draft a regulatory roadmap, with baseline environmental surveys...
Sandvik Launches DD423i Next-Generation Development Drill Rig
Sandvik has launched the DD423i, a next‑generation automated development drill that builds on the decade‑long success of the DD422i. The new rig delivers 34.5% more drilling coverage and 48% better cross‑cut performance, while offering automatic boom movements and collision‑avoidance technology....
CPC Oil Exports via Black Sea Stable After Attack Reports
Kazakhstan’s deputy energy minister confirmed that oil shipments through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) remain stable despite Russian claims of a Ukrainian attack on loading facilities in Novorossiysk. The CPC terminal, which moves about 80% of Kazakhstan’s crude, saw export...
Corpus Christi Water Crisis Spurs Stampede on South Texas Aquifers
A severe water shortage in South Texas has driven Corpus Christi and surrounding communities to rapidly tap the Evangeline and other aquifers. The city began pumping millions of gallons per day after Governor Abbott waived permitting, prompting a cascade of...
Core Lithium Taps NRW for Open-Pit Mining at Grants Deposit
Core Lithium Ltd has signed a roughly A$50 million (≈$35 million) surface‑mining services contract with NRW Pty Ltd to restart open‑pit operations at the Grants deposit in its Finniss Lithium Operation, Northern Territory. The Grants pit will deliver about 784,000 tonnes of ore,...
Iranian Crude Trades at a Premium to Brent After US Waives Sanctions
The United States temporarily lifted the ban on Iranian crude on March 20, allowing Iran’s light oil to re‑enter global markets. This policy shift pushed Iranian crude $1 above the Brent benchmark, its first premium since May 2022, and narrowed the Brent‑Urals...
Kenya Opens Bidding for Prized Rare Earths Deposit
Kenya has opened a competitive tender for the Mrima Hill rare‑earths and niobium deposit, seeking bids from US, Chinese and Australian firms. More than ten companies have already signaled interest, and the government insists any award must include in‑country processing....
CATL Taps Zijin Mining Founder as Mining Advisor
China's CATL, the world’s largest EV battery maker, has hired Chen Jinghe, the founder and former chairman of Zijin Mining, as an advisor to its mining division. Chen, who grew Zijin into a $120 billion mining group, stepped down last year...
India Back to Buying Venezuelan Crude
India is set to import over 12 million barrels of Venezuelan crude this month, the highest volume since February 2020, as it seeks to replace Middle‑East supplies disrupted by the Iran war. The cargoes, mainly the sulfur‑rich Merey blend, were secured before...
Black Sea Oil Hubs in Crosshairs After Drone Strikes
Ukraine intensified drone attacks on Russian oil export hubs in the Black Sea, striking the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal near Novorossiysk. The strikes damaged a single point mooring, loading infrastructure, four storage tanks, and six of seven berths at...
Hunting Gets $63.5 Million of Subsea Orders for New Development Off Guyana
London‑based energy services firm Hunting has secured subsea contracts worth $63.5 million for a new offshore development off Guyana. The award covers the delivery of Hunting’s titanium stress joint (TSJ) product line through its Subsea Spring unit, with revenue to be...
Kenmare’s Year of Prices, Politics and Pain
Kenmare Resources is locked in a dispute with the Mozambican government over a new fiscal deal for its Moma mineral sands mine. The tax authority imposed a 2.5% royalty and stripped the mine’s free‑zone status, eliminating $25‑40 million in annual tax...
Kiniero Quarter 1 Production Update
Robex Resources reported that its newly commissioned Kiniero Gold Mine in Guinea milled 1.6 million tonnes of ore at 0.85 g/t Au, producing 39,367 oz of gold and pouring 38,178 oz in Q1 2026. The company sold 32,306 oz at an average realized price of $4,804...
India Expands Access to Critical Minerals With Mining Rule Changes
India has amended its Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act to simplify access to critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earths. The new rules, effective March 30, 2026, let leaseholders expand standard leases by 10 % and composite...
Novatek Creates Shipbuilding Arm
Novatek, Russia's largest independent gas producer, has launched a shipbuilding subsidiary, Severny Inzhiniring, to build and maintain ice‑class LNG carriers and condensate tankers. The move aims to circumvent Western sanctions that have cut off access to Asian yards like Hanwha...
Pioneer Adds Processing Firepower to Idaho Tungsten Push
Australian miner Pioneer Minerals has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mineral Technologies USA to evaluate processing options for its Springfield tungsten project in Idaho. The partnership will conduct lab tests on both fresh ore and historic tailings, aiming to...
Star Minerals Mobilises to Start Gold Mining at Tumblegum South
Star Minerals and contractor MEGA Resources have begun site mobilisation at the Tumblegum South gold project in Western Australia, clearing topsoil and installing offices. The project holds a 45,000‑ounce gold resource and aims to produce 11,800‑15,900 ounces annually, processed at...
Cutifani and Co Like What They See at Chalice
Chalice Mining has engaged a veteran advisory team, led by former Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani, to accelerate the financing and development of its Gonneville project in Western Australia. The trio, brought in through the Odin Partnership, will refine the...
Queensland Accelerates ‘Significant’ Critical Minerals Project
Queensland has designated the Sugarbag Hill ultra‑high purity quartz sand venture as a prescribed project, unlocking faster approvals for a $515 million Australian (≈$340 million USD) development. The project will generate 600 construction jobs and 140 permanent roles across North and Far...
Antipa Hails Stronger Minyari Development Potential
Antipa Minerals announced a mineral resource upgrade for its 100%‑owned Minyari gold‑copper‑silver project in Western Australia. The total resource now stands at 2.9 million ounces of gold, or 3.6 million ounces gold‑equivalent, reflecting a near‑10% increase. Indicated resources have risen to 85%...
Israel Strikes Iran’s South Pars Gas Complex Again
Israel launched a second airstrike on Iran's South Pars gas field and its adjacent petrochemical complex, targeting the Asaluyeh refinery and the Mahshahr plant. The attacks knocked out facilities that produce roughly 50% of Iran's petrochemicals and account for about...
Sky-High Fuel Prices Will Drive Ship Efficiency Retrofits
U.S. efforts to block the IMO’s Net Zero Framework are unintentionally accelerating maritime sustainability as Middle‑East attacks drive bunker fuel prices to historic highs. The surge in marine fuel costs dramatically shortens the payback horizon for efficiency retrofits, making measures...
Mont Royal on Track to Complete Ashram Preliminary Economic Assessment Update in April
Mont Royal Resources says its Ashram preliminary economic assessment (PEA) is 80% complete and on track for an April 2026 release. The updated study incorporates new assumptions on site access, logistics and processing that are expected to lower capital and...
Angola: Govt Strengthens Measures to Combat Vandalism and Illegal Mining
Angola's executive branch is accelerating a new anti‑vandalism law after the previous statute was struck down, and has already closed more than 1,600 weighing stations that were linked to property damage. The proposal, approved by the Council of Ministers, targets...
The Recovery Revolution Sparked by Platinum Group Metals
The IDTechEx report highlights the platinum group metals (PGM) recycling sector as a proven model for critical material recovery. Today, 21‑34% of global PGM demand is satisfied from secondary sources, generating roughly 73% of the recovery market’s value despite modest...
New Report | Batteries for Construction, Agriculture & Mining Machines
IDTechEx released a comprehensive report forecasting off‑highway battery demand for construction, agriculture and mining equipment through 2036. It projects total battery consumption to reach 45 GWh and outlines revenue growth in the US‑dollar billions. The study evaluates current NMC and LFP...
Material Demand for EV Batteries to Reach 22.2 Million Tonnes by 2036
IDTechEx forecasts global electric‑vehicle battery material demand will reach 22.2 million tonnes by 2036. More than 70% of that demand comes from cell components, with a clear shift toward low‑cost LFP chemistries and higher‑nickel NMC as manufacturers chase energy density. Anode...
EV Li-Ion Cell Materials Market Set to Reach US$154 Billion by 2036
IDTechEx forecasts the global EV lithium‑ion cell material market to reach about $154 billion by 2036. The report highlights the current dominance of nickel‑based NMC 811 and low‑cost LFP chemistries, with LFP priced at $34/kWh and NMC 811 at $39/kWh in 2025. Material...
The Latest Lithium Developments - From Additives to Extraction
IDTechEx highlights rapid growth in lithium‑ion battery additives and the emergence of direct lithium extraction (DLE) as a game‑changing supply method. Additives—binders, conductive agents, electrolyte enhancers—remain under 10% of cell mass but are critical for performance, with PFAS‑free alternatives gaining...
Plansee Group Increases Stake in Molymet
Plansee Group has raised its ownership in Molymet to a 31 percent stake, cementing its position as the largest single shareholder in the world’s leading molybdenum and rhenium processor. The move underscores Plansee’s strategy to secure a stable, independent supply...
Panama Moves to Unlock Copper From Idled Mine
Panama’s Commerce and Industries Ministry will issue a resolution permitting First Quantum Minerals to remove and process the 38 million‑tonne stockpile at the idled Cobre Panama mine, which contains roughly 70,000 tonnes of copper. Processing could start within three months and run...
U.S. Backs Lobito Corridor Concession as Strategic Project in Partnership with DRC
The United States has designated the Mota‑Engil concession for the Congolese segment of the Lobito Corridor as a priority project under its strategic partnership with the DRC. The corridor aims to route 50% of copper, 30% of cobalt and 90%...
Kristie Batten: Heavy Rare Earths Aiming to Unlock SA’s Critical Minerals Potential
Heavy Rare Earths (ASX:HRE) has completed a board overhaul and now focuses on two flagship projects in South Australia: the tin‑rich Prospect Hill and the multi‑metal Radium Hill corridor. The company plans a 2,500‑metre drilling campaign at Prospect Hill to...
DRC Govt Moves to Strengthen Gold Sector Governance and Combat Smuggling
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa announced a sweeping reform package to improve gold traceability, boost state revenue, and curb smuggling in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A technical working group has drafted revisions to the national traceability manual and to the...
Explorers Podcast: Caspin Drills for Scale at Bygoo Tin Project
Caspin Resources is extending reverse‑circulation drilling beyond its high‑grade Kelpie deposit at the Bygoo tin project in New South Wales. Kelpie currently hosts just under 20,000 tonnes of tin at roughly 0.5% Sn, a robust grade for open‑pit mining. Management...
Codelco and SANY Conduct Successful Pilot of 100% Electric Transport Truck on Strategic Northern Route
Codelco and Chinese equipment maker SANY completed a 680‑kilometre round‑trip pilot using a 100% electric heavy‑duty truck that hauled 27 tonnes of copper between the Radomiro Tomic mine and Angamos Port in Chile's Atacama Desert. The test, conducted under a new...
How to Leverage PLC/SCADA and Digital Twins for Mining Operations
Mining operators are increasingly deploying PLC and SCADA platforms to achieve real‑time visibility across underground and surface sites. A recent gold‑mine project linked 17 PLC nodes via an OPC UA architecture, harvesting over 40,000 data points annually and turning raw logs...
Interior Department to Merge Offshore Oil and Gas Regulatory Agencies
The U.S. Interior Department announced a phased merger of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) into a new Marine Minerals Administration. The consolidation is intended to align leasing, permitting, inspections...
