Russia Builds LNG Dark Fleet
Russia is expanding its clandestine LNG shipping network by acquiring three 20‑year‑old carriers that have been transferred to a newly created Turkish company and reflagged under Sierra Leone. The vessels are currently idle, sailing in ballast around the Cape of Good Hope or anchored off Sri Lanka, with no disclosed cargo destinations. This move follows a pattern established in Russia’s oil dark fleet, allowing Moscow to bypass tightening Western sanctions on LNG transport. The expansion brings the sanctioned LNG fleet to 18 vessels, underscoring a systematic effort to build a parallel logistics chain outside Western oversight.
Dolphin Scheelite Supplies for Traxys
Group 6 Metals, the operator of the Dolphin scheelite project in Tasmania, has secured a multi‑year offtake extension with European trading house Traxys. The agreement is valued at roughly US$1.75 billion (about A$2.5 billion) and guarantees a minimum supply of 10,000 tonnes of tungsten...
Gemfields Girds Market for Loss, Debt Pressure
Gemfields, the leading ruby and emerald miner, warned it will post a loss for the 2025 financial year ending December, citing weak gemstone prices, a delayed expansion project, and operational disruptions such as illegal mining. The company expects a headline...
Ecuador Passes Mining Reforms as Solaris Resources (TSX:SLS) Advances Warintza Project
Ecuador’s National Assembly approved sweeping mining reforms with a 77‑70‑4 vote, introducing a three‑tier environmental authorization system and measures against illegal mining. The new framework aims to streamline permits for large‑scale projects while formalizing artisanal operations. Solaris Resources’ Warintza copper...
H3 Energy Helium Play Adds Spark to South Australia Gas Ambitions
Australian explorer H3 Energy has initiated a targeted helium assessment across the Milford and Milford East structures of its Alinya project in South Australia’s Officer Basin. The study follows Sproule ERCE’s independent estimate of up to 209 billion cubic feet of helium...
Africa: 'At Africa's First Our Ocean Conference, a Test of Global Will On High Seas Protection and Deep-Sea Mining'
The 11th Our Ocean Conference convenes in Mombasa and Kilifi, Kenya from June 16‑18, 2026, marking the first time the summit is hosted on African soil. Delegates will grapple with the newly effective High‑Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) and its implications...
Unearthing the Ground: Architecture and the Politics of Oil
Petroleum’s extraction, transport and petrochemical by‑products form a hidden architectural layer that reshapes cities worldwide. From Baku’s early oil‑filled coastline to Texas fields and Gulf complexes, oil infrastructure converts geological depth into economic value, dictating land division, road placement and...
Australia’s Worst Big Gold Miner Could Become A Star Performer
Northern Star Resources, Australia’s largest gold miner, saw its shares plunge 40% after a troubled upgrade at the Kalgoorlie Fimiston mine caused production downgrades and rising costs. The decline outpaced the 15% drop in gold prices, prompting a wave of...
Flynn Gold Unlocks Shallow High-Grade Tungsten at Firetower
Flynn Gold re‑sampled historic drill holes at its Firetower project in Tasmania, revealing shallow, high‑grade gold‑tungsten mineralisation. Notable intersections include 10 m grading 2.64 g/t gold and 0.19% tungsten, and 17 m with up to 4.09 g/t gold and 0.58% tungsten. The results confirm...
Latrobe Takes Leap Forward with High-Grade Magnesium Production
Latrobe Magnesium completed a two‑week continuous run at its Hazelwood North demonstration plant, producing roughly 20 tonnes of magnesium oxide (MgO) at about 90 % purity. The result validates the company’s patented hydrometallurgical flowsheet, which requires only minor adjustments to exceed 95 %...
Redefining Reliability: When Systems Wait, Operations Pay the Price
Australian mining operators are increasingly halted not by equipment failure but by prolonged waits for critical OEM components, as global supply chains stretch lead times from weeks to months. Geopolitical tensions and freight disruptions have turned part availability into a...
Multi-Billion-Dollar Copper Boom for Queensland
Queensland’s government has declared Harmony Gold’s Eva copper project a large‑resource development, allocating roughly $1.5 billion USD in capital. The mine, located near Cloncurry and Mount Isa, is slated to produce about 60,000 tonnes of copper and 19,000 troy ounces of gold each...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Thungela Slides Into Full Year Loss After R8.8bn Asset Impairment
Thungela Resources reported a full‑year loss of R7.1 billion (≈$374 million) after taking an R8.8 billion (≈$463 million) asset impairment tied to a steep drop in thermal‑coal prices. South African export coal fell 20% to $89.53 per ton and Australian Ensham prices slipped 17%...
Lindian Workers Camp Goes Live at Malawian Rare Earths Project
Lindian Resources announced that its Tipume accommodation camp at the Kangankunde rare‑earth project in Malawi is now fully operational. The camp includes 65 rooms with 38 staff already on site and will expand to house up to 90 workers by...
Macmahon Prepping for Mount Carlton Gold Mine Restart as Part of Wolfram LoI
Macmahon Holdings has signed a Letter of Intent with Wolfram Limited, a Bumi Resources subsidiary, to restart the Mount Carlton Gold Mine in north Queensland. The scope covers surface and underground mining as well as civil infrastructure services, with an...
Flexco System Prevents Costly Conveyor Failure at Cemex
Flexco installed its Elevate belt‑rip detection system at Cemex UK’s Dove Holes Quarry, where it automatically shut down a conveyor after detecting a fallen steel plate in April 2025. The rapid shutdown within 12 metres averted a catastrophic belt rupture and prevented weeks...
Felix Gold Receives Nod for Treasure Creek Antimony Bulk Sampling
Felix Gold secured Alaska DNR approval to bulk sample 1,450 tonnes of antimony ore at the NW Array prospect, part of its Treasure Creek Antimony Project. Testwork shows over 89% antimony‑bearing stibnite veins, with drill hits exceeding 12% Sb and a...
Rio Tinto “Farms Out” Smelter Repowering as Decarbonisation Division Gets the Axe
Rio Tinto has dismantled its dedicated decarbonisation division, moving responsibility for the $1 billion repowering of the Tomago aluminium smelter to its aluminium and lithium team. The shift follows a budget cut that reduced the company’s 2021‑2030 decarbonisation spend to US$1‑2 billion,...
Purus Adds to Samsung Heavy LNG Series
Singapore‑based gas owner Purus has exercised an option for an additional LNG carrier with Samsung Heavy Industries, pricing the contract at KRW 377.9 bn (about $252 m) and targeting delivery in Q2 2029. The newbuild follows a prior $503 m order for two 174,000‑cu m vessels...
Will It Be Onwards and Upwards for the Dry Bulk Market in 2026?
Dry bulk freight surged in Q1 2026, with the Baltic Dry Index hitting 1,906 points—more than double the same period in 2025. Strong Chinese iron‑ore imports, record‑high Pilbara throughput, and a seasonal bauxite peak lifted capesize demand, while limited new...
Thorium Key to India’s Energy Self-Reliance Amid LPG Concerns: Expert
Amid escalating West‑Asia tensions that threaten LPG supplies, India faces heightened energy security risks, prompting experts to spotlight thorium as a long‑term solution. The country possesses roughly 25‑30% of the world’s thorium reserves, offering a domestic, low‑cost fuel for power...
Copper Falls to Three-Month Low as Global Growth Concerns Rise
Copper slipped to its lowest level in over three months, falling 1.8% on the London Metal Exchange after a 6.7% plunge last week. The decline was triggered by heightened risk aversion stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, which pushed...
Verity Strengthens Case for Larger Gold System at Monument
Verity Resources announced that drilling across its Monument gold project in Western Australia has confirmed mineralisation along a 7‑kilometre strike length. Results from the Perseverance and Triton prospects extend the known Banded Iron Formation (BIF) corridor beyond the existing Korong...
Alligator Energy Begins Uranium Extraction in Samphire Field Recovery Trial
Alligator Energy has initiated uranium extraction at its Samphire project in South Australia as part of a four‑month field recovery trial. Detectable uranium concentrations have been confirmed in the lixiviant, though target extraction rates remain unmet. The trial will generate...
Renascor Hits Cobalt-Copper Mineralisation at Bulloo Creek
Renascor Resources announced that its 13‑hole, 2,340‑metre reverse‑circulation drill program at the Bulloo Creek prospect intersected significant cobalt and copper mineralisation across both eastern and western magnetic anomalies. The eastern anomaly returned a 16‑metre interval averaging 901 ppm cobalt, including a...
Curtin Geoscience Hub Aims to Boost Critical Minerals Exploration
Curtin University has launched the Curtin Frontier Institute for Geoscience Solutions (CFIGS) to accelerate critical minerals exploration in Western Australia. The institute links government, industry and academia through a Geo Shopfront platform that delivers tailored geoscience services. Backed by Curtin’s world‑class...
Push for AI Trial to Speed up Environmental Approvals
The Minerals Council of Australia is seeking a $13 million, three‑year AI pilot to modernise environmental approvals under the EPBC Act. The council argues that decision times have jumped 60 % to 3.8 years, stalling projects worth billions. If successful, the initiative could...
Critical Mineral Push as Kalgoorlie Project Noted in US-Japan Meeting
Ardea Resources' Kalgoorlie nickel project was highlighted in the recent US‑Japan summit on critical minerals, underscoring its strategic role in the Goongarrie Hub. The project, backed by Japanese partners Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation, has secured up to $1 billion...