Environmental Groups Urge Indonesia to Return E-Scrap Shipments
Environmental groups including the Basel Action Network, Nexus3 Foundation and Ecoton have sent an open letter to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto urging the return of 914 containers of suspected illegal electronic waste seized at Batam’s Batu Ampar Port. The letter demands full public transparency on re‑export operations, compliance with the Basel Convention, and strict penalties for misdeclaration and waste trafficking. It also calls for the publication of container numbers and the shutdown of companies involved. The groups cite earlier alerts from Operation Can Opener that identified over 1,500 high‑risk containers destined for Indonesia.
Luca Drills 14g Gold that May Grow Mexico Mine
Luca Mining announced two high‑grade gold intercepts at its Tahuehueto mine, including 14.27 g/t gold over 7.6 m and 6.66 g/t gold over 13.2 m, both drilled just below existing underground workings. The hits occur within 30 m of Level 23, leveraging the mine’s current infrastructure...
Foodservice Packaging Institute Opens Applications for 2026 Foam Recycling Grant Program
The Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) has opened applications for its 2026 Foam Recycling Grant program, offering up to $50,000 to eligible material recovery facilities, curbside programs, and drop‑off sites. Since the program’s launch, more than 15 million residents have gained access...
Next-Gen Rig Simulation: Inside Saipem’s New Drilling Training Centre
Saipem has inaugurated a cutting‑edge Drilling Training Centre equipped with a full‑scale simulator that mirrors offshore rigs. The simulator features a 24‑monitor, eight‑meter screen wall and cyber chairs that replicate real control systems, focusing on deep‑water geological conditions. Accredited by...
Ucore Releases Update on Rare Earths Refining Project
Ucore Rare Metals announced progress on its RapidSX commercial rare‑earth refining facility in Kingston, Ontario, aimed at producing samarium and gadolinium oxides. The project has received conditional approval for up to $36.3 million in Canadian government funding, including $26.3 million from Natural...
Sanmar Delivers Four Electric Tugs to BOTAŞ
Sanmar has delivered four fully electric ElectRA 2500SX tugboats to Turkey’s state‑owned energy company BOTAŞ. The tugs, named BOTAŞ HİLAL, BOTAŞ BAYRAK, BOTAŞ AY and BOTAŞ YILDIZ, will serve the Marmara Ereğlisi LNG Terminal and the Saros FSRU Terminal, providing 70 tons of bollard pull...
Pipeline Gaps and Refinery Shifts Expose California’s Energy Vulnerability
California functions as an “energy island” because it lacks crude‑oil pipelines linking it to major domestic sources such as the Permian Basin. The state now depends on marine imports of heavier Middle‑East crude, which are processed by refineries tuned to...
Can Reshoring and Onshoring Deliver Manufacturing Sustainability Benefits?
U.S. manufacturers are accelerating reshoring and onshoring, with Apple committing over $500 billion and Johnson & Johnson earmarking $55 billion for domestic production through 2029. Companies cite supply‑chain resilience, tariff pressures, and ESG goals as drivers, while surveys show cost remains the dominant factor...
Indonesian Communities Try to Reclaim Lands Following Company Permit Revocations
Indonesia’s government revoked the forest utilization permit of PT Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) and 27 other firms in January 2026, citing violations that contributed to the deadly 2025 floods and landslides. The revocation affects a 167,927‑ha concession, prompting 29 Indigenous...
Chilean Cobalt Expands District Land Position, Drills NeoRe Rare Earth Project, Chile
Chilean Cobalt Corp. reported that its NeoRe Rare Earth Project in southern Chile has entered an accelerated development phase, adding roughly 2,100 hectares through seven new concessions and identifying more than 20 additional targets. Early drilling has logged about 192...
Samsung Heavy Industries Books French Firm’s Tank Design for New LNG Vessel
Samsung Heavy Industries has contracted French specialist Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) to design the cryogenic tanks for a new LNG carrier. The vessel, slated for delivery in 2028, will feature a 180,000 cubic‑metre capacity and employ GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system....
Minerals Council Suggests Tariff Methodology, Costs as Next Focus for Eskom
The Minerals Council South Africa praised Eskom for achieving a 68.5% energy availability factor, above the 68% target, but warned that the utility’s tariff methodology, legacy diesel contracts, and rising wage costs could push electricity prices beyond inflation. The council...
South32 Hermosa Project Closer to US Federal Approval
South32’s Hermosa zinc‑silver project in Arizona received a Draft Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement from the U.S. Forest Service, signaling federal approval for key infrastructure on National Forest land. The draft endorses the preferred development alternative, allowing...
MQA Celebrates Its Thirtieth Anniversary
South Africa’s Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) marked its 30th anniversary, highlighting three decades of coordinating training and learnership programmes for the mining sector. Between 2003/4 and 2024/25, the MQA delivered nearly 460,000 beneficiary completions and allocated roughly R12 billion in discretionary...
JSE Censures Mantengu for Not Disclosing 2023 Confidential Information Leak
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has issued a public censure against mining investment firm Mantengu for failing to publish a cautionary announcement after a price‑sensitive acquisition offer was leaked in 2023. The breach stems from WhatsApp messages that revealed the...
South Africa: Government Intensifies Crackdown On Illegal Mining
South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile announced an intensified, intelligence‑driven crackdown on illegal mining in Gauteng, including Operation Vala Umgodi and deployment of the National Defence Force alongside police and regulatory agencies. The government secured funding for a 12‑dimensional National Illicit...
Viridien Launches Charrua 3D Seismic Survey Offshore Uruguay
Viridien has launched the Charrua 3D multi‑client seismic survey offshore Uruguay, deploying the BGP Prospector vessel. The project employs time‑lag full‑waveform inversion (TLFWI) to generate high‑resolution subsurface images. This effort expands Viridien’s data coverage across the southern Atlantic Margin, a region...
New Frontier Finds High Tungsten Levels at Harts Range in Australia
New Frontier Minerals announced substantial tungsten mineralisation at its Harts Range project in Australia after a 27‑hole, 1,803‑metre RC drilling campaign. Surface assays at the Cusp Prospect recorded tungsten‑oxide values between 5,930 ppm and 14,501 ppm, while the Bank Prospect yielded 1,237 ppm...
USAC Secures $27m for Domestic Critical Materials Extraction
USAC secured $27 million from the Department of War under the Defence Production Act to expand domestic antimony extraction. The grant, part of $58.5 million DPA investments this fiscal year, will modernize USAC’s Montana plant and launch new mining operations...
Villagers Resist Police Probe Into Obstruction of Coal Mining Survey
Villagers in Latehar district, Jharkhand, seized a drone and survey materials used by a coal mining firm for the Tubed Coal Mining Project, prompting a police investigation. The community protested, arguing the survey violated the Panchayats Extension to the Scheduled...
Hercules Semi-Sub Rig Lines Up Canada Job Under $170M Deal
SFL Corporation has signed a roughly $170 million contract for its Hercules semi‑submersible rig with an unnamed multinational oil and gas company in Canada. The agreement covers a minimum 400‑day term starting in the first quarter of 2027, with the rig...
CISF to Get Power to Initiate Legal Action Against Illegal Coal Mining
The Indian government will grant the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) legal powers to initiate action against illegal coal mining, mirroring the authority enjoyed by the Railway Protection Force. Currently limited to guarding ten mines, CISF will gain the ability...
Freight Costs Increase Following Military Strikes in the Middle East
Freight rates from the Far East to the U.S. and Europe rose sharply after recent military strikes in the Middle East, according to Xeneta data. Spot prices jumped about 10% on West Coast routes and 9% on East Coast routes,...
NextStar Energy Opens Battery Cell Plant in Canada
NextStar Energy, a joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, inaugurated Canada’s first large‑scale battery cell plant in Windsor. The facility began series production in November 2025, manufacturing over one million stationary‑storage cells to date. Stellantis has exited the partnership,...
Intermodal Lags Carloads in Latest U.S. Rail Freight Data
U.S. rail carriers posted a modest 1.6% rise in total traffic for the week ending Feb. 28, reaching 516,729 carloads and intermodal units. Carloads jumped 6.9% driven by a 20% surge in grain shipments, while petroleum, chemicals and metallic ores also...
DELKOR India to Supply Thickener for Arab Potash Expansion Project
DELKOR India has secured a major EPC contract with Arab Potash Company to supply a 50‑meter diameter thickener for the company’s Hot Leach Potash (HLP) capacity expansion. The thickener will be built from superalloy steel, feature a sealed, insulated tank...
Arconic Expands in Iowa
Arconic Corp. announced a $175 million expansion of its Davenport Works casthouse in Iowa, dubbed Pit 10. The project will boost aluminum ingot casting capacity, increase scrap utilization, and improve energy efficiency. It is expected to create 40 new jobs and become...
Multiple Offshore Campaigns on TGS Seismic Vessel’s Agenda
TGS has scheduled multiple acquisition campaigns for its Ramform Vanguard seismic vessel, beginning in mid‑March and extending into the third quarter. The program starts with an oil‑and‑gas site survey before moving to two offshore‑wind contracts, leveraging the vessel’s Ultra High...
China Merchants Unit Orders LNG-Powered Yangtze Bulkers
China Merchants’ subsidiary Changhang Freight has placed an order for two 20,000 dwt LNG‑powered bulk carriers from Jiangxi New Jiangzhou Shipbuilding. The vessels are river‑sea direct bulkers designed for Grade A navigation on the Yangtze River, enabling seamless operation between inland waterways...
NZAOA Adds Transition Targets to Revised Target-Setting Framework
The Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA) has released the fifth edition of its target‑setting framework, introducing explicit transition targets for members. The update tightens expectations on asset managers, requiring disclosure of climate‑solution contributions and more rigorous engagement protocols. By...
Go-Ahead for North Sea Drilling Ops with Odfjell Drilling-Managed Rig
Norway’s regulator Havtil has approved Wellesley Petroleum to drill an exploration well in block 35/10 of the North Sea. The 35/10 16 S well, part of the Carmen appraisal under licence 1148, will be drilled in 365 m water using the Deepsea Yantai...
Gold Digger: Drums of War Have Gold Bugs Calling for US$6000
Gold prices are being pushed higher as Middle East conflict escalates, with Argonaut raising its 12‑month target to $6,000 per ounce and State Street assigning a 35% probability to a bull case of $5,500‑$6,250. Safe‑haven demand has lifted gold ETF...
ARM Confirms Bid to Build Ngqura Manganese Terminal
Rainbow Minerals (ARM) confirmed its participation in a joint‑venture bid with Transnet to build the Ngqura Manganese Ore Export Terminal in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The proposed facility would handle 16 Mt of manganese annually, with scope to expand to 22 Mt....
$53M Grant to Support Development of Critical Metals Refining Industry
The Australian Government has committed $53 million through the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program to launch the Critical Metals for Critical Industries (CMCI) CRC. The initiative brings together 62 industry and research partners to develop domestic refining processes for critical metals...
Carnavale’s BFS Drilling Drives Kookynie Closer to Gold Production
Carnavale Resources has finished a five‑week drilling campaign at its Kookynie gold project in Western Australia, delivering 8,500 m of infill RC holes and six large‑diameter diamond cores for metallurgical testing. The program upgrades the 842,000‑tonne indicated resource (4.3 g/t Au, 117,000 oz)...
RANKED: Top 20 Automakers by Battery Metals Spending
The global passenger EV market grew 18% YoY in 2025, pushing battery capacity deployment past 1 TWh for the first time. Raw‑material costs for lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt and manganese reached $15.6 billion, an 11% rise over 2024 but still half of...
AMEC Submission Targets Workforce, Infrastructure Gaps
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) submitted recommendations to a Senate inquiry urging the Australian government to boost community engagement, infrastructure investment, and workforce development for the critical minerals sector. The proposal calls for increased funding for Prescribed...
Weir to Supply ENDURON® HPGR for Platreef Phase 2 Expansion
Weir Group has secured a contract to provide its ENDURON® high‑pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) for the Phase 2 expansion of Ivanhoe Mines’ Platreef project in South Africa. The HPGR circuit will be integrated into the tertiary crushing stage of the new...
Black Bear Eyes Shafter Resource Upside with High-Grade Silver Strike
Black Bear Minerals announced a high‑grade silver intercept at its Shafter project in Texas, reporting a 9.1 metre core averaging 240 g/t Ag from a depth of 214.3 m. The interval also contained 1.1% lead, 1.8% zinc and 0.1 g/t gold, with a 1.5 m...
Mammoth Energy Services Inc (TUSK) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Mammoth Energy Services reported $16.4 million revenue in Q2 2025 but posted a $35.7 million GAAP net loss, driven largely by a $31.7 million non‑cash impairment on its Northern White Sand mine. The quarter featured three major portfolio moves: a $108.7 million sale of infrastructure...
First Nations Coalition Says Indigenous Equity Key to Faster Mining Approvals in Canada
The First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) is championing Indigenous equity ownership as a catalyst for faster mining and energy project approvals across Canada. By providing technical, regulatory and financial support, the coalition helps First Nations move from consultation to...
LIT: Lithium And Battery Technology Remains Bullish (Downgrade)
Analyst Andrew Hecht downgraded the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT) from buy to hold after a pronounced rally from its April 2025 lows. He cites continued volatility but notes a bullish longer‑term chart and an anticipated lithium supply...
CNRL Says It Will Delay $8-Billion Mine Expansion Until Carbon Pricing Rules Are Clear
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. announced it will postpone its $8.25 billion Jackpine mine expansion in northern Alberta until federal and provincial carbon‑pricing and methane‑regulation frameworks are clarified. The delay will shave $310 million from CNRL’s 2026 capital budget and pushes back engineering...
SANY Highlights AI Service Assistant and Remote Control at CONEXPO 2026
At CONEXPO 2026 SANY unveiled its AI Service Assistant (SASA), RootPilot 3D guidance system, and a 5G‑enabled Remote Control that let visitors operate an excavator 6,500 miles away. The company also highlighted telematics that integrate location, hours and maintenance data...
Windward Daily Brief March 5: Conflict Reaches Indian Ocean as Hormuz Remains Shut
The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively shut on March 4, with only five vessels recorded, while traffic through Bab el‑Mandeb surged to 23 crossings, outpacing recent averages. Suez Canal activity fell to 23 transits, below trend levels, and diversions around the...
Glencore Backs Kazakh Entrepreneur’s ERG Stake Bid
Glencore has offered an $800 million pre‑payment to finance Kazakh entrepreneur Shakhmurat Mutalip’s $1.4 billion bid for a 40% stake in Eurasian Resources Group (ERG). The funding would be secured against future ferrochrome deliveries, helping Mutalip outpace a rival offer from ERG...
Zambian Govt Reaffirms Support for Sustainable Artisanal Mining in Central Province
Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development reaffirmed its commitment to legal, organised and sustainable artisanal small‑scale mining (ASM) in Central Province. The government, together with district authorities, traditional leaders and security agencies, will enforce regulations and expand a land‑facilitation...
French Delegation Explores Investment Opportunities at Kalumbila Multi-Facility Economic Zone
A high‑level French embassy delegation toured Zambia’s Kalumbila Multi‑Facility Economic Zone to assess investment prospects in the country’s mining supply chain. Hosted by First Quantum Minerals, the visit highlighted the zone’s 5,000‑hectare footprint, fiscal incentives and ready infrastructure. Kalumbila MFEZ’s...
PDAC 2026 Hosts Another Successful PDAC in Toronto
The 94th Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in Toronto drew more than 32,100 attendees and set a record with over 1,300 exhibitors. Speakers highlighted strong commodity markets and growing governmental recognition of minerals as essential to economic...
PYZ: A Hold Despite Its Concentrated Portfolio Of Inflation Beneficiaries Prone To Deep Drawdowns
PYZ is an Invesco Dorsey Wright Basic Materials Momentum ETF that concentrates on metals, mining and chemicals, aiming to capture inflation‑benefiting stocks with strong price momentum. While the fund has delivered impressive year‑to‑date returns, it has lagged broader material ETFs...