CRITICAL MINERALS
China rare earth exports to US fall ahead of summit
- Staff Writer
ZAMBIA
India, Zambia restart critical minerals talks
India has resumed talks with Zambia over potential investments in copper and other critical minerals as it looks overseas to secure raw materials for its growing economy, Reuters reported. Officials from…
ENERGY
Lithium miners cash in as battery storage lifts demand
LITHIUM producers from China to Australia have reported sharply higher profits as rising battery-storage demand lifted prices for the metal, Bloomberg reported. Chinese producers Tianqi Lithium and Ganfeng…
SOUTH AFRICA
US backs African rare earths as private capital stays away
THE US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is backing a pipeline of African rare-earth projects in an effort to reduce investment risks and attract private capital to a sector considered…
DIVIDENDS
Metals of war: why US Govt has weaponised mining
Eighteen mining companies went public in the past 12 months with one aim in common: an ambition to supply the US government’s defence industry. Assisted by US President Donald Trump’s aggressive imperialism,…
MANGANESE
US bans critical mineral exports in bid to boost defence
THE US will prohibit exports of certain used critical minerals as it moves to secure military supply chains and reduce reliance on China for metals, said the Financial Times. The Bureau of Industry and…
PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA
Lithium mining stirs backlash from SA farmers
LITHIUM mining for batteries is becoming a pillar of South Africa’s plan to harness the global shift to green energy, but faces resistance from farmers fearing the loss of productive land to open-pit mines.…
UKRAINE
Short sellers target US rare earth stocks
HEDGE funds are ramping up bets against US critical minerals companies, wagering that Trump administration support won’t be enough to loosen China’s grip on global supply, said the Financial Times citing data…
MINING
US backs Madagascar rare earths project
THE US State Department has confirmed support for the Ampasindava rare earths development in Madagascar, part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on rivals – chiefly China – for critical mineral supply…
COBALT
Zimbabwe’s only lithium plant lacks spare capacity
ZIMBABWE’S single operating lithium sulphate plant, run by a unit of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, has no room to process material from rival producers just months before a ban on concentrate exports takes…
NICKEL
China launches vehicle to steer overseas mining deals
CHINA has set up a new state-backed investment company to coordinate its overseas mining deals, as Beijing seeks tighter control over global mineral supply chains amid Western efforts to curb its dominance,…
EXPORTS
Canada and Japan eye critical minerals stockpiling deal
CANADA and Japan are exploring joint mining projects and potential stockpiling arrangements for critical minerals including graphite and gallium, as Tokyo seeks to reduce its dependence on Chinese supply…
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
US Army opens bases to critical minerals plants
THE US Army has struck preliminary agreements with four companies to build critical minerals processing facilities on military installations, marking the first time commercial mineral plants have been sited…
EXPORTS
Zimbabwe to use minerals deals with China for infrastructure
ZIMBABWE is in talks with China Railway over resource-backed financing to fund road and rail construction, as the southern African nation seeks to address an estimated $34bn infrastructure deficit. Finance…
GLENCORE
Rio Tinto sees lithium as fastest-growing division
RIO Tinto expects its lithium business to outpace all other divisions as the mining giant works to triple output by 2028 to meet rising demand from electric vehicle and battery storage markets. Jérôme…
ENERGY
Zimbabwe’s lithium miners plead for leeway on export ban
ZIMBABWE’S lithium miners have asked the government to delay a planned ban on concentrate exports by six months to June 2027, saying producers need more time to complete local processing facilities, Reuters…