Mining Bulletins
The full story: In-depth news and analysis
International coal miner Coronado Global Resources has signed a letter of intent with Golding Contractors for a five-year amendment of its mining services contract, with an anticipated value of up to $A1.4B at its Curragh mine in Queensland, Australia.
Australian Mines is aiming for June 2022 to finalise a funding agreement for its proposed $US1.5B development of the world-class Sconi mine in northern Queensland after signing a memorandum of understanding with world-leading EV batteries manufacturer LG Energy Solution covering 100% of its battery-grade nickel and cobalt.
Newcrest Mining aims to smooth the transition to the Havieron mine, the first of its prospective developments in Western Australia’s Paterson province, with approval of an additional $246M mine cutback to maintain the continuity of operations at its Telfer plant.
Commercial and logistical challenges caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic force a rethink by Australian project developer TNG and its proposed German EPC contractor SMS Group on the development strategy for the Mount Peake project in the NT.
Miner credits the COVID-19 “pause button” for allowing the world to recognise the need to deliver cleaner solutions for future generations. John Feary reports
Philippines miner TVI Resource Development is moving to take advantage of a perceived easing of the Duterte regime’s opposition to the mining sector with its $54M agreement to acquire the Siana gold mine shut down because of government intransigence over four years ago.
Seventeen years after its geologists made the first discovery of the unique mineral jadarite in western Serbia, Rio Tinto has committed to invest $2.4B on becoming a top 10 global supplier of lithium carbonate to the booming EV and energy storage industries.
South Africa’s largest mineral sands producer is halted for the second time in less than two years because of rising levels of violent opposition from local community groups.
Delivery of the first production ore from the Reid Brook mine marks a milestone in the transition of the Voisey’s Bay mine on the northern Labrador coast in Canada for global miner Vale from openpit to underground mining.
Australian-based St Barbara has withdrawn full year production guidance at its Simberi mine in PNG as investigations into the death of an employee and an unrelated pipeline failure result in an indefinite suspension of mining.
Chaarat Gold Holdings delays first production forecast for its Tulkubash mine project up to 12 months due to financial sector uncertainty stemming from the Kyrgyz Republic government seizure of control at Centerra Gold’s Kumtor mine.
Mineral sands miner Iluka Resources faces a diminishing range of options to overcome acute business challenges and avert a premature shutdown of its Sierra Rutile operations in Sierra Leone
The hoped-for transition to new underground contractor Macmahon to rebuild operational performance at St Barbara’s Gwalia mine has made a slower than expected start due in part to difficulties in finding staff for critical roles and experienced operators amid a growing skill shortage in Western Australia.
The hugely prospective Paterson Province in Western Australia’s East Pilbara is building more excitement with a 62% increase in inferred resources to 2.7Moz gold equivalent at the Rio Tinto-Antipa Minerals Calibre project.
South Africa’s Minerals Council has backed Australian-based developer Orion Minerals in its stand against violent illegal protests aimed at its flagship Prieska copper-zinc development project in the Northern Cape Province.
Australian miner Stanmore Coal seeks to take advantage of the many synergies and product blending opportunities with its existing operations after linking with M Resources to acquire the mothballed Millennium and Mavis Downs metallurgical coal mines in Australia’s Bowen Basin from Peabody Energy.
Rio Tinto and its subsidiary Turquoise Hill Resources have reached a ‘constructive and equitable agreement’ to end their long dispute over the funding of the underground development of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia.
Australian-based gold producer Resolute Mining has upgraded life of mine production and costs performance at its Syama mine in Mali based on the success of its continuing exploration and mine design optimisation.
West Australian miner Panoramic Resources is confident its recapitalisation, move to contractor mining/processing and recent developments will reduce the operating and financing risks that have previously dogged its long-life, high-grade Savannah nickel operation.
The new owners of the giant Vale Nouvelle-Caledonia openpit nickel mining and processing complex see a significant future in servicing the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries for the global electric vehicles industry after completing the acquisition of the business from former owner Vale.
A positive definitive feasibility study puts the Bardoc project on track to pour first gold in the December 2022 quarter, enabling West Australian explorer Bardoc Gold to make the transition to mid-tier producer and significant new gold sector player in the North Kalgoorlie region.
It’s taken West Australian company Mineral Resources just five months from breaking first ground to producing iron ore at its 100%-owned Wonmunna project, achieving the next step in the growth of its Utah Point Hub operations in the Pilbara region.
Strong support from existing and new institutional investors has raised $A43M to allow Vital Metals to begin production at its Nechalacho rare earths project in Canada’s Northwest Territories in the June quarter.
Australian silica sands project developer Perpetual Resources has underlined the potential of its Beharra project in WA’s Mid West to become the pre-eminent regional supplier of high-quality, low-impurity products to the growing Asia Pacific market.
Turquoise Hill names ‘independent’ to pursue Oyu Tolgoi expansion funding negotiations with parent company Rio Tinto after chief executive Ulf Quellmann succumbs to pressure and resigns.
The successful tender offer for the mothballed Texas project in SE Queensland is key to the plan by Australian explorer Thomson Resources to establish an integrated hub and spoke silver and gold operation straddling the New South Wales and Queensland border.
Acquisition of the Detour Lake gold mine in Ontario has helped Canadian miner Kirkland Lake Gold to achieve record production, earnings and cash-flows amid the challenges of global pandemic.
AngloGold Ashanti has established a ‘clear and credible path’ to extended, high-return growth with the identification of 6Moz in new ore reserves after the first 12 months of a multi-year investment program.
West Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers and Chile’s Sociedad Quimica y Minera have given their deferred final investment approval for ambitious vertically integrated lithium hydroxide development.
The decades-long history of the Canadian Malartic gold mine begins its transition to a new era of underground operations with the go-ahead by JV partners Yamana Gold and Agnico Eagle Mines for the start of construction of the Odyssey mine.
Pages
