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Critical minerals news
Short summaries written by MineralLink editors, always linking to the original source. We never republish articles.
211 of 211 items
30 Oct 2026 · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea (via Korea.kr) · official source
Korea and Mongolia discuss critical minerals cooperation and early signing of their CEPA
South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-a and Mongolia's Cabinet Secretariat minister Battumur Enkhbayar held the 10th Korea-Mongolia Joint Committee in Seoul, discussing early signature of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement agreed in principle at the July summit and closer cooperation in trade and investment, critical minerals, transport and infrastructure, and urban development.
30 Oct 2026 · Kenmare Resources
Mozambique extends Kenmare Moma rights to 2044 with higher royalty and option on 20% of output
Kenmare said Mozambique's Council of Ministers approved the renewal of the Moma titanium mine Implementation Agreement to 2044. The royalty on gross revenue rises from 1% to 3% for 2025-2029, 4% for 2030-2034 and 5% from 2035; Kenmare must invest at least USD 200 million and fund USD 50 million of social projects, and the state may buy up to 20% of annual output at market prices for local processing.
30 Oct 2026 · Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea (via Korea.kr) · official source
Korea and Germany pledge closer cooperation on supply chains and critical raw materials
Korea's trade and industry minister met German government and business representatives and agreed to strengthen cooperation on economic security, supply chains, critical raw materials and AI in manufacturing, including joint work with resource-rich Asia-Pacific partners, citing the growing use of critical minerals as strategic assets.
30 Oct 2026 · Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) · official source
JOGMEC renews strategic partnership MoU with New South Wales at IMARC
Japan's JOGMEC and the New South Wales government renewed their 2017 memorandum on a comprehensive strategic partnership, signed by Premier Chris Minns and the JOGMEC CEO at IMARC in Sydney. The MoU has supported Japanese investment in coal, metals, oil and gas, hydrogen, ammonia and carbon capture; JOGMEC noted the state's push to develop critical minerals with Japanese investment.
29 Oct 2026 · Rusal
Rusal and Ghana state body GIADEC agree bauxite mine and alumina refinery joint ventures
Rusal and the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation agreed at the Russia-Africa Forum in Moscow to develop the Nyinahin bauxite deposit in Ashanti Region at up to 5 Mt a year, followed by a gas-fired 1.2 Mt a year alumina refinery. Rusal will hold majority stakes in both joint ventures, with the Ghanaian side holding minority interests including a 10% non-dilutable stake.
29 Oct 2026 · Codelco
Codelco dismisses eight executives after audits find irregular production reporting for 2024-2025
Chile's state copper miner said its board dismissed eight executives and professionals from the Chuquicamata, Ministro Hales and Salvador divisions and head office, including the Salvador general manager, after internal audits and reviews by KPMG and EY found irregularities in how 2024 and 2025 output was recorded and reported. Investigations continue and Codelco did not quantify the overstatement.
29 Oct 2026 · Ministerio de Energía y Minas del Perú · official source
Peru proposes a critical minerals MoU and tax treaty talks with Australia
At a COALAR-DFAT dialogue on critical minerals between Australia and Latin America during IMARC 2026, Peru's vice minister of mines Mayra Figueroa said Lima wants a memorandum of understanding with Australia on critical and strategic minerals covering investment, knowledge exchange and technology, and negotiations on a double taxation agreement. Chile and Argentina also took part.
28 Oct 2026 · Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministry of Energy and Minerals announcement) · official source
Oman offers three new mining concession areas covering 2,062 sq km
Oman's Ministry of Energy and Minerals used IMARC 2026 in Sydney to offer three new mining concession areas totalling 2,062 square kilometres for exploration, geological surveys and resource assessment, part of a plan to tender three more concessions during 2026. Investors are directed to the ministry's Taqa platform for requirements; individual blocks and minerals were not specified.
28 Oct 2026 · Ministerio de Minería de Chile · official source
Chile passes Kast government bill replacing progressive mining concession fees with a flat rate
Chile's Chamber of Deputies sent to enactment the government's first mining bill, which replaces the progressive concession fee (up to 12 UTM per hectare) introduced in 2022 with a flat 0.4 UTM per hectare, widens access to a reduced 0.1 UTM fee for small and medium producers, and defers payment of 2026 fees to 28 February 2027, postponing concession auctions nationwide.
28 Oct 2026 · KapitalFM (Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria) · official source
Nigeria inaugurates committee with the US on solid minerals and denies selling mineral assets
Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake inaugurated a Nigeria-United States Committee on Strategic Cooperation in the Solid Minerals Sector in Abuja to link US investors with Nigerian operators, promote local processing and technology transfer. He rejected reports of a USD 700 billion asset sale to the US and said local processing is now a condition for granting mineral titles.
28 Oct 2026 · Philippine News Agency · official source
Philippines environment department sets domestic mineral processing as near-term goal under EO 122
Speaking at Mining Philippines 2026, DENR Assistant Secretary Michael Cabalda said the government will focus its remaining two and a half years on building domestic processing capacity rather than exporting raw minerals, while honouring existing contracts and avoiding abrupt rule changes. The framework rests on Executive Order 122 of August 2026; a DENR methodology has identified 11 critical minerals, including copper, nickel, cobalt, chromium and molybdenum.
28 Oct 2026 · Natural Resources Canada · official source
Canada funds road upgrade to PMET Resources' Shaakichiuwaanaan lithium project in northern Quebec
Natural Resources Canada is investing more than CAD 1.2 million from its First and Last Mile Fund in Lithium Innova, a PMET Resources subsidiary, to rehabilitate about 20 km of access road linking the Trans-Taiga road to the Shaakichiuwaanaan lithium, caesium and tantalum project in Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, for safer year-round access. The fund has CAD 1.5 billion under Budget 2025.
28 Oct 2026 · Public Procurement Service of Korea (via Korea.kr) · official source
Korea moves to procurement for a dedicated national critical minerals stockpile base
Korea's Public Procurement Service said it will evaluate bidders in November for construction management services on the Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation's project to build a dedicated national critical minerals stockpile base, one of 44 large projects in its monthly evaluation schedule.
28 Oct 2026 · Public Procurement Service of Korea (via Korea.kr) · official source
Korea procurement agency and Korea Eximbank agree to finance private partners in public stockpiling
Korea's Public Procurement Service signed a memorandum of understanding with the Export-Import Bank of Korea on 28 October to give systematic support to private operators taking part in joint public-private stockpiling, as part of efforts to stabilise supply chains.
26 Oct 2026 · Codelco
Codelco and BHP sign agreement to explore the Anillo copper prospect in northern Chile
Codelco said it signed an exploration agreement with BHP for the 24,000-hectare Anillo prospect in the Antofagasta Region, under which BHP may invest up to USD 40 million in reconnaissance, geophysics, geology and drilling. The deal, first announced in May 2025, went ahead after the approvals required under Chilean law, including a supreme decree, registration by the Comptroller General and publication in the Official Gazette.
26 Oct 2026 · Ministerio de Minería de Chile · official source
Capstone Copper unveils plan of more than US$3 billion to double its Chilean copper output by 2031
At a ceremony at Mantoverde led by President Kast, Capstone Copper presented investments of more than USD 3 billion in Chile's Atacama Region, including about USD 2.3 billion for the Santo Domingo project, USD 220 million for two Mantoverde growth projects and USD 70 million for exploration, aiming to double its copper production in Chile by 2031. Santo Domingo construction would need more than 8,000 workers at peak.
26 Oct 2026 · Energy Fuels
Australian state lenders conditionally back A$180 million for Donald rare earths and mineral sands project
Energy Fuels said Export Finance Australia (up to A$70 million) and the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (up to A$110 million) conditionally approved most of a proposed A$200 million senior debt facility for Phase 1 of the Donald project in Victoria, its joint venture with Astron. Phase 1 would yield about 9,000 t a year of monazite-xenotime concentrate for Energy Fuels; a final investment decision is targeted for end-2026.
23 Oct 2026 · US Department of Energy · official source
US Energy Department adds helium to its Critical Material List
Energy Secretary Chris Wright designated helium a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020, citing its role in semiconductor manufacturing and other uses with no practical substitute, demand growing faster than supply, and limited US refining capacity and slow permitting. A notice with the supporting assessment followed in the Federal Register on 27 October.
23 Oct 2026 · UK Government (Prime Minister's Office) · official source
UK and Oman add critical minerals to new sovereign investment partnership during state visit
A joint statement after the Sultan of Oman's state visit to the UK set up a Sovereign Partnership for Cooperation and Promotion of Investment, linking the UK Office for Investment with the Oman Investment Authority, with critical minerals among the priority areas alongside green growth, space and advanced technologies. UK Export Finance raised its capacity for UK exports to Oman to up to GBP 7 billion.
22 Oct 2026 · Natural Resources Canada · official source
Canada and Türkiye sign joint statement covering battery minerals and geoscience cooperation
Canada's energy and natural resources minister Tim Hodgson and Türkiye's Alparslan Bayraktar signed a joint statement in Ankara that, alongside LNG and nuclear, commits both sides to trade and investment across the mining value chain, company partnerships in battery minerals and technologies, and Turkish uptake of Canada's Towards Sustainable Mining standard. The Geological Survey of Canada and Türkiye's MTA will explore geoscience cooperation.
22 Oct 2026 · European Commission · official source
EU and Viet Nam agree to work towards cooperation on critical raw materials
After talks in Brussels between Viet Nam's leader To Lam and the presidents of the Commission and European Council, the two sides agreed to develop cooperation on critical raw materials as part of their comprehensive strategic partnership, alongside Global Gateway investment and full implementation of their free trade agreement.
21 Oct 2026 · Natural Resources Canada · official source
Canada says its critical minerals alliance has produced 69 deals and C$19.2 billion in investment
During LME Week in London, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson met Anglo American, Masdar and Teck and said the Critical Minerals Resilience and Production Alliance has generated 69 new deals and CAD 19.2 billion of capital investment. Canada and the UK will use their critical minerals dialogue to identify projects for joint investment; Canadian mineral and metal exports reached CAD 40.8 billion in 2025.
20 Oct 2026 · Federal Register (US Department of the Interior) · official source
US sets 19 November auction of two seabed mineral lease areas off American Samoa
The Interior Department's Marine Minerals Administration published the final notice for Pacific Mineral Lease Sale 1, an ascending oral auction on 19 November 2026 of two Outer Continental Shelf lease areas off American Samoa covering roughly 16.3 million and 15.2 million acres. Leases would cover minerals in polymetallic nodules and ferromanganese crusts, with a minimum bonus bid of USD 3 million per area.
20 Oct 2026 · European Commission · official source
EU signs raw materials strategic partnership with New Caledonia, its 17th since 2021
The European Commission and New Caledonia's government signed a memorandum of understanding in Nouméa on sustainable raw materials value chains, covering joint projects and finance under Global Gateway, ESG standards and mine closure, infrastructure, skills, and research on exploration, processing and recycling. New Caledonia supplied about 3.1% of world nickel in 2024; a joint roadmap is to follow.
19 Oct 2026 · European Commission · official source
EU Innovation Fund selects 77 projects worth EUR 3.4 billion, including six critical raw materials projects
The European Commission selected 77 net-zero technology projects in 23 countries for EUR 3.4 billion from the Innovation Fund call launched in December 2025. They include six critical raw materials projects, among them a Critical Raw Materials Act strategic project and a rare earth magnet plant, aimed at supply chains for permanent magnets and batteries, as well as raw material recycling.
19 Oct 2026 · Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea (via Korea.kr) · official source
Korea and Chile discuss minerals cooperation in talks to upgrade their free trade agreement
At the 11th Korea-Chile Free Trade Commission, the two governments reviewed implementation of the 2004 agreement, including updating product-specific rules of origin to HS2022, and discussed how to advance negotiations to improve the FTA, including cooperation in the minerals sector.
16 Oct 2026 · Natural Resources Canada · official source
Exiro-led group closes purchase of Vale Base Metals' Thompson nickel complex with Canada Growth Fund backing
Exiro Nickel Company, a consortium of Exiro Minerals, Orion Resource Partners and the Canada Growth Fund, completed its acquisition of the Thompson operations in Manitoba from Vale Base Metals, which keeps a minority stake and continues to buy the concentrate. Ottawa committed up to USD 85 million through the Canada Growth Fund to a transaction worth about USD 200 million.
16 Oct 2026 · Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM) and Ministry of Science and Technology · official source
China proposes export restrictions on polysilicon, wafer and AI technologies with interim registration
China's commerce and science ministries proposed adding 40 technologies to the catalogue of technologies prohibited or restricted from export, including 12 in photovoltaics covering polysilicon, silicon wafer and cell manufacturing and the related core equipment, along with AI and biomedical items. Exporters must register such technology transfers with MOFCOM from 16 October until the revised catalogue takes effect; comments are due by 15 November 2026.
15 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
US companies study rare earth mining and processing investments in Malaysia
Several US firms are considering rare earth mining projects with local partners and processing investments in Malaysia, the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur said after hosting a forum, building on a bilateral critical minerals agreement signed a year earlier. A 2024 government study estimated Malaysia's possible rare earth resources at about 16.2 million tonnes, based on limited geological evidence.
15 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
Copper study group expects refined surplus to widen in 2027
The International Copper Study Group forecast a global refined copper surplus of about 104,000 tonnes in 2026, widening to about 368,000 tonnes in 2027 as new smelters and refineries in Indonesia, India and the EU lift output. It expects refined usage to grow about 2.5% in 2027, led by Asia, and world mine production to rise 3.1%.
15 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
Codelco calls shareholders' meeting over reported overstatement of 2024–2025 output
Chile's state copper company Codelco called a shareholders' meeting for 5 November to address press reports that its production for 2024 and 2025 was over-reported. The board will review possible legal, regulatory and financial risks and the steps taken to protect the company; the size of the overstatement was not given.
15 Oct 2026 · Avenira Limited (ASX announcement)
Avenira secures up to A$85 million from Hebang to fund Wonarah phosphate project
Avenira entered facilities of up to AUD 85 million with Hebang Biotechnology (Hong Kong), its major shareholder and offtake partner, made up of a AUD 50 million term loan and a AUD 35 million working-capital line. The eight-year facilities, priced at the Reserve Bank cash rate with repayments deferred for two years, are expected to fund the Northern Territory project through first shipment of direct-shipping phosphate ore.
15 Oct 2026 · Southern Cross Gold (ASX announcement)
Victoria names first recipients of its Advancing Antimony grants
The Victorian government named Southern Cross Gold and Gekko Systems as preferred recipients under its Advancing Antimony Grants programme, sharing more than AUD 750,000 for studies on antimony processing options and supply chains. Antimony concentrate mined in Victoria is currently shipped overseas for processing.
14 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Ionic Rare Earths files planning application for Belfast magnet recycling plant
Ionic Rare Earths lodged a planning application with Belfast City Council for a commercial rare earth magnet recycling plant on Queen's Island, with a decision expected in early 2027. It is pursuing a GBP 12 million UK capital grant through the Automotive Transformation Fund, plans construction from the third quarter of 2027, and has signed a non-binding term sheet for a magnet recycling joint venture in Missouri.
14 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
France moves to become Eramet's top shareholder in EUR 500 million capital increase
The French state, which already owns 27.1% of Eramet, plans to join a EUR 500 million capital increase before the end of 2026 and may buy the Duval family's subscription rights, which would make it the largest shareholder. Eramet had EUR 1.87 billion of net debt at end-June, while Gabon plans to ban raw manganese ore exports from 2029 and the related local processing projects are not yet financed.
14 Oct 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
China and Botswana upgrade ties and pledge cooperation on mining and green minerals
Presidents Xi Jinping and Duma Boko agreed in Beijing on 13 October to deepen cooperation in mining, green technology and industrial development and raised relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Cooperation documents signed included one on green minerals, but no specific mining investments were announced.
14 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Tsodilo Resources sets up DR Congo and Namibia units to pursue critical minerals
Canadian explorer Tsodilo Resources, which is developing the Gcwihaba rare earths project in Botswana, created subsidiaries in the DRC and Namibia to look for lithium, tantalum, niobium and copper targets in Haut-Lomami and Tshopo and copper and polymetallic targets in Kunene. It has not yet secured any licence in either country and says talks may not lead to agreements.
14 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
IRH and ZCCM-IH reaffirm Mopani copper partnership after breach claims
UAE-based IRH and Zambia's state mining investor ZCCM-IH said in a joint statement that they remain committed to Mopani Copper Mines, with IRH reaffirming its US$1.1 billion investment pledge weeks after ZCCM accused an IRH subsidiary of missing funding and operating obligations. They did not say whether those issues had been resolved; Mopani targets 300,000 tonnes of finished copper a year by 2029.
14 Oct 2026 · The Northern Miner
Nickel study group now sees small surpluses in 2026 and 2027
The International Nickel Study Group's October outlook turned its April forecast of a 2026 deficit into a surplus of about 19,000 tonnes, followed by about 70,000 tonnes in 2027. It pointed to a much lower 2026 ore mining quota in Indonesia, which supplied about two-thirds of world mine output in 2025, and said forecasts for Indonesia are especially uncertain.
14 Oct 2026 · The Northern Miner
South African producer samples battery-grade manganese sulphate and seeks funds for larger plant
Privately held Manganese Metal Co. is producing customer samples from a 6,000 tonne-a-year high-purity manganese sulphate plant in Mbombela and expects commercial sales from late 2027. It is seeking about ZAR 500 million for a second plant of 24,000 to 30,000 tonnes a year, with the IDC and the European Investment Bank doing due diligence, while China made 97% of battery-grade manganese sulphate last year according to Project Blue.
14 Oct 2026 · ANTARA · official source
Indonesia sets US$618 billion downstream industry target for 2040
Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia said Indonesia aims for US$618 billion of downstream industry value by 2040 across minerals, energy, forestry, fisheries and agriculture. He cited nickel exports, which rose from about US$3.3 billion in 2017-2018 to over US$40 billion in 2025, and a 2026 target of at least US$45 billion.
14 Oct 2026 · ANTARA · official source
Indonesia explores rare earths partnership with Gabon and phosphate cooperation with Congo
Indonesia's ambassador to Cameroon said Jakarta is holding technical and diplomatic consultations on rare earth cooperation with Gabon and on phosphate with the Republic of the Congo. No timeline or scope has been set for either arrangement.
13 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Trafigura signs ten-year take-or-pay lithium offtake with EnergyX for Chile and Texas projects
Trafigura agreed to buy 100,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium products from EnergyX over ten years on a take-or-pay basis: lithium carbonate from the Black Giant project in Antofagasta, Chile, and lithium hydroxide from Project Lonestar in Texas. EnergyX values the deal at over US$2 billion, targets production in 2028 in Chile and 2029 in Texas, and says the offtake supports financing that includes a non-binding US$690 million EXIM letter of interest.
13 Oct 2026 · Investing News Network
EU caps Chinese hybrid imports as Chinese lithium futures post steepest fall since March
The EU will cap imports of Chinese hybrid vehicles at 350,000 a year from December under WTO safeguard rules, after talks in Beijing led by trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic. Lithium carbonate futures in Guangzhou fell almost 12% on 12 October, and Goldman Sachs expects the lithium market to reach rough balance in the fourth quarter before moving into surplus.
13 Oct 2026 · Federal Register (NOAA) · official source
NOAA opens comment on Eco Minerals deep-seabed exploration licence application
NOAA found an exploration licence application from Eco Minerals Inc. compliant with the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act and opened public comment until 14 December 2026, with a virtual hearing on 16 November. The application covers areas beyond national jurisdiction in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and between Guam and Wake Island.
12 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
VHM and Mitsui sign term sheet for Goschen mineral sands concentrate offtake
VHM signed a non-binding term sheet to sell Mitsui up to 65,000 tonnes a year of heavy mineral concentrate, about half of planned output from its Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project in Victoria. The three-year deal, extendable by three years, uses pricing linked to zircon and titanium dioxide, and the parties are discussing trade finance and raising volumes toward all of Goschen's concentrate.
12 Oct 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
US DFC plans more equity investments in African critical minerals
The US International Development Finance Corporation intends to make more direct equity investments in Africa, including in critical minerals, to help diversify supply away from China, its regional managing director for Africa said. The DFC reports over US$14 billion committed in Africa, more than US$3 billion of it for critical minerals, with a pipeline that includes rare earth projects and a graphite mine in Mozambique.
12 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Harena receives exploitation permit for Ampasindava rare earths project in Madagascar
Harena Rare Earths said the exploitation permit for its Ampasindava project has been formally granted, following a mining agreement signed with Malagasy authorities in August. A pilot plant is planned for 2027 and production for 2028, pending environmental approvals; a January prefeasibility study estimated initial capital of US$142 million for about 71,000 tonnes of rare earth oxides over 20 years.
12 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Codelco partially halts El Teniente after landslide kills two contract workers
A landslide after heavy rain in the south pit of Codelco's El Teniente copper mine, about 75 km south-east of Santiago, killed two contractor employees and led to a partial suspension of operations. Chile's mining regulator, police investigators and prosecutors are looking into the accident.
9 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
EU selects 46 more strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act
The European Commission chose 46 new strategic projects in 16 member states from 102 applications in its latest call under the Critical Raw Materials Act. Eight are extraction, 11 processing and 19 recycling projects, with eight more spanning two stages, and together they cover 15 of the 17 strategic raw materials, including battery metals, tungsten, magnesium and rare earths.
9 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
CleanTech Lithium takes options on Salar de Antofalla properties in Argentina
CleanTech Lithium signed option agreements for the Genoveva and Sal de Litio 1 properties in the southern Salar de Antofalla in Catamarca, about 80 km from its Laguna Verde project. It will pay US$525,000 in the first year and plans a drill programme in 2027, aiming for a maiden resource that year if funding is secured.
9 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
NESR and Aramco agree lithium carbonate demonstration project in Saudi Arabia
National Energy Services Reunited said its environmental unit signed an agreement with Saudi Aramco to run a lithium demonstration project in the kingdom. The plant would use NESR's brine pre-treatment, direct lithium extraction and carbonation process to make about 2,000 tonnes a year of battery-grade lithium carbonate, starting in late 2027.
9 Oct 2026 · European Commission · official source
China says it will keep fast-tracking rare earth and magnet export licences for the EU
A joint statement from the second EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations in Beijing (8-9 October) says China is willing to keep facilitating export licences for rare earths and permanent magnets to the EU through a fast-track mechanism, while the EU will help speed priority dual-use licences to China. Both sides agreed to give advance warning and more transparency on entity listings under their export control dialogue.
8 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Aclara and CAP open rare earth metals demonstration plant in Chile
Aclara Metals, a 50:50 venture of Aclara Resources and steelmaker CAP, opened a molten salt electrolysis plant at the Huachipato steelworks in Talcahuano that turns neodymium and praseodymium oxides into metals and alloys. Designed for up to 175 kg of metal a day, it will supply operating data for a planned industrial plant in Louisiana, and a later phase could add dysprosium alloys.
8 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Titan Mining and US Army agree terms for graphite plant at Anniston depot
Titan Mining's Empire State Mines signed a term sheet with the US Department of the Army to lease about 97 acres at the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama for a graphite processing plant. The 50-year lease, renewable up to 100 years, would give the Army the option to buy up to 10% of specified output and still needs company, Army and congressional approval.
8 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Elevra agrees to supply Quebec spodumene to LG Energy Solution
Elevra Lithium signed a binding agreement to deliver 240,000 dry tonnes of spodumene concentrate from its North American Lithium operation in Quebec to LG Energy Solution, starting with 30,000 tonnes in 2026 and rising to 90,000 tonnes in 2029. Pricing is market-linked, and the parties may agree up to 90,000 tonnes more.
8 Oct 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
DR Congo launches three-year airborne geophysical survey with eight aircraft
The DRC launched its PC2G-RDC mapping programme in Kinshasa on 5 October, with Spain's Xcalibur Multiphysics flying eight aircraft over more than 700,000 square kilometres in Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Kasai and Katanga. The mines minister said it will raise geoscientific coverage from about 22% to 46%, with copper and cobalt the main focus, and the work is funded by the Mining Fund for Future Generations.
8 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Lithium Africa plans small-scale spodumene output in South Africa's Northern Cape from 2027
Lithium Africa said it plans to begin small-scale spodumene concentrate production at its Springbok project, which includes the former Norrabees mine, in the second half of 2027, starting with existing stockpiles. A resource estimate and economic assessment are expected in the first half of 2027, and no annual output target was given.
8 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Traxys signs ten-year exclusive offtake for El Moto tungsten in Spain
Traxys Europe agreed an exclusive offtake with Abenójar Tungsten for concentrate from the El Moto project in Ciudad Real for at least ten years from commercial production, with pricing referenced to the APT index. El Moto, an EU strategic project under construction since 2026, targets first output in early 2029 and more than 4,000 tonnes a year of contained tungsten trioxide.
7 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Türkiye widens African mining ties through MTA's international arm
Türkiye is expanding its mining presence in Africa through state-owned MTA International Mining, which holds gold exploration permits in Niger, and through cooperation memoranda with countries including Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and Egypt. Its ambassador met Angola's mines minister on 6 October to discuss minerals partnerships, though no commitment was announced.
7 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
UAE-based IRH makes takeover approach for Mozambique mineral sands producer Kenmare
Kenmare Resources confirmed on 6 October that it had received a non-binding, all-cash proposal from UAE-based International Resources Holding for its entire share capital, without disclosing the price. Kenmare runs the Moma mineral sands mine in Mozambique, which produces ilmenite, rutile and zircon, and IRH has until 17 November to make a firm offer or withdraw.
6 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Greenland approves Tanbreez rare earths mining and closure plans through 2050
Greenland's government approved the mining and closure plans for Critical Metals' Tanbreez project at Killavaat Alannguat in the south-west, valid to September 2050 and covering 19 critical elements. Further permits on environmental controls, marine transport, safety and mineral exports are still needed before construction can begin.
6 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Westwin Elements plans US$502 million Class 1 nickel refinery in Mississippi
Westwin Elements announced a five-year, US$502 million plan for a nickel refinery at the Belwood Industrial Site in Natchez, Mississippi, targeting 18,000 tonnes a year of Class 1 nickel from 2029 in its first phase. The company runs a carbonyl-refining demonstration plant in Oklahoma, and construction still depends on financing, permits and engineering.
6 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
EBRD lends up to EUR 55 million to Bulgarian copper miner Asarel Medet
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development agreed to lend Asarel Medet up to EUR 55 million to modernise and decarbonise its open-pit copper mine at Panagyurishte, including exploration spending and self-generated renewable power. About 68% of the loan counts as green finance, and the package includes steps to strengthen the company's compliance policies.
5 Oct 2026 · Spire Events
Mining & Critical Minerals Latin America conference opens in São Paulo
The Mining & Critical Minerals Latin America Conference and Exhibition, organised by Spire Events, runs on 5 and 6 October 2026 at the Pullman São Paulo Ibirapuera. Organisers expect more than 200 senior executives, officials and investors from over 15 countries, with sessions on critical minerals, exploration investment, supply-chain resilience and ESG.
5 Oct 2026 · Brazilian Critical Minerals (ASX)
Brazilian Critical Minerals buys magnesium sulphate producer to supply Ema rare earth project
Brazilian Critical Minerals agreed to acquire 90% of Sais Nordeste, a magnesium sulphate producer in Feira de Santana, Bahia, that has been on care and maintenance since February 2026. Magnesium sulphate is the main leaching reagent planned for in-situ recovery at the Ema rare earth project; initial output is expected to meet about half of Ema's needs, reducing reliance on Chinese reagent supply.
4 Oct 2026 · PMET Resources (PR Newswire)
PMET signs letter of intent with Matagami to move Shaakichiuwaanaan spodumene by rail
PMET Resources signed a letter of intent with the City of Matagami, Quebec, to truck spodumene concentrate from its Shaakichiuwaanaan project to the town's existing transshipment yard and load it onto rail for shipment to port. The parties aim to agree a definitive commercial contract, including infrastructure upgrades and long-term service terms, before the company's final investment decision.
4 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
NOAA maps seabed nodule areas near American Samoa as Deep Sea Minerals pursues US licence
TSX-listed Deep Sea Minerals said a NOAA expedition aboard the Okeanos Explorer, which began on 24 September, is mapping deepwater areas near American Samoa, including zones with polymetallic nodules. The company, which has applied for a US exploration licence through its subsidiary American Deep Sea Minerals, is also looking at the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and Pacific jurisdictions such as the Cook Islands.
3 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
China's market regulator seeks copper supply assurances before clearing Anglo–Teck merger
Citing Reuters, Mining.com.au reports that China's State Administration for Market Regulation wants assurances of steady copper concentrate supply, including volumes sold via traders, before approving the Anglo American–Teck merger. China is the only remaining approval; the companies expect to close by March 2027.
3 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
Glencore's Agua Rica copper project in Argentina approved under RIGI investment regime
Glencore's MARA (Agua Rica–Alumbrera) project in Catamarca was approved under Argentina's large-investment incentive regime, RIGI, covering an investment of about USD 4 billion. The project plans to use Alumbrera's existing infrastructure, with construction targeted from November 2027 and output of more than 200,000 tonnes of copper a year in its first decade.
3 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
Freeport says Grasberg recovery in Indonesia is on track, with full capacity by end-2027
Freeport-McMoRan said the phased ramp-up of the Grasberg Block Cave, disrupted by a fatal mud rush in September 2025, progressed in the third quarter, with mill throughput at about two-thirds of pre-incident rates. It expects about 80% by mid-2027 and full capacity by the end of 2027; its East Java smelter restarted in late August.
3 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
Indonesia pilots NADI platform to monitor commodity exports including nickel and copper
State-owned Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia started a pilot of the National Data Intelligence (NADI) platform on 1 October with selected exporters. The system collects export volumes, prices, shipment and settlement data to spot discrepancies in trade in coal, ferroalloys, palm oil, nickel, copper, tin and bauxite, with exporters filing extra reports during a transition period.
2 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
UN critical-minerals support mechanism to include five African countries
A newly launched United Nations Country Support Mechanism for critical minerals will provide on-the-ground expertise to Guinea, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Zambia, aiming to ensure mineral wealth benefits governments and local communities. The initiative covers minerals such as copper, lithium, graphite and rare earths and comes amid concerns about governance of existing revenue-sharing systems.
2 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Botswana's copper, nickel and manganese projects advance as it diversifies from diamonds
As diamond markets struggle, Botswana is seeing progress on critical-mineral projects: NexMetals raised resources at the Selebi copper-nickel project by 72%, and Giyani Metals' K.Hill manganese project has a definitive feasibility study and a potential USD 225 million EXIM financing offer. Tsodilo Resources is exploring for rare earths at Gcwihaba.
2 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
European investor NIU backs fieldwork at Molulu copper-cobalt project in DR Congo
London-listed Critical Metals, 52% held by European investment group NIU, has begun mapping, trenching and sampling at the Molulu copper-cobalt project near Lubumbashi, in which it holds 70%. NIU presents the investment as part of an alternative to Chinese-dominated supply; German family company Axtmann raised its stake in Critical Metals to about 19.6% in September.
2 Oct 2026 · Reporte Minero
Brazil's mining regulator orders partial halt at Sigma Lithium's Grota do Cirilo pit
Brazil's National Mining Agency ordered Sigma Lithium to stop extraction on the eastern slope of the northern pit at Grota do Cirilo after finding a ruptured section, citing imminent risk and requiring mitigation measures. The order adds to existing restrictions at the operation, and the production impact was not yet clear.
2 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
Osmond's scoping study outlines Orión rare earths and mineral sands mine in Spain
ASX-listed Osmond Resources released a scoping study for its Orión project in Jaén province, Andalucía, proposing an underground mine and 2 Mtpa plant producing monazite, zircon and titanium concentrates over an initial nine years. The company says the first module could meet about 6% of EU NdPr demand in 2030 and will seek strategic-project status in Spain and the EU.
2 Oct 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
New Horizon Copper expands workforce ahead of Kombat copper mine restart in Namibia
New Horizon Copper, which holds 80% of Namibia's Kombat mine alongside local partners Texel and state-owned Epangelo, plans to lift headcount from about 429 to around 600 by end-2026. Commissioning of the upgraded plant is targeted for October, with production resuming in the fourth quarter after flooding halted the mine in 2025; about N$462 million has been committed to the first redevelopment phase.
2 Oct 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
Tanzania aims to cover half its territory with high-resolution geophysical surveys by 2030
Tanzania's Ministry of Minerals said high-resolution geophysical coverage stands at 16% of the country and should reach 34% in 2026/27 and 50% by 2030, as part of Mining Vision 2030. A five-year Mineral Value Addition Strategy for local processing and refining is also being prepared; mining provided more than half of foreign-exchange earnings in 2025.
2 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
China's Xinye starts 180,000-tonne aluminium smelter in Ethiopia
Chinese steelmaker Xinye Special Steel began production at a 180,000-tonne-a-year electrolytic aluminium smelter in the Gada Special Economic Zone, about 65 km south-east of Addis Ababa. The plant will import alumina and serve Ethiopia's domestic market, which currently depends on imports.
2 Oct 2026 · The Northern Miner
Brazil's new environmental licensing rules for mines face Supreme Court challenges
Brazil's Supreme Court is weighing four cases on the licensing system that took effect on 4 February 2026, which sets national review deadlines and a fast 12-month route for strategic projects. Indigenous and environmental groups argue it weakens oversight and consultation; no hearing date is set, adding uncertainty for planned mining investment.
2 Oct 2026 · 6K Additive (ASX)
6K Additive signs US$27.4 million EXIM loan to expand US critical metal powder output
6K Additive executed a six-year, USD 27.4 million loan with the US Export-Import Bank to expand its plant in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, which makes nickel, titanium, tungsten and other refractory metal powders for aerospace and defence. The loan was approved under EXIM's Make More in America initiative in coordination with the Defense Production Act Title III programme.
2 Oct 2026 · Sunrise Energy Metals (ASX)
Sunrise Energy Metals to move domicile to the US and list on Nasdaq
Sunrise Energy Metals signed a scheme deed to redomicile its parent company from Australia to a Delaware holding company with a primary Nasdaq listing and a secondary ASX listing. The company links the move to a conditional offer of up to USD 400 million in debt from the US Office of Strategic Capital for its Syerston scandium project in New South Wales.
1 Oct 2026 · Cochilco · official source
Chilean copper mines cut continental water extraction by 7% as seawater share rises
Cochilco reported that Chilean copper mining reduced continental water extraction by 7% in 2025, while seawater use rose to 36.8% of water extracted for operations. Desalinated water made up about 70% of seawater use, and recirculation remained the main water source for the industry.
1 Oct 2026 · Lynas Rare Earths / Meteoric Resources (ASX announcement)
Lynas agrees all-share acquisition of Meteoric Resources and Brazil's Caldeira rare earths project
Lynas Rare Earths and Meteoric Resources signed a binding scheme implementation deed under which Lynas would acquire Meteoric for 0.0207 Lynas shares per share, implying an equity value of about A$968 million. The deal adds Meteoric's Caldeira ionic-clay project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, which hosts both light (NdPr) and heavy (DyTb) rare earths. Implementation, targeted by March 2027, depends on shareholder, court and Brazilian regulatory approvals.
1 Oct 2026 · American Battery Technology Company (GlobeNewswire)
American Battery Technology gets US licence to export up to US$100 million of recycled black mass
American Battery Technology Company said the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security approved an export licence covering up to USD 100 million of recycled black mass from its plant near Reno, Nevada. The approval follows new federal export controls on critical battery materials; destination countries were not disclosed.
1 Oct 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
Ghana's draft mining bill proposes state special shares, shorter leases and local processing
A draft Ghanaian mining bill would let the mines minister require a free special share with veto rights over major transactions, cut maximum lease terms from 30 to 15 years or mine life, and allow the state to mandate domestic processing or restrict concentrate exports. Existing rights holders would have to migrate to the new regime, and the draft remains subject to legislative review.
1 Oct 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
More than 6,500 Malagasy claimants sue Rio Tinto over QMM mineral sands mine
Claimants living near the QIT Madagascar Minerals ilmenite operation, 80% owned by Rio Tinto, filed claims in London's High Court alleging that acidic wastewater containing uranium, lead and other metals polluted local waterways. Rio Tinto rejects claims of widespread contamination, citing its own water monitoring.
1 Oct 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
Zambia's ZCCM-IH accuses UAE-based IRH of breaching Mopani copper takeover terms
State investor ZCCM-IH alleged that Delta Mining, the International Resources Holding unit that owns 51% of Mopani Copper Mines, has underfunded the operation, taken loans without approval and fallen behind on development and payments. ZCCM-IH wants shareholder talks but reserved the right to seek damages or arbitration; IRH said it is addressing the issues through normal discussions.
1 Oct 2026 · electrive
Synthetic graphite maker Vianode seeks partner or buyer to fund expansion
Norway-based Vianode, which produces synthetic anode graphite at Herøya and is building a plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, has hired JP Morgan to find a partner or buyer by the end of 2026. Its chief executive said the company needs support for further expansion phases; Canadian production is scheduled for 2029.
1 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
Liontown approves A$389 million expansion of Kathleen Valley lithium operation
Liontown Resources approved an expansion of its Kathleen Valley operation in Western Australia, developing the Kathleen's Corner underground mine and lifting processing capacity from 2.8 to 4.2 million tonnes a year. Average spodumene concentrate output is targeted at about 780,000 dry tonnes a year from FY30, funded from cash and operating cash flow.
1 Oct 2026 · Mining Technology
Rio Tinto and Australian governments agree to keep Bell Bay aluminium smelter running to 2031
Rio Tinto, the Australian Government and the Tasmanian Government agreed to keep the Bell Bay smelter operating until at least the end of 2031, with Hydro Tasmania continuing to supply power and both governments pledging further support. The smelter produces about 190,000 tonnes of aluminium a year and employs around 550 people directly.
1 Oct 2026 · ANTARA News · official source
Indonesia creates coordinating ministry for downstreaming and energy transition
Indonesia set up a Coordinating Ministry for Downstreaming and Energy Transition led by Bahlil Lahadalia, who also remains energy and mineral resources minister. He said about 90% of planned downstreaming investment is in energy and minerals, and the ministry's structure awaits a presidential regulation.
1 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Aura Energy readies Mauritania's Tiris uranium project for construction
Aura Energy appointed a new president, finance chief and strategy chief as it moves the Tiris project, set to be Mauritania's first uranium mine, toward construction. A final investment decision is expected by end-2026; the roughly USD 230 million build is to be funded partly by a USD 150–170 million debt package under negotiation with the US DFC.
1 Oct 2026 · The Northern Miner
Elevra approves US$271 million expansion of North American Lithium mine in Quebec
Elevra Lithium will expand its North American Lithium operation in three stages from mid-2027 to mid-2029, lifting spodumene concentrate output from about 199,000 to 373,000 tonnes a year. The work is funded by equity and up to USD 145 million of convertible notes from the Canada Growth Fund, and a seven-year offtake with Mangrove Lithium covers about 39% of expanded output.
1 Oct 2026 · Eramet
Eramet plans US$350 million expansion of Centenario-Ratones lithium plant and RIGI application
Eramet said a first expansion at its Centenario-Ratones direct lithium extraction plant in Salta, Argentina, would add 11,000 tonnes a year of lithium carbonate equivalent to the current 24,000 tonnes, at a cost of about USD 350 million subject to a final investment decision. It plans to apply for Argentina's RIGI incentive regime; the plant reached 90% of nominal capacity in June 2026.
1 Oct 2026 · Talga Group (ASX)
Talga advances Japanese anode talks with Mitsubishi Chemical, Dainen and Hanwa
Talga said its three letters of intent with Japanese firms for graphite anode from the Vittangi project in Sweden are moving toward binding term sheets, with definitive agreements targeted around year-end. Hanwa is also considering a project-level investment, and Talga cites Japanese buyers seeking non-Chinese graphite supply.
1 Oct 2026 · Investing News Network
US start-up Supra wins Defense Logistics Agency contract to recover scandium from industrial waste
Austin-based Supra Elemental Recovery won a Phase I SBIR contract from the Defense Logistics Agency to test recovering high-purity scandium from US industrial by-products. The University of Texas spin-out uses reusable cartridges to capture target metals; the US currently imports all of its scandium.
1 Oct 2026 · Sheffield Resources (ASX)
Lenders extend debt deferral for Thunderbird mineral sands mine in Western Australia
Kimberley Mineral Sands, owner of the Thunderbird mine, agreed with lenders Sheng Feng and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to defer interest and principal payments due since December 2025 until 31 October 2026. The parties are negotiating a standstill to June 2027 to allow a possible debt restructure; Sheffield Resources and Yansteel's YGH are sponsors.
1 Oct 2026 · Flagship Minerals (ASX)
Flagship Minerals sets exploration targets at Khao Soon tungsten project in Thailand
Flagship Minerals reported JORC exploration targets of 22–40 million tonnes at 0.15–0.30% WO3 across five mineralised trends at its Khao Soon project in southern Thailand, next to a historical tungsten mine. The targets are conceptual and not yet a mineral resource.
1 Oct 2026 · Evrensel
Türkiye extends disputed Çaldağ nickel licence to 2036 as environmental groups plan legal challenge
The Energy Ministry extended the operating licence for the Çaldağ lateritic nickel mine near Turgutlu, Manisa, by ten years to 2036, according to local environmental groups. They plan to sue again; a court-ordered expert inspection of the site took place in June 2026 in a separate case over the mine's environmental impact approval.
30 Sept 2026 · International Energy Agency · official source
IEA commentary frames diversification costs as a 'mineral security premium'
An IEA commentary argues that the extra cost of diversifying critical mineral supply chains can be viewed as insurance against disruption. It estimates that diversifying magnet rare earth supply outside China to meet 2035 demand would require around USD 60 billion over a decade, and notes that even a tripling of rare earth prices would raise vehicle costs only marginally. It also cites the growing number of mineral tariff codes under Chinese export controls.
30 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Tanzania seeks critical-minerals investors at EU-Tanzania Forum in Helsinki
At the EU-Tanzania Forum in Helsinki on 29 September, Tanzanian officials sought investors offering capital, technology and market access beyond extraction, highlighting graphite, nickel, rare earths, uranium and copper. Projects such as the Kabanga nickel and Mahenge graphite developments were cited as needing construction finance.
30 Sept 2026 · U.S. Department of Energy · official source
US DOE selects 17 national laboratory projects for $29.5M in mining technology funding
The Department of Energy's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation selected 17 projects at 12 national laboratories under its Mine of the Future initiative. The work targets technologies such as in-situ extraction, AI-assisted ore mapping, electrochemical leaching and recovery from low-grade ore and tailings, aiming to move them toward field testing.
30 Sept 2026 · The National
EGA and Gulftainer agree to expand aluminium exports via UAE east coast port
Emirates Global Aluminium and Gulftainer agreed to route aluminium exports through Khor Fakkan on the UAE's east coast, starting at 250,000 tonnes in the first year and 300,000 tonnes in the second. The arrangement is intended to diversify shipping routes away from the Strait of Hormuz amid regional shipping disruptions.
30 Sept 2026 · Mining Technology
CoTec and Copper Intelligence form joint venture to reprocess DRC copper tailings
CoTec Holdings and Copper Intelligence signed a definitive joint venture to evaluate and process historical copper tailings accumulated since the 1950s in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Copperbelt. The venture plans asset-by-asset due diligence and the use of CoTec's technologies, and the US International Development Finance Corporation is cited as a potential funder.
30 Sept 2026 · Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)
Vale Indonesia's IGP Morowali HPAL nickel project receives autoclaves ahead of 2026 start
Two autoclaves arrived in September at the IGP Morowali high-pressure acid leach project in Central Sulawesi, with a third expected around the turn of the month. The plant is targeted to start by the end of 2026 with about 60,000 tonnes a year of nickel in mixed hydroxide precipitate.
30 Sept 2026 · electrive
Vianode and FAAM recycle anode production scrap into battery-grade graphite
Norway's Vianode and Italian battery maker FAAM said graphite recovered from FAAM's anode production waste was processed into new anode material that performed comparably to virgin graphite. The work is at demonstration stage, and the companies plan to scale the process for industrial use.
30 Sept 2026 · BNN Bloomberg
Panama commission recommends talks with First Quantum on temporary Cobre Panamá restart and closure
A Panamanian ministerial commission recommended opening formal negotiations with First Quantum on a new arrangement that would temporarily restart the idled Cobre Panamá copper mine to fund an orderly closure and end the company's arbitration claims. First Quantum said it would engage in good faith; its shares fell sharply on the news.
29 Sept 2026 · Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)
Indonesia reports 173.8 million tonnes of nickel ore output by early September 2026
Data from Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) cited by SMM show nickel ore production of about 173.8 million tonnes as of 1 September 2026, against 320.4 million tonnes for all of 2025. Nickel-related non-tax state revenue reached about Rp21 trillion by the end of August, roughly double the year-earlier level, as the government gradually releases additional 2026 mining quotas.
29 Sept 2026 · U.S. Geological Survey · official source
USGS publishes updated inventory of 1,271 known US critical mineral deposits
The US Geological Survey released an updated database of known domestic deposits covering 59 critical minerals across 41 states and Puerto Rico. About a third of the 1,271 deposits have documented resources but no recorded production. The compilation now includes minerals added to the 2025 US critical minerals list and is intended to guide Earth MRI airborne survey priorities.
29 Sept 2026 · Oman Observer
Oman reviews roadmap linking domestic minerals to fertiliser and chemicals industries
Oman's Ministry of Energy and Minerals reviewed a framework to channel locally mined minerals such as gypsum, limestone, dolomite, laterite, kaolin and potash into fertiliser and chemical production. The roadmap proposes industrial clusters at Suhar, Duqm, Salalah and Ibri to add domestic value rather than export raw ore.
29 Sept 2026 · Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)
New Caledonia sets conditions for raw nickel ore exports from metallurgical reserves
New Caledonia's government adopted a deliberation on 14 September setting rules for exporting raw ore from the Tiébaghi, Koniambo and South Laterite reserves, under a 22 July law allowing exports of ore local plants cannot process. Miners must first offer ore to local processors at market-aligned floor prices, and export authorisations may run up to 10 years after review by the mining foreign trade committee.
29 Sept 2026 · Trend News Agency
Kazakhstan and Germany adopt 2026–2028 roadmap on critical raw materials and industry
During the Kazakh president's state visit to Berlin, the two presidents agreed a joint declaration and roadmap for industrial, technological and raw-materials cooperation for 2026–2028. It covers extraction and processing of critical raw materials, joint production and supply chains, alongside energy and green hydrogen cooperation.
29 Sept 2026 · Almonty Industries (SEC Form 6-K)
Almonty produces first tungsten concentrate as Sangdong mine in South Korea restarts
Almonty Industries said its Sangdong mine in Gangwon Province has produced its first bags of tungsten concentrate after receiving final facility certification, ending 33 years of dormancy. The mill runs 13 hours a day with plans to move to round-the-clock operation, and underground development for a second phase targeted for 2027 is under way.
29 Sept 2026 · Small Caps
Catamarca grants environmental approval for Lake Resources' Kachi lithium project
Argentina's Catamarca Ministry of Mining issued the environmental impact declaration for Lake Resources' Kachi lithium brine project, allowing it to move to front-end engineering ahead of an investment decision. The approval sets a 200-metre exclusion zone around the lagoon shoreline, and the company committed USD 1 million to a provincial mining royalty trust fund; Phase 1 targets 25,000 tonnes a year of lithium carbonate using direct extraction.
29 Sept 2026 · Mining Technology
Troilus secures US$850 million in credit-approved debt for Quebec gold-copper project
Troilus Mining obtained credit-approved commitments of USD 850 million from KfW IPEX-Bank and Société Générale, backed by European export credit agencies, toward a planned USD 1.1 billion debt package for its gold-copper project in Quebec. A further USD 250 million is pending from Export Development Canada, and the company has a concentrate offtake with Boliden.
29 Sept 2026 · Mining.com.au
Volkswagen and Gotion form LFP battery joint ventures in Spain, Slovakia and Morocco
Volkswagen's PowerCo and Gotion High-tech will invest about EUR 3.2 billion in three joint ventures: LFP cell production at PowerCo's Spanish gigafactory and at a Gotion plant in Slovakia, and an LFP cathode materials plant in Morocco. The partners aim to diversify sourcing of lithium, iron and phosphate for Europe's battery chain.
29 Sept 2026 · Critica (ASX)
Critica scoping study outlines underground tin-tungsten mine at Mt Lindsay, Tasmania
Critica released a scoping study for a 1 Mtpa underground mine and plant at its Mt Lindsay tin-tungsten project in north-west Tasmania, replacing an earlier open-pit concept to reduce surface disturbance. The study is preliminary and does not support ore reserves.
29 Sept 2026 · Prairie Lithium (ASX)
Canada lends C$6.3 million to Prairie Lithium for Saskatchewan brine project
Prairie Lithium secured CAD 6.3 million of interest-free financing from PrairiesCan's Business Scale-up and Productivity programme for phase 1 of its direct lithium extraction project on oilfield brine in Saskatchewan. The company targets first lithium brine production from its first commercial well in the fourth quarter of 2026.
29 Sept 2026 · CGTN
China issues 2026–2030 plan for new-type battery industry
China's industry ministry and other agencies released a 15th Five-Year Plan for the new-type battery sector covering lithium, sodium and flow batteries. It targets initial large-scale use of all-solid-state batteries and 15,000-cycle long-life lithium batteries by 2030, with 19 tasks including materials breakthroughs and lifecycle traceability.
29 Sept 2026 · World Nuclear News
General Matter files NRC licence application for Paducah uranium enrichment plant
General Matter submitted a licence application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a commercial enrichment plant on leased DOE land at Paducah, Kentucky. It plans to produce low-enriched and high-assay low-enriched uranium by 2030, with a HALEU amendment due next year.
28 Sept 2026 · Daily News Egypt
Egypt's open-block mining tender draws 403 offers from 119 companies
Egypt's petroleum and mineral resources minister said at the fifth Egypt Mining Forum that 119 companies had submitted 403 offers for 118 of 335 blocks since the open-block tender began in June 2026. The government aims to lift mining's share of GDP to 6% and is advancing phosphate-processing projects, including a phosphoric acid complex at Abu Tartour.
28 Sept 2026 · electrive
Echion picks Korea's ETS to make demonstration cells with niobium-based anode
UK battery materials company Echion signed Korean equipment maker Energy Tech Solution to produce demonstration cells using its XNO niobium-oxide anode at a plant in Chungju. The anode material is made with niobium from Brazil's CBMM at a joint facility in Araxá with capacity of about 2,000 tonnes a year, aimed at fast-charging uses such as mining vehicles and rail.
27 Sept 2026 · UK Department for Business and Trade (GOV.UK) · official source
UK government backs Cornwall lithium extraction and Teesside refinery through DRIVE35 fund
The UK government said Geothermal Engineering Limited will invest about GBP 43 million in a lithium extraction facility in Cornwall, supported by an offer in principle of nearly GBP 10 million from the DRIVE35 fund. The plant is to produce around 1,500 tonnes per year of technical-grade lithium carbonate from 2029. Tees Valley Lithium also received an offer of GBP 18.3 million towards a GBP 185 million lithium refinery in Teesside.
25 Sept 2026 · Rinnovabili
US-China trade truce extended to January 2027, keeping suspension of tighter rare earth curbs
The United States and China extended their trade truce by two months to 10 January 2027, keeping current tariff levels and the suspension of China's expanded rare earth export restrictions. Licensing requirements introduced in April 2025 for several medium and heavy rare earths, such as samarium, gadolinium and terbium, remain in force.
25 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
US trade agency funds power study for copper and cobalt mining areas in DRC and Zambia
The US Trade and Development Agency awarded a USD 3 million grant to Anzana Electric Group on 22 September for a feasibility study on hydropower rehabilitation, new generation and distribution networks serving mines in the DRC and Zambia. The award extends US engagement around the Lobito corridor to electricity supply for the Copperbelt.
25 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
South Africa proposes critical-minerals investment partnership with the United States
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, South Africa's trade and industry minister outlined a proposed critical-minerals partnership with the US, including a joint investment platform involving US finance agencies and a bilateral working group. Pretoria's central condition is that investment extends into local refining and processing of minerals such as PGMs, manganese, chromium and vanadium.
25 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Chinese state firm completes USD 320m entry into Namibia's Etango uranium project
CNNC Overseas Limited completed an investment of about USD 320 million for a 42.75% direct stake in Bannerman Energy's Etango uranium project in Namibia, with rights to buy 60% of output over the mine's life. Bannerman keeps 52.25% and marketing rights to the remaining 40%, with a final investment decision expected in Q4 2026.
25 Sept 2026 · Mining Technology
US tungsten firm Elmet takes 4.99% stake in Vietnam's Masan High-Tech Materials
Elmet Group agreed to buy a 4.99% stake in Masan High-Tech Materials at an implied equity value of USD 2.5 billion, alongside an eight-year deal for about 1,250 tonnes a year of tungsten trioxide-equivalent products for the US market. Masan Group keeps a controlling stake of roughly 87%, and the share purchase was expected to close in the first half of October.
24 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Phalaborwa rare earths project in South Africa signs offtake and technical MoU with Neo
Rainbow Rare Earths signed a memorandum of understanding with Neo Performance Materials covering technical support and offtake of 40% of Phalaborwa's planned NdPr output and 65% of its SEG+ output. Definitive commercial agreements are still required; a prefeasibility study is scheduled for Q4 2026 and a definitive study for H1 2027.
24 Sept 2026 · El Comercio (Peru)
Peru's mining ministry proposes scrapping 27 mining permits and simplifying 14 more
Peru's Minister of Energy and Mines said the ministry reviewed about 96 mining permits and proposed eliminating 27 and turning 14 others into sworn declarations with automatic approval, with checks during operations. The government aims to speed project approvals and expects sector investment above US$7 billion in 2026.
24 Sept 2026 · Mining Technology
Mercuria commits US$500 million to US VaultCo critical minerals stockpile
Commodity trader Mercuria committed USD 500 million as an anchor partner in Project Vault, now operating as VaultCo, the US strategic minerals stockpile backed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Glencore was separately named to source critical minerals for the platform; the announcement was made at an event in New York during the UN General Assembly week.
24 Sept 2026 · Mining Technology
BHP suspends operations at Chile's Escondida copper mine after fatal accident
BHP halted all operations at Escondida, the world's largest copper mine, after a worker died during maintenance work involving a front-end loader. No restart date was given; BHP had guided output of up to 1.28 million tonnes of copper for 2026 at the mine, which it owns with Rio Tinto and Japanese partners.
24 Sept 2026 · The Philippine Star
Philippine Chamber of Mines condemns violence against environmental defenders
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said it does not support intimidation or harm against people who oppose mining and pledged to back investigations and consult host communities. The statement followed a Global Witness report naming the Philippines the most dangerous country in Asia for environmental defenders for the 13th year in a row.
24 Sept 2026 · Investing News Network
Spain's Abenójar Tungsten explores London listing to fund El Moto mine
Abenójar Tungsten is preparing a possible London Stock Exchange listing to finance its El Moto underground tungsten and gold mine in Spain, an EU strategic project under the Critical Raw Materials Act. An August 2026 feasibility study puts construction cost at about USD 241 million, with commercial production targeted in early 2029 at around 4,200 tonnes of tungsten concentrate a year.
24 Sept 2026 · Mining.com.au
Lindian stockpiles ore as Kangankunde rare earth plant in Malawi nears completion
Lindian Resources has stockpiled about 125,000 tonnes of ore at its Kangankunde rare earth project in Malawi, with plant construction continuing around the clock. Practical completion and first monazite concentrate are targeted for end-2026; Malawi's mining minister visited the site on 23 September.
23 Sept 2026 · UPI
South Korea expands critical minerals list to 51 and adopts first stockpiling plan
South Korea's trade and industry ministry approved a resource-security master plan, a revised critical minerals list and the country's first critical-mineral stockpiling plan at the sixth Resource Security Council meeting. The list grows from 38 to 51 items, adding 10 rare earth elements, fluorspar, phosphorus and germanium, and reserves for the most vulnerable minerals are to be raised to as much as 365 days of supply.
23 Sept 2026 · The Korea Times
Korea Zinc's US$7.4 billion Tennessee critical minerals smelter clears US environmental review
Korea Zinc's Project Crucible in Tennessee received a finding of no significant environmental impact after the US defence department completed its final environmental assessment in September 2026. The complex is planned to produce 12 non-ferrous products, including gallium, germanium, indium and antimony, with output starting in 2029 and full operation in 2030.
23 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Nigeria and the United States move toward a critical-minerals cooperation memorandum
Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development chaired a meeting in New York on 22 September where Nigeria and the US discussed cooperation from exploration to processing and planned to sign a memorandum of understanding. No specific projects or investment amounts had been announced; Nigeria's lithium and rare earths were cited as areas of interest.
23 Sept 2026 · Glencore
Glencore named founding partner of US VaultCo critical minerals reserve with EXIM financing
Glencore said it was selected as a founding partner of VaultCo, the company implementing the US strategic critical minerals reserve known as Project Vault, committing US$500 million of minerals. Financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States will support Glencore's sourcing and delivery of materials into the reserve. Mercuria reportedly made a parallel US$500 million commitment.
23 Sept 2026 · Euronews (AFP)
Norway targets 2028 for development plan at Fen rare earth deposit
Norway's industry minister said the government aims to have a plan in place by 2028 at the latest for developing the Fen rare earth deposit in Telemark, estimated to hold about 15.9 million tonnes of rare earth oxides. Rare Earths Norway holds the extraction rights and proposes underground mining, with production envisaged in the first half of the 2030s. The state took over planning after environmental surveys identified many endangered species in the area.
23 Sept 2026 · Mining Technology
Nth Cycle signs 10-year, US$1bn battery recycling supply deal with Glencore
US refiner Nth Cycle agreed a 10-year deal under which Glencore will supply about 24,000 tonnes a year of shredded battery material for processing into lithium carbonate and nickel-rich mixed hydroxide. The material will feed a new commercial refinery planned in the south-eastern United States, expected to start by 2029.
23 Sept 2026 · Mining Technology
Tungsten West agrees eight-year supply of Hemerdon tungsten to US-based Elmet
UK developer Tungsten West signed a binding eight-year agreement to supply 1,000 tonnes a year of contained tungsten trioxide from the Hemerdon mine in Devon to Elmet Technologies, with an option for up to 500 tonnes more. Pricing is linked to European ammonium paratungstate quotes, and the deal follows a GBP 71 million investment in the company by the UK National Wealth Fund.
23 Sept 2026 · Export-Import Bank of the United States · official source
US EXIM signs framework for up to US$7 billion of financing in Argentina, led by critical minerals
The Export-Import Bank of the United States signed a Build the Future Framework with Argentina's government to mobilise up to USD 7 billion of financing through 2027. Priority sectors include critical minerals development and processing, energy security, digital connectivity and space, with support for US equipment and mining expertise.
22 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Malawi puts USD 5bn investment need on its critical-minerals development roadmap
Malawi's mining ministry discussed with a World Bank delegation the country's Energy Transition Minerals Roadmap, which estimates about USD 5 billion of investment is needed and more than USD 30 billion in exports possible between 2026 and 2040. Rare earth and graphite projects such as Kangankunde, Songwe Hill and Kasiya feature, while additional power supply is flagged as a constraint.
22 Sept 2026 · Argus Media
UAE-based Titan Lithium unit agrees to acquire Australia's Global Lithium for A$333 million
Titan Australia, part of UAE-headquartered Titan Lithium, agreed to acquire ASX-listed Global Lithium for about A$333 million and to provide an A$120 million loan facility for the Manna lithium project in Western Australia. A final investment decision on Manna is expected by end-2026, with first spodumene shipments targeted for June 2028, and the scheme vote is planned for December 2026.
22 Sept 2026 · Mining Technology
Bridge Green signs eight-year recycled lithium carbonate deal with Hartree Partners
Battery recycler Bridge Green Upcycle agreed an eight-year deal, extendable by seven years, giving Hartree Partners exclusive marketing rights to about 10,000 tonnes a year of lithium carbonate from recycled batteries, with first volumes expected in 2028. Hartree also invested in Bridge Green, which operates in the United States and India and plans to fund facilities in both countries.
22 Sept 2026 · Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)
Tengyuan Cobalt shifts IPO funds from precursor plant to DRC hydropower project
Chinese cobalt producer Tengyuan Cobalt won shareholder approval to redirect about RMB 949 million of IPO proceeds to the Lufupa hydropower project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company will cut the planned capacity of its ternary precursor project from 80,000 to 20,000 tonnes a year.
18 Sept 2026 · Geoscience Australia · official source
Geoscience Australia releases Delamerian project findings on buried mineral potential in south-east Australia
Geoscience Australia published results from its Delamerian project, which mapped a roughly 1,000 km buried arc system across South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Drilling, geochemistry and geophysical surveys point to potential for copper, gold and other critical minerals, and the data and achievements report are publicly available.
18 Sept 2026 · Argus Media
Arafura extends NdPr offtake with wind turbine maker as Nolans moves into construction
Arafura Rare Earths extended its binding offtake with a global wind turbine manufacturer to 500 tonnes a year of NdPr oxide equivalent for five years, with an option to extend to eight. Arafura took a final investment decision on the Nolans project in the Northern Territory in May and expects production of NdPr and a DyTb-bearing heavy rare earth oxide from early-to-mid 2029.
17 Sept 2026 · Cochilco · official source
Cochilco reports lithium carbonate spot price at US$19,525/t in August after correction
Chile's copper commission said the lithium carbonate spot price stood at US$19,525 per tonne on 19 August 2026, about 12% below its mid-May peak but well above the 2025 average. It attributed the pullback mainly to easing supply-risk premiums rather than a change in demand.
17 Sept 2026 · Türkiye Today
United States and Lithuania sign critical minerals framework memorandum
The US Secretary of State and Lithuania's foreign minister signed a memorandum of understanding in Washington setting up a framework to fund critical mineral projects jointly and secure supply chains for economic and defence needs. The two governments have six months to identify priority projects and line up public and private financing; no specific projects or amounts were disclosed.
17 Sept 2026 · Trend News Agency
Uzbekistan's foreign minister and JOGMEC chief discuss exploration and critical minerals cooperation
Uzbekistan's foreign minister met the head of Japan's state resource agency JOGMEC to discuss expanding geological exploration in Uzbekistan, developing critical mineral resources and bringing in Japanese exploration and processing technology. Training, research and local technical capacity were also on the agenda; no specific minerals or projects were named.
17 Sept 2026 · Arab News
Ma'aden expects Saudi aluminium demand to rise by up to 80% by 2030
A senior Ma'aden aluminium executive said Saudi demand of about 1 million tonnes a year could reach 1.6–1.8 million tonnes by 2030, helped by stadium construction for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and could double within five to seven years. Ma'aden produces about 780,000 tonnes of primary aluminium at Ras Al-Khair and sells most of its output domestically.
17 Sept 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
Botswana clears US$140 million Kemcore plant to make reagents for copper and cobalt miners
Kemcore received environmental clearance for a USD 140 million chemicals complex at the Leupane industrial park in central Botswana, designed to produce about 150,000 tonnes a year of mining reagents such as sodium metabisulphite and xanthates. It would supply copper and cobalt producers in DR Congo and Zambia, with financial close targeted for December 2026 and first output in 2028.
16 Sept 2026 · Brazil Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC) · official source
Brazil enacts National Policy on Critical and Strategic Minerals with processing incentives
Brazil's president signed into law a national policy for critical and strategic minerals aimed at adding value domestically through processing, transformation and urban mining. It creates an interministerial council under the Presidency, a 20% tax credit on qualifying processing costs, and a mining guarantee fund of up to R$2 billion.
16 Sept 2026 · Critical Metals Corp (via Investing News Network)
Critical Metals study outlines rare earth refinery in Romania to process Greenland concentrate
Critical Metals Corp released study results for a proposed refinery in Romania, planned as a joint venture with a Romanian partner, to process 100,000 tonnes per year of eudialyte concentrate from its Tanbreez project in Greenland. The company put capital costs at about USD 1.85 billion and projected annual revenue of about USD 2.2 billion, including silica by-product. It stressed the figures are preliminary and depend on further engineering, testing, permitting and a final investment decision.
16 Sept 2026 · Trend News Agency
Kazakhstan and South Korea agree joint rare and rare earth metals research centre in Almaty
At the first Central Asia–Republic of Korea summit in Seoul, Kazakhstan's president proposed deeper cooperation on critical raw materials and processing, noting the country holds all ten minerals South Korea classes as strategic. The sides agreed to set up a joint research centre for rare and rare earth metals in Almaty with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, and Kazakhstan floated a joint company covering extraction through to battery and semiconductor components.
15 Sept 2026 · Hespress English
OCP commissions Morocco's first LFP battery storage system at its Benguerir phosphate site
Moroccan phosphate group OCP has built a 125 MWh, 25 MW lithium iron phosphate storage system at its Benguerir mining site, an investment of about 170 million dirhams backed by USD 20 million from the Clean Technology Fund via the African Development Bank. The group is also developing its own LFP cathode materials derived from phosphoric acid with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University.
14 Sept 2026 · Neo Performance Materials
Neo Performance Materials reaches commercial production at rare earth magnet plant in Estonia
Neo Performance Materials announced that its European permanent magnet facility in Estonia has entered commercial production and is shipping to customers, with an initial capacity of about 2,000 tonnes per year. The company has magnet programmes with three Tier 1 electric-vehicle traction motor makers and is engineering a Phase 1B expansion to roughly 5,000 tonnes per year. It targets 20,000 tonnes of annual output globally over time.
14 Sept 2026 · Arab News
Saudi Arabia reports about 110 Mt of ore with heavy rare earths and uranium at Jabal Sayid
Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister told the IAEA General Conference that studies at the Jabal Sayid project in the Madinah region indicate roughly 110 million tonnes of ore with high concentrations of rare earths, notably heavy elements, and encouraging uranium grades. The announcement follows recent US-Saudi cooperation on civil nuclear energy and rare earth processing.
14 Sept 2026 · Canberra Times (AAP)
Bougainville government reaffirms Panguna copper mine restart after attack on mine camp
Equipment was destroyed and personnel assaulted at the Panguna mine camp in Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea. The Bougainville president condemned the attack and said redevelopment of the long-closed copper mine would continue, while some groups have raised concerns about landowner consent, environmental protection and benefit sharing.
14 Sept 2026 · MAPEG · official source
Türkiye's UMREK hosts CRIRSCO 2026 general meeting and mineral valuation conference in Istanbul
Türkiye's national reserve reporting commission UMREK hosted the 2026 general meeting of CRIRSCO, the committee behind international mineral resource and reserve reporting standards, in Istanbul on 7-12 September. A conference with the valuation committee IMVAL covered mining finance, reporting codes and asset valuation.
12 Sept 2026 · Anadolu Ajansı (Enerji Terminali)
Türkiye's 2027-2029 medium-term programme pledges rules to cut critical-mineral import dependence
Türkiye's Medium-Term Programme for 2027-2029 commits to legal changes aimed at reducing import dependence for critical and strategic minerals and supporting domestic output, along with more value-added boron sales and bringing rare earth elements into production. The chair of the TOBB mining assembly said MTA exploration spending is set to rise by 139% and called for a national critical minerals strategy and a dedicated agency.
11 Sept 2026 · Trend News Agency
Uzbekistan's Technological Metals Complex and Japanese firms discuss critical metals cooperation
At the 18th joint meeting of the Uzbekistan-Japan economic cooperation committees in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's state Technological Metals Complex met a Japanese business delegation including Mitsubishi, Marubeni and export insurer NEXI. Discussions covered supplying critical metals to Japan, investment and financing for Uzbek mining and processing, and producing higher value-added products in Uzbekistan.
10 Sept 2026 · Arab News
Oman signs two mineral exploration concession agreements worth about US$15.4 million
Oman's Ministry of Energy and Minerals signed exploration agreements with Emaar Mining Co. for Concession Area 51-B and Gulf Royal Minerals and Energy Co. for Area 25-E, totalling about OMR 6 million in planned spending. Target commodities include copper, gold, silver and chromite alongside industrial minerals.
9 Sept 2026 · Club of Mozambique
Balama graphite output in Mozambique recovers in H1 2026 amid weak ex-China demand
Syrah Resources produced about 25,800 tonnes of natural graphite at Balama in the first half of 2026 and sold about 26,600 tonnes to third parties after the previous year's disruption. The company pointed to global oversupply, weak demand outside China and uncertainty over US trade measures as pressures on the operation.
9 Sept 2026 · U.S. Department of Energy · official source
US DOE awards $73M to four projects building domestic mining technology test sites
DOE's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation selected four projects to set up field-scale proving grounds for new mining technologies under the Mine of the Future initiative. Sites are located in West Virginia, Colorado, Virginia, Arizona, Missouri and Texas, led by a technology firm and three universities.
7 Sept 2026 · Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)
Keliber lithium project in Finland proceeds with staged start-up
Sibanye-Stillwater's Keliber project in Finland began mining at Syväjärvi in February 2026 and started hot commissioning of its concentrator in April, aiming for stable spodumene concentrate output in late 2026. Ramp-up of the Kokkola lithium hydroxide refinery will depend on operational readiness and lithium market conditions. At full output the project is designed to produce about 15,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide.
7 Sept 2026 · Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye (ETKB) · official source
TENMAK signs thorium cooperation memorandum with Denmark's Copenhagen Atomics
Türkiye's TENMAK and Danish molten-salt reactor developer Copenhagen Atomics signed a memorandum of understanding at TENMAK's Istanbul Çekmece site. The cooperation covers research and the domestic production of thorium compounds suitable for molten salt reactors, with the aim of making Türkiye a supplier of such compounds.
5 Sept 2026 · Rare Earth Exchanges
Vietnam authorises 18-month pilot processing of Dong Pao rare earth ore
Vietnam has authorised a controlled 18-month pilot to process up to 100 tonnes of ore from the Dong Pao deposit, aiming to produce mixed rare earth oxide above 95% purity. The pilot is a test of recovery and environmental controls and does not yet involve separation into individual high-purity oxides.
5 Sept 2026 · Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye (ETKB) · official source
Türkiye plans to develop Hakkâri as a zinc-lead mining hub with MTA and Eti Maden
During a visit to Hakkâri, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources said the government wants the province to become a centre of mining, describing it as a zinc-lead belt. State bodies MTA and Eti Maden are to invest in the region, including in processing facilities, to attract private investment.
4 Sept 2026 · electrive.com
Vulcan Energy outlines second Upper Rhine lithium project and seeks strategic investors
Vulcan Energy presented a preliminary feasibility study for Project Ludwig, its second geothermal lithium project in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley near Ludwigshafen. The study envisages about 21,100 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate plus renewable heat, with estimated capital costs of about EUR 1.26 billion. A final investment decision is not expected until after the first project, Lionheart, reaches commercial production, planned for 2028.
2 Sept 2026 · Mongabay
Indigenous and environmental groups raise concerns over Philippines' critical minerals fast-track
Rights and environmental groups in the Philippines warned that the new critical minerals order, which targets about nine million hectares for exploration, could add pressure on forests and ancestral domains and questioned whether simultaneous permitting leaves room for informed consent. The industry association for nickel miners welcomed the streamlined permits, while the government says development will be balanced with environmental protection.
2 Sept 2026 · Anadolu Ajansı (Enerji Terminali)
Eti Alüminyum to invest US$30 million in Türkiye's first aluminium-lithium alloy line
Eti Alüminyum plans a new casting line costing about USD 30 million to make aluminium-lithium alloy for aerospace and defence uses, with output targeted for 2028. The company said only the United States, Russia, China and France currently make the alloy; its new rolling mill at Seydişehir is due to start in the second quarter of next year.
31 Aug 2026 · Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)
China Northern Rare Earth reports first-half 2026 revenue up 37% and profit more than doubled
China Northern Rare Earth reported first-half 2026 revenue of about RMB 25.8 billion and net profit attributable to shareholders of about RMB 2.05 billion, increases of roughly 37% and 120% year on year. At its results briefing the company said it expects magnet demand to recover gradually in the second half and is investing in research and downstream materials.
31 Aug 2026 · Eskişehir Haber Ajansı
Presidential decision orders urgent expropriation of land for Eti Maden's Beylikova rare earth site
A Presidential Decision (No. 11690) published in the Official Gazette on 31 August 2026 allows urgent expropriation of 258 properties in Eskişehir's Sivrihisar and Beylikova districts for Eti Maden. The land is for open-pit mining, ore stockpiles, waste facilities, industrial plants and roads under a licence covering thorium, barite, fluorite and rare earth elements. Compensation remains due under expropriation rules.
29 Aug 2026 · Anadolu Ajansı
Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru sign joint declaration on strategic minerals cooperation
Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru signed a joint declaration to strengthen regional cooperation on strategic minerals such as copper and lithium. It covers responsible investment, regional supply chains, geological information, regulation and technology, and sets up working groups on geological research and mining skills. The countries also plan to seek technical and financial support from multilateral institutions.
28 Aug 2026 · Critical Metals Corp (via GlobeNewswire)
Critical Metals advances takeover of European Lithium, owner of Austria's Wolfsberg lithium project
Critical Metals Corp said the scheme booklet for its proposed acquisition of all shares in European Lithium was lodged with the Australian securities regulator on 26 August 2026. European Lithium's main asset is the Wolfsberg lithium project in Carinthia, Austria, which the company describes as fully permitted. A first court hearing was set for mid-September, with shareholder meetings expected in mid-October and completion targeted for early November, subject to court and shareholder approval.
24 Aug 2026 · PLS (ASX results presentation)
PLS reports FY26 net profit of A$526 million as Pilgangoora output and lithium prices rise
PLS (formerly Pilbara Minerals) reported FY26 revenue of about A$1.93 billion and net profit after tax of A$526 million, reversing a loss in FY25, on record spodumene production and sales up 17%. The company approved a restart of the Ngungaju plant, approved roughly A$175 million of pre-FID spending on the P2000 expansion, and began commissioning a mid-stream demonstration plant.
23 Aug 2026 · The Philippine Star
Philippines adopts Executive Order 122 setting a national critical minerals framework
The Philippine President signed Executive Order 122 in August 2026, creating a unified policy framework for critical minerals and reorganising the Mining Industry Coordinating Council under the environment and finance secretaries. It directs a national exploration and mineral reservation programme over about nine million hectares, a 'use it or lose it' rule for idle tenements, faster permitting and incentives for downstream processing.
22 Aug 2026 · Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye (ETKB) · official source
TENMAK starts pilot production at lithium borate salts facility in Türkiye
TENMAK, an affiliate of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, completed commissioning and performance tests of its BOREN lithium borate salts facility and began pilot output. The plant has a capacity of 5 tonnes a year of lithium tetraborate and metaborate, products the ministry says Türkiye previously imported almost entirely.
21 Aug 2026 · Reporte Minero
Cochilco raises 2026 copper price forecast and expects Chilean output to dip 2.6%
Chile's copper commission projected an average copper price of US$5.95/lb for 2026, easing to US$5.10/lb in 2027. It forecast Chilean mine output falling to 5.27 million tonnes in 2026 before recovering to 5.55 million tonnes in 2027, with world output roughly flat in 2026.
21 Aug 2026 · Greenland Mines Ltd (via GlobeNewswire)
Greenland approves transfer of Sarfartoq rare earth exploration licence to Greenland Mines
The Government of Greenland approved the indirect transfer of the exploration licence covering the Sarfartoq carbonatite complex in southwest Greenland, a neodymium-praseodymium rare earth project, from Neo Performance Materials to Greenland Mines. The approval under the Mineral Activities Act meets one of the key regulatory conditions for the acquisition, which had not yet closed at the time of the announcement.
19 Aug 2026 · Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye (ETKB) · official source
Türkiye and Syria sign memorandum on phosphate mining cooperation
Türkiye's MTA International (an MTA affiliate) and Syria's General Directorate of Geology and Mineral Resources signed a memorandum of understanding in Damascus on phosphate development. The two sides aim to move towards a commercial agreement covering phosphate production, field development and a railway linking the fields to a port.
18 Aug 2026 · Aramco / Ma'aden (press release via WebWire)
Aramco and Ma'aden sign shareholders' agreement for Saudi mineral exploration joint venture
Saudi Aramco and Ma'aden agreed to form a joint venture, 51% owned by Ma'aden and 49% by Aramco, to explore about 182,000 sq km of the Arabian Platform transition zone, close to a tenth of Saudi land area. Copper is the primary target, with zinc, lead and rare earth elements also in scope. The venture still requires corporate, regulatory and antitrust approvals.
13 Aug 2026 · The Astana Times
Kazakhstan's Northern Katpar and Upper Kairakty tungsten project enters feasibility study phase
The joint venture between US-based Cove Capital (70%) and Kazakh state miner Tau-Ken Samruk (30%) began its definitive feasibility study and site preparation in July 2026, with the study due to finish before the end of 2027. The roughly US$1.1 billion project plans domestic processing into ammonium paratungstate, and US EXIM and DFC have issued letters of interest totalling up to US$1.6 billion.
13 Aug 2026 · DD India
India receives 20 bids under its Rs 7,280 crore rare earth permanent magnet scheme
India's Ministry of Heavy Industries opened technical bids on 13 August 2026 after receiving 20 proposals to build integrated sintered rare earth permanent magnet plants, with bidders including Larsen & Toubro, Coal India and Attero Recycling. The scheme aims to create 6,000 tonnes per year of capacity split among five beneficiaries over a seven-year programme.
12 Aug 2026 · Fastmarkets
DRC regulator says cobalt export quotas could be cut if the market needs rebalancing
The head of the DRC's strategic minerals regulator ARECOMS said the agency could lower cobalt export quotas if supply and demand fall further out of balance. For now the 2026-2027 annual base quota of 87,000 tonnes plus a discretionary strategic quota of 9,600 tonnes stays unchanged, while cobalt hydroxide prices had eased since April.
12 Aug 2026 · Mining Technology
Savannah Resources signs new community land agreements for Portugal's Barroso lithium project
Savannah Resources announced three agreements with communal land bodies (baldios) in northern Portugal covering land access, benefit-sharing and community participation for its Barroso lithium project. One covers blocks of the mining concession that contain part of the resource, another amends an existing 2020 agreement, and a memorandum covers management of about 100 hectares of company-owned agroforestry land.
12 Aug 2026 · Hürriyet Daily News
Türkiye sets up interagency councils on critical minerals and critical raw materials
Türkiye is creating a Critical Minerals Council under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, bringing together bodies such as Eti Maden, MTA, TÜBİTAK and the defence ministry, plus a separate Critical Raw Materials Board. The councils are meant to coordinate extraction, processing and stockpiling and to raise domestic output for defence, electronics and energy. The ministry's earlier assessment named lithium, silver, titanium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper and aluminium as its highest-priority minerals.
11 Aug 2026 · Lithium Argentina AG (SEC Form 6-K)
Lithium Argentina reports Q2 Cauchari-Olaroz output and modular DLE plan with Ganfeng
Lithium Argentina reported 9,280 tonnes of lithium carbonate from Cauchari-Olaroz in Jujuy in the second quarter of 2026 and kept full-year guidance of 35,000–40,000 tonnes. With Ganfeng it is engineering an initial 10,000 t/y modular direct lithium extraction plant for the Stage 2 expansion, which gained RIGI approval in May.
10 Aug 2026 · Gasgoo
Authorities say CATL's Jianxiawo lithium mine in Yichun remains shut pending environmental approval
Local authorities in Yichun, Jiangxi, said on 7 August 2026 that CATL's Jianxiawo lepidolite mine was still under maintenance with no ore loading or crushing. A restart requires municipal approval of an environmental impact assessment, a draft of which was put out for public comment in late July, after lithium was reclassified as a standalone strategic mineral under China's revised Mineral Resources Law.
10 Aug 2026 · Nickel 28 Capital Corp (press release via Yahoo Finance)
Ramu nickel-cobalt operation in PNG reports Q2 2026 output of 8,234 t nickel and 811 t cobalt
Nickel 28, a minority holder in the Ramu operation in Papua New Guinea, reported Q2 2026 production of 8,234 tonnes of nickel and 811 tonnes of cobalt in mixed hydroxide precipitate. Net production costs rose year on year, mainly due to higher sulphur prices, and the operation remains on track for annual guidance.
8 Aug 2026 · ABC News (Australia)
US Office of Strategic Capital offers conditional loan for Syerston scandium project in NSW
Sunrise Energy Metals' Syerston scandium project near Fifield, New South Wales, received a conditional loan of about US$400 million (A$560 million) from the US Office of Strategic Capital. The project targets about 60 tonnes a year of scandium oxide from the first half of 2028, with the US defence department receiving a right of first offer on output.
7 Aug 2026 · Eskisehir.net
Türkiye's energy minister says Beylikova rare earth project is moving to industrial plant stage
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources said the project to commercialise the Beylikova (Eskişehir) rare earth deposit through an industrial facility is entering a new stage. He said that from 2028 Türkiye aims to produce higher-value rare earth products rather than only hold reserves.
6 Aug 2026 · African Development Bank (via allAfrica) · official source
AfDB approves USD 255m loan and USD 10m grant for Zambia's Lobito Corridor rail and road links
The African Development Bank Group board approved a USD 255 million African Development Fund loan and a USD 10 million grant to support Zambia's part of the Lobito Corridor. The project covers about 550 km of new railway and a 105 km road upgrade linking the Copperbelt toward Angola's port of Lobito, with further phases potentially lifting Bank financing to USD 500 million.
5 Aug 2026 · Natural Resources Canada · official source
Canada funds road and power links for First Phosphate's Bégin–Lamarche project in Quebec
The federal government committed nearly C$5 million from its First and Last Mile Fund for pre-development of transmission and road infrastructure for the Bégin–Lamarche phosphate project in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. First Phosphate is matching the funding, and the project targets battery-grade phosphate for lithium iron phosphate batteries, with production expected from 2029.
31 Jul 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Zimbabwe's first-half 2026 lithium export earnings exceed its full-year 2025 total
Zimbabwe earned about USD 782 million from lithium exports in the first half of 2026, above the roughly USD 571 million recorded for all of 2025, according to figures in the finance minister's mid-year budget review. The rise came alongside higher lithium prices and the country's first lithium sulphate exports in April under its policy of shifting away from raw concentrate.
30 Jul 2026 · JOGMEC · official source
JOGMEC commits up to C$47.7 million to Lofdal heavy rare earth venture in Namibia with Toyota Tsusho
Japan's state resource agency JOGMEC said it will invest up to about C$47.7 million (roughly ¥5.5 billion) in TJ Namibia Rare Earths, a special purpose company formed with Toyota Tsusho to develop the Lofdal deposit, making the first payment on 23 July 2026. The project targets dysprosium and terbium for magnets in vehicle motors, with a definitive feasibility study under way and a commercialisation decision targeted within fiscal 2026.
24 Jul 2026 · Anadolu Ajansı (Enerji Terminali)
Türkiye's MAPEG puts 115 mining licence areas up for tender
Türkiye's General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs (MAPEG) announced a tender for 115 mining sites, with the notice published in the Official Gazette and on its website. Bids are to be taken by sealed offer and open auction at MAPEG in Ankara.
22 Jul 2026 · Balkan Green Energy News
Environmental groups take EU Commission to court over strategic status of Serbia's Jadar lithium project
Serbian group Marš sa Drine, together with Romanian and German partner organisations, filed proceedings at the Court of Justice of the European Union against the Commission's 2025 decision to designate Rio Tinto's Jadar lithium project as a strategic project under the Critical Raw Materials Act. The groups argue that environmental, social and transparency issues were not properly assessed. The case follows the Commission's rejection of their internal review request.
19 Jul 2026 · Petra (Jordan News Agency) · official source
Jordan's Arab Potash and Jordan Phosphate Mines form joint specialty fertiliser company
Arab Potash Company and Jordan Phosphate Mines Company signed an agreement to establish a joint company for specialised fertiliser industries, with operations at Aqaba and Shidiya. The venture is intended to combine potash and phosphate resources into higher-value downstream products.
17 Jul 2026 · Kodal Minerals (RNS via Investegate)
Mali's Bougouni lithium mine reports Q2 2026 output and fourth spodumene shipment
Kodal Minerals reported that the Bougouni operation in Mali produced about 26,200 dry tonnes of spodumene concentrate at 5.34% Li2O in the June quarter, bringing first-half output to roughly 53,200 tonnes. Cumulative exports exceeded 69,000 tonnes and a fourth cargo of about 24,200 tonnes left San Pedro in Cote d'Ivoire in July; the Malian state holds an interest in the operating company.
16 Jul 2026 · International Energy Agency · official source
IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 flags concentration, export controls and falling investment
The IEA's 2026 outlook reports that the leading refining country's average share across key minerals rose to 72% in 2025 and that critical mineral investment fell 9% that year, with lithium companies cutting spending by around 40%. It notes sharp price rises for several minerals since early 2025 and estimates that about USD 6.5 trillion of annual downstream output outside China is exposed to rare earth export controls. Public finance commitments reached about USD 65 billion in 2025.
10 Jul 2026 · International Energy Agency · official source
IEA publishes in-depth review of Norway's critical minerals policies
The International Energy Agency released a country review of Norway's critical minerals policies, noting strong geological potential and expertise in processing, recycling and battery technology. It identified long permitting processes, the absence of a dedicated critical minerals policy document, limited public funding and incomplete geophysical mapping as gaps. Recommendations include clear sector targets, time-bound permitting, more risk-sharing finance, better mineral data and recycling targets.
7 Jul 2026 · Natural Resources Canada · official source
Canada's first Critical Minerals Accelerator deal backs Teck's Trail germanium, gallium and antimony output
Natural Resources Canada announced a strategic investment agreement under the new Canada Critical Minerals Accelerator, with the Canada Growth Fund providing up to C$400 million toward Teck's Trail Operations in British Columbia. Teck could invest up to C$850 million to potentially double germanium and antimony capacity and add gallium production.
6 Jul 2026 · New Zealand Government (via Scoop) · official source
New Zealand commits up to NZ$50 million for two West Coast mineral sands processing plants
The New Zealand Government allocated up to NZ$50 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to Taiko Critical Minerals at Barrytown (NZ$20m) and Westland Mineral Sands near Westport (NZ$30m). The plants are to process titanium, zirconium and monazite-bearing rare earth concentrates, with about 170 permanent jobs expected.
3 Jul 2026 · Reporte Minero
Codelco–SQM venture Novandino files US$3bn Salar Futuro lithium plan for environmental review
Novandino Litio, the Codelco–SQM joint venture, submitted the environmental impact study for Salar Futuro, a roughly US$3 billion plan to continue lithium production in the Salar de Atacama from 2031 to 2060. The proposal includes direct lithium extraction, membrane separation, brine reinjection and a phased end to continental freshwater use.
1 Jul 2026 · Morgan Lewis
China's reporting mechanism for strategic mineral export-control violations takes effect
A MOFCOM announcement creating a public channel to report suspected violations of export controls on strategic-mineral dual-use items took effect on 1 July 2026, covering issues such as unlicensed exports, disguised goods and third-country routing. A legal analysis published the same day also described recent enforcement cases involving rare-earth and germanium-related items.
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