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Critical minerals news
Short summaries written by MineralLink editors, always linking to the original source. We never republish articles.
29 of 211 items
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 · 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.
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 · 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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.
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 · 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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