Новости за 27.10.2020

As Freeport McMoRan hammers out next year’s benchmark deal for the copper industry, the coronavirus has complicated negotiations but also given the miner an edge. Gone is an ice-breaking reception for key customers that Freeport’s Javier Targhetta hosted for more than two decades during London Metal Exchange Week. For the past few years, that’s seen CEO Richard Adkerson serenade hundreds of guests as they dined on champagne and paella at a Park Lane hotel. While virtual talks are proceeding more slowly than traditional face-to-face meetings... Читать дальше...

The Minerals Council South Africa says a comprehensive “toolbox” of measures is needed to improve the competitiveness of the entire chrome value chain, which has been impacted by a number of challenges. These challenges include nearly 40% of South Africa’s ferrochrome production having either been closed or mothballed in the past two years, as well as the significant 523% rise in the price of electricity over the past decade and shortages of electricity supply that has affected the production of... Читать дальше...

TSX-V-listed Falco Resources on Tuesday announced an agreement with Glencore Canada, whereby the commodities trader and miner will provide a $10-million bridge financing to fund continued project operations at the Horne 5 VMS deposit, in Quebec. The companies also entered into life-of-mine copper and zinc offtake agreements, with concentrate to be smelted at Glencore’s Horne smelter, whcih is adjacent to the project and the only copper smelter in Canada. Glencore has agreed to underwrite a $10-million... Читать дальше...

Project developer Namibian Marine Phosphate’s (NMP’s) job registration drive has received an “overwhelming response”, with more than 4 000 registrations recorded within the first two weeks. Speaking to media on October 27, CEO Chris Jordinson said the sheer number of registrations was likely owing to Namibia’s high unemployment rate, which is above 30%.

Diamond miner Petra Diamonds continued to perform well during the three months to September 30, with record carat production at the Cullinan mine in South Africa during August and September, an “excellent achievement” given the Covid-19 mitigation measures, which now form part of the group’s standard working conditions, says CEO Richard Duffy. Petra notes that its Project 2022 continued through the lockdown period, despite the resultant reduction in manning levels, although the emphasis shifted from throughput initiatives to cost optimisation.

ASX-listed junior FYI Resources has completed a high purity alumina (HPA) production trial at its pilot plant in Western Australia. The objective of the trial was to produce stipulated end production specially tailored to the requirements of targeted potential customers and to incorporate several previously noted process design modifications into the production flowsheet.

Canada's Teck Resources missed analysts' estimates for quarterly profit on Tuesday, hurt by a steep drop in the prices of steelmaking coal, sending it US-listed shares down 8.2% in pre-market trade. Miners globally have been struggling after the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on commodity markets, forcing companies to shut mines, slash production and even wind down some operations. Teck said labor intensive activities such as maintenance, mine operations and projects continue to be impacted by Covid-19 safety protocols. Читать дальше...

Underground mining activity has resumed at the 777 mine, in Flin Flon, Manitoba, and production should be back at full tilt in December, base metals miner Hudbay Minerals reported on Monday. Operations at the copper/zinc/gold/silver mine were halted earlier this month, after a skip fell to the bottom of the shaft during routine maintenance. Hudbay completed a preliminary video inspection of the mine shaft, which indicated that the damage was limited to the headframe and the bottom of the shaft in the skip compartment. Читать дальше...

While discussions with potential lenders and finance providers for the development of the Florence copper project remain ongoing, Canadian base metals miner Taseko is also exploring the sale of a minority interest in project to help develop the commercial operation. The company, which on Monday announced its third-quarter results, said that discussions with interested parties were “advanced” and that a sale could fund a “significant” portion of the capital required for the project. With an initial capital expenditure of $227-million... Читать дальше...

Uranium hopeful Paladin Energy on Tuesday announced that capital expenditure (capex) at its Langer Heinrich mine, in Namibia, is expected to reach $9.5-million in 2021. The planned capex for the 2021 financial year was down by 44% on the funds spent in the 2020 financial year, as Paladin moved to bring the operation back into production.

Junior Todd River Resources has exercised its option over the Nanutarra nickel project, in Western Australia, and has completed a A$4-million capital raise. The company on Tuesday reported the issue of 805 366 shares to Cratonix with the exercise of the option over Nanaturra.