Новости за 10.01.2022

Canadian miner Ivanhoe Mines has set its sights on producing between 290 000 t and 340 000 t of copper in concentrate this year. The Kamoa copper project, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, produced 105 884 t of copper in concentrate in 2021. This exceeded the upper end of the guidance range, which was set at between 92 500 t and 100 000 t.

Brazilian miner Vale said on Monday it has partially halted operations at its Southeastern and South iron-ore systems due to heavy rains that are affecting the state of Minas Gerais, but reiterated 2022 production guidance as the Northern system was not affected. Vale said in a securities filing that train circulation at its Vitoria-Minas railway was partially interrupted following the rains, which led output to be halted at the Brucutu mine and the Mariana complex as it was unable to transport iron-ore from these ventures. Читать дальше...

TSX-listed copper, gold and zinc producer First Quantum Minerals has clarified Covid-19 vaccination protocols at its Kansanshi mine, in Solwezi, and its Sentinel mine, in Kalumbila, in Zambia. It is also calling on all citizens to be vaccinated, in support of the Zambian government's efforts to drive vaccination rates in the country.

Aim- and TSX-V-listed Thor Explorations has set its full-year production guidance for 2022 at between 80 000 oz and 100 000 oz, following a ramp up in production from the first quarter this year, as per the mine plan for its Segolila operation, in Nigeria. Importantly, the company has managed to resolve some supply chain issues experienced in the third and fourth quarters of last year, as well as commissioned a mine laboratory to optimise processing ability.

2022 has started on a bullish note, with the Richards Bay market rising some $20 over the week. This was due mainly to the Indonesian coal export ban, as local utilities run dangerously short of coal, with a lack of vessels to move coal between the islands. The ban is expected to only last until end-Jan, although both South Korea and Japan have already held urgent talks with Indonesia's energy ministry to have high calorific coal excluded from the ban.

Norwegian fertiliser maker Yara said on Monday it will wind down its purchase of potash from Belarus by April 1 as international sanctions made it impossible to continue the trade. Yara is a key customer of State-owned Belaruskali, one of the world's largest producers of potassium salt, or potash, the crop nutrient that is a major foreign currency earner for Belarus.

These are boom times in the fertiliser market, with record prices amid strong demand. But the world's largest producer is in disarray after losing two chief executive officers in less than a year, and investors are still waiting for an explanation for the latest departure. The surprise exit of Nutrien CEO Mayo Schmidt just eight months into the job has fuelled concern about corporate governance at the Canadian company.

Diversified major BHP will make a $90-million investment into private firm Kabanga Nickel to accelerate the development of the Kabanga nickel project, in Tanzania. Kabanga Nickel on Monday announced an initial $40-million investment by the miner, will convert into an 8.9% equity stake in Kabanga Nickel once approvals and conditions are met. Once invested and on conversion the second tranche of $50-million will increase BHP’s equity stake in Kabanga Nickel to 17.8%, thereby valuing the project at $658-million.

Indonesia's government is hoping to reach a decision on resuming coal shipments "in the coming days", its energy minister said on Monday, as pressure mounts on the world's biggest thermal coal exporter to end a ban imposed 10 days ago. "In the past week we have done stocktaking and we hope in coming days there will be more clarity so we can have coal security and resume exports," Energy Minister Arifin Tasrif said in a meeting with Japan's Industry Minister, Hagiuda Koichi, which was broadcast virtually.

A Chilean court has rejected a legal challenge by a group of lawmakers seeking to stop the government from taking bids for a lithium rights auction that has attracted giant miners SQM and Albermarle . The appeal was presented last week by opposition deputies from the center-left PPD, but the Santiago Appeals Court ruled it had been filed too late as the tender had been publicised since mid-October through a Mining Ministry decree.

The regulatory National Mining Agency (ANM) suspended operations of French steel pipe maker Vallourec at its Pau Branco iron-ore mine in Brazil on Sunday, a day after a dike at the mine overflowed and cut off a federal highway, the company said. The overflow of the dike cut off traffic on Saturday on the BR-040, a major highway linking Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. "The company is working with the competent bodies and authorities to minimize the disturbances that have occurred and to restore normality," Vallourec said in a statement.

Dual listed Adriatic Metals has completed a $142.5-million debt financing package with Orion Resource Partners as part of its funding solution to develop the Vares silver project, in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The debt funding forms part of a greater $244.5-project financing package unveiled last year, and includes $120-million in senior secured debt and a $22.5-million copper stream.