Новости за 08.02.2022

The British Columbia government has again refused an environmental assessment certificate (EAC) for the proposed Morrison copper/gold project, stating that the project poses potential risks to fish and water quality. Morrison is the proposed openpit mine of Pacific Booker Minerals, on the shore of Morrison lake on the territory of the Lake Babine Nation and upstream of the territories of the Gitanyow and Gitxsan First Nations. The project is designed to extract 30 000 t/d of ore over an anticipated 21-year mine life.

Aim-listed metal processing company Jubilee Metals is poised for growth following the successful recommissioning of its significantly upgraded and fully integrated new Inyoni platinum group metals (PGM) processing facility, in Gauteng. “The new integrated facility sets a strong foundation for sustained future growth and is the culmination of Jubilee’s extensive investment into achieving class-leading efficiencies,” the company said in a statement to shareholders on February 8.

Iron-ore roared past $150/t as China moved to prioritize economic growth by giving the country’s giant steel industry five extra years to start reining in its carbon emissions. Carbon flows from the vast and highly-polluting steel sector should peak in 2030, against an earlier target of 2025, according to a government statement on Monday. That adds to broader signs that authorities are recalibrating climate strategy in light of last year’s commodity price spikes, and with the economy primed for more powerful, carbon-intensive stimulus.

Bullion major Barrick Gold has entered into an agreement to acquire up to an 85% interest in three exploration properties that Latin Metals owns in Santa Cruz, Argentina, the TSX-V-listed minerals explorer announced on Monday. Barrick’s earn-in right consists of an initial option to acquire a 70% in the Cerro Bayo, Cerro Bayo Sur and La Flora properties and a second option for an additional 15% interest.

Junior miner Silver Bullet Mines on Monday announced the arrival of its third shipping container that holds the final major components to complete construction of its mill near Globe, in Arizona. “The delivery of the motor and drive train was the only major factor beyond our control. It’s been painful to see costs increase while we wait for these items,” CEO John Carter said in a statement.

Having a diversified, high-quality portfolio of low-cost assets paid off for royalty firm Wheaton Precious Metals in 2021, with strong performances from some key mines more than offsetting challenges at others, CEO Randy Smallwood reported on Monday. The company achieved its 2021 production guidance, with gold output of 342 546 oz, silver output of 25.80-million ounces, palladium production of 20 908 oz and cobalt output of 2.29-million pounds.

Aurubis, Europe’s top copper smelter, is reaping big profits from booming metals prices, but warned that the region’s lingering energy crisis may start to hurt its bottom line. A spike in power and gas prices has wreaked havoc on many industrial plants, with several large smelters forced to curtail output or mothball operations during the crisis -- sending metals prices rallying. Long-term power contracts and hedges have so far helped protect Aurubis from high energy costs, with the company on Monday reporting bumper quarterly earnings. Читать дальше...

The Biden administration on Monday said $725-million in federal funds would be available to states this year to clean up abandoned coal mines, one of several initiatives aimed at reducing pollution from decades of fossil fuel development. The money represents a portion of the $11.3-billion allocated to mine reclamation in the infrastructure law that Congress passed last year. The program is part of President Joe Biden's pledge to create jobs and improve health and safety while combating climate change.

The Queensland government on Tuesday announced the investment of more than A$60-million in a new coal shiploader at the port of Gladstone. Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said the investment in the new shiploader would support thousands of jobs in the resources sector for decades to come.

ASX-listed Karoon Energy’s Brazilian subsidiary Karoon Petróleo e Gás, has entered into an agreement with Shell Western Supply and Trading (SWST) to purchase more than 480 000 verified emission reductions (VERs), or carbon credits, between 2022 and 2030, to offset an estimated 60% of total Baúna-Patola Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This agreement, which includes the purchase of VERs to offset 60% of Karoon’s 2021 Baúna emissions, complements Karoon’s purchase of 19 810 VERs in November 2021... Читать дальше...

Energy provider Meridian Energy on Tuesday confirmed that it was not in discussions with the owners of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, in New Zealand, despite reports that project owner Rio Tinto was looking to extend the project life beyond 2024. New Zealand’s public broadcaster, RNZ reported on Tuesday that Rio was investigating the long-term future for the aluminium operation.

ASX-listed contractor Thiess has been appointed as the mining services contractor for the Olive Downs coal project, in Queensland. The eight-year contract would see Thiess deliver full-service mining operations, including mine planning, overburden removal, drill and blast, load and haul, water management and rehabilitation, as well as construction of the mine infrastructure.

Oil and gas major Santos has booked 100-million tonnes of carbon storage resources in the Cooper Basin, in South Australia, marking what the company believed to be the first booking globally in accordance with the CO2 Storage Resource Management System (SRMS). MD and CEO Kevin Gallagher said on Tuesday that the announcement of the storage capacity in the Cooper Basin is a significant step in Santos’ decarbonisation pathway and carbon storage hub strategy.