Новости за 19.05.2022

India's power ministry on Wednesday said it would cut domestic fuel supply to state government-run utilities by 5% if they do not import coal for blending by June 15, as officials struggle to address rising power demand. A heatwave pushed power use to a record high in April, leading to the worst electricity crisis in more than six years and forcing India to reverse a policy to slash coal imports. Read full story

"My genuine sense is that we are going to see a growth in the mining sector of an order of magnitude we haven't seen. I also think that we're going to find that the need for minerals is going to force the world to think that if we can't get minerals on our shore, where else do we get them from?

On the white plains of Chile's lithium-rich Atacama desert, bright pink flamingos enliven the sprawling salt flats where sporadic blue pools provide much needed hydration. But flamingo numbers are falling, with a new study linking this to the water extracted by mining firms to pump up brine filled with lithium, the metal used to make batteries for mobile phones, laptop computers and electric vehicles. Miners contend their operations do not affect flamingo herds and say the studies are based on unreliable data.

Toronto-listed Talon Metals has announced a new record at the Tamarack nickel project, in Minnesota, with 23.44 m of massive sulphide nickel and copper mineralisation. The record drill forms part of 26 new drill holes results that Talon reported on Wednesday.  All the new holes have intercepted nickel/copper mineralisation, with assays pending.

TSX-V-listed Lion Copper and Gold has secured Rio Tinto’s backing for the Mason Valley project, where it last week also initiated the environmental permitting process with the US Bureau of Land Management as a first stop in formalising permitting efforts.   The parties on Wednesday announced an agreement on the scope of the Stage 1 programme of work referenced in the March 2022 option agreement.

ASX-listed environmental technology company Calix has been awarded an A$11-million grant from the federal government’s Carbon Capture, Use and Storage Hubs and Technologies programme, to develop the world’s first commercial-scale process for low emissions lime. Patterning with ASX-listed Adbri, Calix will develop a low emissions lime kiln, located in Western Australia, to provide low emissions lime for the alumina, gold and other industries in the state.

Aim- and BSE-listed Botswana Diamonds’ ground geophysics survey on its Sekaka diamonds prospecting licences, in Botswana, have revealed high-interest anomalies indicative of kimberlite pipes discovered in the vicinity of the KX36 diamond discovery. “These results strongly support our view that other kimberlites remain to be found in the vicinity of our 100%-owned KX36 diamond discovery.

Colombia's mining industry is on track to bring in a record 8.8-trillion pesos ($2.2-billion) in taxes and royalties during 2022, the Colombian Mining Association (ACM) said on Wednesday, adding mining is an essential sector for the transition to renewable energies. If the forecast proves correct, Colombia's income from mining would jump 69% this year from the previous 2021 record of 5.2-trillion pesos, the association said, crediting rising prices for the projected increase. Mineral exports during... Читать дальше...

Chile's top court on Wednesday turned down appeals filed by communities and environmentalists against the controversial Dominga mining project, saying a final decision needs input from President Gabriel Boric's administration. Last year, environmentalists and surrounding communities appealed a ruling from a lower court that tossed out a decision by a regulator that denied the company permits.  In its ruling, the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court said that it was turning down the appeals because... Читать дальше...

Chilean miner SQM, a major producer of lithium, on Wednesday reported a near twelve-fold rise in quarterly profit as it benefited from higher prices of the metal used in electric-vehicle batteries. Net profit rose to $796-million in the first quarter ended March 31, while revenue nearly quadrupled to $2.02-billion. The jump came on the back of a 59% surge in lithium sales volume and near seven-fold rise in prices, thanks to the global push towards electrification of vehicles.

The shareholders of ASX-listed oil and gas major Woodside have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger with mining major BHP’s petroleum assets. More than 97% of the votes cast at the company’s annual general meeting on Thursday were done so in favour of the merger, which would give BHP investors a 48% stake in the merged entity.

ASX-listed Strike Energy has selected US-based Koch Industries as the preferred bidder for the 1.4 million tonnes a year of granulated urea to be produced from Strike’s proposed Project Haber fertiliser development, in Western Australia. The preferred bidder status was awarded after a competitive offtake process, Strike said on Thursday.

ASX, NSX and OTCQB-listed Bannerman Energy has struck a deal to acquire 41.8% shareholding in TSX-V listed critical minerals explorer Namibia Critical Metals Inc (NMI). NMI’s flagship asset is the 95%-owned, advanced and fully permitted Lofdal heavy rare earths project in Namibia, which is the subject of an earn-in agreement with leading global resource strategic partner, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC).

Major Rio Tinto has agreed to amend a funding plan with Turquoise Hill Resources (TRQ) in order to provide liquidity of up to $400-million in short-term early advances, while TRQ evaluates a takeover offer from the mining giant. A Special Committee of TRQ is currently evaluating Rio’s C$34 per share all-cash proposal to acquire the remaining 49% of the issued and outstanding shares of TRQ that Rio does not currently own.