Production/Operations
Flying Nickel Mining drills 0.629 g/t PGM+AU over 11.07 metres at Minago, Manitoba (Resource World Magazine)
Flying Nickel Mining Corp. [FLYN-TSXV: FLYNF-OTCQB] reported additional PGM (platinum group metal) assay results from the company’s 100%-owned Minago nickel-PGM project in the Thompson nickel belt, Manitoba.
Dynamic Metals pegs out more prime WA real estate (The West Australian)
Dynamic Metals has extended its Widgiemooltha footprint by a further 220 square kilometres in one of Western Australia’s richest mineral provinces. Stretching out between Kambalda and Norseman, Dynamic’s flagship Widgiemooltha project shares the neighbourhood with a star-studded list of nickel and gold deposits in a region that is also emerging as a significant lithium corridor.
Toro confirms massive sulphides near Mt Keith nickel mine (The West Australian)
Geochemical sampling has confirmed massive nickel-sulphided at ASX-listed Toro Energy’s Jumping Jack discovery, which is part of its wholly-owned Dusty nickel project in Western Australia’s northern Goldfields.
Canada Nickel says assays from the 11 final drill holes at the Texmont property in Ontario show continued high-grade, near-surface nickel mineralisation, Kallanish reports. Seven of the 11 holes intersected nickel grades that exceeded 1% within thick mineralised sections and all 11 holes intersected nickel grades that topped 0.5%
Nickel Creek Platinum Announces Updated Mineral Resource Estimate at Nickel Shaw Project (PR Newswire)
Nickel Creek Platinum Corp. (TSX: NCP) (OTCQB: NCPCF) (Nickel Creek or the Company) is pleased to announce an updated mineral resource estimate at its 100%-owned Nickel Shaw Project located in the Yukon, Canada.
FPX Nickel Announces $16 Million Strategic Equity Investment from Major Global Stainless Steel Producer Outokumpu (investing news)
FPX Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FPX) (OTCQB: FPOCF) (FPX or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed a private placement financing (the Private Placement) with a new cornerstone strategic investor, the major global stainless steel producer Outokumpu Oyj (Outokumpu).
Mincor records strong nickel operations (Australian Mining)
High grade nickel producer Mincor Resources has provided an update on key business activities such as nickel operations and financial activity. Operational highlights include the company’s nickel-in-concentrate production adding to 1839 tonnes to date and 5161 tonnes for year to date, pending May assay results.
Raiden Resources (ASX:RDN) reigniting the Pilbara’s nickel bragging rights (The Market Herald)
Raiden Resources Limited (RDN) is refocusing its strategy to unlock the significant resource potential of the Pilbara in Western Australia (WA) with its JORC resource-stage Mt Sholl nickel-copper and platinum-group elements (PGE) project.
The PolyMet and Teck American joint venture recently launched an $18 million project in Hoyt Lakes, beginning the transformation of an old taconite plant into a copper-nickel operation. NewRange Copper Nickel as the joint venture is called earlier this month started salvage work at the former LTV Steel taconite plant, which closed in 2001.
Raiden Resources (ASX:RDN) reigniting the Pilbara’s nickel bragging rights (The Market Herald)
Raiden Resources Limited (RDN) is refocusing its strategy to unlock the significant resource potential of the Pilbara in Western Australia (WA) with its JORC resource-stage Mt Sholl nickel-copper and platinum-group elements (PGE) project.
Investment
A British consortium that includes mining giant Glencore (GLEN.L) will invest about $9 billion in Indonesia’s mining and electric vehicle (EV) battery sectors, a minister said on Wednesday, as the resource-rich country tries to lure a host of multinational firms.
Golden Mile’s new strategic investor highlights belief in Quicksilver nickel-cobalt project (Stockhead)
The shortfall for Golden Mile’s entitlement offer has been picked up by new cornerstone investor Rajiv Ramnarayan, a clear endorsement of its Quicksilver nickel-cobalt project near Lake Grace, WA. Ramnarayan, a 50% shareholder in Singapore-based commodity trading
Merger/Acquisitions
Fathom Nickel completes acquisition of Watts Lake mineral claims at Gochager Lake Property (Proactiveinvestors)
Fathom Nickel Inc (CSE:FNI, OTCQB:FNICF) told investors it has completed the acquisition of the Watts Lake mineral claims from SKRR Exploration after making the final cash payment of $75,000. The company noted that it now holds 100% of Watts Lake, which consists of 24 mineral claims totalling 13,708 hectares.
Fund Raising/Grants
Indonesian copper miner Amman Mineral Internasional aims to raise up to 12.94 trillion rupiah ($880.6 million) in a listing scheduled for June 28 to July 3, it said in its prospectus on Wednesday. The listing would be the biggest initial public offering (IPO) in Southeast Asia this year, according to Refinitiv data, surpassing the listing of Indonesian nickel producer
Vendor/ Supplier Related
Russian miner Nornickel estimates a higher-than-expected surplus in the global nickel market this year, mainly led by growing production of low-grade nickel in Indonesia. The company, which claims to be the world’s largest high-grade nickel producer
Capacities/Facilities
Alliance Nickel is leading the charge towards becoming Australia’s next big nickel-cobalt producer (Stockhead)
After inking a major offtake agreement and securing debt advisory services, Alliance Nickel is punching on with an all important definitive feasibility study (DFS) at NiWest to become Australia’s next nickel and cobalt producer.
News Stories
Vendor/ Supplier Related
Strategic minerals supply chain review (Resource World)
The demand for critical minerals has become increasingly important due to their widespread use in advanced technologies, such as aerospace, defence, computing, telecommunications, and a plethora of clean technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicle batteries.
Australia has released a map of sites containing mine waste that could be reprocessed to source minerals critical to the global energy transition, the government said on Wednesday. Metals like copper, nickel and cobalt are expected to be in short supply over the coming decades given demand growth from green energy sectors such as offshore wind
Batteries under threat: supply crunch looms for lithium (LOMBARD ODIER)
To reach net-zero targets in the coming decades, our transport systems must change the loud rumble of cars powered by petrol and diesel must be replaced by the low hum of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads. But while sales of EVs have soared, and 30 governments have said they will stop the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 20401
Exports/ Imports
At the opening of the SMM 2023 Indonesia International Nickel and Cobalt Industry Chain Conference on May 30, SMM is honoured to have invited Luhut, Minister of the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Republic Indonesia and several other important Indonesian government officials.
Production/Operations
DNR eyes Boundary Waters buffer to address light, sound pollution from potential mines (Waden Pioneer Journal)
State regulators want any potential mining activity to be farther away from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness than currently allowed, leaving more restrictive regulations up to the Minnesota Legislature to decide.
A look at some of the corporations that dominate the Amazon (The Guardian)
From mining to cattle ranching and soya farming, some of the world’s largest companies exploit the region, though many also claim to be giving something back The age of extinction is supported by theguardian.org About this content Bibi van der Zee, Patrick Greenfield and Jonathan Watts Fri 2 Jun 2023
UK consortium to invest $9bn into Indonesian mining and EV battery industries (Mining Technology)
An consortium of companies, including mining giant Glencore, is planning to invest $9bn into mining and electric vehicle (EV) battery production in Indonesia, the country’s minister for investment Bahlil Lahadalia told reporters this week. The mineral-rich nation is increasingly attracting interest as demand for energy transition minerals mounts.
Mining: Global overview (Lexology)
The global mining economy commenced 2022 on an upswing and continued with strong contributions to the global economy despite the lasting effects of the covid-19 pandemic on industries around the world and some turbulence in metals prices during the middle of 2022.
Sibanye advances carbon neutrality with first utility-scale renewable energy project (Mining Weekly)
Under the terms of the 15-year agreement, a project consortium will fund, build, and operate the large wind farm, with construction expected to begin next month and commercial operation scheduled for early 2025.
Gross domestic product by industry, March 2023 (Statistics Canada)
Real gross domestic product (GDP) was essentially unchanged in March, following a 0.1% increase in February. Service-producing industries (+0.0%) were flat, whereas goods-producing industries (-0.1%) edged down. Overall, 12 of 20 industrial sectors posted increases in March.
Endeavoring to become key EV player through ASEAN chairmanship (ANTARANEWS.com)
Indonesia is moving closer to its dream of becoming the world’s electric vehicle (EV) battery producer after an agreement on the exploration of EV ecosystem development cooperation was reached at the 42nd ASEAN Summit.
Anglo American’s Finance Director Stephen Pearce will retire this year and the company will consolidate its production businesses into two regions as the miner pursues growth in “future-enabling” minerals, the company said on Wednesday.
BHP and Microsoft have partnered to use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve copper recovery at the world’s largest copper mine, Escondida, in Chile. The project is expected to increase copper recovery by up to 5 per cent, which could generate an additional $1 billion in revenue for BHP each year.
While outsiders may view the mining industry as a lumbering old dinosaur in the modern industrial world, the truth is that miners are often leaders in the integration of new ideas and technology. With miners operating across the globe for thousands of years, it is no wonder much of the low hanging fruit has already been picked
Coffee with Samso: Riedel Resources – The Kingman Project – high-grade gold mining in Arizona, USA (Proactiveinvestors)
In this episode of Coffee with Samso 177, we have Mike Bohm, the chair, and David Groombridge, CEO of Riedel Resources Ltd (ASX:RIE) sharing with us the 2023 version of the Riedel Resources story. The last time we spoke to Riedel Resources was in 2021. In early 2021, I came across the Kingman project when Riedel Resources announced the high grade nature of the project.
Atlas Lithium Intersects 1.47% Li2O over 95.2 Meters at Neves Project in Brazil
Metso introduces black mass processing system (Recycling Today)
Metso Oyj says its newly introduced black mass recycling technology has been designed to support the circular economy and respond to growing battery minerals demand. Battery black mass recycling is becoming an important means to complement virgin battery metals supply and to reduce the carbon footprint of the battery supply chain
Building a Resilient EV Battery Value Chain (Observer Research Foundation)
The transition to cleaner modes of transport is of primary importance to meet the challenges of global warming. Existing technological capabilities and policy frameworks have increased emphasis, globally, on using electric vehicles (EVs) in the transport sector.
Sudbury lithium mine developer looks for infrastructure funding to reach the EV market (Sudbury.com)
Tucked up in a remote corner of northwestern Ontario, Frontier Lithium and president-CEO Trevor Walker are sitting on one of the largest, highest grade and mine-ready lithium projects in North America.
Global mining giant BHP said Thursday it had been underpaying thousands of Australian staff for more than a decade, an error that will cost at least US$280 million to fix.
\attery maker Northvolt defends trading links with polluting Russian mining company Nornickel (BESTmag)
Swedish lithium-ion battery maker Northvolt has defended its trading links with polluting Russian mining company Nornickel, and said it is working to secure environmental improvements. Siberia-based Nornickel was fined $2 billion for a leak of 20,000 tonnes of diesel into a local river in May 2020, turning it red.
Environmental concerns are in debate for coveted nickel needs in changing auto industry (Iosconews.com)
Increased nickel demand for electric vehicle batteries hasn’t decreased environmental concerns over the potential dangers of mining the critical mineral. Eleven percent of the world’s nickel is used for lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. Extracting the metal, however, raises alarms over sulfide pollutants that are a byproduct of nickel mining.
Norilsk Nickel has revised its 2023 nickel market surplus estimate to just over 200,000 tonnes, the company said in a metals market review. Nornickel said in February that it estimated the nickel market surplus at 122,000 tonnes in 2023.
NAC upbeat on nickel, RE businesses (Philstar)
Listed Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) is upbeat on its nickel and renewable energy (RE) businesses, driven by the global drive for sustainable and green development. During the company’s stockholders meeting yesterday, NAC president Martin Antonio Zamora said they expect a surplus in nickel production in the medium term
Nickel, cobalt, manganese and scandium hits lay path to resource growth at Mt Thirsty deposit (Stockhead)
The strategically significant Mt Thirsty cobalt and nickel deposit could grow even further ahead of a potential IPO to consolidate and develop the Greenstone Resources and Conico joint venture with assay results 100m east of the main orebody demonstrating the outstanding growth potential of the battery metals suite.
Small cap movers: Roller coaster for Amur while Active Energy fits another piece (Proactiveinvestors)
It has been an odd, roller coaster of a week for investors in Amur Minerals Corporation (AIM:AMC, OTC:AMMCF). The completion of the mine developer’s exit from Russia was swiftly followed by a bid approach from one of its rivals and, based on the latest update, it appears others have been sniffing around the mine developer too.
India’s commitment to clean energy is anchored around renewable energy sources, though, in the medium run, coal is likely to continue to play a major part. In the fast-changing technological world, the country has followed a multi-prong approach to reduce dependence on fossil fuel, exploring new energy sources like hydrogen and biofuel along with solar and wind power.
Mining legend Steve Coughlan talks politics and why we should stop just putting our metals on a boat (Stockhead)
After more than 35 years at the helm of Byrnecut, one of Australia’s premier mining contractors, Steve Coughlan has seen plenty in his time in the resources industry. One of the only independent survivors from the coterie of mining services providers that formed in the freewheeling days of the 1980s and prospered after Western Mining Corporation
For much of the last century, metals companies have made stainless steel from nickel mined in Russia or the Philippines and smelted at temperatures up to 2,900 degrees. But demand for nickel is outstripping supplies because the metal is a key component in most electric vehicle batteries.
Ascent announces intention to bid for Amur Minerals (Mining Weekly)
Europe- and Latin America-focused Ascent Resources on Thursday revealed that it had approached the board of Amur Minerals, which is a cash shell following its disposal of its Russian nickel asset earlier this year, with a takeover proposal.
The London Metal Exchange (LME) launched two consultations on Wednesday on possible reforms in the wake of last year’s crisis in nickel trading, saying it was following up on an action plan set out in March.
Korea Inc’s big battery bet on Indonesia at risk from US restrictions (Financial Times)
South Korean companies are relying on the US showing greater flexibility over China’s role in electric vehicle supply chains, as they invest heavily often with Chinese partners in battery materials production in Indonesia.
Eagle Mine unveils future plans (UPMATTERS.com)
Powell Township residents were invited to attend a status update meeting with representatives from Eagle Mine Tuesday evening. Twice a year Eagle Mine hosts community forums to create an opportunity for the operators of the mine, Lundeen Mining Company, to update the community and receive feedback.
Appian Capital Advisory, an investment adviser to private equity funds focused on mining and mining-related companies, is partnering up with Brazilian renewable energy provider Dectronic to develop a portfolio of 20 ready-to-build solar parks in the South American country.
Friends With (Metal) Benefits (Phenomenal World)
When Americans ran short on baby food last year, President Joe Biden made use of a Korean War-era authority the Defense Production Act (DPA) to airlift goat milk from Australia, despite the protectionist howls from American formula companies.
One of the hottest IPO markets this year is not in a country brimming with global tech giants, nor does it rank among the top 10 global economies by size. But Indonesia, a collection of islands with a big population and a fast-growing economy, sits on vast deposits of the metals needed to make batteries for electric vehicles.
Promises made, promises broken when it comes to Glencore and sulfide mining in northern Minnesota (MinnPost)
In August of 2019, Walker Orenstein of MinnPost conducted a thorough interview on sulfide mining in northern Minnesota with our relatively new governor, Gov. Tim Walz. The governor, to his credit, was knowledgeable, forthright, and firm declaring, The people have to know the process is solid, verifiable and trustworthy.
The Philippines’ largest coal miner on Thursday said it would make a second trial shipment to Japan this month as it pushes to curb its dependence on China. Semirara Mining and Power plans to export 50,000 tonnes of coal to Shikoku Electric Power for the utility’s 700-megawatt generating plant.
Local Response: Anti-mining campaigners’ clever tactics threaten public process (Duluth News Tribune)
In a Feb. 28 rebuttal (In Response: Greenwashing of Talon Metals won’t wash away concerns) , Susan Derby took issue with Aitkin County grocer Zerek Marsyla’s Feb. 2 column (Local View: Fed investment in Dakota mineral plant good for Minnesota, too) , in which Marsyla defended Talon Metals proposed nickel mine in Aitkin County.
The Volkswagen Group is allegedly planning a battery factory for electric cars in Indonesia. Citing Ikmal Lukma, Secretary of the Indonesian Ministry of Investment, local media report that Volkswagen intends to invest around 4.7 billion in the factory.
A Mining Legend Says Copper Is In The Buy Zone (Barchart.com)
Copper is an industrial commodity that leads the base metals that trade on the world’s leading nonferrous forward market, the London Metals Exchange. Aluminum, nickel, lead, zinc, and tin prices tend to follow copper higher or lower.
Successful drilling program at Black Swan (Australian Mining)
Poseidon Nickel has released a progress report concerning its restart of the Black Swan nickel project. The Black Swan project is located approximately 600 kilometres east of Perth and 50 kilometres northeast of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
When it comes time to fret about minerals critical to the energy transition, lithium, cobalt and nickel may get all the attention, but another metal is keeping plenty of analysts up at night. Though those other minerals are key ingredients for batteries, copper is used across every sector that will be touched by electrification.
ISS Rejects Pelham’s Demand for Wholesale Change at Nickel 28 (Kentucky Today)
Nickel 28 Capital Corp. (Nickel 28 or the Company ) (TSXV: NKL ) (FSE: 3JC0 ) announced that leading independent proxy advisor Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) has recommended against the wholesale change of Nickel 28’s board of directors (the Board ) as proposed by Pelham Investment Partners LP’s
Chinese steel giant Tsingshan and French mining group Eramet plan to invest more than $1.7-billion in two stages of a lithium production project in Argentina, Tsingshan said in a statement on Thursday. The partners are due to start producing lithium in Argentina next year under a first phase that Eramet has estimated will represent around $550 million in capital expenditure.
Colombia’s coal production could hit 71.9-million tonnes this year, driven by favorable weather conditions in mining regions, the Colombian Mining Association (ACM) said on Thursday. If the estimate is correct, annual coal production will increase by 10.7% by the end of 2023, up from 64.9-million tonnes in 2022, the ACM said.
Environment/ Climate
France encourages battery recycling projects (Innovation Origins)
The French government has presented two lithium battery recycling projects funded under France 2030. This is reported by the Dutch embassy in Paris on its website NL in France. The start-up MeCaWaRe is to install a pilot line at the Verkor research site (one of the future gigafactories) in Grenoble, while Canada’s Li-Cycle has announced it will establish a recycling unit
Minnesota regulators have concluded that state rules governing where copper-nickel mines can be built are insufficient to protect the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from noise and light pollution, creating another potential obstacle to the proposed Twin Metals mine in northeastern Minnesota.
Building a Resilient EV Battery Value Chain (Observer Research Foundation)
Decarbonising the transport sector is critical to meet climate change commitments. This task presents the G20 countries with an opportunity to emerge as a collaborative strategic unit in new sustainable mobility solutions.
Fund Raising/Grants
Public funding for Quebec-based battery plant, Ontario opens door to more engineers and court approves sale of PureGold (CIM MAGAZINE)
Welcome back to your weekly mining news recap, where we catch you up on some of the news you may have missed. This week’s headlines include a federal environmental assessment for the Northern Road Link in the Ring of Fire road network, a steel maker invests in FPX Nickel and Sayona pumps more money into its North American Lithium and Moblan projects.
Australian Vanadium secures government grant for WA vanadium project (Mining Technology)
Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) has entered a A$49m commonwealth grant agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia to advance its namesake vanadium project in Western Australia. Represented by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the government offered the grant under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative Manufacturing Collaboration Stream.
SPC Nickel to raise up to $3M in private placement financing (Proactiveinvestors Australia)
SPC Nickel Corp (TSX-V:SPC, OTC:SPCNF) has announced its intention to raise gross proceeds of up to $3 million by issuing any combination of flow-through (FT) and common shares, to a maximum of 33,333,333 shares, in a non-brokered private placement at a price of $0.105 per FT share and $0.09 per common share.
Quantum Power Asia Pte Ltd (Quantum) has expressed keenness to develop and fund large-scale solar power projects (PLTS) in Nusantara Capital City (IKN) and promote clean energy technology to support Nusantara become net-zero city by 2045.
Government/Regulatory
Decarbonization ambitions ignite debate over mining, permitting (OHIO CAPITAL JOURNAL)
The decarbonized, electrified future envisioned by the Biden administration, state governments, automakers, utility companies and corporate sustainability goals depends to a huge degree on minerals and metals.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Friday transferred cost-effective lithium-ion battery recycling technology to nine recycling companies and nine more received letters of intent at Niti Aayog.
Canada Silver Cobalt to apply for new Ontario recovery permit (Canadian Mining Journal)
Canada Silver Cobalt Works (TSXV:CCW; OTC:CCWOF) has announced its intention to apply for the new recovery permit as outlined in the recent changes to the Ontario Mining Act. The recovery permit will be a streamlined method to reprocess historic mine wastes like the Beaver silver-cobalt-nickel-copper mine and Castle silver-gold-cobalt mine stamp mill tailings.
Ottawa surprised the mining world with its decision in November to bar three Chinese companies from buying stakes in Canada’s lithium businesses due to national security concerns. Since then, investments from Chinese miners into Canadian companies that own properties containing minerals, such as lithium, copper or nickel
A reminder of all the wins of 75 years.’New Rs 75 coin catches Vedanta boss Anil Agarwal’s attention (The Economic Times)
Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal, who is a self-proclaimed geologist, said that the new coin caught his attention. He said he was thrilled to find out that it was made using silver, copper, nickel and zinc – metals that his company extracts through mining.
Withdraw your bill and work with us, says Grand Chief (THE SAULT STAR)
Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Alison Linklater wants First Nation communities to be treated as a true partner in any mining developments carried out on traditional lands. During the Mushkegowuk Annual General Assembly held this week, Linklater called on Ontario Mines Minister George Pirie to scrap Bill 71 and work with Indigenous communities to come up with a more agreeable path forward.
Investor Relations
As of June 2, bonded zone inventory of nickel rose to 4,200 mt, with the inventory of nickel briquettes and nickel plates of 1,670 mt and 2,530 mt respectively. The growing inventory was contributed by the arrival of some spots delivered for long-term orders.