BHP to supply desalinated water to Escondida
BHP’s (NYSE: BHP; LON: BHP) Escondida copper mine in Chile, the world’s largest, will stop drawing fresh water from the Atacama salt flat, using instead desalinated water brought from its…
Industrial/Specialty Minerals
Electric vehicle sales could reach 43 million by 2030, B of A says
Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are likely to hit 3 million this year, but should skyrocket to between 21 million and 43 million by 2030, according to a new report…
Commentary: Five things to watch for in battery metals this year
In a January research note on battery raw materials, consultants Wood Mackenzie outlined the main themes to look for in 2020: The following is an edited version of the article….
Danakali begins work on Eritrean potash project
Danakali (LON: DNK) has kicked off the first development phase of of its world-class Colluli potash project in Eritrea by selecting the team in charge of the Engineering, Procurement and…
Trade tensions and ESG policies top issues for miners, survey says
Global law firm White & Case has released the results of its fourth annual survey on mining and metals, identifying trade and ESG issues as the industry’s top concerns for…
Anglo American goes back to fertilizers with US$527M purchase of Sirius Minerals
Anglo American (LON: AAL) is expanding into fertilizers after agreeing to acquire Sirius Minerals (LON: SXX), the British junior struggling to build a huge fertilizer mine beneath a national park….
Lynas faces environmental lawsuit in Malaysia
Australian rare earths miner Lynas (ASX: LYC) said Friday that three individuals in Malaysia had filed a lawsuit challenging the government’s decision to renew the company’s operating licence last year….
Nemaska Lithium files for creditor protection
Canada’s Nemaska Lithium (TSX: NMX) has filed for creditor protection after attempts over several months to find new investors and continue operations. The Montreal-based company is trying to avoid becoming…
Commentary: Mining company boards have ‘advantage’ in transition to low-carbon economy
With the mining sector generating 14% of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the presence of climate change presents the sector with both opportunities and risks. The transition to a low-carbon…
Commentary: The periodic table and the road to resource nationalism
This year marked the 150th anniversary of the periodic table, which UNESCO has dubbed the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. Developed in 1869 by Dmitri Mendeleev,…
Interview: Rory Johnston of Scotiabank looks to 2020
Rory Johnston is a commodity economist covering energy and metal markets in Scotiabank’s economics department. His research includes the Scotiabank Commodity Price Index (a monthly assessment of developments affecting the…
Rare earth miner Lynas picks Kalgoorlie for processing plant
Australian rare earths miner Lynas (ASX: LYC) has selected the city of Kalgoorlie to build its new cracking and leaching plant to extract low-level radioactivity from the ore mined at…