Editorial: The good, the bad and the absurd
First the good news: Quebec’s decision last week to add mining to the list of priority activities and services permitted during the pandemic elicited quiet cheers from investors and lifted…
Covid-19
South America divided on coronavirus measures
South American countries have taken varying approaches to containing the spread of COVID-19, ranging from leaving it to states and cities to handle the virus to implementing aggressive lockdowns and…
Commentary: Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy should extend to all active mining operations
Even before COVID-19 had been declared a pandemic, the mining industry in Canada’s northern territories was facing challenging circumstances. The ongoing protectionist trade wars were leading to lower commodity prices,…
First Nations concerned about Quebec mines reopening
First Nations in Quebec and Labrador have raised concerns about the reopening of mining operations in Quebec, fearing that movement in and out of fly-in/fly-out camps will increase transmission of…
Quebec mines deemed an essential service
With Quebec Premier François Legault’s announcement on Monday declaring mining operations in the province an essential service, mines will be allowed to start back up on April 15, with additional…
Hochschild Mining withdraws dividend
Hochschild Mining (LSE: HOC) has become the third major mining company to suspend its dividend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Peru-focused gold mining company’s announcement follows Glencore’s (LSE: GLEN)…
Gold climbs to highest level since 2012
The gold price rallied again on Thursday, as investors sought a store of value after the Fed said it was pumping an additional US$2.3 trillion in the US economy to…
Rio Tinto maintains dividend, discloses taxes
Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO; LSE: RIO) Chairman Simon Thompson told shareholders the company will proceed with a dividend payment announced in February of $2.31 per share, or $3.7 billion, and…
Antofagasta halts Los Pelambres expansion project
Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) has suspended a US$1.3 billion expansion at its Los Pelambres operation in Chile for an estimated four months as the coronavirus pandemic has made it impossible to…
COVID-19 kills worker at First Quantum’s Cobre Panama mine
Panama’s Ministry of Health confirmed that one person has died at the Cobre Panamá operation due to complications caused by COVID-19. On Sunday, the government agency posted a tweet saying…
Spain allows Atalaya’s Riotinto copper mine to resume operations
Atalaya Mining (LSE: ATYM) has restarted its Riotinto copper mine in Spain after local authorities in Andalucía determined that mining operations supplying other essential industries should remain open. The Cyprus-headquartered…
Glencore defers decision on dividend
Glencore (LON: GLEN) is postponing a decision on whether to proceed with a cash dividend of 20¢ per share totalling US$2.6 billion in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “When…