The Mining Insider

Italy Senate approves nuclear power return (81-51) — Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin quote; 40-year ban ends; 11%+ nuclear share targeted, 22% in national climate plan; €17B ($19B USD) decarbonisation savings by 2050; advanced modular reactors; 12 months for government implementing decrees; uranium demand signal for global markets. Precious metals weekly wrap: gold -2.2% for the week, silver -3.1%; Friday rebound gold +0.46% to $4,284.91, silver +1.08% to $64.29; silver worst day -4.6% Wednesday; hawkish Fed/high yields pressure; gold still +14% YoY, silver +39% YoY. USTDA / Anzana Electric Group Lobito Corridor feasibility study — DRC Lualaba + Zambia NW provinces hydropower for copper/cobalt mines and 3M+ people; Deputy Director Thomas Hardy quote; $753M corridor financing; Lobito Atlantic Railway doubling cargo volumes next year. Barrick Loulo-Gounkoto Mali: September 28 strike deadline is tomorrow, no resolution announced.

Sources:

- Reuters — Italy nuclear Senate approval: https://www.reuters.com/world/italian-parliament-backs-melonis-plan-restart-nuclear-power-2026-09-23/

- Bloomberg — Italy nuclear power: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-23/italy-approves-return-of-nuclear-power-after-four-decade-ban

- Rio Times — Gold/silver weekly wrap: https://www.riotimesonline.com/gold-silver-precious-metals-saturday-september-26-2026/

- USTDA — Lobito Corridor power: https://ustda.gov/ustda-supports-reliable-power-for-africas-lobito-corridor/

- Reuters — Barrick Mali strike: https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/multiple-unions-threaten-strikes-barricks-flagship-mali-gold-mine-documents-show-2026-09-18/

Bannerman Energy completes US$457M CNOL (CNNC Overseas) financing for Etango uranium project, Namibia — 45% JV stake, 207M lbs U3O8 resource, debt-free construction, FID imminent, first production targeted 2028; Brando Munro quote. Zambia copper sector: KCM (Vedanta) signs US$498M contract with China NERIN Engineering for Africa's largest copper tailings leach plant at Chingola — 70,000 tpa addition toward 300,000 tpa by 2031; Nchanga smelter restarted after 106-day rehabilitation; meanwhile sulphuric acid shortage constrains smaller operators — Jubilee Metals acid costs +200% Q4 FY2026, Sable cathode output -31% QoQ, Zambia small-scale copper -35.2% YoY (SMM analysis Sep 25). Global Lithium Resources / Titan Australia Mining binding A$333M ($237M USD) takeover — 73% premium, Manna WA lithium project, Abu Dhabi refinery context; Clifford Chance Liz Humphry quote; shareholder meeting December, closing mid-January 2027. Barrick Loulo-Gounkoto Mali: 3 days to September 28 strike deadline, no resolution announced.

Sources:

- Bannerman Energy Etango financing: https://bannermanenergy.com/etango-strategic-financing-with-leading-global-integrated-nuclear-utility-cnnc/

- World Nuclear News — Bannerman Etango funding: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/bannerman-completes-Etango-funding

- Mining Weekly / Reuters — KCM NERIN deal: https://www.miningweekly.com/article/zambias-kcm-signs-498m-deal-with-chinese-firm-for-copper-recovery-plant-2026-09-18

- SMM — Zambia sulphuric acid shortage: https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104134711-sulphuric-acid-shortage-emerges-as-a-constraint-on-zambias-copper-growth

- Northern Miner — Global Lithium / Titan: https://www.northernminer.com/news/global-lithium-soars-50-on-a333m-titan-takeover/1003895024/

- Reuters — Barrick Mali strike notices: https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/multiple-unions-threaten-strikes-barricks-flagship-mali-gold-mine-documents-show-2026-09-18/

Generation Mining completes C$1.3B construction financing for Marathon Copper-Palladium Project — early works begin Q4 2026, Glencore life-of-mine offtake, 2.16M oz palladium + 532M lbs copper over 13 years. Gold drops 1.7% to $4,282 on hawkish Fed officials and a stronger US dollar; 95% probability of December rate hike per CME FedWatch. Neo Performance Materials signs MOU with Rainbow Rare Earths for NdPr oxide and dysprosium-terbium offtake from South Africa's Phalaborwa phosphogypsum project — no new mining required. Barrick Loulo-Gounkoto Mali: four days to September 28 strike deadline, no resolution announced.

Sources:

- Generation Mining Marathon financing: https://genmining.com/news/2026/generation-mining-secures-full-project-financing-t-15448/

- Reuters — Gold falls hawkish Fed: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/gold-lacklustre-higher-for-longer-rate-outlook-weighs-sentiment-2026-09-23/

- Yahoo Finance / CNW — Neo Performance / Rainbow Rare Earths MOU: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/neo-performance-materials-signs-mou-060000205.html

- Reuters — Barrick Mali strike notices: https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/multiple-unions-threaten-strikes-barricks-flagship-mali-gold-mine-documents-show-2026-09-18/

September 23, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore | Runtime: ~11 minutes

Stories covered:

1. Ivanhoe Electric 2026 Santa Cruz Copper PFS — Arizona, $1.43B initial capex, 75,000t/yr copper cathode (first 15 yrs), $3.5B after-tax NPV at $6.79/lb copper, 30% IRR, Robbins TBM; base case $4.75/lb = $1.5B NPV/19% IRR; US EXIM $1.1B financing discussions; first copper Q2 2029

2. Artemis Gold acquires Vista Gold for $427M all-share — Mt Todd 9.1Moz Australia Northern Territory, 29% premium to 20-day VWAP; Blackwater EP2 to 500koz mid-2028; pathway to 1M oz/yr; CEO Dale Andres quote; close Q1 2027

3. Copper surges to $6.91/lb COMEX, LME $14,788/t — +47% YoY; Sprott supply crunch: Chile -9.4% YoY, Grasberg/Kamoa 600,000t removed, Cochilco cut to 5.27Mt

4. Barrick Loulo-Gounkoto Mali strike — 5 days to September 28 deadline, no resolution announced; mine workers, catering contractor, national mining regulator all filed

Sources:

- TradingView/TMX Newsfile (Ivanhoe Electric 2026 PFS): https://www.tradingview.com/news/tmx_newsfile:a7317b6a7094b:0-2026-preliminary-feasibility-study-for-the-santa-cruz-copper-project-in-arizona-confirms-high-grade-low-cost-project-with-strong-economics/

- Vista Gold/Business Wire (Artemis/Vista merger): https://www.vistagold.com/news/news-2026/920-rtemisoldgreestocquireistaoldddingandvance20260921035004

- Westmetall (LME copper): https://www.westmetall.com/en/markdaten.php?action=table&field=LME_Cu_cash

- Investing.com (COMEX copper): https://www.investing.com/commodities/copper-historical-data

- Reuters (Barrick Mali strike): https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/multiple-unions-threaten-strikes-barricks-flagship-mali-gold-mine-documents-show-2026-09-18/

September 22, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore | Runtime: ~11 minutes

Stories covered:

1. EU issues formal Statement of Objections against MMG/Anglo American nickel deal — could divert low-carbon ferronickel from Europe to SASAC-controlled stainless steel producers; Anglo American calls assessment flawed

2. Gold falls 0.9% Monday — spot $4,349.94, 88% December Fed rate hike probability, USD at 2-month high; Jim Wyckoff (American Gold Exchange) and TD Securities quotes

3. Tungsten Mining secures $50M placement for Watershed Queensland project — 69.7Mt resource, $1.31B NPV, 198% IRR, $274M capex, DFS October 2026, H1 2027 production target; tungsten prices 4x Jan-Jul 2026

4. Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada sign Digital Process Twin agreements for Red Rock Ontario lithium converter — DFS mid-December 2026, 32,000t LCE/yr capacity, G7 critical minerals blueprint

Sources:

- Reuters (MMG/Anglo EU antitrust): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/mmg-hit-with-eu-antitrust-warning-over-nickel-deal-with-anglo-american-2026-09-16/

- Reuters (gold falls Fed hike): https://www.reuters.com/world/india/gold-eases-firmer-dollar-profit-taking-mideast-conflict-focus-2026-09-21/

- MSN/Stockhead (Tungsten Mining placement): https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/economy/watershed-moment-tungsten-mining-nets-50m-boost-ahead-of-fid/ar-AA2cIsgY

- Yahoo Finance/CNW (Rock Tech Lithium Siemens): https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/rock-tech-lithium-siemens-canada-060000395.html

September 21, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore | Runtime: ~11 minutes

Stories covered:

1. Capstone Copper sells Cozamin mine to Luca Mining for up to $385M — $275M upfront cash, $15M Luca shares, $35M deferred, up to $60M copper-price contingent (2027-2029 LME); Q4 2026 close expected

2. Almonty Industries and Sandvik's WBH sign take-or-pay tungsten supply deal — 1,720t WO3 minimum from Los Santos Spain tailings; $3M upfront; EU-origin tungsten; US defense procurement restrictions effective January 2027

3. Ramelius Resources FY30 gold target upgraded to 560-610koz (+11%), FY27 guidance 205-225koz, A$480-570M growth capex, Mt Magnet 3Mtpa circuit, Rebecca-Roe final permitting

4. BHP and China Baowu renew five-year steel decarbonisation MoU — blast furnace -30% carbon intensity target, hydrogen DRI trial at 50% of conventional emissions, planned ESF demonstration unit

Sources:

- Capstone Copper / Business Wire (Cozamin): https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260920044608/en/Capstone-Copper-Announces-Sale-of-Cozamin-for-Total-Consideration-of-up-to-$385-Million

- Almonty Industries (tungsten offtake): https://almonty.com/almonty-signs-tungsten-offtake-agreement-with-sandvik-group/

- ASX / Ramelius Resources (FY27 guidance): https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20260921/pdf/0749dwbgccy8tf.pdf

- BHP (China Baowu MoU): https://www.bhp.com/news/media-centre/releases/2026/09/bhp-and-china-baowu-renew-steel-decarbonisation-partnership

September 20, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore | Runtime: ~11 minutes

Stories covered:

1. China Rare Earth Group in talks to acquire Shenghe Resources — controls 3% stake in MP Materials (Mountain Pass, California); would deepen Beijing's state consolidation of the rare earth sector

2. Three years of Chinese gallium & germanium export curbs — prices 9-10x 2023 levels; ex-China gallium supply gap of ~678 tonnes by year-end; named expert quotes from Project Blue, Edmund Optics, Lattice Materials

3. EU imposes provisional safeguards on grain-oriented electrical steel imports — minimum prices €2,800-€3,400/tonne within quota, €3,500/tonne above; effective September 25; first-ever full value chain protection

4. Barrick Loulo-Gounkoto Mali strike — September 28 deadline, eight days out; no resolution announced; 796,000 oz Q2 production on full-year guidance of 2.9-3.25 million oz

Sources:

- Reuters (China rare earth / Shenghe): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-rare-earth-group-talks-buy-mp-materials-shareholder-shenghe-resources-2026-09-18/

- Reuters (gallium/germanium curbs): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/niche-metals-test-wests-resilience-chinese-export-curbs-2026-09-18/

- Reuters (EU electrical steel): https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-impose-provisional-safeguards-protect-electrical-steel-imports-2026-09-18/

- European Commission (official notice): https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-imposes-provisional-safeguard-measures-imports-grain-oriented-electrical-steel-2026-09-18_en

- Reuters (Barrick Mali strike): https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/multiple-unions-threaten-strikes-barricks-flagship-mali-gold-mine-documents-show-2026-09-18/

- Barrick Mining (Q2 2026 results): https://www.barrick.com/English/news/news-details/2026/q2-2026-results/default.aspx

September 19, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore | Runtime: ~11 minutes

Stories covered:

1. Barrick's Loulo-Gounkoto Mali complex: multiple unions file strike notices with September 28 deadline — mine workers, catering staff, and Mali's mining regulator all included

2. Copper mine supply heading for first annual decline since 2017 — Sprott Asset Management report; Chile down 9.4% YoY, 600,000 tonnes removed from Grasberg and Kamoa-Kakula

3. US DFC approves $414 million for Global Atomic's Dasa uranium project in Niger — highest-grade deposit in Africa, conditions remain

4. Venezuela and opposition near deal to transfer $4 billion in gold from Bank of England to New York Fed

5. Weekly metals wrap — gold $4,380 (+0.73% week), silver $66.35 (+3.05% week), copper outperforms, iron ore producer equities diverge

Sources:

- Reuters (Barrick Mali strike): https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/multiple-unions-threaten-strikes-barricks-flagship-mali-gold-mine-documents-show-2026-09-18/

- Sprott Asset Management (copper supply): https://sprott.com/insights/copper-s-rally-meets-a-deepening-supply-crunch/

- Reuters (Niger uranium): https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-seals-big-uranium-investment-niger-two-years-after-troops-left-2026-09-17/

- Reuters (Venezuela gold): https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuela-nears-deal-move-4-billion-gold-reserve-new-york-ft-says-2026-09-18/

- The Rio Times (weekly metals): https://www.riotimesonline.com/gold-silver-precious-metals-saturday-september-19-2026/

The Mining Insider — July 19, 2026

Today's episode covers four major developments shaping global mining and energy markets.

1. US-Iran Ceasefire — Hormuz Reopens Friday: President Trump announced the deal complete Sunday evening; Pakistani PM Sharif confirmed the ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz reopens to commercial shipping Friday. Twenty-five billion dollars in frozen assets released; sixty-day follow-on talks on nuclear program and sanctions. Brent had peaked at $88.10 before the announcement.

2. Caspian Pipeline Consortium Halts Loadings After Drone Attack: Drones struck two tankers — ASIA and NISSOS IOS — at the CPC terminal near Novorossiysk. The ASIA caught fire; both remained afloat; no injuries, no spill. Loadings suspended. CPC handles 80% of Kazakhstan's crude exports and ~1.5% of global oil supply.

3. Peru: Fujimori's Mining Gamble: President-elect Keiko Fujimori takes office July 28. Peru holds $64B in planned mining investments; 200 active social conflicts. Most mining regions voted against Fujimori. Southern Copper's Tia Maria ($1.8B, 2027 target) and Zijin's Rio Blanco flagged as flashpoints.

4. First Quantum / Taca Taca / Rio Tinto: First Quantum reportedly exploring a stake sale in Argentina's Taca Taca copper project. Rio Tinto named as preliminary unconfirmed potential buyer. No deal announced.

Sources:

- Christian Daily / Reuters: https://www.christiandaily.com/news/us-iran-reach-preliminary-ceasefire-agreement-to-end-war-reopen-hormuz-strait

- Reuters (CPC attack): https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/caspian-pipeline-consortium-oil-loadings-suspended-after-drone-attacks-tankers-2026-07-19/

- Reuters (Peru): https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/fujimoris-mining-push-could-spur-unrest-peru-study-says-2026-07-15/

- MarketBeat / Reuters: https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/RIO/news/

The Mining Insider — July 5, 2026

DRC Cobalt — ARECOMS Quota Clawback Confirmed: The DRC government confirmed this week it has withdrawn unused H1 2026 cobalt export quotas. The July 5 ARECOMS deadline was not extended. CMOC, Glencore's Kamoto Copper Company, Eurasian Resources Group, and Huayou Cobalt are among those affected. Up to 20,000 metric tons ($1.1B at $26/lb) have been removed from H1 export allocations. Annual cap of 96,600 tonnes for 2026-2027 remains intact. DRC controls ~70% of global mined cobalt output.

Mojtaba Khamenei — Absent from Funeral: Iran's new Supreme Leader has not appeared at any stage of the six-day state funeral in Tehran. Security officials blocked his appearance over Israeli assassination fears. He reportedly wants to attend the July 9 burial in Mashhad. President Pezeshkian confirmed Mojtaba approved the US diplomatic agreement (12-1 Supreme National Security Council vote). Post-funeral appointments will signal foreign policy direction. US-Iran talks remain suspended until after July 9. Brent holding below $71/bbl.

Vedanta CopperTech Metals — Konkola Copper Mines: Vedanta Resources launched CopperTech Metals Inc., a US-domiciled company to own and operate Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia — one of the world's highest-grade copper assets, with significant cobalt reserves. Designed to enhance American copper supply security amid Section 232 tariffs and surging data center/grid/defense demand.

South32 — Sandvik Largest-Ever BEV Order at Hermosa: South32 selected Sandvik for its largest single battery-electric vehicle order, covering all underground fleet requirements for the Hermosa critical minerals project (zinc, manganese) in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Deliveries Q4 2026 through 2030.

Sources: SMM Metals/Sina Finance, Business Insider Africa/Reuters, Euronews Persia/NYT, Copperbelt Katanga Mining/Sandvik.

Host: Logan Ore — The Mining Insider.