Frik Els

2 weeks ago | mining.com | Frik Els

With so much happening in copper – from all-time highs mixed with price collapses – it’s easy to lose sight of the giant hole that exists in the industry where dynamite meets bedrock. Cobre Panama has now been sitting idle for 18 months, ordered to shut down by a supreme court ruling following months of protests that rocked the Central American nation. The massive First Quantum Minerals mine, which entered production in 2019 is an increasingly rare phenomenon in copper mining.

1 month ago | mining.com | Frik Els

2024 was a record-breaking year for the global electric vehicle industry. In total, 865.5 GWh were added to the electric car parc, an expansion of 171.8 GWh, or 25% compared to the year before. The batteries of electric vehicles, including plug-in and conventional hybrids, sold globally during 2024 contained a combined 1.76 million tonnes of graphite, LCE (lithium carbonate equivalent), nickel, cobalt and manganese, outpacing growth in GWh and unit sale terms.

2 months ago | mining.com | Frik Els

Statements that Trump’s plans to make Canada the 51st state is all about metals and minerals, a deal for Ukraine’s rare earths (now rejected) being included in peace talks, and the current US administration reiterating its desire to buy Greenland, have thrust critical minerals into the public view like never before. Amid all this talk it’s easy to forget that anything to do with metals and minerals – whether deemed critical or not – is really about one country. China.

2 months ago | mining.com | Frik Els |Cecilia Jamasmie

Staff Writer | January 31, 2025 | 10:45 am Suppliers & Equipment Top Companies Australia Copper  Olympic Dam mine. (Image courtesy of BHP.) BHP (ASX: BHP) has commissioned two engineering firms to support the expansion of its copper smelter and refinery facilities in South Australia, including at Olympic Dam, one of its biggest copper projects.

2 months ago | mining.com | Frik Els |Rick Mills

Staff Writer | January 30, 2025 | 2:30 pm Careers News Europe USA Copper  ACG Metals, the copper-focused SPAC (special purchase acquisition company) started by ex-Rusal executive Artem Volynets, has announced the appointment of former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as non-executive director.