Mining

Equinox Gold acquires Orla Mining in $5.1 billion consolidation, backed by Pierre Lassonde

(Kitco News) - The gold sector's highly anticipated wave of consolidation has arrived. Equinox Gold Corp. has struck a definitive agreement to acquire Orla Mining Ltd. in a $5.1 billion transaction, forging a new North American powerhouse capable of producing 1.1 million ounces of gold annually.

May 13, 2026 - 11:40 AM

Myanmar military steps up fight for rare earth area and border routes

May 25, 2026 - 2:12 PM

Ghana commits to renewing Gold Fields’ Tarkwa lease but rules out automatic extension

May 25, 2026 - 2:10 PM

Kitco Mining Channel

India’s mining industry calls for new exploration and development, removal of red tape to address gold and silver import issues

(Kitco News) – The impacts of the recent changes to India’s precious metals import policies continue to play out, with bullion banks, investors, ETFs and jewelers all working to navigate the new regime. Now, the country’s mining industry is speaking out, arguing that the world’s second-largest gold and silver market must become more than just an importer.

May 25, 2026 - 11:09 AM

Chalco plans to build a 1.2Mt alumina project in Guinea

The Aluminium Corporation of China (Chalco) said on Friday the board has approved a Hong Kong subsidiary’s plan to invest in a 1.2-million-ton per year alumina project in Guinea.The Guinean alumina project is the company’s first such program abroad.The overall investment is estimated at around $1 billion.The planned investment was approved by the board on June 26, 2025, but the disclosure was deferred as per some regulatory rules as the company was afraid a then-disclosure could adversely impact the project progress, Chalco said in an exchange filing.

May 22, 2026 - 6:41 PM

China squeezes Japan over rare earths in repeat of 2010 showdown

China has cut Japan off from several heavy rare earths and other materials for at least four months, coinciding with a dispute between the two countries over Taiwan, suggesting Beijing is using its control over critical minerals as diplomatic leverage.Japan is the largest rare earth magnet maker outside China but like the rest of the world is overwhelmingly dependent on Beijing for imports of certain so-called heavy rare earths used in magnet-making, aerospace and defence, as well as gallium, a minor metal vital for chip-making.

May 22, 2026 - 6:39 PM

Hindalco misses profit estimates as Novelis disruptions weigh

India’s Hindalco Industries posted a surprise profit drop for the second straight quarter on Friday, missing analysts’ estimates, as expenses linked to a fire-related disruption at US unit Novelis offset the benefit of higher base metal prices.The Aditya Birla Group-owned firm reported a 50.8% fall in consolidated net profit to 25.97 billion rupees ($271.40 million) for the three months ended March 31, missing analysts’ estimates of 43.12 billion rupees, per data compiled by LSEG.

May 22, 2026 - 6:37 PM

Indonesia coal export shake-up rattles miners, traders

Indonesia’s plan to route coal exports through a state firm has rattled traders and miners in the world’s largest exporter over its viability, at a time when liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply disruptions due to the Iran war are boosting ‌coal demand.President Prabowo Subianto announced on Wednesday that exports of coal, palm oil and ferroalloys must be conducted through state firm Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI), in a move to boost revenue and stabilise the rupiah currency that has nevertheless fuelled investor jitters.

May 22, 2026 - 6:34 PM

Arafura approves $1.6 billion rare earth project

Arafura Rare Earths said on Thursday it had approved the development of its $1.6 billion Nolans project in Australia’s Northern Territory, which is set to be the country’s third-biggest rare earths operation by the end of the decade.The project is designed to deliver 4,440 metric tons of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide annually, targeting markets outside China amid growing demand for rare earths used in electric vehicles and wind turbines.

May 21, 2026 - 4:01 PM

Moody’s warns Indonesia commodity export plan a risk for miners, may distort market

Moody’s Ratings said on Thursday that it views Indonesia’s centralization plan for commodity exports as credit negative for miners and the plan raises risks of market distortion.It said the move could support foreign exchange inflows and the rupiah currency, but it may also weigh on investor sentiment on the broader policy environment.(By Gayatri Suroyo and Ananda Teresia; Editing by Martin Petty)

May 21, 2026 - 3:59 PM

US moves closer to prohibitive tariffs on Russian palladium

The United States has moved closer to slapping prohibitive tariffs on imports of Russian palladium after the Department of Commerce made a final determination on a countervailing duty of 109.1%.In April 2026, it also issued a final ruling setting an anti-dumping duty on Russian palladium at 132.83%.The duties will take effect if a parallel investigation conducted by the independent International Trade Commission determines that the US industry has suffered harm.

May 21, 2026 - 3:57 PM

Zambia’s Konkola reopens Chingola copper mine after 18-year shutdown

Zambia’s Konkola Copper Mines resumed mining at its Chingola “B” Mine on Thursday, 18 years after operations ceased, as Africa’s second-largest copper producing nation pushes to more than triple its annual output to 3 million tons by 2031.The mine, part of the Nchanga mining complex, is projected to produce more than 200,000 tons of ore per month, KCM chief executive Deshnee Naidoo said in a statement.The mine produced about 60,000 tons per month at an average grade of 2.5% between 1980 and 2003.

May 21, 2026 - 3:54 PM

Russia is concerned by US, EU rare earth activity in Central Asia, media reports

Russia is concerned by US and European Union efforts to secure access to rare earths and critical minerals in Central Asia, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia newspaper.In an attempt to diversify from China, which dominates rare earths supply chains vital for technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy and defence systems, the G7 nations, including the US and EU, have been exploring alternative markets and support tools to reduce their dependence on Beijing.

May 20, 2026 - 1:46 PM

Gulf aluminum April output tumbles to lowest in a over a decade due to Iran war

Primary aluminum in the Gulf tumbled in April to its weakest in more than a decade due to the impact of the Iran war on smelters in the region, the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) said on Wednesday.Production in the Gulf was 330,000 metric tons last month, down 35% from the same month in 2025, according to preliminary IAI data. The region accounts for about 8% of global primary aluminum production, but supplies 28% of Japanese imports and 21% of US imports.

May 20, 2026 - 1:44 PM

Europe must break China's grip on rare earths pricing to spur investment, sector body says

BRUSSELS, May 20 (Reuters) - Europe must build its own pricing system for specialty metals and rare earths to reduce reliance on China and unlock investment in mining and processing, industry expert Bernd Schaefer of the EIT told Reuters on ‌Wednesday.China dominates critical mineral supply chains and sets prices through opaque domestic markets, leaving Western developers without clear benchmarks, complicating investment decisions and delaying already higher-cost projects in Europe.

May 20, 2026 - 1:40 PM

Brokerages stay bullish on gold price despite near-term pressure

Brokerages remain constructive on gold’s long-term outlook despite recent price weakness, as rising bond yields, inflation concerns and a stronger dollar have pressured prices in the near term.While several banks have trimmed near-term forecasts due to softer investor demand and elevated rate expectations, most analysts still expect prices to recover through 2026.On Sunday, JPMorgan lowered its 2026 average gold price forecast to $5,243 per ounce from $5,708, citing softer near-term demand for the metal as investor client interest has “dried to a trickle.”

May 19, 2026 - 5:45 PM

Mining

Equinox Gold acquires Orla Mining in $5.1 billion consolidation, backed by Pierre Lassonde

Myanmar military steps up fight for rare earth area and border routes

Ghana commits to renewing Gold Fields’ Tarkwa lease but rules out automatic extension

Congo suspends mining activities in parts of South Kivu province

China could become a net refined zinc exporter in 2026, analysts say

Nornickel recommends no 2025 dividend in face of instability

Kitco Mining Channel

India’s mining industry calls for new exploration and development, removal of red tape to address gold and silver import issues

Chalco plans to build a 1.2Mt alumina project in Guinea

China squeezes Japan over rare earths in repeat of 2010 showdown

Hindalco misses profit estimates as Novelis disruptions weigh

Indonesia coal export shake-up rattles miners, traders

Arafura approves $1.6 billion rare earth project

Moody’s warns Indonesia commodity export plan a risk for miners, may distort market

US moves closer to prohibitive tariffs on Russian palladium

Zambia’s Konkola reopens Chingola copper mine after 18-year shutdown

Russia is concerned by US, EU rare earth activity in Central Asia, media reports

Gulf aluminum April output tumbles to lowest in a over a decade due to Iran war

Europe must break China's grip on rare earths pricing to spur investment, sector body says

Brokerages stay bullish on gold price despite near-term pressure