Новости за 21.04.2021

Diversified major Rio Tinto has started its initial 2021 exploration campaign on Midnight Sun Mining’s Solwezi licences, in Zambia, the TSX-V-listed junior reported this week. Rio Tinto is in Stage 1 of a $51-million earn-in and joint venture agreement in terms of which Rio Tinto can earn up to a 75% interest in the Solwezi licences, near First Quantum’s Kansanshi mine. The initial 2021 work programme budget is $3.2-million and is expected to be completed in late June.

Under new Idaho-based leadership, Bunker Hill Mining on Tuesday announced the results of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for its iconic namesake mine, envisaging a rapid restart at a capital cost of $42-million. The Bunker Hill mine, located in Idaho’s Silver Valley, will generate about $20-million a year of average free cash flow over a ten-year mine life and producing 550-million pounds of zinc, 290-million pounds of lead and seven-million ounces of silver at an all-in sustaining cost... Читать дальше...

Chilean copper miner Antofagasta has kept its guidance for the full year unchanged at between 730 000 t and 760 000 t, despite the country enduring a sharp uptick in Covid infections in recent weeks. The full-year guidance assumed that Covid-19 restrictions would remain in place for all of 2021, the LSE-listed miner reported on Wednesday.

Major Rio Tinto’s Alma smelter, in Quebec, has been tapped for the first installation and demonstration of an inert anode technology developed by the ELYSIS joint venture (JV), at a commercial size. The demonstration plant would have a capacity of 450 kiloamperes (kA), which is a common capacity for modern, full-scale smelters.

A significant number of commodities are set to experience strong demand growth over the next 20 years, while “conventional” commodities will receive an added boost as they take a central stage in the green and digital transitions, says financial risk management, solutions and insights company Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research (Fitch Solutions). The firm reveals that it expects oil, iron-ore, conventional steel, zinc, sugar and beef to broadly stagnate, demand-wise, in the next 20 years. Читать дальше...

Optimisation work at the Mardie salt and potash project, in Western Australia, has resulted in increased production and improved economics. ASX-listed BCI Minerals on Wednesday said that expansion of the proposed evaporation area has resulted in a near 20% increase in both the anticipated salt production, from 4.4-million tonnes a year to 5.35-million tonnes a year, and the anticipated sulphate of potash (SOP) production, from 120 000 t/y to 140 000 t/y.

ASX-listed Nickel Mines has completed the acquisition of a further 20% interest in the Angel Nickel project, in Indonesia, taking its stake in the project to 50%. Nickel Mines paid its project partner Shanghai Decent Investment Group $137.6-million for the 20% interest in the project, and could increase its shareholding in Angel Nickel to 80%, by paying a further $210-million before the end of December this year.

Oil and gas major Santos has struck a new gas supply agreement with diversified miner Rio Tinto, under which Santos would supply up to 15 PJ of natural gas from late 2021. Santos MD and CEO Kevin Gallagher said on Wednesday that Rio has been a long-term buyer from Santos.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (Appea) has welcomed the federal government’s A$540-million investment into new hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, saying it was a massive boost for the Australian oil and gas sector and would help to further cut emissions. The federal government will pledge A$275-million towards the development of four more hydrogen hubs in regional Australia, while also investing A$263.7-million to accelerate the development of CCS projects... Читать дальше...

Mining major BHP has reported record production from its Western Australian iron-ore operations during the nine months to March, despite a 4% fall in production during the March quarter on the back of wet weather and planned maintenance. Iron-ore production in the year-to-date was up 4% on the previous corresponding period, to 188.3-million tonnes, while production in the three months to March declined by 4% on the December quarter, to 59.9-million tonnes. Increases in the year-to-date reflected... Читать дальше...

ASX-listed Greenland Minerals on Wednesday said that it was seeking consultation with the new Greenland government following the national election in April. The new coalition government, which consists of the Inuit Ataqatigiit and Naleraq parties, has publicly stated a political intention to cease the development of Greenland Minerals’ Kvanefjeld rare earths project, due to the presence of uranium as a by-product. While Kvanefjeld’s development strategy is focused on the production of rare earths... Читать дальше...