Ecuador, SolGold seal deal to launch nearly $5bn mining project Construction of the Cascabel mine is seen starting in 2025, with operations kicking off in 2030. Reuters | July 20, 2023 | 5:14 pm
Austral Gold begins commissioning of Chilean heap reprocessing project Production is expected later this month, lasting until 2033. Staff Writer | July 20, 2023 | 3:01 pm
Chile wants to boost local copper smelting capacity to rely less on Asian plants The proposal follows the decision of state-owned miner Codelco to close its Ventanas smelter for environmental reasons. Bloomberg News | July 20, 2023 | 2:17 pm
LME expects more fast-track listings after approval of new nickel brand The exchange has approved nickel produced by a subsidiary of China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. Reuters | July 20, 2023 | 2:07 pm
US imposes sanctions on Russian copper producer UMMC As of 2020, it was producing around 40% of Russian copper. Reuters | July 20, 2023 | 1:16 pm
Barrick Gold targeted by Russian cybercriminal group Clop in global data theft that hit Sun Life, Vancouver transit police Clop’s modus operandi is to demand ransom in return for not publishing the data stolen, or to sell it to a third party. Niall McGee - The Globe and Mail | July 20, 2023 | 11:28 am
Bolivia hikes lithium resources estimate to 23mt The new figure compares with a previous estimate of 21 million metric tons. Reuters | July 20, 2023 | 11:28 am
Elon Musk relieved that lithium prices are no longer insane Chinese prices of lithium carbonate, a refined form of the metal, have halved from a peak in mid-November as supply pressure eased. Bloomberg News | July 20, 2023 | 10:09 am
Zambia’s copper production seen falling to 14-year low Copper production will plunge to 682,431 tons, the Ministry of Finance & National Planning said in a report. Bloomberg News | July 20, 2023 | 10:03 am