The Mining Insider

Congo Claws Back the Cobalt, Mojtaba in Hiding, Vedanta's American Copper Play, and South32's Electric Fleet 05.07.2026 10dk

The DRC government confirms it has clawed back unused H1 2026 cobalt export quotas after the ARECOMS customs platform blockage prevented producers from registering shipments — putting $1.1 billion in allocations at risk for CMOC, Glencore, Eurasian Resources Group, and Huayou Cobalt. Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is absent from his father's state funeral amid Israeli assassination fears, deepening succession uncertainty ahead of resumed US-Iran talks after July 9. Vedanta launches CopperTech Metals Inc., a US-domiciled company to own and operate Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia for American copper security. And South32 places Sandvik's largest-ever battery-electric vehicle order for its Hermosa critical minerals project in Arizona.

Hormuz Frozen for Khamenei's Funeral, Canada Bets on Red Chris Copper, MMG Nickel Deal Stalls in Brussels, and Congo's Cobalt Countdown 04.07.2026 10dk

Iran's six-day funeral for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei freezes all US-Iran negotiations until July 9, with UK, France and Oman pledging to keep the Strait of Hormuz open as Brent falls below $71. Canada and British Columbia sign a landmark resource agreement committing $500 million to expand Red Chris copper mine and targeting a 15%+ rise in national copper output. MMG and Anglo American extend their Brazilian nickel deal deadline to October 31 as EU antitrust review stalls. And the DRC cobalt customs platform freeze reaches its ARECOMS deadline, putting $1.1 billion in export quotas at immediate risk.

BHP Hands San Manuel to Faraday, Pilbara Workers Settle, Congo's Cobalt Customs Freeze, and Gold's Comeback Week 03.07.2026 10dk

BHP finalizes its transfer of the historic San Manuel copper mine in Arizona to Faraday Copper Corp, taking a 30% stake and offtake rights as both companies target a new US copper hub. BHP workers at South Flank and Mining Area C vote 58% in favor of a four-year deal — but Port Hedland negotiations continue. A customs platform failure in the DRC puts up to $1.1 billion in cobalt exports at risk ahead of a July 5 quota deadline. Gold surges above $4,170 per ounce for its first weekly gain in five weeks on weak US jobs data.

Agnico Eagle's Barnat Blow, Cigar Lake Goes Dark, Northern Star's New Hand, and India's Aluminum Bet 02.07.2026 9dk

A wall movement at Agnico Eagle's Barnat open pit in Quebec threatens 60,000 to 80,000 ounces of H2 2026 gold production. Cameco suspends mining at Cigar Lake after an acid plant failure halts Orano's McClean Lake mill. Northern Star appoints Glencore's Suresh Vadnagra as CEO following activist pressure from Elliott. And Adani and Abu Dhabi's IHC commit to an $11.5 billion aluminum joint venture in India's Odisha.

South32 Turns Copper, BHP's Diesel Dilemma on Day One, Ghana GoldBod Goes Live, and Iran Walks Away From Doha 01.07.2026 9dk

South32 sells its aluminium unit to Alcoa for $5.6B, becoming a lean copper miner and M&A target for Glencore or BHP — on day one for new BHP CEO Brandon Craig. BHP simultaneously orders 62 new diesel trucks at Jimblebar alongside its 2 electric ones, locking in diesel through at least the late 2030s. Ghana's GoldBod 30% gold offtake goes live today with cedi settlement. And Iran refuses to meet US envoys in Doha, stalling Hormuz diplomacy.

Hormuz Stand-Down Holds as Doha Talks Begin, BHP Craig Takes Command Tomorrow, Murray & Roberts Escapes Business Rescue, and the Copper Tariff Verdict 30.06.2026 10dk

Both US and Iran send delegations to Doha on June 30, but Tehran denies direct talks. Goldman Sachs says Gulf flows could return to 23M bpd by early July. Today is Mike Henry's last day as BHP CEO; Brandon Craig takes over tomorrow with the buy-vs-build copper conundrum front and center. Murray & Roberts completes R1.27B mining services business rescue sale to Differential Capital, preserving 2,600 jobs. And the Commerce Dept Section 232 refined copper report was delivered to the White House today.

Hormuz Ceasefire 2.0, Trump's New Metal Tariff Move, Canada Opens Greenland, and the Copper Tariff Verdict That Arrives Tomorrow 29.06.2026 10dk

The US and Iran agree to halt strikes and hold Doha talks beginning June 29, focused on Hormuz shipping operations and Iran's demand for transit control. President Trump signs a new Section 232 tariff adjustment today. Canada becomes the first G7 government to invest in Greenland mining with a C$7M grant to Greenland Resources' Malmbjerg molybdenum project. And the Section 232 refined copper tariff report arrives at the White House tomorrow — the decision that will set direction for a copper market at record COMEX inventories of 652,200 tonnes.

Electric Haulage Hits the Pilbara, Iran Eyes Hormuz Control, Barrick Breaks Ground at Fourmile, and the New US Metal Tariff Rulebook 28.06.2026 10dk

BHP, Rio Tinto and Caterpillar reach a milestone in their battery-electric haul truck trial at Jimblebar iron ore mine — moving to dynamic charging. Iran's Hormuz strategy reframed: not a ceasefire dispute but a bid for strategic control of the waterway worth $40B. Proclamation 11032 restructures US Section 232 metal tariffs for equipment importers since June 8. And Barminco wins A$275M to develop Barrick's high-grade Fourmile gold mine in Nevada's Carlin Trend.

Hormuz Flares Again as Copper Tariff Deadline Looms, BHP Changes Guard, Hudbay Builds a Copper Empire in Arizona 27.06.2026 10dk

The Strait of Hormuz erupts again as US and Iranian forces exchange strikes and a second tanker is hit on Saturday, stalling the shipping recovery and pushing UK naval authorities to raise threat levels to substantial. The US Department of Commerce faces a June 30 deadline on its Section 232 refined copper tariff report — COMEX inventories hit a record 652,200 tonnes. BHP finalizes its leadership structure ahead of Brandon Craig's July 1 start. And Hudbay Minerals closes the Arizona Sonoran acquisition, creating the third-largest copper district in North America.

BHP's New CEO Inherits a Full Inbox, Gold Breaks $4,000, SSR Mining Closes $1.49B Çöpler Sale, Paladin Hits New Uranium Discovery 25.06.2026 9dk

Brandon Craig takes over as BHP CEO on July 1 with an immediate in-tray: Port Hedland strike threats, a $2.3 billion Jansen potash overrun, and a year-end Copper South Australia smelter decision. Gold breaks below $4,000 per ounce for the first time in seven months, driven by the strongest US dollar since May 2025 and rising Federal Reserve rate hike bets — copper also slips near six-week lows. SSR Mining closes its $1.49 billion sale of the Çöpler mine stake in Turkey, becoming a pure Americas gold producer. And Paladin Energy confirms a new high-grade uranium discovery — Atlas — at Patterson Lake South in Saskatchewan, with best intersection of 8.0m at 1.75% U3O8.

Anglo-Codelco Copper Deal Done, Sherritt Shuts Canada's Only Cobalt Refinery, BHP Ultimatum at Port Hedland, Wall Street Cuts Gold Targets 24.06.2026 9dk

Anglo American and Codelco complete the Los Bronces–Andina joint mine plan, unlocking 2.7 million tonnes of additional copper over 21 years with at least $5 billion in shared pre-tax value. Sherritt International begins a controlled shutdown of Fort Saskatchewan — North America's only significant cobalt refinery — after US sanctions on Cuba sever the Moa joint venture feedstock supply. All three BHP Port Hedland unions issue a joint ultimatum: meaningfully negotiate or face widespread strikes. Wall Street turns on gold — Deutsche Bank cuts its forecast 22% to $4,300/oz, following Goldman Sachs's revision from $5,400 to $4,900 last week.

Energy Fuels Acquires Germany's VAC for $1.9 Billion, BHP Tables Port Hedland Offer, Mali Presses $512M Barrick Claim, Minnesota Mining Ban Overturned 23.06.2026 9dk

Energy Fuels announces a definitive $1.9 billion deal to acquire German rare earth magnet maker Vacuumschmelze, creating the first fully integrated US mine-to-magnet supply chain. BHP tables a draft enterprise agreement at Port Hedland — unions say some progress was made but the sides remain far apart ahead of a July 7th follow-up session. Mali's military government escalates its $512 million tax and dividend claim against Barrick Gold at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex. And Congress has overturned Minnesota's 20-year mineral leasing ban, clearing the primary federal hurdle for the Twin Metals copper-nickel-cobalt project.

US-Iran Talks Secure Hormuz Roadmap, China Bans Rare Earth Exports to MP Materials, Pentagon Backs Energy Fuels With $725 Million, and Newmont Cadia Hit by Twin Quakes 22.06.2026 10dk

US-Iran talks in Switzerland conclude with a 60-day roadmap and a Hormuz communication mechanism — oil falls to $78 and energy cost normalization resumes for global mining operations. China escalates its critical minerals campaign by banning rare earth exports to MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, the two Pentagon-backed US rare earth producers, with immediate effect. The Pentagon responds the same day with a conditional $725 million, 20-year loan to Energy Fuels to build a rare earth separation and metallization hub at White Mesa Mill in Utah. And Newmont's Cadia mine in New South Wales is halted for the second time in nine weeks after twin magnitude 3.4 and 3.2 earthquakes — operations resumed Sunday following a staged safety restart.

Iran Closes Hormuz Again, Trump's Copper Tariff Decision Looms, and All Three BHP Port Hedland Unions Now Have Active Strike Ballots 21.06.2026 9dk

Iran re-closes the Strait of Hormuz citing Israeli ceasefire violations in Lebanon, even as US and Iranian delegations meet in Switzerland — with oil at $80 and mining energy costs hanging in the balance. Trump's copper tariff decision from the Commerce Department is due by end of June, with a phased 15%-to-30% tariff scenario widening the Comex-LME spread and prompting front-running stockpile builds. And at BHP's Port Hedland terminal, the Australian Workers Union files a Fair Work Commission ballot application on June 18, making all three unions — AWU, ETU, and AMWU — active in the strike process, with $120 million per day in iron ore revenue at risk.

Newmont's Red Chris Block Cave Gets BC Green Light, Vale and Glencore Form Sudbury Copper Partnership, Ghana Weighs Seizing Gold Fields' Biggest Mine, and Pilbara Minerals Doubles Down on Lithium 20.06.2026 10dk

British Columbia grants key regulatory approvals for Newmont's Red Chris Block Cave project — a copper-gold asset with 20 million ounces of gold and 13 billion pounds of copper, with a final investment decision expected later in 2026. Vale Base Metals and Glencore sign an agreement to jointly develop a brownfield copper project in Sudbury, Ontario, targeting 880,000 tonnes of copper over 21 years at up to $2 billion in capital. Ghana weighs transferring control of Gold Fields' Tarkwa mine to local companies when leases expire April 2027, deepening a resource nationalism push that has already raised royalties to 12%. And Pilbara Minerals approves $175 million in pre-FID capital for the P2000 lithium expansion at Pilgangoora, targeting a final investment decision by December.

BHP's $2.3 Billion Potash Blowout, Port Hedland Strike Ultimatum, Rio Tinto's Structural Reset, and Alamos Gold Cuts Full-Year Guidance After Mine Seismicity 19.06.2026 10dk

BHP books a $2.3 billion impairment on its Jansen potash project as Stage 2 costs balloon to $6.9 billion — the third overrun on the project in three years. Three unions issue a joint final ultimatum to BHP at Port Hedland, putting hundreds of workers days away from filing strike notice. Rio Tinto restructures into three product groups with immediate executive appointments, placing Borates and Iron & Titanium under strategic review. Alamos Gold cuts Q2 guidance 12% after seismic events at Young-Davidson damage underground infrastructure, pushing full-year production below the low end of guidance.

BHP Port Hedland Strike Widens as Third Union Joins, Oyu Tolgoi Blockade Tests Mongolia's Revenue Patience, China Hits Back at G7 Minerals Cap, and Hudbay Breaks Ground at Copper Mountain 18.06.2026 11dk

BHP Port Hedland faces a three-union strike threat as the AWU files a protected action ballot, joining ETU (100%) and AMWU (89%); Resources Minister King issues a public please explain; strikebreakers recruited at up to $93/hr; $120M/day revenue at risk. Mongolian Radical Reform Movement briefly blockades Oyu Tolgoi copper road to China; exports resume in 24 hours; each week of blockade costs Mongolia US$13.3M. China calls G7 60% minerals cap a 'small clique' move and defends Decree 839. Hudbay breaks ground at New Ingerbelle, Copper Mountain BC — mine life past 2040, 750,000t copper, C$11.5B GDP.

Ichthys LNG Strike Ends After $200 Million in Losses, G7 Sets 60% Cap on China Mineral Imports, Simandou Rail Spur Complete, and Marathon Palladium Project Locks In CAD$769 Million 17.06.2026 11dk

Australia's Offshore Alliance and Inpex reach an EBA ending the Ichthys LNG strike after US$200M in losses — 400+ members endorse the deal; cargo loading resumes. G7 Évian closes with a binding 60% concentration cap on critical mineral imports from any single country by 2030; Canada-Italy bilateral minerals cooperation announced. Rio Tinto achieves mechanical completion of Simandou's SimFer rail spur — 70 km connecting Blocks 3 and 4 to the Trans-Guinean Railway; 120 Mtpa target. Generation Mining locks in CAD$769M total financing for the Marathon palladium-copper project in Ontario.

Ichthys LNG Shutdown Now Imminent, Lobito Corridor Reopens DRC Copper Route, Collahuasi Commits US$345 Million, and Japan Proposes a G7 Joint Minerals Reserve 16.06.2026 10dk

Inpex confirms Ichthys LNG shutdown is imminent and significant as Offshore Alliance extends strikes to July 6, threatening 2% of global LNG output mainly exported to Japan. Lobito Atlantic Railway restores the DRC copper corridor after two months of flood-related closure. Collahuasi approves a US$345M expansion while navigating an environmental permit dispute. Japan PM Takaichi proposes a G7 joint 90-day critical minerals stockpile with IEA coordination at the Évian summit.

China Locks Down 36 Strategic Minerals as Australia's Pilbara Faces Twin Strike Threats, Surge Copper's Berg Project Posts C$4.6 Billion NPV, and the G7 Opens in France 15.06.2026 10dk

China's State Council Decree 839 takes effect June 15, formally placing 36 minerals — including rare earths, lithium, cobalt, gallium and germanium — under full-chain state control with centralized mining rights approval and joint export review. Australia faces simultaneous industrial action at Ichthys LNG (Offshore Alliance extends strikes past June 23 after FWC rejection) and BHP's Port Hedland (90% worker vote for action after six months of failed bargaining). Surge Copper's Berg Pre-Feasibility Study delivers C$4.6 billion NPV and 24% IRR in British Columbia. The G7 opens in Évian with Trump's bilateral mineral pricing plan meeting skepticism from allies.