Rio Tinto exec seeks faster permitting under Trump

A Rio Tinto executive said U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s new administration should focus on speeding up the permitting process for its stalled Resolution copper mine in Arizona, reported Reuters. The mine could supply more than one-quarter of the country’s domestic copper needs. Full story.

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Lights out for Tucumã

Ero Copper’s Tucumã operation is without power following a localized and severe windstorm in the Carajás Mineral Province in Pará State, Brazil, but positively reports no injuries to its workforce. Executive David Strang said there was also no infrastructure damage from the October 5 storm. “The regional power grid, including the main 230kV transmission line servicing the region, sustained damage…

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BHP, Escondida union reach deal

The union at Chile’s Escondida copper mine has signed a three-year deal with BHP, ending a strike that could have threatened global supplies of the metal, reported Reuters. The agreement included changes in labour conditions such as “initiatives to optimize shift changes, increase equipment utilization and compliance with the 40-hour law,” BHP said in a statement. The mine’s union had…

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Barminco to continue underground services at Khoemacau

Barminco, the underground mining business unit of Perenti, has finalized discussions regarding the existing five-year mining services contract for the Khoemacau copper mine in Botswana with Khoemacau Copper Mining Proprietary Limited, a subsidiary of MMG. The continuation of the contract until 30 June 2025 will be on revised terms. Barminco is working to deliver on the current mine plan whilst…

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Worker dies in accident at Codelco operation

A truck driver has been killed at Codelco’s Radomiro Tomic copper mine in northern Chile, officials have confirmed. The heavy equipment operator, 30-year-old Ana Camila Rojas Farias, was operating in the pit area at the time of the 8 March accident; Codelco did not provide any additional details. Activities at the mine were immediately suspended. An investigation into the causes…

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Julong obtains approval for expansion

Zijin Mining has received local government approval for the second phase expansion of its Julong copper mine in Tibet, reported Reuters. The expansion will raise the total capacity of the mine to around 350,000 metric tons of copper per day, and will require an investment of around 17.5 billion yuan (US$2.43 billion).  “After the Julong Phase 2 Project is completed…

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FLSmidth to deliver HPGRs to Asia Pacific customer

FLSmidth said it has received an order to supply comminution technologies to upgrade an undisclosed customer’s copper concentrator at a mine in the Asia Pacific.  The order, valued at DKK 300 million (US$43.3 million), includes the delivery of two High Pressure Grinding Rolls Pro, which FLSmidth described as being “among the most energy-efficient comminution technologies available.” The order also includes…

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Korean miner to file lawsuit against Panama

State-run Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources (KOMIR) is seeking 1 trillion won (US$747.1 million) from the government of Panama over expected losses from the shutdown of the Cobre Panama copper mine, reported The Korea Economic Daily. KOMIR had acquired a 10% stake in Minera Panama, a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals, in 2009. Minera Panama is the operator of…

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Barrick: Lumwana Super Pit coming in ‘28

Barrick has confirmed it is accelerating progress for the Lumwana copper mine’s Super Pit project in Zambia, estimating first production in 2028. Barrick President and CEO Mark Bristow advised Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema of the fast-track during a meeting on 23 January. The project includes transforming Lumwana into one of the world’s major copper mines, with projected annual production of…

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