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Interior Department on Tuesday removed one of the last remaining obstacles to Lithium Americas Corp's (LAC.TO), Thacker Pass mine project in Nevada by finding nearly all of the site contains the metal used to make electric-vehicle batteries. The opinion from the department's solicitor comes amid an acrimonious debate about whether more U.S. mines should be built to produce lithium and other green energy transition metals. Of the dozens of mining claims at the Thacker Pass site held by the company, the government found fewer than 10 did not contain lithium mineralization, an Interior Department official told Reuters. "They're going to be able to start construction and production without these claims being in the plan of operation," the official said of Lithium Americas. "We're in favor of increasing domestic mineral production when it's being done in the right location and in the right way," the official said.

☆ Pro Take: Can Nickel, Cobalt and Other Battery Metals Be Sourced Sustainably?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Lockheed Martin and Norway’s Storebrand also have recently sold their interests in deep-sea mining companies. Others including German luxury carmaker BMW have said that, given environmental concerns, they won’t use battery metals sourced from the deep sea. More than a dozen countries are concerned about the environmental impact of the practice and are calling for a moratorium on seabed mining. A nickel mining site on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Proponents of deep-sea mining say the nascent practice is a less harmful way to extract nickel than how the mineral is currently sourced in Indonesia.

☆ Sila: 2023 CNBC Disruptor 50
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Cnbc.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

As the electric vehicle fast becomes the future for major automakers, critical elements including lithium are poised to be the equivalent of new oils. Elon Musk has been saying for years that if there's any business a smart entrepreneur should get into, it's lithium refining. He didn't wait too long: The Tesla CEO just broke ground on his own lithium refining plant in Texas this week. But there are a variety of workarounds, from new battery recycling programs to reengineering the size of the EV battery, and its chemistry, to do more with less. Silicon Valley-based Sila, founded by former Tesla engineers, is moving into autos with its new lithium-ion technology to help solve this growing problem.

☆ Red metal rising: Argentina sets lofty sights on global copper top 10
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The South American country has a pipeline of copper projects that could produce 793,000 tonnes a year by the end of the decade, government forecasts show, well below neighboring No. Reuters GraphicsBRIDGING THE DEMAND GAPSan Juan is home to five of Argentina's eight main copper projects that have a total capex of $22 billion, a recent government report shows. Argentina has an estimated 65 million tonnes of copper reserves, according to a 2022 government report, some 3% of the global total. "The projects we have are of global importance and relevance because it's estimated that demand for copper between now and 2050 could be multiplied," he said. Copper demand is forecast to double to 50 million tonnes by 2050 from 2020 levels.

☆ What Chile's state-led lithium policy means for the future of the electric vehicle industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Katie Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The only two lithium companies currently operating in Chile are North Carolina-based Albemarle , the largest lithium producer in the world, and SQM , the No. Chile's lithium is of particular strategic importance to the U.S., which has a free trade agreement with the country but not with neighboring Argentina. The plan calls for the creation of a national lithium company to partner with all private businesses looking to enter the sector. Bags of battery-grade lithium carbonate at La Negra, Albemarle's lithium processing plant near Antofagasta, Chile. Lenny-Pessagno told CNBC in January that Albemarle supports the creation of a state-owned lithium company.

☆ Spanish coal mine operator gets four-year prison sentence for environmental damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, May 5 (Reuters) - Spain's Supreme Court upheld a four-year prison sentence and a 24-million-euro ($26.44 million) fine handed down to a local businessman for environmental damage caused while operating an open-cast coal mine in northern Spain. The court said the mine's activity damaged more than 400 hectares of land and that Alonso made no effort to repair it. Alonso, in a previous court hearing, had said he had not been aware of the extent of the damage caused by his company. Coto Minero Cantabrico was previously known as Minero Siderurgica de Ponferrada. ($1 = 0.9076 euros)Reporting by Emma Pinedo; editing by Charlie Devereux and Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Argentina's lithium pipeline promises 'white gold' boom as Chile tightens control
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Neighboring Chile, the region's top lithium producer, last week unveiled plans for a state-led public-private model, spooking investors. Bolivia has long maintained strict control over its huge though largely untapped resources, while Mexico nationalized its lithium deposits last year. The country has six lithium projects under construction and 15 in the advanced exploration or feasibility stage, Mignacco said. "Argentina's lithium sector has thrived through a decentralized, pro-market strategy," said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America program at The Wilson Center, adding in contrast Bolivia's lithium sector had "repeatedly stalled as a result of excessive state control." "Chile today produces and exports much more lithium than Argentina," said Natacha Izquierdo, analyst at consultancy ABCEB.

[1/2] The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in Baar, Switzerland, July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd WiegmannApril 19 (Reuters) - Glencore (GLEN.L) has told Teck Resources (TECKb.TO) shareholders it is willing to improve its $22.5 billion takeover offer, raising pressure on the Canadian miner to ditch a restructuring plan and sit down at the negotiating table. In an open letter on Wednesday, Glencore said it would consider taking the offer to Teck's shareholders directly if the board failed to engage. "With engagement, we could improve our proposal's terms and value, which would be in the best interests of all Teck shareholders." "The vote (on Teck's restructuring plan) is highly likely to go through without an official bump in terms (from Glencore)," Ben Cleary, portfolio manager at Tribeca Global Natural Resources Fund, told Reuters.

April 18 (Reuters) - Beleaguered bitcoin miners are finally feeling the spring sunshine after a cold, hard crypto winter. At the current bitcoin price, these companies' cash flows have substantially improved and most of them should have no problem paying their obligations," said Jaran Mellerud, analyst at bitcoin mining services company Luxor. Bitcoin mining is the process by which a network of computers validates a block of transactions on the blockchain. "The bitcoin price increase has bought these companies time, but it would be detrimental for these companies if it were to fall back down to $20,000," he said. A rapid rise in power prices or a fast fall in bitcoin could usher in a new cold spell.

☆ A team of US scientists is turning dead birds into drones to study flight techniques that may help the aviation industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Scientists in New Mexico are working to turn taxidermic birds into drones to study flight patterns. A research team in New Mexico is converting taxidermic birds into drones in order to study flight patterns, Reuters reported. Scientists hope to use them to study birds' formations and flight patterns, which can in turn be applied to the aviation industry, Hassanalian told Reuters. The taxidermic bird drones are currently being tested at the university in a customized cage, according to the outlet. "I actually did not know about the people of 'The birds aren't real,'" Hassanalian told Insider.

☆ Australia's northwest braces for strongest cyclone in a decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Cyclone Ilsa, located about 300 km (186 miles) off Australia's coast in the Indian Ocean, was on Thursday morning upgraded to a category four storm - one rung below the strongest category five. Port Hedland is the world's biggest export point for iron ore and is used by BHP Group (BHP.AX), Fortescue (FMG.AX) and billionaire Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting. Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) exports out of Port of Dampier, which lies to the west of Port Hedland. It will be the strongest system to hit the country's far northwest region since Cyclone Christine crossed the coast in December 2013, weather bureau forecaster Jessica Lingard said. BHP in an emailed response said it was closely tracking the cyclone but its mining and rail operations were continuing.

BRASILIA, April 5 (Reuters) - A Supreme Court judge backed a government move to crack down on illegal gold mining in Brazil, suspending a legal practice of buyers accepting the origin of the precious metal with paper receipts based on the "good faith" of the seller. The injunction by Justice Gilmar Mendes gave the government 90 days to adopt a new regulatory framework for the gold trade to stop the sale of gold mined illegally from indigenous lands and other environmentally protected areas. The previous government of President Jair Bolsonaro eased environmental protections and encouraged wildcat mining in the Amazon rainforest. A surge in illegal mining on the Yanomami indigenous reservation caused disease and malnutrition that led the Lula government to declare a humanitarian crisis. The Brazilian Institute of Mining (Ibram), which represents gold mining companies such as AngloGold Ashanti Ltd (ANGJ.J) and Yamana Gold Inc (YRI.TO), as well as multinational giants such as Vale (VALE3.SA), Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO.AX) and BHP Group Ltd (BHP.AX), said 20% of Brazilian gold had no declared origin in 2021, citing data from the National Mining Agency.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: General Motors, AMC, Virgin Orbit, Kinross Gold and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Virgin Orbit — Shares tanked more than 22% after the California-based satellite launch company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Virgin Orbit said it is looking to sell its assets and will lay off nearly all of its workforce. AMC's "APE" preferred shares gained 8.5% following the news. Etsy – Etsy shares gained 2.4% after Piper Sandler upgraded the e-commerce stock to overweight from neutral, saying that its marketplace strengths should help revamp active buyer growth. Gold miners — Shares of mining companies rallied as gold futures popped on Tuesday.

☆ Reactions: Canada 2023/24 budget deficit to jump, Ottawa to boost spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

JULES BOUDREAU, SENIOR ECONOMIST, MACKENZIE INVESTMENTS"The surprise was more on the revenue side more than the spending side. Prior to this budget we were not eligible for the carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) investment tax credit, but they have now broadened the eligibility parameters." "The big open question, heading into this budget was how was Canada going to react to the Inflation Reduction Act ... MARK ZACHARIAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CLEAN ENERGY CANADA"We thought today's budget was generally excellent and it sets Canada on a path for prosperity. "The investment tax credits for clean tech manufacturing positions Canada as a leader, particularly in zero-emissions vehicles."

☆ Elon Musk's Starlink is aiding criminal mining efforts in Brazil's Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starlink kits are being used for illegal mining efforts in Brazil, per the Associated Press. In Brazil, Starlink internet terminals have done just that. "You can manage hundreds of mining sites without ever setting foot in one." Before Starlink's internet service, illegal miners relied on heavy, stationary antennae, but the internet connection was often unreliable, per the AP. As Musk's Starlink service becomes more and more widespread, cases of misuse are to be expected.

☆ CERAWEEK - U.S. permit reforms needed to achieve Inflation Reduction Act goals -Conoco CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The goals of the administration's Inflation Reduction Act will be "procedurally impossible" without streamlined permitting for lower carbon energy infrastructure, Conoco CEO Ryan Lance said in remarks at the CERAWeek energy conference. A major Conoco oil project in northern Alaska, called Willow, has been stalled by court and environmental reviews. Willow holds about 600 million barrels of oil and gas and has the support of Alaskan politicians and native groups. "If we don't get (the oil) from Alaska, it's going to come from someplace. As examples of long-term investments, he cited Conoco's liquefied natural gas projects in the US, Qatar and Australia.

The benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX) is up 6.2% so far this year after a 19.4% plunge in 2022. Nine of 11 major S&P 500 sectors advanced in early trading. However, commodity-linked shares of mining (.SPLRCM) and oil (.SPNY) companies fell 1.0% and 0.2%, respectively, after top crude and metals consumer China set a lower-than-expected target for economic growth this year at around 5%. Shares of cryptocurrency-related companies fell after Silvergate Capital Corp (SI.N) pulled the plug on its crypto payments network, after raising doubts about the company's ability to stay in business. The S&P index recorded 19 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 69 new highs and 45 new lows.

☆ Miners grow anxious as Canada tightens foreign investment rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ottawa last fall proposed bolstering its Investment Canada Act (ICA) to give government ministers power to block or unwind critical minerals investments if they believe such deals threaten national security. Nearly half of the world's mining companies are listed in Toronto and the city has long been a premier destination for junior mining companies to raise funds, above even rival exchanges in Sydney, New York and London. Canadian officials last fall ordered Chinese companies to sell stakes in three Toronto-listed lithium companies, two of which are developing mines outside Canada. Canada's Industry Ministry, which is spearheading the rules change, called critical minerals "key to the future prosperity of our country." However, the government's crackdown could rebound and hurt Canada as the mining industry underpins a large part of the country's economy, investors and analysts say.

☆ Australia retail sales rebound in Jan, but pulse slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales rebounded in January after a surprise plunge in December that owed much to changing spending habits, though the underlining pulse was facing headwinds from high inflation and rising interest rates. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Tuesday showed retail sales rose 1.9% in January from December, when they dived 4.0%. Government spending also added 0.1 percentage points to GDP growth, while drags are seen coming from inventories, housing and consumer spending on goods. "It's clear that high inflation and rising interest rates are weighing on consumer spending," said Sean Langcake, head of macroeconomic forecasting for BIS Oxford Economics. "With spending still rebalancing toward services and weaker fundamentals for consumption growth, we expect retail sales growth will be quite patchy over 2023."

☆ Lithium Industry Looks to Australia for Refining, Not Just Mining
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Chinese companies refine it into lithium sulfate and then process it into the lithium hydroxide used to make cathodes for batteries. China plays an outsize role in battery production, accounting for 44% of all lithium refining globally and 70% of battery cell production, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Some companies also are building European facilities for the next stage of the process: refining lithium sulfate into lithium hydroxide. Lithium mining projects in Germany and Portugal have emerged, although the permitting process can be complex, particularly if there is local opposition. In the meantime, new processing facilities can be built in three to five years, creating more opportunities for lithium mining companies.

SummarySummary Companies H1 profit misses estimateInterim dividend beats estimatePositive on demand outlook from ChinaStarts process to sell two Queensland met coal minesFeb 21 (Reuters) - Global miner BHP Group (BHP.AX) was positive about demand outlook through to fiscal 2024 as top metals consumer China reopens and shifts policy towards its debt-laden property sector, the company said on Tuesday after its 2023 first-half profit missed estimates. However, its interim dividend of 90 cents per share, while lower than last year's $1.50 per share, beat Vuma Financial's estimate of 88 cents. "We are positive about the demand outlook in the second half of fiscal 2023 and into fiscal 2024, with strengthening activity in China on the back of recent policy decisions the major driver," Chief Executive Officer Mike Henry said. But the reopening of the world's second-biggest economy and a property sector policy shift has BHP upbeat on the commodity demand outlook. However, in an environment where central banks are aggressively tightening their monetary policy, BHP expects its operating environment to remain volatile in the near term, but expects China to be a source of stability for commodity demand.

☆ Mexico's Lopez Obrador orders ministry to step up lithium nationalization
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Saturday signed a decree handing over responsibility for lithium reserves to the energy ministry, after nationalizing lithium deposits last April. During an event in Sonora, Lopez Obrador signed the decree that orders the energy ministry "to take the actions necessary to carry out" the nationalization process. It also declares 234,855 hectares (907 square miles) in Sonora as a mining zone known as Li-MX 1. "(Let's make) the nation be the owner of this strategic mineral," Lopez Obrador said during the event. Mexico holds important potential lithium deposits, a highly sought material for the production of electric vehicle batteries.

☆ How conflict minerals make it into our phones
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Katie Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

All of these minerals are found in our electronics and all are considered conflict minerals, due to their potential origin in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a smartphone, for example, tin is used to solder metal components together, while tantalum is used in capacitors, which store electrical energy. Tungsten is used in the components that make a phone vibrate, and gold is used in circuit board connectors. But consumers still can't be sure if the minerals in their electronics are fully conflict-free, or if the mines where they originated are dangerous, environmentally destructive, or use child labor. So while companies like Apple, Microsoft, Intel and Tesla put out extensive reports on conflict minerals every year, usually stating that there is no reason to believe the minerals they source help to support armed groups, corruption and instability at mine sites means there are no guarantees.

The analysis of power usage data by Reuters at some of the key mines in Peru, the world's no. The South American nation has been gripped by anti-government protests since the Dec. 7 ouster of leftist President Pedro Castillo. The power data from COES, which represents firms in Peru's energy sector, shows that nearly all major mines are drawing normal or near-normal levels of electricity. A combined index of six key mines is near normal. The other firms did not immediately respond to requests for comment about activity at their mines in Peru.

☆ Norway discovers trove of metals, minerals and rare earths on its seabed
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Reuters Laura Paddison | Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

A Norwegian study has found a “substantial” amount of metals and minerals ranging from copper to rare earths on the seabed of its extended continental shelf, authorities said on Friday in their first official estimates. “Of the metals found on the seabed in the study area, magnesium, niobium, cobalt and rare earth minerals are found on the European Commission’s list of critical minerals,” the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), which conducted the study, said in a statement. About 24 million tonnes of magnesium and 3.1 million tonnes of cobalt are estimated to be in manganese crusts grown on bedrock over millions of years, as well as 1.7 million tonnes of cerium, a rare earth element used in alloys. The manganese crusts are also estimated to contain other rare earth metals, such as neodymium, yttrium and dysprosium. “Costly, rare minerals such as neodymium and dysprosium are extremely important for magnets in wind turbines and the engines in electric vehicles,” the NPD said.

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