The Mining Insider

The Mining Insider — July 5, 2026 DRC Cobalt — ARECOMS Quota Clawback Confirmed: The DRC government confirmed this week it has withdrawn unused H1 2026 cobalt export quotas. The July 5 ARECOMS deadline was not extended. CMOC, Glencore's Kamoto Copper Company, Eurasian Resources Group, and Huayou Cobalt are among those affected. Up to 20,000 metric tons ($1.1B at $26/lb) have been removed from H1 e...

The Mining Insider — July 4, 2026 Iran / Hormuz — Funeral Freeze: Six-day funeral for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began July 4 in Tehran, 15-20 million mourners expected. All US-Iran negotiations suspended until July 9. UK PM Starmer and French President Macron pledged Hormuz protection with Oman; France deployed mine-clearing assets. Iran warned both countries off any military pre...

The Mining Insider — July 3, 2026 Today's episode covers four material developments from July 2–3, 2026. BHP — San Manuel Copper Transfer to Faraday: BHP has finalized its agreement to transfer the historic San Manuel copper property in Arizona to Canada's Faraday Copper Corp. In exchange, BHP receives a 30% equity stake in Faraday — bringing its total holding to approximately 32.5% on a non-dilut...

The Mining Insider — July 2, 2026 Today's episode covers four material developments from July 1–2, 2026. Agnico Eagle — Barnat Pit Wall Movement: A rock mass movement on July 1 along the north wall of the Barnat open pit at Canadian Malartic in Quebec has prompted a temporary suspension of open-pit mining. No injuries or environmental impact. The company expects the disruption to reduce second-hal...

July 1, 2026 — The Mining Insider with Logan Ore Today's stories: 1. South32 Sells Aluminium to Alcoa for $5.6B — Copper Takeover Target: Reuters Breakingviews analysis: South32, freed from its largest non-copper asset, becomes a lean copper miner likely to attract Glencore or BHP (its former parent). Departing CEO Graham Kerr's transformation complete. Brandon Craig starts as BHP CEO today — Sout...

June 30, 2026 — The Mining Insider with Logan Ore Today's stories: 1. Hormuz Doha Talks — Fragile Stand-Down: Trump declared Iran requested a meeting in Doha. Kushner and Witkoff flew to Qatar. Iran says its delegation is there to review MOU implementation, not to meet Americans directly. Qatar, Oman and Pakistan mediating. Goldman Sachs: Gulf flows could return to 23M bpd pre-war levels by early...

June 29, 2026 — The Mining Insider with Logan Ore Today's stories: 1. US-Iran Stand Down and Doha Talks: Both sides agree to halt strikes. Talks in Doha begin today, focused on Hormuz shipping operations before wider nuclear/sanctions issues. Iran asserts sole control of corridor; warns ships not to bypass its chosen route (WSJ, Straits Times). Hormuz traffic declining (Bloomberg). IMO convoy evac...

June 28, 2026 — The Mining Insider with Logan Ore Today's stories: 1. BHP, Rio Tinto and Caterpillar — Battery-Electric Haul Truck Trial Milestone: The two Cat 793 XE Early Learner trucks at BHP's Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara have logged 100+ operating hours and 200+ test laps. Trial enters dynamic charging phase. Quotes from BHP Australia President Geraldine Slattery and Rio Tinto Iron...

June 27, 2026 — The Mining Insider with Logan Ore Today's stories: 1. Hormuz Re-Escalation: US and Iran exchange strikes after the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely is hit by a drone. A second tanker struck Saturday. UK MTOS raises threat to 'substantial.' IMO suspends convoy evacuations. Shipping normalization stalls — direct implications for commodity supply chains. 2. Copper Tariff Deadline June 30...

The Mining Insider | June 25, 2026 Story 1 — BHP's Brandon Craig Takes Over July 1 Brandon Craig (53) starts as BHP CEO July 1, 2026. Immediate challenges: Port Hedland three-union ultimatum (July 7 next session); $2.3B Jansen Stage 2 overrun (was under Craig's Americas oversight); year-end Copper South Australia smelter expansion decision; Vicuna copper JV (Argentina/Chile). On uranium: 'I would...

The Mining Insider | June 24, 2026 Today's dispatch covers a landmark copper supply deal, a cobalt supply chain disruption driven by geopolitical sanctions, the most serious escalation yet in the Port Hedland labor standoff, and a wave of gold price downgrades from major Wall Street banks. Story 1 — Anglo American + Codelco: Los Bronces–Andina Joint Mine Plan Completed Anglo American (through Angl...

The Mining Insider | June 23, 2026 Today's dispatch covers four developments that span rare earth supply chain consolidation, one of Australia's most consequential labor standoffs in decades, a high-stakes sovereign dispute in West Africa, and a landmark policy reversal in the American heartland. Story 1 — Energy Fuels + VAC: A $1.9 Billion Mine-to-Magnet Bet Energy Fuels (NYSE: UUUU) announced a...

Episode Date: June 22, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore On today's Mining Insider: US-Iran Switzerland talks: 60-day roadmap agreed; Hormuz communication line established; Brent at $78; VP Vance calls talks 'historic'; technical discussions continue through the week China rare earth ban: 10 US entities on export control list — MP Materials and USA Rare Earth named; immediate full prohibition (upgrade from l...

Episode Date: June 21, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore On today's Mining Insider: Strait of Hormuz: Iran re-closes June 20 citing Israeli ceasefire violations; 55 merchant ships still transited per US CENTCOM; Brent at $80, 30% below March peak of $118; US-Iran talks in Switzerland; energy costs and LNG directly affecting global mining operating economics Trump Copper Tariff: Commerce Department Section 23...

Episode Date: June 20, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore On today's Mining Insider: Newmont Red Chris Block Cave: BC grants Environmental Assessment Certificate and Mines Act permit; 20Moz gold + 13B lbs copper resource; several billion in capex; FID targeted late 2026; 1,800 construction jobs; mine life to mid-2040s Vale Base Metals + Glencore Sudbury JV: brownfield copper project; 880,000t copper over 21 y...

Episode Date: June 19, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore On today's Mining Insider: BHP flags a $2.3 billion impairment on Jansen Stage 2 as costs rise to $6.9 billion — third overrun in three years; first production pushed to FY2031 Three unions (AWU, AMWU, ETU) issue joint final ultimatum to BHP at Port Hedland; $120M/day revenue and $7M/day WA royalties at risk Rio Tinto restructures into three product gr...

The Mining Insider — June 18, 2026. Host: Logan Ore. Today's stories: 1. BHP Port Hedland faces a three-union strike as the AWU files a protected action ballot — joining ETU (100% vote) and AMWU (89% vote); Resources Minister Madeleine King issues a public please explain to BHP; strikebreakers reportedly recruited at up to $93/hr; BHP warns $120M/day in revenue and $7M/day in WA royalties at risk....

The Mining Insider — June 17, 2026. Host: Logan Ore. Today's stories: 1. Offshore Alliance and Inpex reach Enterprise Bargaining Agreement ending the Ichthys LNG strike — 400+ members endorse 3.75% annual wages, improved job security; one liquefaction train was shut down, approximately US$200M in production lost; cargo loading resumes by 6 PM AWST. 2. G7 summit closes in Évian-les-Bains with bindi...

The Mining Insider — June 16, 2026. Host: Logan Ore. Today's stories: 1. Inpex SVP Bill Townsend confirms Ichthys LNG production disruption is 'imminent and significant'; Offshore Alliance extends strikes to July 6, threatening 2% of global LNG output and 9.3 Mtpa of exports mainly to Japan. 2. Lobito Atlantic Railway receives the first copper train from the DRC since reopening the flood-damaged L...

The Mining Insider — June 15, 2026. Host: Logan Ore. Today's stories: 1. China's State Council Decree 839 takes effect — 36 minerals including rare earths, lithium, cobalt, gallium and germanium formally designated as national strategic minerals under full-chain state control, with centralized mining rights, joint export review, and a three-tier reserve system. 2. Australia's Offshore Alliance ext...

The Mining Insider — June 14, 2026. Host: Logan Ore. Today's stories: 1. Australia's Fair Work Commission rejects Inpex's bid to terminate industrial action at Ichthys LNG — facility shutdown expected June 16-17, cargo loading bans cutting ~10% of Australian LNG exports to northeast Asia. 2. Agnico Eagle's acquisition of Rupert Resources receives final BC Supreme Court approval — deal closes June...

Today on The Mining Insider: The BHP Port Hedland labor dispute has escalated to approximately 450 workers with strikes possible as early as this week. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor warned that WA is repeating the 1980s. A full port shutdown would cost over $120M per day in revenue and $7M per day in state royalties. Bargaining session June 23. Mozambique enacted 15% mandatory state ownership in...

Today on The Mining Insider: More than 200 workers at BHP's Port Hedland iron ore facility in Western Australia have authorized rolling strikes that unions say could cost $120 million per day, with both the ETU and AMWU voting overwhelmingly in favor. BHP is accused of hiring strikebreakers at $93/hour; a bargaining session is scheduled for June 23. Glencore has reversed its February freeze on nea...

Today on The Mining Insider: Rio Tinto and Glencore are seeking to extend the preparation period for their proposed $235 billion merger — the deal that would create the world's largest mining company — as both sides continue to work through valuation. US forces launched new strikes against Iran in retaliation for the downing of a military helicopter even as ceasefire talks continued; gold fell 2.6...

Today on The Mining Insider: The US House of Representatives passed the DOMINANCE Act on Monday — bipartisan legislation aimed at China's 90% grip on rare earth processing — the same day the Department of Energy committed $134 million to rare earth extraction projects in Louisiana and Oklahoma. In Australia, Inpex has applied to the Fair Work Commission to halt an escalating strike at its 9.3 mill...