Fortescue removes high-risk rodenticides from operations

Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) has signed a binding letter of intent with the US Department of War to finalise a four-year rare earth oxide offtake agreement. Under the agreement, Lynas will allocate $137m worth of rare earth oxides to support US supply chain resilience objectives with an established floor price for supply of US$110/kg for neodymium and praseodymium. This offtake agreement follows the mutual decision to modify the original agreement between Lynas and the DoW based on significant uncertainty as to whether the construction of the heavy rare earth (HRE) processing facility at Seadrift, Texas would proceed. Lynas chief executive and managing director Amanda Lacaze says, through the agreement, the US Defense Industrial Base will continue to have access to rare earth oxides essential for modern manufacturing. “We thank the US Government for working with Lynas to reach this mutually beneficial arrangement and look forward to finalising the definitive agreement in due course and continuing our productive engagement," she said. Lynas and the DoW continue to discuss further supply arrangement for HRE oxides.  Last week, Lynas extended its rare earths supply deal with Japan Australia Rare Earths (JARE) through to 2038 and established a floor of US$110/kg for neodymium and praseodymium — identical to that set in the DoW agreement.  As the world’s only significant producer of separated rare earth materials outside of China, Lynas is strategically important to diversifying the global supply of rare earths. This significance has been bolstered by the company’s H1 FY26 results in which the company reported a 63% rise in revenue for $413.7m — Lynas’ best first-half profit in three years.  Lynas saw the average price of all its rare earth products rose to $96/kg during the half, a trend that continued in 2026 with neodymium and praseodymium reaching a domestic price of $157 /kg in China. 

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) paid $14.3b globally in taxes and royalties during 2025 according to its most recent Taxes and Royalties Paid Report. Of the total taxes and royalties paid, $9.5b was paid in Australia — including corporate tax paid of $5.8b — and significant payments were also made in Chile, the US, in Mongolia and Canada. Higher tariffs on primary aluminium exports from Canada to the US, including the removal of the 10% tariff exemption from March 2025, resulted in about $1.45b  in additional tax payments in the US.  Higher profits at Escondida resulted in higher corporate tax payments in Chile and increased copper production and prices at Oyu Tolgoi resulted in higher royalty payments in Mongolia. Rio Tinto chief financial officer Peter Cunningham says the taxes and royalties Rio pays to governments are an important contributor to the economic health and development of the regions where it operates. “We seek to operate responsibly everywhere we work,” he said.  “Our payments to governments can be significant for national budgets and to support development priorities, while our voluntary social investment also allows communities to invest in their own social and economic development for years to come. “We continue to be a leader in transparent tax reporting, voluntarily publishing detailed information on our taxes and royalty payment to governments for over 15 years." Rio also spent a record $19.7b with more than 6,000 Australian suppliers in 2025 — a $2b increase on the previous year. $12.1b of that was spent with WA suppliers as Rio advances development of its replacement mines in the Pilbara. A record $1.1b was spent with Indigenous businesses, including A$820m with Traditional Owner businesses. Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz says Rio’s suppliers are fundamental to its operations.  “We are proud to acknowledge the vital role these Australian businesses play in creating jobs, strengthening local economies and supporting our business,” he said. "Stronger local supply chains build stronger communities, and in turn, a stronger nation.”

Image takes a second glance at gold A promising mineral resource estimate and a buoyant gold price have prompted Image Resources (ASX: IMA) to conduct a comprehensive review of its gold tenements.The strategy review will include potential divestiture or other commercialisation options for Image’s entire gold tenement package which contains a recently announced maiden mineral resources estimate of 2.0mt at 2.1 g/t gold for 139koz gold in the inferred category.Image Resources managing director and chief executive Patrick Mutz says the time is right to assess options for extracting the best value from the gold tenements.“We have been and remain focused on mineral sands mining and processing as our principal business. However, given the continuing buoyant gold price, it is appropriate to determine if any value can be unlocked from these gold assets in the shorter term,” he said.“We will also be evaluating the potential for Image to setup and control a contract mining, ore hauling, and toll-processing model with minimum capital requirements for the Erayinia/King project, to take advantage of the potential operating margins supported by the buoyant gold price.”If Image can extract appropriate value from the gold tenements, funds would be used to either repay remaining debt or for project development capital for the company’s next minerals sands development project.

Chalice Mining’s (ASX: CHN) pre-feasibility study has been completed for the Gonneville palladium-nickel-copper project in WA, confirming a 23-year open pit phase.