Author: Chloe Coutinho

Australia's "freefall" in Fraser Institute rankings  The Fraser Institute has released its 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies, with all Australian jurisdictions suffering declines in investment attractiveness and policy perception compared to 2023.  The overall Investment Attractiveness Index is determined by combining the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index — which rates regions based on their geological attractiveness — and the Policy Perception Index, which measures the effects of government policy on attitudes toward exploration investment.  The survey was circulated electronically to approximately 2289 individuals between August 7, 2024, to December 15, 2024, receiving...

PLS powers through Q4 PLS’ (ASX: PLS) FY25 guidance was achieved or exceeded across all metrics alongside a 28% revenue increase in Q4. Q4 saw a production volume of 221.3kt, reflecting the increased output from the optimised Pilgan Plant following completion of the P1000 expansion in Q3. Spodumene concentrate production was 221.3kt in Q4, a 77% increase compared to the prior quarter, due to higher plant availability and the capability provided by the P1000 expansion. Lithium recovery of 71.6% in Q4  was higher than the prior quarter, with the...

MinRes meets the mark in Q4 Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) met FY25 production guidance across its iron ore and lithium operations amidst significant leadership transition. FY25 production volumes were 280mt, up 11mt year on year, and at the lower end of the guidance range (280 – 300mt). During the quarter, the MinRes board appointed Malcolm Bundey as an independent non-executive director. Mr Bundey assumed the position of chair on July 1, with an immediate focus on continued board renewal, strengthening governance, Onslow Iron and balance sheet repair. This follows the announcement in late 2024 that Chris Ellison would step down...

CZR kicks off drilling CZR (ASX: CZR) is preparing to start an extensive drilling campaign at its Croydon gold project, located directly along strike from Northern Star Resources’ (ASX: NST) 11.2moz Hemi deposit. The company confirmed the Croydon gold discovery with limited drilling in 2019-2020 intersecting shallow high-grade gold at the Top Camp and Bottom Camp prospects. Results include: 27m at 3.2g/t of gold from 135m in CRC007, including 8m at 10g/t of gold from 135m 8m at 1.7g/t of gold from 66m in CRC018, including 1m at 9.4g/t of gold from 66m 2m at 22g/t of gold from 7m in CRC021 5m at 3.2g/t of gold from...

Newmont on track with Q2 results  Newmont is on track to meet 2025 guidance after producing about 1.5moz of gold and generating an all-time record quarterly free cash flow of $2.5b (US$1.7b).  Attributable gold production decreased 4% to 1478koz from the prior quarter as expected, driven by the closing of non-core asset sales.  Newmont says this was partially offset by increased production at Yanacocha, in Peru, from improved injection leaching; Peñasquito, in Mexico, from higher gold grades; Nevada Gold Mines, in the US, and Boddington, in WA, from higher tonnes processed following planned maintenance.  Newmont saw an increase of $571/oz (US$376) in average realized gold price to $5044/oz (US$3,320) per...

Northern Star ready for FY26 Northern Star had a strong finish to FY25, with the miner safely delivering its revised guidance, which included new milestones of 1.63moz gold sold and net mine cash flow of $1,189m.   As the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) operation enters its final build year, Northern Star expects FY26 gold sold to be in the range of 1,700-1,850koz.   KCGM is forecast to deliver 550-600koz, with underground mined volumes at 3mtpa, while open pit mining productivity is forecast to increase throughout the year as mining in Golden Pike North returns to one mining horizon by H2 FY26. ...

King brings resources roundtables to Perth Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King has convened two roundtable discussions with the country’s resources sector to discuss the Federal Government’s productivity agenda. A common theme across both roundtables was the need for government to invest in common user infrastructure and reforms to the approvals process, according to Minister King. Minister King says Australia’s resources sector has worked hard over decades to carve out a leading role as a globally significant producer of the minerals and metals that the world needs. “The resources sector has for decades...

BHP backs off on potash, breaks records in iron and copper FY25 was a mixed bag for BHP, as the company’s iron ore and copper arms posted record-breaking production while potash aspirations slowed. The miner has increased its estimated capital expenditure by at least $2b for the Jansen stage 1 potash project (JS1) in Canada, which had an original capex of $8.75b (US$5.7b). BHP attributes the increased price tag to inflationary and real cost escalation pressures, design development and scope changes and lower productivity outcomes over the construction period. After surpassing this half-way mark in July 2024, BHP expected to see first production in 2026, becoming a...

Gold outlook: downhill or second wind? The World Gold Council has released its Gold Mid-Year Outlook, as the metal continues its record-setting pace, rising 26% in US dollar terms in H1 CY25. A combination of a weaker US dollar, rangebound rates and a highly uncertain geoeconomic environment has driven this strong investment demand. The paper examines the base, bull and bear cases for gold in H2 CY25. The World Gold Council forecasts that under current consensus expectations for continued normalisation gold could remain rangebound in H2, closing roughly 0%–5% higher than current levels, still equivalent to a 25%–30% annual return Should economic and/or financial conditions deteriorate further, under the bull case, exacerbating...

Sandvik and Glencore roll out collision-avoidance technology Sandvik Mining and Glencore International AG have expanded an existing partnership to complement operational safety and efficiency and optimise performance across Glencore’s underground mixed fleet. Under the expanded partnership, Sandvik can deliver its fully OEM-agnostic Newtrax Collision Avoidance Safety technology and the Newtrax Mining Data Platform (MDP) to complement operational safety and efficiency and continue to optimise performance across Glencore’s underground mixed fleet. Implementation of these solutions on Sandvik and third-party equipment is currently underway at Glencore’s Kamoto Copper Company operations in...

First sale of heavy rare earths for ASM Australian Strategic Materials (ASX: ASM) has sold 2kg of terbium metal and 2 kg of dysprosium metal to Magnequench as the company establishes a resilient and dependable supply chain outside of China. These heavy rare earth metals were produced at ASM’s Korean Metals Plant, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing development of its heavy rare earth capabilities, and shipped to Neo Performance Materials’ permanent magnet manufacturing facility in Estonia. In addition to this inaugural heavy rare earth metals sale, ASM has also completed the sale of 10t of neodymium-praseodymium metal to...