US-based critical minerals company to acquire Australian Strategic Materials

By Chloe Coutinho

Wednesday, 21 January 2026

InternationalNews

Energy Fuels is set to acquire Australian Strategic Materials (ASX: ASM) for about $447m.

The MOU supports Metallium’s plan to develop a national network of e-waste processing facilities, strategically located near major e-waste collection hubs, rapidly expanding U.S. data centre industrial parks and regional industrial corridors with strong logistics and waste generation.

GFG’s European expansion

InternationalMergers & AcquisitionsNews

GFG’s European expansion

BY ELIZABETH FABRI BRITISH steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance will pay $US500 million for Rio Tinto’s Aluminium Dunkerque smelter as part of a planned expansion into central Europe. Rio Tinto announced it had received a binding offer from GFG Alliance’s industrial arm Liberty House, which it expected to complete in the second quarter of 2018, subject to final adjustments. The deal followed GFG Alliance’s acquisition of Rio Tinto’s Lochaber Smelter and assets in Scotland in December 2016; however this would be the group’s first significant step into continental Europe. GFG Alliance executive chairman Mr Gupta said Liberty planned to develop the 570-worker plant, and potentially create thousands more jobs on-site and for the wider community. The company also hoped…

Newcrest progresses Chilean project

InternationalNews

Newcrest progresses Chilean project

BY JESSICA CUMMINS NEWCREST Mining has entered into the farm-in stage of its agreement with Mirasol Resources’ Altazor gold project in Chile. The two companies first signed an option and farm in agreement in November 2017, which saw Newcrest set to acquire up to 80 per cent of the project by completing a series of exploration and development milestones. After completing an aggressive exploration program comprising systematic soil sampling, detailed geological mapping, magnetics and electrical geophysics last year, Newcrest presented an exploration budget totalling $US3.3 million for this season’s exploration program. Exploration works would be focussed on a maiden drilling program, subject to obtaining applicable permits and permissions. Mirasol president and chief executive Stephen Nano said the company was pleased…

Brumadinho death toll climbs

InternationalNews

Brumadinho death toll climbs

BY AMY BLOM BRAZILIAN miner Vale is facing increasing criticism as the death toll continues to rise from the Brumadinho dam failure. At least 99 people had been confirmed dead six days after a tailings dam burst at the Feijão mine in Brumadinho on 25 January, sending a torrent of sludge into the miner’s administrative area and the surrounding Vila Ferteco community. The toll was expected to continue rising, with more than 250 people still unaccounted for, and little hope they would be found alive, according to local officials. In the days after the dam collapse, Brazilian authorities arrested five people and issued seven search warrants, on suspicion of murder, falsification of documents and environmental crimes. Among those arrested were…

Federal Government Supports Indian Investment In Australian Critical Minerals Sector

DevelopmentsInternationalNews

Federal Government Supports Indian Investment In Australian Critical Minerals Sector

The Federal government is confident a new investment partnership with India can unlock mutual benefits for both countries from Australia’s world-leading critical minerals sector. Australia’s Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt, has announced $5.8 million in funding to support a three-year Australia-India Critical Minerals Investment Partnership. “Australia and India are natural partners sharing mutual strategic and economic priorities and this Partnership will support further Indian investment in Australian critical minerals projects,” Minister Pitt said. “It is the first of its kind and represents a step-change in how countries can work together to support key industries and pursue growth opportunities. “Our combined capabilities will take on the challenge of resourcing the emerging technologies used in sectors such as defence, aerospace,…

Alcoa takes next step in conveyor belt recycling

Alcoa takes next step in conveyor belt recycling

The first reel of used conveyor belts from Alcoa’s mining operations have arrived at Tyrecycle’s East Rockingham facility in WA. The steel wire used in the belts will be reclaimed and the rubber will be turned into crumb, suitable for a range of uses including as an additive for use in road construction. This follows the 2024 launch of an ongoing off-the-road (OTR) tyre recycling contract between Alcoa and Tyrecycle, and is part of Alcoa’s initiative to reduce, recycle and reuse waste from its mining and refining operations in WA. According to Alcoa global program manager water and waste, Nicole King, about 32km of used conveyor belt will be delivered to the East Rockingham facility over the coming months. “This new…

New fee for mineral title objections

New fee for mineral title objections

A differential fee model for lodging mineral title objections before WA’s mining wardens will take effect on September 16. The introduction of the fee follows a significant increase in the number of objections to mineral title applications brought before the mining wardens over the past three years, which required the appointment of a second Perth mining warden. The new general fee of $430 will effectively support partial cost-recovery to fund the second warden and additional administrative staff. Like other courts and tribunals in WA, concession card and pension card holders will incur a $100 fee. Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate and freehold landowners that overlap the application for a mining tenement will have a $0 fee. Under amendments to the Mining…

Australia’s entire aluminium supply chain is uniquely located on shore — from bauxite mining to finished products, all produced from generations of Aussie know-how, according to the Federal Government.

Aluminium to forge Australia’s manufacturing future

The Federal Government is investing a record $2b into the Australian-made aluminium industry in a move to secure more well-paid jobs for workers. Supercharging the local metals industry, a new Green Aluminium Production Credit will provide targeted support to Australian aluminium smelters switching to reliable, renewable electricity before 2036. Facilities will be eligible for support for every tonne of clean, reliable Australian-made aluminium they make over a period of 10 years. This credit will provide local aluminium smelters with confidence to invest, which the Federal Government says will pave the way for more secure Australian jobs in our world-class aluminium industry. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Federal Government’s plan for a Future Made in Australia is very clear: the…

This follows the fatal incident in February that resulted in the death of a contract worker at Rio Tinto’s SimFer mine, part of the Simandou project in Guinea.

NewsPeople & Workforce

Worker dies at Rio Tinto copper mine

An employee of a contracting company has died following an incident at Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) Kennecott copper mine in Utah.All surface and underground mining operations at the mine have been suspended.Rio Tinto chief executive Simon Trott comments on the fatal incident.“We are devastated by the loss of our colleague, and our heartfelt sympathies are with their family, friends, teammates, and everyone in the Kennecott community,” he said.“We are working closely with the relevant authorities and contractor partners to support a complete and thorough investigation.“The safety of our people comes before everything else. We are fully focused on understanding what led to this tragedy. I will be travelling to Kennecott to support our team on site.”Rio Tinto says it is providing support, including counselling, to its team members.