A Blog for Browsing Mining, Mineral Processing, and Metals Info

Sydney (AFP) – Global mining giant Rio Tinto Tuesday said it has formalised an agreement with Guinea’s government to develop the world’s biggest untapped iron-ore deposit after years of wrangling over the US$20 billion deal.

The penning of an investment framework for the Simandou project with its partners, Chinese state-run aluminium group Chalco and the International Finance Corporation, a division of the World Bank, provides the legal and commercial foundation to push ahead.

Read more at:  https://news.yahoo.com/rio-tinto-seals-deal-us-20-bn-mine-004901076.html

 The loss of China’s largest bauxite supplier will mean big gains for Australian producers of the ore used to produce aluminum.

China, the biggest base-metals user, saw bauxite imports plummet after a January ban on shipments by Indonesia, which sought to limit ore sales to spark investment in higher-value domestic smelting. Indonesia supplied 68 percent of China’s purchases in 2013, so the race is on to fill the void as demand grows, said Levy, the chief executive officer of Australian Bauxite Ltd., which will open its first mine late this year.

Read more at:   http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/content/en/mineweb-fast-news?oid=242157&sn=Detail

May 23 (Reuters) – VSMPO-Avisma, the world’s largest titanium producer, warned Airbus on Friday it would be forced to pay penalties if the European planemaker terminated a $4 billion contract with its Russian supplier.

Read more at:  http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/05/23/vsmpo-airbus-sanctions-idINL6N0O91HK20140523

BRITISH owned conglomerate, Consolidated Nickel Mining and Investments Limited is next month expected to start operations at the defunct Munali Nickel Mine in Mazabuka as the major shareholder.

Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma said that the firm entered into an agreement with former owners Jinchuan Group of China, to take over the mine which was previously run by Albidon Limited of Australia.

Read more at:  http://allafrica.com/stories/201405230497.html

The catalysts for the recent surge in nickel prices include the Indonesian ban on unprocessed exports and possible further sanctions against Russia. However these factors are only part of the reason why nickel stockpiles are declining rapidly and major customers such as China are getting edgy. Simply put demand is exceeding supply and the pressures seem certain to continue, barring a major world recession.

All this is grist to the mill for some metal bulls, however there are highly credible analysts and industry experts who maintain we are in the early stages of an upward cycle for this essential commodity.

1. Russian based Norilsk Nickel, the world’s largest producer, has stated demand will continue to outstrip supply.
2. Macquarie Group has forecast supply shortages are likely to continue this side of 2019.
3. Goldman Sachs believes smelter capacity in Indonesia needs higher prices in order to expand capacity

Read more at:  http://www.fool.com.au/2014/05/23/heres-why-western-areas-and-panoramic-resources-are-proving-a-rich-lode-for-investors/

May 23 (Reuters) – Panasonic Corp wants to be the exclusive producer of lithium-ion battery cells at U.S. electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc’s planned multibillion-dollar battery factory, a senior executive of the Japanese company said on Friday.

Read more at:  http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/05/23/panasonic-tesla-motors-idINT9N0N601X20140523

On May 19th, 2014, the government of Salta Province in Argentina formalized the presentation of the proposed public/private partnership for the geological and mining exploration of the Ratones and Centenario salt lakes and the grant by award of mining rights to a lithium deposit in this zone to ERAMINE SUDAMERICA, an ERAMET subsidiary.

Read more at:  http://www.eramet.com/en/news/eramine-sudamerica-becomes-owner-mining-rights-lithium-deposit-argentina

May 22 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s ban on the export of unprocessed minerals has been in force for more than four months, cutting off flows of nickel ore and bauxite to China.

The impact on the nickel price has already been huge.

On the London Metal Exchange (LME), three-month metal has staged a spectacular rally up and through the $20,000 per tonne level. Some of the short-term speculative froth has since blown off but at a current $19,750, the price is still up more than 40 percent on the start of the year.

Read more at: http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/05/22/home-indonesian-ban-idINL6N0O83ZO20140522

BASF’s innovative LFP materials are used in the production of advanced lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) for various applications, providing advanced power and safety characteristics. LFP is a valuable extension of BASF’s LiB cathode materials portfolio which includes NCM (Nickel Cobalt Manganese), produced at a BASF manufacturing plant in Elyria, Ohio.

Read more at: http://www.azom.com/news.aspx?newsID=41273