Two weeks after the #UN #Security Council lifted economic sanctions on #Iran, a number of #Alumina market participants have said they remain cautious about trading with the #MiddleEastern state, due to uncertainties about other #International trade control regimes that may still be in force.

Read more at: http://www.platts.com/latest-news/metals/sydney/alumina-sales-to-iran-may-take-time-on-sanction-27220175

 

 

#Luxembourg has announced plans to pioneer the potentially lucrative business of #Mining #Asteroids in space for #Gold, #Platinum and #Tungsten.

Read more at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/space-mining-plans-unveiled-by-luxembourg/7138380

 

The energy harvester from MIT research lab on human energy.

Inside a lab at the #Massachusetts Institute of #Technology (#MIT), Sangtae Kim has been tinkering with a paper-thin device the size of a stamp. Kim is interested in harvesting #Energy from humans (though not the kind that turns people into #Batteries in the movie, The Matrix). He wants to harness motions, such as walking and running, to power sensors and wearable #Gadgets.

Read more at: http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/feb/04/harvesting-energy-humans-walking-charge-wearables-bending-mithttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/feb/04/harvesting-energy-humans-walking-charge-wearables-bending-mit

Beleaguered #AngloAmerican is said to be planning a complete exit from #Brazil, where the company has already put its $1 billion #Niobium and #Phosphate business up for sale.

Read more at: http://www.mining.com/anglo-american-may-fully-exit-brazil-report/

The #Swiss-based mining conglomerate #Glencore says it is committed to investing in #NewCaledonia in 2016 despite massive losses last year because of the slump in the price of #Nickel.

Read more at: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/295422/new-caledonia’s-koniambo-holds-on-to-glencore-support

#China, the world’s largest #RareEarth producer and exporter, will complete a major restructuring move by mid-2016 to consolidate the industry, an official said Friday.

The work on forming rare earth blocs will be finished by the end of June to restructure the country’s rare-earth assets, said Xin Guobin, vice minister of industry and information technology, at a symposium.

Read more at: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=318172

#China set two notable records last year in terms of its metals trade with the rest of the world.

It exported record amounts of #Aluminium in the form of semi-manufactured products, a sign of domestic market glut that no-one seems to think is going to end any time soon.

But the country also imported more refined #Copper than ever before, an outcome that was even more surprising given another record year for imports of copper concentrates.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/china-trade-ahome-idUSL8N15C3B0

#Freeport-#McMoRan Inc.’s export license in #Indonesia, allowing the #US #Copper producer to ship concentrates from its #Grasberg mine, has expired without extension, said Bambang Gatot Ariyono, director general of minerals and coal at the Energy & Mineral Resources Ministry.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-28/freeport-indonesia-s-export-permit-expires-without-extension

The State-Owned Enterprises Ministry is looking to book higher royalty incomes from state-run #Miners this year, despite unfavorable commodity prices that put pressure on the financial performance of mining firms last year.

– See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/01/27/higher-royalties-sought-state-miners.html#sthash.4fC7bxFO.dpuf

#Chile is pushing forward with new policies to develop its vast #Lithium reserves, the government said on Monday, at a time when prices for the battery ingredient have been rising rapidly.

One of the government’s first moves in the mostly private sector industry would be a call to tender the exploration of two salt flats owned by state-run #Codelco, the world’s biggest #Copper producer.

Read more at: http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL2N15915I