This Month
Australian mining exploration falls to four-year low
Exploration spending fell to $643.52 million in the March quarter, as a sharp fall in lithium and nickel prices discouraged activity.
BHP considers return to nickel business with ultra-cheap mine project
The resources giant shut down local production of the commodity in the face of a surge in low-cost Indonesian production backed by Chinese investment last year.
May
Next Rio Tinto chief urged to extend push to ‘challenging’ frontiers
Rio Tinto is facing a hostile government in Mongolia and a military junta in Guinea, but this vocal shareholder wants the frontier push to continue.
Customers won’t pay for green metals, mining veteran warns Labor
Mining and manufacturing bosses say Australia’s heavy spending on green metal processing will only pay off if costs fall significantly.
Rox Resources launches $40m equity raise
New shares were being issued at 30¢ – a 16.7 per cent discount to the last close.
April
Advice for commodities investors? Sell, sell, then keep selling
Major Wall Street brokers are telling clients to resist the temptation to buy into metals and oil as prices fall, warning economic disruption is not over.
March
Inside Duncan Saville’s billion-dollar Bermuda Triangle
A decade after the ATO hit the reclusive Australian investor with a $189 million tax bill and savaged his character, Canberra is rolling out the red carpet.
Nickel Industries’ stock slumps after major investor exits
About $600 million was wiped from Nickel Industries market cap after a major investor dumped stock and the Indonesian government proposed a hike in mining royalties.
Short sellers feast on Tim Goyder’s fallen angels Chalice and Liontown
Goyder’s circa $10 million selldown at Chalice could fund a circa $100 million pro-rata rights issue at Liontown if – and it’s a big if – needs to raise cash.
December 2024
ASX slips; Gold miners’ silver lining; China’s new stealth aircraft
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Taxpayers have just made a $1.65b bet on a rare earths green premium
It’s the recipient of the second-biggest government loan in history. For the Eneabba project to succeed, everything about how minerals are priced must change.
November 2024
How a mother-in-law helped keep this ASX miner afloat
Nickel Industries revenues have topped $2.7 billion, but early on some family help was needed to finance this Fast 100 company.
US mining legend Robert Friedland plots ASX listing
The billionaire businessman says he will list his iron ore assets in Australia next year and will use an IPO to fund acquisitions of local critical minerals projects.
August 2024
Standard Chartered in talks to run Anglo American’s nickel sale
The unit’s underlying EBITDA has plummeted from $US110 million in the first six months of 2023 to just $US28 million in the half-year to June 30.
Indonesia suffers the consequences of cosying up to China
China helped Indonesia become the world’s dominant producer of nickel, a mineral essential for electric vehicles. As a result, it’s struggling to access the huge US market.
Gold saves the day as Diggers deals with the nickel and lithium rout
The annual Kalgoorlie conference was abuzz with the hopes and dreams of nickel and critical minerals groups – last year. How different things are now.
July 2024
Nickel boss says Indonesia trying to distance itself from China
Nickel Industries managing director Justin Werner says Jakarta wants to attract more Western investment to an industry dominated by China.
Indonesia moves to reduce China’s investment in nickel projects
Jakarta wants to help its industry qualify for tax credits under Joe Biden’s initiative to build a US electric vehicle supply chain.
Gold miner Northern Star sees silver lining in BHP nickel woes
Northern Star managing director Stuart Tonkin says an era of some West Australian resources groups overpaying to attract and keep workers is over.
Lynas puts the acid on Labor after BHP halts nickel work
The rare earth company’s managing director, Amanda Lacaze, says the Albanese government should step in to help stop other companies becoming collateral damage.