News of mining

South America steps up efforts to turn lithium into batteries

06-03-2023 14:22 Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Brazil plan to coordinate action on turning more of the region’s mined lithium into battery chemicals, as well as moving into manufacturing of batteries and EVs.

Rio battles high-bidding carmakers in hunt for lithium deals

22-02-2023 12:12 Rio Tinto Group, one of the world’s most profitable companies, faces a tough battle to grow its lithium business, with some of the biggest carmakers seeming to be willing to outbid it for a “very expensive” price. 

Greening global economy brings dependence on critical minerals

27-10-2022 15:52 Experts worry that the global transition to clean energy is creating new dependencies on the critical minerals needed for solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries.

Report: Argentina may request new loan from IMF’s ‘resilience’ trust

25-08-2022 17:00 Planning for Economy Minister Sergio Massa’s trip to the United States ramps up, with IMF talks leading the agenda.

Investors circle idled Río Colorado mine as war reshapes fertiliser trade

14-06-2022 14:45 Potential investors are hovering over a giant potash project in Mendoza Province at a time when Russia's invasion of Ukraine is reshaping the global fertiliser trade.

The trouble with lithium

01-06-2022 13:43 Lithium, the wonder metal at the heart of the global shift to electric cars, is in a full-blown crisis. Demand has outstripped supply, pushing prices up almost 500% in a year and hindering the world’s most successful effort yet to halt global warming.

Argentina must move faster to realise potential, top miner says

19-05-2022 14:20 Canadian mining entrepreneur Rob McEwen urges Argentina to move forward with legislative changes that would increase the nation's attractiveness to investors.

As rivals turn screws on mining, Argentina puts out welcome mat

11-05-2022 23:35 Government turns to capital-control loopholes and tax breaks, eyeing export boost as neighbours look to raise mine taxes.

Gabriel Boric wants to lead a green revolution

11-03-2022 09:33 A new generation of leaders in commodity-rich Latin America sees climate change and its link to inequality as the new political fault line, including Chile's new president Gabriel Boric.

Report: Mining firms targeting Brazil protected indigenous lands

23-02-2022 13:04 Major mining companies are seeking to expand to currently protected indigenous lands in the Amazon rainforest, bolstered by billions of dollars in financing from international banks and investment firms

Argentina wants to triple mining exports, despite social conflicts

12-01-2022 22:31 Government introducing new incentives to grow the sector over next decade, but social and environmental organisations warn of impact.

by Javier Lewkowicz, Diálogo Chino

Chile awards two multi-million dollar lithium contracts

12-01-2022 21:58 Chile shunned two of the world's biggest lithium producers when awarding extraction contracts worth a total of US$121 million to a local firm and a Chinese company, the country's minerals ministry said Wednesday.

Lundin to buy copper-gold project in Argentina for US$483 Million

20-12-2021 11:46 Lundin Mining Corp agrees to acquire copper and gold project in San Juan Province for around US$483 million.

Second day of clashes in Rawson after approval of Chubut mining law

18-12-2021 08:05 Lawmakers in Chubut approve controversial zoning law authorising mining in region's central plateau; At least 30 injuries and seven protesters arrested after police clash with protesters, who set public buildings alight.

Chile President Sebastián Piñera survives impeachment vote

17-11-2021 12:42 Chile's Senate declines to impeach President Sebastián Piñera over a business deal revealed in the Pandora Papers leaks, refusing to go along with the lower house of Congress in opening proceedings against him.

Cryptocurrencies: Argentina as a Bitcoin farmer

05-11-2021 17:44 A well-known Canadian company is bringing its Bitcoin ‘farms’ to Argentina. A look at the local temptations favouring this mining business.

by Mariana Sidoti Gigli

Chile opposition moves to impeach Piñera over Pandora Papers claims

14-10-2021 12:51 Chile's opposition on Wednesday moved to impeach President Sebastián Piñera for the controversial sale of a mining company through a firm owned by his children, which appeared in the Pandora Papers leaks.

Lithium prices are soaring, sparking more deals for key battery metal

07-10-2021 08:23 Lithium is having a moment -- and record prices won’t deter the flurry of deals for the key battery metal.

Death stalks Colombian defenders of nature

13-09-2021 13:52 Global Witness NGO says Colombia was the most dangerous country for land and environment defenders for the second year in a row in 2020, accounting for 65 of the 227 killings reported worldwide.

In home of Malbec, eyes turn toward idled US$5-billion potash mine

09-09-2021 14:52 Mendoza Province in talks with some of world’s top producers of potash to revive Río Colorado mine.