SANTO DOMINGO, Feb 27 (Reuters) – The Dominican Republic has identified rare earth deposits that could position the Caribbean nation as a significant future supplier of minerals critical to high-tech industries, President Luis Abinader said on Friday. Preliminary studies indicate gross deposits exceeding 150 million tons of rare earth elements, comprising 17 metals that can be used in semiconductors, aerospace applications, and military equipment, according to a government statement. During his annual State of the Nation address to Congress, Abinader set a goal to finish assessing mineral deposits this year and certify reserves by early next year, a necessary step…
Author: TJ Markle
The National Critical and Strategic Minerals Committee, constituted by NITI Aayog, has urged coordinated action between public and private mining companies to boost India’s self-reliance in critical minerals. The panel emphasised the need to accelerate exploration, expand research and development (R&D), and forge strategic partnerships to unlock the country’s untapped mineral reserves. With global demand rising rapidly, the committee stressed that India must act decisively to secure long-term supply chains. Addressing Demand-Supply Gaps and Policy Support During its deliberations, the committee reviewed India’s current demand-supply scenario, exploration opportunities across various states, and the technological and policy interventions required to strengthen…
The environment minister, Murray Watt, has handed a $55m penalty to the US mining giant Alcoa for unlawful land clearing for bauxite mining in Western Australia’s northern jarrah forests, south of Perth. As Watt announced the “unprecedented” remediation order, he said he had also granted the company an exemption to clear further habitat for 18 months while the government considered a proposal for an extension of the company’s mining operations to 2045. Watt said the penalty – known as an enforceable undertaking – was for clearing that occurred from 2019-2025 in known habitat for nationally protected species without an approval…
Bilateral trade in goods was worth Canadian $13.32 billion in 2024, while bilateral trade in services was valued at Canadian $19.61 billion in the same period. India and Canada on Monday firmed up agreements on critical minerals and supply of uranium ore and finalised terms of reference for negotiations on a free trade deal, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney pledged to increase trade to $50 billion by 2030 and deepen defence and security cooperation. Carney is on a four-day visit to India as part of efforts by the two sides to rebuild ties that…
In spring 2025, torrential rains fell on central Romania’s Harghita County in Transylvania, causing the waters of the Corund River to flood its banks. Speaking to reporters at a press conference in early May, county prefect Petres Sandor estimated that the river, which winds through towns nestled in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, had swelled to more than a hundred times its normal flow. The river had also begun to seep into the Praid salt mine, home to one of the largest salt reserves in Europe and the economic lifeblood of surrounding communities. In the weeks that followed, access to the Praid mine…
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian officials have granted Australian mining company Lynas Rare Earths a decade-long extension to operate its processing facility, while mandating the elimination of radioactive waste production by 2031. The Lynas processing plant in Malaysia represents the first rare earth refinery established outside of China, producing essential materials for advanced technology manufacturing. Located in Pahang state’s central region, the facility has been operational since 2012 but has faced ongoing controversy regarding radiation concerns from accumulated waste materials. Science Minister Chang Lih Kang announced Monday that radioactive waste produced over the next five years must undergo treatment…
Mexico’s mining sector has shifted from expansion to stricter regulatory enforcement following the 2022 and 2023 Mining Law reforms, which reduced concession terms, introduced public tenders, strengthened compliance requirements, and centralized control over strategic minerals such as lithium through LitioMX. The cancellation of 1,200 concessions in 2026 and persistent multi-agency permitting bottlenecks have heightened legal and operational risk for mining companies, investors, and project developers. This tighter administrative environment affects capital allocation, critical mineral development, and Mexico’s ability to align with USMCA partners and integrate into North American supply chains. Mexico’s mining sector is no longer defined by expansion but…
HELENA, Mont. — Sacrifices made to win WWII weren’t just overseas. Contributions to manufacture iron and other essentials for the war effort were produced on the home front. At the height of WWII, The Smith Mine near Bear Creek, was on a fast track to produce as much coal for the steel foundries as possible. But on February 27, 1943, an explosion at the underground mine would mark the event as the worst coal mining disaster in Montana history. It would devastate the small mining town and nearby Red Lodge. This week, Carbon County honored the lives of the men…
Safe-haven demand has gold prices reaching historic levels and building a base over $5000 US. Well-known established miners like Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM), Barrick Gold (NYSE: B) (TSX: ABX), and Newmont (NYSE: NEM) are reporting significant earnings growth and record cash flow. US mining stocks just got another boost following news of major reforms to NEPA, which are expected to reduce bureaucratic delays, streamline environmental reviews, shorten development timelines, and potentially lower project costs. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the Department of the Interior recently announced final sweeping reforms to its National Environmental Policy Act procedures, cutting…
Africa is home to some of the world’s richest mineral reserves, yet policy, infrastructure, and governance often determine whether these resources attract investment. According to the Fraser Institute’s 2025 Annual Survey of Mining Companies, mining executives rank jurisdictions based on geological potential and government policy, including taxation, regulatory certainty, and infrastructure quality. The survey, which polled over 2,300 executives, combines a Policy Perception Index (PPI) and a Best Practices Mineral Potential Index to produce the Investment Attractiveness Index (IAI). While mineral potential drives roughly 60% of investment decisions, policy perception remains critical. Globally, the most attractive mining jurisdictions continue to be in…