Nimba Mining Company SA has appointed Patrice L'Huillier as Director General and Djiba Diakité as Chairman of the Board of Directors, with both appointments confirmed through separate presidential decrees. The announcement was made on Friday, October 23, 2026, during a national television news broadcast. L'Huillier, a civil engineer specialising in bridges and roads, will serve as Director General for an initial three-year term, which is renewable. According to his appointment decree, he will work under a performance contract with the Ministry of Mines and Geology. The contract will establish his objectives, the methods for assessing his performance and his obligations regarding the transfer of skills to national staff. In a separate decree, Diakité, Minister Director of the Cabinet of...
Rio Tinto’s planned USD 1.9 billion investment in the Kangwinan bauxite project is expected to support more than 1,300 construction jobs in Queensland, while helping secure the long-term future of its Weipa mining operations as existing sources of production approach the end of their lives. Located on Western Cape York Peninsula, Kangwinan will add 20 million tonnes of annual bauxite production capacity, with first output targeted for 2029 and full production expected by 2032. The project will raise Weipa Operations’ annual capacity to around 44 million tonnes from current production of approximately 38 million tonnes. Construction is scheduled to ramp up in 2027. Beyond the immediate employment boost, the investment is expected to help sustain Rio Tinto’s residentially based workforce of...
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Greenstone Resources, a specialist mining and metals private equity fund based in the Channel Islands, has agreed to provide a major financial injection to Metro Mining’s flagship Bauxite Hills Project, near Weipa. In an ASX announcement today, Metro Mining confirmed the signing of definitive and binding agreements with Greenstone to invest $8.9 million in Metro via a two tranche placement of 105 million shares at 8.5 cents per share. This represents a 26 per cent premium to the last closing price of Metro shares. The initial Placement, which does not require Metro shareholder approval, will raise $8.058 million via the issue of 94.8 million shares. A second tranche, requiring shareholder approval, will raise $0.867 million via the issue of 10.2 million shares. Greenstone will become a...
The world average bauxite mine site cost fell for the third consecutive year in 2015, decreasing by 8.0 per cent. The strong US dollar and weak energy prices have been the key drivers of cost deflation in the bauxite mining industry. As most of the revenues for third party bauxite mining companies are in US dollars while costs are in domestic currencies, any depreciation in domestic currency offers a cushion to companies in terms of cost benefits. Bauxite miners have also benefited from weak energy prices, which have lowered their operating costs. Strong US dollar has a great impact on bauxite mining site costs Exchange rates have a great impact on labour costs, which was the largest cost component of bauxite mining costs in 2015, accounting for 24.1 per cent of the world average site...
India's newly elected Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal, immediately after taking charge of his portfolio, said he expects the mining sector to contribute one per cent to the country’s GDP growth in the next one to two years. Goyal has also set aggressive targets in Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy sector. “If we can target 30-40 per cent growth in the mining sector, we can contribute one per cent to the GDP growth rate,” he said. Goyal said he will also have a dialogue with all stakeholders for creating a future roadmap of growth and development in the mining sector. “My primary focus will be for using the resources in the most effective manner,” he added. On the ongoing mining lease auctions, Goyal said, “The mining...
Billionaire Anil Agarwal, the London-based founder chairman of Vedanta Resources, said his group will invest one billion dollars in Africa, betting on the continent and India as the two growth engines for the metals and mining group. "We believe, while 'one arm' is in India, we should have 'another arm' in Africa," Agarwal said in a recent interview. Why Africa? "There are three regions in the world with 1.3 billion people and more. China, India and Africa. What else is left for big business to enter," Agarwal said. Agarwal is betting on the popular estimate that Africa will double its GDP. "In every respect, Africa will grow," he said. The Vedanta group has invested more than $4 billion in Africa so far. The going has been tough in recent years for Vedanta with oil and base metal prices...
Bauxite miners in Pahang are significantly less than happy about the latest extension in the government’s mining ban in the province, according to interviews conducted by local media outlets. The latest extension is the second such from the government, which extends the ban until mid-September. Bukit Goh Bauxite Issues Committee chairman Datuk Dr. Abd Wahid Abd Manap says miners have been accused of failing to clear bauxite reserves despite the fact that the government has not issued licenses sufficient to make that happen. “We have to abide by the moratorium extension ordered by the Cabinet. But we are upset that the reason for it has not been made clear,” explained Dr. Abd Wahid. “The minister said it is the operators’ fault for not clearing the stockpiles but we risk getting caught by...
Suriname's President Desi Bouterse on Monday urged Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states that are involved in bauxite mining, mining of other industrial metal ores, and oil to unite towards industrialisation rather than continue to be vulnerable to global commodity prices. “Those member-states of Caricom and the wider Caribbean, which have been dependent on the extractive sectors, need to get together to discuss meaningful ways to shift from the export of commodities of the industrial products. We have to join hands both nationally and regionally to consider effective ways of industrializing our economies and seriously improve our service sector by linking productivity with connectivity,” he said. Guyana has long harboured ambitions of resuscitating the production of alumina...
The bauxite mine, Hydro Paragominas, ranks as number one on the list over mining companies in Brazil in the latest edition of Best and Biggest of EXAME magazine. Executive vice president in Bauxite & Alumina, Alberto Fabrini, highlights that the recognition is an award earned by all at Hydro Paragominas. “This is a proof that when practicing Hydro’s standards and values, you get an engaged unit who is able to achieve impressive results”, says Fabrini. In 2015, Best and Biggest of EXAME magazine did a detailed evaluation of the financial reports and indicators of the companies, resulting in a list with 20 companies. “This award is to all the 1400 employees and all the contractors. This recognition motivates us to keep going. I believe more of our units can achieve this kind of...
CBIX rose over the week, up 2.4 per cent (US$1.1) to US$46.9/dmt on the back of higher ViU-priced Guinean material, partially offset by lower ViU-adjusted prices from other regions. Malaysian FOB prices continue to hold their ground, quoted at US$25/dmt to US$26/dmt for unwashed material, with washed material fetching around US$37/dmt FOB. Reports out of Malaysia over the week quoted stockpiles as high as 5.4 Mt at or near the port of Kuantan. Our own intel suggests stockpiles of around 1.5 to 2 Mt at or near the port, with exporters ready to resume operations as soon as the ban is lifted. Larger miners have mostly taken the measures necessary to conform with new environmental requirements and are now waiting for the ban to be lifted. When it is, exports are likely to resume quickly....
With plans to raise alumina production at its Lanjigarh refinery in Odisha's Kalahandi district by 50 per cent, bauxite starved Vedanta today sought quick steps for raw material supply from within the state. "We plan to enhance production in Lanjigarh refinery from 1 million tonne per annum to 1.5 mtpa, a 50 per cent increase. It will help in raising overall aluminium output," said Abhijit Pati, Chief Executive Officer (Aluminium) of Vedanta Ltd. Around three million tonnes of alumina would be required in order to produce 1.5 mt of aluminium, he said adding that the company's move to increase production would enable Lanjigarh refinery would provide 1.5 mt alumina. Regarding the rest, Pati said the balance requirement would have to be met through imports. Though the refinery at Lanjigarh...
The moratorium on bauxite mining in Pahang, Malaysia, has been extended yet again, this time for another two months. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this was because there were still a sizable number of bauxite stockpiles that had yet to be cleared and exported. "The moratorium deadline, which was supposed to be on July 15, has been changed to Sept 14 because it does not seem like the bauxite stockpile can be cleared soon. This has been agreed by the Cabinet. "There are still about 5.4 million tonnes of bauxite stockpiles located outside of Kuantan Port, with about 2.3 million tonnes located at the mining sites, 1.8 million tonnes at the Felda areas and 1.3 million located in the Gebeng area. The ministry gave out 25 special approved...
According to the latest Mineral Industry Surveys data published by the USGS, imports of crude and dried bauxite in the first quarter of 2016 were 1.51 million metric tons (Mt), 35 per cent less than those in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 45 per cent less than those in the first quarter of 2015. Jamaica (65 per cent) and Brazil (25 per cent) were the leading sources of crude and dried bauxite imports in the first quarter of 2016. Imports of crude and dried bauxite from Brazil and Guinea during the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 46 per cent and 86 per cent, respectively, compared with those in the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease in bauxite imports was attributed to the temporary shutdown of Alcoa Inc.’s 2.3-million-metricton-per-year alumina refinery in Point Comfort, TX. The...
Vedanta Ltd Group chief executive officer Tom Albanese, in a recent interview, said that the Government of India should take more initiatives in the mining sector and further encourage exploration of bauxite. While commenting on the winning of the first-ever auction of a gold mine in India in February and Vedanta's plans to initiate the process of exploration at the site, Albanese said the present NDA government is already doing a commendable job in boosting the industrial mining sector of the country. However, bauxite exploration needs further encouragement, he thought. "In the long term, we do need to find assured supply of captive bauxite for aluminium business from India. This is something we are working for over ten years and we continue to be working," Albanese said. "India is...
Australian Bauxite Limited is selling bauxite into fertiliser and cement markets at prices higher than the currently over-supplied metallurgical bauxite market. ABx's maiden shipment of 5,557 tonnes occurred on 28 April and a second sale of 5,000 tonnes was announced on 31 May. ABx is pleased to announce it has concluded a large new sale contract for 35,000 tonnes of bauxite from ABx's Bald Hill mine - the first new bauxite project in Australia for more than 35 years. This sale replaces the second 5,000 tonne sale and payment is to be within 7 days. Shipping dates are to be organised to suit the customer's requirements in due course. The sale price is satisfactorily profitable and commercial-in-confidence. Two other small-tonnage sales of fertiliser grade bauxite have been concluded for...
Mining, as an industry, has always been associated with a history of exploitative social practices and environmental degradation, particularly in Africa. Various treaties and organizations have made efforts to clean up mining practices over the years, but very few could smell success out of it. French entrepreneur Romain Girbal has decided to start at the source. He is the president and cofounder of the Responsible Mining Alliance (AMR), a new company that is working to develop responsible mining projects in Africa that respect both the community and the environment. The company has already started its first bauxite mine in Guinea and its passionate leader is looking to expand. Romain Girbal joined mining behemoth Glencore after graduating from the prestigious HEC business school in Paris...
Four states including Maharashtra and Karnataka have started the process of auctioning 32 mines that bear minerals such as iron ore, diamond, bauxite and limestone. The initial bids for mines in these states, which also include Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, are scheduled to start from this week, extending till August. While Karnataka has put 14 iron ore mines on the block, Maharashtra has put two blocks each of bauxite and tungsten and one block each of iron ore, mines on the block, Maharashtra has put two blocks each of bauxite and tungsten and one block each of iron ore, limestone, copper and manganese, a senior government official said. Andhra Pradesh has put 5 limestone mines for auction and Madhya Pradesh has placed 4 limestone and one block of diamond to go under the hammer,...
Landowning units and the people of Wainunu were taken to the Nawailevu bauxite mining sites in Bua to see the success of the rehab program. Tui Wainunu Ratu Orisi Baleitavea said groups had been taken to Nawailevu as an educational and informative visit. "This has been happening for some time now and it's an informative and education visit to help our people make informed decisions," he said. "During their visits, the officials show them what happens during mining and what is done for the rehabilitation. It has been a success and the landowners and our villagers have appreciated what they have learnt and what they've seen for themselves," he said. The students of Ratu Luke Secondary School in Wainunu have also been part of the trip. Ratu Orisi said the students went through the same...
While Australia remains China’s top bauxite supplier, the country is facing competition from Guinea and Brazil, who are emerging as important suppliers, SMM says. Imports from Guinea, China’s second largest supplier, rose about 10 per cent month-on-month in May, and imports from Brazil, which became China’s third largest supplier, surged to 521,200 tonnes, customs data showed. China imported 3.85 million tonnes of bauxite in May, up 1.3 per cent from a year ago, but down 12.68 per cent from April. Bauxite mining ban in Malaysia sent imports from the once large supplier down 87.86 per cent month-on-month and 95.03 per cent year-on-year. SMM expects China’s total bauxite imports to rebound in June, though, driven mainly by capacity restarts at alumina producers in Shandong.
CBIX nudged higher over the week, up 1.5 per cent (US$0.7) to US$45.8/dmt on the back of higher ViU-priced Australian material. Given the current linkages between bauxite prices and alumina prices, we expect to see the former gain further ground, as the rebound in alumina prices begins to flow through to the bauxite market. Malaysian authorities are poised to relax the current bauxite export ban, although only a few new export licences have been granted so far. The decision to lift the ban comes on the back of stocks at Kuantan port being totally cleared, environmental regulations put in place and several of the larger miners taking the necessary measures to meet the environmental regulations. We expect to see a resumption of larger volume exports as a result, although the additional...
