Venezuela's ruling party-controlled National Assembly on Thursday approved a mining bill expected to open the sector to private and overseas investment, after the US eased restrictions on the country to stimulate external capital investment in its struggling economy.The bill repealed the 1999 and 2015 mining regulations, allowing domestic, overseas, and state-owned and private companies or consortia to mine gold and "strategic minerals." The maximum term for concessions is 30 years, but can be extended by up to two 10-year periods.Under the bill, mineral resources remain state property, disputes can be resolved through arbitration, and a royalty tax of 13% of the total value of minerals is levie.

Recently, Joint Circular No. 00156 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Mines of the DRC / Cabinet of the Ministry of Mines / 2026 and Cabinet of the Ministry of Finance / 2026, concerning regulatory measures to standardize control over deviations in the detection of refined cobalt content in exported cobalt hydroxide under the quota system framework of the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets in the DRC, is translated as follows: The English translation of the above text is:

In 2025, the Indonesian government introduced a series of regulatory measures referred to by the industry as the "new mining policies." These policy packages not only touch upon core aspects such as mining business permits, approval of miners' work plans, and tax systems, but also include unprecedented strict penalties for illegal mining activities.

[Albemarle Completes Verification of Lithium Pilot Plant in Chile] US-based Albemarle announced on Wednesday that it has completed verification of its direct lithium extraction (DLE) pilot plant located in Chile. This move will help the company finalize the design of future commercial-scale plants and advance subsequent environmental assessment processes. As the world's second-largest lithium producer, Chile currently has only two lithium mining enterprises, one of which is Albemarle. Lithium, a key raw material for EV batteries, is increasingly demonstrating its strategic value. Key Data Overview: Lithium recovery rate exceeded 94% during stable operation; The pilot plant accumulated over 3,000 hours of operation, equivalent to more than 90 consecutive days; Maximum water reuse rate reached 85% during the verification phase; Albemarle has invested $30 million in this pilot plant and allocated an additional $216 million for the construction of a salt recovery plant in the Atacama Salt Flat. Source: mining.com [Liontown Signs Another Offtake Agreement for Kathleen Valley Project] ASX-listed Liontown has secured another key customer for its Kathleen Valley lithium project, signing a binding offtake agreement with Canmax for the supply of 150,000 mt of spodumene concentrates annually during 2027-2028. The company stated that pricing will be determined using a formula linked to the spodumene index price, aligning the contract with current market conditions. Canmax is one of the world's leading producers of lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, and other battery materials, as well as a significant purchaser of lithium raw materials from Australia and internationally. Liontown said this agreement complements its existing offtake arrangements with Tier-1 customers and is an important part of its strategy to diversify its offtake portfolio geographically and across the battery value chain. "We are delighted to have reached this offtake agreement with Canmax, a globally leading lithium chemical enterprise. Their participation in our 2025 institutional placement demonstrated strong confidence in the long-term potential of the Kathleen Valley project, and this offtake agreement further strengthens their commitment to collaboration," said Managing Director and CEO Tony Ottaviano. "By signing sales agreements linked to the spodumene concentrates index while continuing to advance our platform-based spot sales strategy, we can ensure fair value realization for the products we produce." Liontown controls two large lithium deposits in Western Australia and is currently seeking further growth through exploration, partnerships, and acquisitions, while also evaluating downstream opportunities – resource ownership will provide it with a competitive advantage in this field. Source: https://www.miningweekly.com [IEA: Ghana Must Take Control of Its Lithium Resources] The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) urged the Ghanaian government to fully control the country's lithium resources, entrust the private sector to mine on its behalf, and develop the lithium value chain to maximize national interests. The agency stated that the government should establish a state-owned Ghana Lithium Company (GLC) to lead the efficient mining and management of this mineral. The IEA pointed out that the government has invested $32 million in the Ewoyaa lithium project, a significant amount compared to the investment by Barari DV, a private investor seeking ownership of the mine; it also emphasized that Ghana still has more room to strengthen its control over this resource. "The Ghana Lithium Company (GLC) should be tasked with building a complete domestic lithium value chain, achieving integrated development from raw materials to battery products," the institute said. At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, Dr. Charles Mensah, Chairman of the IEA, stated that, based on the current market price of lithium carbonate at $9,000 per mt, if the estimated 3.6 million mt of spodumene concentrates from the Ewoyaa mine are processed, Ghana could potentially gain approximately $172 billion in revenue. He said lithium should be classified as a strategic mineral vital to economic prosperity and national security. "As a strategic mineral, lithium is crucial for Ghana's energy transition and transformation into a modern economy," Dr. Mensah emphasized. He urged the government to "proceed cautiously" in decisions regarding lithium resource extraction and warned against being influenced by narratives of falling global lithium prices. "I want to tell those holding such views that their suggestions are pure 'voodoo economics' (impractical economic proposals)," he added. Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, an IEA researcher and former Speaker of Parliament, called on Parliament to suspend approval of the revised lithium mining agreement to avoid repeating past losses suffered by the nation in natural resource deals. He pointed out that Ghana's current mining regulations and related agreements have hindered national development and require comprehensive reform. "We admire what Dubai has achieved for its people using natural resources," Professor Oquaye said. "Successful models now exist as precedents, and knowledge is abundant. If Dubai had relied solely on collecting royalties, could it have achieved what it has today? Why should we do the opposite?" Professor Oquaye also cautioned local mining communities against hasty extraction, stating that, as seen in many mining communities within Ghana, rushed development could instead worsen their situations. Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Inusah Fuseini stated that Ghana has a "golden opportunity" to transform its economic fortunes by leveraging lithium, a critical mineral. He pointed out that Parliament believes the negotiated lithium mine agreement conflicts with existing laws—particularly regarding the proposed 10% royalty rate, whereas the legally stipulated rate is 5%. This discrepancy provides grounds for rejecting the agreement and renegotiating. "There is no legal basis for them to set a 10% royalty rate, which is the core question raised by the MPs," Fuseini said. "Therefore, the agreement itself is legally flawed. Given that, why should we approve it? In my view, this is precisely an excellent opportunity for renegotiation." National Chief Imam Spokesperson Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu called for enhanced communication with local mining communities to ensure residents understand the relevant processes and effectively participate in maximizing national benefits from lithium resources development. Source: https://gna.org.gh [Iron Ore Contracting Company Secures 39-Month Contract for Covalent Lithium's Mt Holland Project] Diversified mining services provider Iron Ore Contracting Company announced it has been awarded a 39-month mining services contract by Covalent Lithium to provide drilling and blasting, loading and hauling, and run-of-mine (ROM) management services for the Mt Holland project in the Goldfields region of Western Australia. Covalent Lithium operates the Mt Holland mine and beneficiation plant, while its Kwinana Refinery is currently in the commissioning phase. The contract will take effect in February 2026, requiring Iron Ore Contracting Company to deploy equipment and 220 personnel to the project site to support the capacity ramp-up of the Mt Holland project. The Mt Holland project will become the second major lithium mine project operated by Iron Ore Contracting Company—since 2022, the company has been providing development support services for Liontown Resources' Kathleen Valley open-pit lithium mine. Established in 2015, Iron Ore Contracting Company has long served the mining industry in Western Australia. It currently operates 10 projects in the state, primarily focused on iron ore, lithium, and gold, with total orders on hand exceeding A$1 billion (approximately US$665 million). Iron Ore Contracting Company CEO Clinton Keenan said, "We are extremely honored to undertake the mining services for the Mt Holland project as Covalent Lithium advances this critical phase of lithium capacity expansion."Integrity is at the core of all our operations, and ensuring the compliance and integrity of our clients' ore body extraction is our primary objective. The competitiveness of the company's proprietary asset strategy is increasingly being recognized by mining enterprises, as evidenced by the recent contract award from Covalent." In addition to Covalent Lithium and Liontown Resources, the company currently provides mining or civil engineering services to enterprises such as Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals Group, Northern Star, Gold Fields, and Meeka Metals. Keenan added, "We are consistently committed to being a solutions-focused contractor. When faced with challenges, our first response is to take action rather than submit a variation request. This pragmatic and integrity-driven approach has helped us build trust and long-term, stable partnerships with our clients, which is crucial for sustained business growth." Source: https://im-mining.com

[Nigerian Foreign-Owned Lithium Mine Seized, Case Value Exceeds 8 Billion] Recently, the Mines Enforcement Team of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) sealed an illegal lithium ore mining site located in Libata, Ngaski Local Government Area, Kebbi State. The enforcement team accused the enterprise of violating mining regulations and illegally profiting over 1.43 trillion naira (approximately 8.447 billion yuan) within two years, suspected of defrauding the federal government . This operation was conducted under the authorization of the Federal High Court, and the company involved is under investigation for large-scale mineral theft and multiple violations. It is reported that the company is suspected of colluding with foreign personnel, illegally mining lithium ore valued at over 1.43 trillion naira without obtaining legal permits. Regulatory authorities pointed out that the enterprise seriously exceeded the scope stipulated by its Small Scale Mining License (SSML) and Exploration License, unlawfully entering plots with legal mining rights owned by others, constituting illegal occupation. This behavior violates Section 46(2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 and Section 48 of the Nigerian Mining Regulations, 2011, causing significant financial losses to the state and undermining the legal protection of mineral resources. Joint law enforcement personnel inspected the mine site and have officially shut down the illegal mining point. Although the investigating authority repeatedly summoned the director of "Three Crown Mines," the other party refused to attend citing "inconvenience," which the enforcement team expressed strong dissatisfaction with, warning against using excuses to delay the investigation. Source: SMM New Energy [EnergyX Expands US Smackover Acreage to Reduce Lithium Costs] This month, after General Motors-backed lithium technology startup EnergyX acquired an additional 35,000 acres in the Smackover region for $26 million in cash and stock, the company's holdings in the area increased to 47,500 acres. Smackover is an underground geological formation rich in lithium brine, stretching from Florida to Texas. Smackover may contain over 4 million mt of lithium, sufficient for millions of EVs and other electronic devices. EnergyX's latest acquisition places it among the significant enterprises in the region. Its land holdings are surrounded by 125,000 net acres controlled by Chevron and 120,000 gross acres held by Exxon. The private company has been growing rapidly. Its recent moves included obtaining a 90,000-acre mining concession in Chile in 2023 and acquiring a 40,000-square-foot production facility in Austin, Texas, in 2024. These acquisitions are also crucial for the company, which made headlines in 2022 when it, along with Argentina's energy company Tecpetrol, had its qualification to mine lithium in Bolivia revoked due to technical issues. Bolivia had attempted to partner with foreign companies to develop its abundant lithium resources. This Latin American country holds the world's largest lithium resources but has struggled for decades to achieve commercial mining. Source: mining.com [POSCO Bids $62 Million Cash for Assets of Argentina's Lithium South] Lithium South stated that it has received a $62 million cash offer from South Korea's POSCO for its portfolio of exploration assets in the Hombre Muerto salt lake in Argentina. The company's primary asset is the 100%-owned Hombre Muerto North (HMN) project in Salta Province, comprising nine mining concessions totaling 56.9 square kilometers. It also holds purchase options for two additional nearby mining blocks, with a total area of 55.5 square kilometers. A new preliminary economic assessment for HMN last year indicated a post-tax net present value (at an 8% discount rate) of $934 million, an internal rate of return of 31.6%, a mine life of 25 years, and a payback period of 2.5 years. Annual lithium carbonate production is projected at 15,600 mt, an estimate based on established solar evaporation technology and proven resources of 1.58 million mt of LCE from the Alba Sabrina, Natalia Maria, and Tramo mining concessions. Since the release of the preliminary economic assessment, Lithium South has been seeking further exploration of the HMN mineral resources, aiming to expand this resource base and conduct a feasibility study. Just last week, the company announced plans to develop a comprehensive development plan covering every stage of the feasibility process, from construction to commissioning, targeting submission of the report by Q1 2026. Following the project sale announcement, Lithium South's stock price surged by 28%, bringing the company's market capitalization to C$35.3 million. Source: mining.com [Lithium Miners Issue Warning as Weak EV Demand Intensifies Pressure] The global lithium market has been volatile for years, and the situation is now further complicated by lower-than-expected growth in EV demand, coupled with the withdrawal of regulatory support by US President Donald Trump. Prices for this battery metal hit record highs in 2022 but subsequently fell by nearly 90% due to a severe supply surplus. Liontown said on Tuesday that a portion of lithium originally intended for Ford was resold to a Chinese buyer, indicating that challenges in the US are rippling through the entire supply chain. This US automaker's EV sales declined significantly in Q2, as the company is undertaking a comprehensive strategic overhaul. "The reality is, the EV market landscape has materially changed over the past few years, and we see an opportunity to represent Ford in selling these volumes to another new customer who needs the product," Liontown Chief Commercial Officer Grant Donald told investors on Tuesday. Source: mining.com [Spark Company Discovers New Lithium-Bearing Pegmatite Zone in Brazil's Lithium Valley] Reported by Eugene Hodgson, Spark Company in Vancouver, British Columbia, is rapidly advancing its flagship Arapaima project located in Brazil's Lithium Valley, having identified potential lithium mineralization. Continued field investigations have revealed extensively weathered pegmatite veins (containing residual quartz-feldspar-tourmaline) – the primary geological host for lithium in the region. Over the past five weeks, more than 90 samples (such as surface rock chips and stream sediments) were collected from areas containing tourmaline-rich quartz gravels and pegmatite veins. This data will assist Spark Company in Brazil's Lithium Valley in further refining priority drilling targets within the already extensive lithium pegmatite deposit. "The geological characteristics discovered at Arapaima are highly compelling," noted Jon Hill, Vice President of Exploration at Spark Company. "We have mapped multiple pegmatite zones at the surface, identified key indicator minerals, and observed structural features consistent with other known lithium-bearing systems in Brazil's Lithium Valley. The scale and consistency of these indicators suggest the potential for a relatively mature pegmatite system. The upcoming assay results will be crucial for advancing our drilling targets." Source: Junior of mining

[Nigerian Foreign-Owned Lithium Mine Seized, Case Value Exceeds 8 Billion] Recently, the Mines Enforcement Team of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) sealed an illegal lithium ore mining site located in Libata, Ngaski Local Government Area, Kebbi State. The enforcement team accused the enterprise of violating mining regulations and illegally profiting over 1.43 trillion naira (approximately 8.447 billion yuan) within two years, suspected of defrauding the federal government . This operation was conducted under the authorization of the Federal High Court, and the company involved is under investigation for large-scale mineral theft and multiple violations. It is reported that the company is suspected of colluding with foreign personnel, illegally mining lithium ore valued at over 1.43 trillion naira without obtaining legal permits. Regulatory authorities pointed out that the enterprise seriously exceeded the scope stipulated by its Small Scale Mining License (SSML) and Exploration License, unlawfully entering plots with legal mining rights owned by others, constituting illegal occupation. This behavior violates Section 46(2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 and Section 48 of the Nigerian Mining Regulations, 2011, causing significant financial losses to the state and undermining the legal protection of mineral resources. Joint law enforcement personnel inspected the mine site and have officially shut down the illegal mining point. Although the investigating authority repeatedly summoned the director of "Three Crown Mines," the other party refused to attend citing "inconvenience," which the enforcement team expressed strong dissatisfaction with, warning against using excuses to delay the investigation. Source: SMM New Energy [EnergyX Expands US Smackover Acreage to Reduce Lithium Costs] This month, after General Motors-backed lithium technology startup EnergyX acquired an additional 35,000 acres in the Smackover region for $26 million in cash and stock, the company's holdings in the area increased to 47,500 acres. Smackover is an underground geological formation rich in lithium brine, stretching from Florida to Texas. Smackover may contain over 4 million mt of lithium, sufficient for millions of EVs and other electronic devices. EnergyX's latest acquisition places it among the significant enterprises in the region. Its land holdings are surrounded by 125,000 net acres controlled by Chevron and 120,000 gross acres held by Exxon. The private company has been growing rapidly. Its recent moves included obtaining a 90,000-acre mining concession in Chile in 2023 and acquiring a 40,000-square-foot production facility in Austin, Texas, in 2024. These acquisitions are also crucial for the company, which made headlines in 2022 when it, along with Argentina's energy company Tecpetrol, had its qualification to mine lithium in Bolivia revoked due to technical issues. Bolivia had attempted to partner with foreign companies to develop its abundant lithium resources. This Latin American country holds the world's largest lithium resources but has struggled for decades to achieve commercial mining. Source: mining.com [POSCO Bids $62 Million Cash for Assets of Argentina's Lithium South] Lithium South stated that it has received a $62 million cash offer from South Korea's POSCO for its portfolio of exploration assets in the Hombre Muerto salt lake in Argentina. The company's primary asset is the 100%-owned Hombre Muerto North (HMN) project in Salta Province, comprising nine mining concessions totaling 56.9 square kilometers. It also holds purchase options for two additional nearby mining blocks, with a total area of 55.5 square kilometers. A new preliminary economic assessment for HMN last year indicated a post-tax net present value (at an 8% discount rate) of $934 million, an internal rate of return of 31.6%, a mine life of 25 years, and a payback period of 2.5 years. Annual lithium carbonate production is projected at 15,600 mt, an estimate based on established solar evaporation technology and proven resources of 1.58 million mt of LCE from the Alba Sabrina, Natalia Maria, and Tramo mining concessions. Since the release of the preliminary economic assessment, Lithium South has been seeking further exploration of the HMN mineral resources, aiming to expand this resource base and conduct a feasibility study. Just last week, the company announced plans to develop a comprehensive development plan covering every stage of the feasibility process, from construction to commissioning, targeting submission of the report by Q1 2026. Following the project sale announcement, Lithium South's stock price surged by 28%, bringing the company's market capitalization to C$35.3 million. Source: mining.com [Lithium Miners Issue Warning as Weak EV Demand Intensifies Pressure] The global lithium market has been volatile for years, and the situation is now further complicated by lower-than-expected growth in EV demand, coupled with the withdrawal of regulatory support by US President Donald Trump. Prices for this battery metal hit record highs in 2022 but subsequently fell by nearly 90% due to a severe supply surplus. Liontown said on Tuesday that a portion of lithium originally intended for Ford was resold to a Chinese buyer, indicating that challenges in the US are rippling through the entire supply chain. This US automaker's EV sales declined significantly in Q2, as the company is undertaking a comprehensive strategic overhaul. "The reality is, the EV market landscape has materially changed over the past few years, and we see an opportunity to represent Ford in selling these volumes to another new customer who needs the product," Liontown Chief Commercial Officer Grant Donald told investors on Tuesday. Source: mining.com [Spark Company Discovers New Lithium-Bearing Pegmatite Zone in Brazil's Lithium Valley] Reported by Eugene Hodgson, Spark Company in Vancouver, British Columbia, is rapidly advancing its flagship Arapaima project located in Brazil's Lithium Valley, having identified potential lithium mineralization. Continued field investigations have revealed extensively weathered pegmatite veins (containing residual quartz-feldspar-tourmaline) – the primary geological host for lithium in the region. Over the past five weeks, more than 90 samples (such as surface rock chips and stream sediments) were collected from areas containing tourmaline-rich quartz gravels and pegmatite veins. This data will assist Spark Company in Brazil's Lithium Valley in further refining priority drilling targets within the already extensive lithium pegmatite deposit. "The geological characteristics discovered at Arapaima are highly compelling," noted Jon Hill, Vice President of Exploration at Spark Company. "We have mapped multiple pegmatite zones at the surface, identified key indicator minerals, and observed structural features consistent with other known lithium-bearing systems in Brazil's Lithium Valley. The scale and consistency of these indicators suggest the potential for a relatively mature pegmatite system. The upcoming assay results will be crucial for advancing our drilling targets." Source: Junior of mining