Staff Writer

Nornickel completing last stage of Taimyrsky mine rehaul to extend production capacity, lifespan

Russian diversified metals producer Nornickel is rehauling its Taimyrsky mine, and the upcoming completion of the Bolshoi Gorst area project is set to increase its production capacity, the company announced. Nornickel launched the investment project targeting the Bolshoi Gorst area in 2009. The project was divided into five parts, and the final one is nearing completion. The cost of the...

Top miner vows to use sulfur neutralization byproduct as construction material

Russian diversified metals producer Nornickel announced on Tuesday it had successfully tested gypsum — a byproduct of its flagship environmental project, the Sulfur Programme — for its use in making construction materials. To conduct lab tests, the miner joined forces with Russian producer of mortars and drywall materials Volma. Now, only formal environmental impact assessment is required for Nornickel and...

US slaps new tariffs on over 100 Russian commodities, including aluminum

The White House announced on Friday a new round of Russia sanctions, which included tariffs on imports of more than 100 commodities from Russia to the United States. “Today’s action will result in increased tariffs on more than 100 Russian metals, minerals, and chemical products worth approximately $2.8 billion to Russia. It will also significantly increase costs for aluminum that...

Russian scientists develop multilayer material for parts’ impact resistance

Scientists from the Institute of Laser and Welding Technologies of the St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University (SMTU, or ‘Korabelka’) developed a multilayer material using direct laser growth, which will allow parts to withstand dynamic loads longer. The study was published in the International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology. Why it matters The new material will be useful in the...

US scientists develop 3D-printed 6-metal superalloy to improve turbines’ efficiency

Scientists at the US-based Sandia National Laboratory, in collaboration with the Ames National Laboratory, the Iowa State University, and Bruker Corp. used a 3D printer to create a high-performance metal superalloy with an unusual composition that makes it stronger and lighter than modern materials currently used in gas turbine equipment, the Sandia lab announced. Experiments showed that a new superalloy...

Rio Tinto agrees to supply BMW with low-carbon aluminum

Anglo-Australian diversified miner Rio Tinto announced on Tuesday it would supply carmaker BMW with responsibly sourced aluminum to help the latter lower its carbon footprint. The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), agreeing that the aluminum produced by Rio in Canada will be delivered to BMW’s production plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, starting in 2024. The companies also agreed...

Teck Resources spins off steelmaking coal unit to focus on energy transition metals, takes new name

Canadian diversified miner Teck Resources announced on Tuesday it would spin off its steelmaking coal business into a new company, called Elk Valley Resources (EVR), to focus on energy transition metals. The remaining business will take a new name, Teck Metals, and retain steelmaking coal cash flows for the transition period. The deal will be structured as EVR’s spin-off. Teck...

Russia’s talks with Bolivia on lithium advance even despite China’s tender win, ambassador says

Russia continues negotiations on the development of lithium deposits in Bolivia, they are at the final stage, even despite the Chinese conglomerate’s earlier win in the tender, Russia’s ambassador in La Paz, Mikhail Ledenev, said in an interview with RIA Novosti. “Rosatom’s subsidiary Uranium One Group is actively involved in the development of the lithium industry in Bolivia, negotiations are...

Freeport-McMoran suspends world’s second-largest copper mine in Indonesia after heavy rains

Mining company Freeport-McMoran announced suspension of operations at Grasberg, the world’s second-largest copper mine in Indonesia, after heavy rainfalls caused landslides in the area. “PT Freeport Indonesia’s (PT-FI) Grasberg operations have been temporarily disrupted because of significant rainfall and landslides in the area of its milling operations in Papua, Indonesia,” the company said. Infrastructure near the company’s milling complex was...