BHP raised Jansen Stage 1’s investment estimate to US$8.4bn (incl. contingencies) and reaffirmed first production in mid-2027. The miner cited underestimated construction inputs, inflation and scope changes, and outlined execution improvements for Stage 1 and Stage 2.
BHP raised FY26 group copper guidance to 1.9–2.0 Mt after record concentrator throughput at Escondida and strong iron ore performance at WAIO. The miner also highlighted a ~US$2bn transaction with GIP and progress at Jansen potash.
Argentina will revisit changes to its Glacier Law in February extraordinary sessions. The bill—already cleared by committee in the Senate—reignites a debate over periglacial definitions, provincial authority and the future of copper and lithium projects.
RBC says the real logic of a potential Rio–Glencore deal isn’t quick synergies—it’s locking in future copper supply as electrification tightens the market. Chile’s Collahuasi sits at the center of the story.
Bullion jumped on Monday, January 19, 2026, as investors moved into safe-haven assets after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on several European countries tied to his push to acquire Greenland.
Viridis is in talks with US and European buyers for rare earths from Brazil’s Colossus project, seeking multiple offtakers and a floor price to protect against China-influenced pricing.
Lupaka Gold says it may seek to seize Peruvian state-owned assets abroad after an unpaid ICSID arbitration award that has grown to US$67 million with interest. Petroperú is among the assets cited as a possible target.
Chile’s ENAMI will join four Corfo “Desafíos I+D” consortia, supplying tailings and operational expertise for pilots in cobalt, rare earths and direct lithium extraction.
Cochilco projects Chile copper output rising to 5.97 Mt in 2027, dipping to 5.43 Mt in 2030, then rebounding—peaking 6.06 Mt in 2033.
Peru’s copper output fell 11.2% year-on-year in November 2025 to 216,152 metric tons, though January–November production rose 1.6% to about 2.5 million tons, the ministry said.
London’s High Court denied BHP permission to appeal a ruling holding it liable for Brazil’s 2015 Mariana dam collapse. BHP plans to apply to the Court of Appeal as the case moves toward damages in 2026.
Bolivia’s government says it will honor existing lithium and hydrocarbons contracts, including China- and Russia-linked deals, while pursuing reforms to attract investment and improve transparency.
The US is in early talks with Brazil on a rare earth partnership, FT reports, as Washington seeks alternatives to China-dominated supply chains. Serra Verde’s $465m US-backed financing and EU competition add momentum.
Capstone Copper delivered record 2025 consolidated copper production of 224,764 tonnes, meeting guidance. Output rose 22% vs 2024, driven by Mantoverde’s ramp-up and Mantos Blancos debottlenecking.
Sprott outlines key 2026 themes for mining investors: deepening deglobalization, the “debasement trade,” a fractured inventory system, ongoing gold and silver bull cycles, and rising focus on uranium, copper and rare earths.
Analysts say a Rio Tinto–Glencore tie-up could require asset sales to satisfy China’s antitrust concerns over copper and iron ore marketing. Beijing has demanded divestments in past mining mega-deals.
Argentina’s mining exports rose 29.2% to a record $6.037B in 2025. Gold led with $4.078B and lithium reached $905M (15%), boosted by new projects.
IIMP vice president Juan Carlos Ortiz says copper demand from AI data centers will exceed automakers within 3–4 years, shifting the market focus from electromobility to digital infrastructure and raising pressure to accelerate new mining projects.
First Quantum Minerals welcomed Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino’s plan to authorize the removal and processing of stockpiled ore at the shuttered Cobre Panamá copper mine, framing it as a step to stabilize the site while talks continue on the mine’s long-term future.
The 15th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers will run May 4–6, 2026 in Lima under the theme “Promoting discovery for a sustainable future,” featuring global geologists, investors, government representatives, and technical experts.
A new Section 232 proclamation directs U.S. trade officials to negotiate “price floor” arrangements for processed critical minerals, postponing immediate tariffs while keeping them on the table if talks fail.
Brazil’s Labor Ministry ordered the shutdown of three waste piles at Sigma Lithium’s flagship Grota do Cirilo operation in Minas Gerais, citing a “grave and imminent” risk to workers and nearby communities.
President José Raúl Mulino said the government aims to decide the future of First Quantum’s shuttered Cobre Panamá copper mine by mid-2026, with an announcement expected by June.
Early-stage discussions between Rio Tinto and Glencore are fueling debate over how a combined group would handle “awkward-fit” assets—especially coal—amid a UK takeover clock running to February 5, 2026.
Chile’s state miner secured an environmental green light to extend Ministro Hales’ operating life through 2054, lifting output to about 200,000 t/y from 170,000 t/y.
Chile’s state miner submitted an environmental impact study seeking long-term continuity for Radomiro Tomic’s hydrometallurgy line, including pit expansion, new waste dumps and higher mine movement capacity.
Global mining M&A reached about $30 billion in the first three quarters of 2025, with 74% of deal value flowing to Latin America as investors recalibrate risk and prioritize permitting certainty.
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