Le Cuivre

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 13 mai 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2369285#p2369285

Le projet Kombat s’affirme comme un atout pour la production de cuivre en Namibie

Agence Ecofin 25 aout 2023

- La mine de cuivre Kombat a livré son premier concentré de cuivre vers la mi-août 2023. Son redémarrage, après des années de régime d’entretien et de maintenance, intervient dans un contexte de forte demande pour les métaux liés à la transition énergétique, dont le cuivre.

En Namibie, la mine de cuivre Kombat a enregistré le lundi dernier, son premier jour complet de production de concentré. C’est ce que son propriétaire Trigon Metals a indiqué dans un communiqué publié le jeudi 24 août, précisant que 436 tonnes de minerai ont pu être traitées à l’usine, soit environ 44 % de la capacité nominale de l’installation.

D’ici la fin septembre, Trigon veut porter sa production de cuivre à 70 % de la capacité de l’usine qui est de 1 000 tonnes par jour. Alors que le taux de récupération est déjà « impressionnant » avec un concentré titrant 33,5 % de cuivre provenant d’un minerai à faible teneur, la société a indiqué que cela pouvait être amélioré en alimentant l’usine avec du minerai à plus forte teneur en cuivre, dans les mois à venir. Pour l’exercice actuel s’achevant le 31 mars 2024, rappelons que Trigon veut produire 4,4 millions de livres de cuivre.

« L’usine fonctionne très bien. Ce niveau d’efficacité sur notre alimentation de départ nous place dans une excellente position alors que nous commençons à alimenter nos teneurs cibles », a commenté Fanie Müller, directrice de la mine Kombat.

Il faut souligner que la montée en puissance de cette mine jouera un rôle majeur dans la production de cuivre en Namibie. En tant que seule mine commerciale de cuivre en activité dans le pays, elle devrait aider le pays à mieux se positionner sur le marché des métaux indispensables à la transition énergétique. Avec le lithium et les terres rares dont l’exploitation est imminente, la Namibie est ainsi bien placée pour profiter des perspectives prometteuses autour de ces métaux.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/cuivre/250 ... en-namibie

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suite de ce post du 2 avril 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2366316#p2366316

Rio’s next copper venture
Rio Tinto and First Quantum Minerals have established a joint venture (JV) for the development of Peru’s La Granja copper project.

TIM BOND 29 august 2023

La Granja, harbouring one of the world’s largest untapped copper deposits, sits in the high-altitude region of Cajamarca, Northern Peru. It has an indicated and inferred mineral resource of 4.32 billion tonnes at 0.51 per cent copper.

Rio Tinto acquired the La Granja project from the Government of Peru in 2006 and carried out an extensive drilling program that significantly expanded the declared resource and understanding of the orebody, and established partnerships with host communities, local and national governments.

The latest JV with First Quantum will tap into the undeveloped orebody.

“Developing La Granja would provide a significant new supply of copper and further strengthen Rio Tinto’s portfolio of materials needed for the energy transition,” Rio Tinto copper chief executive Bold Baatar said.

“Our partnership with First Quantum will bring our combined development capabilities and deep knowledge of La Granja to progress the project.”

The JV follows regulatory approvals from the Peruvian Government, allowing Canadian miner First Quantum to secure a commanding 55 per cent stake in the project with a $105 million investment.

An additional $546 million commitment from First Quantum will cover capital and operational expenses, steering the project through feasibility studies and eventual development. Upon fulfilling this financial obligation, future costs will be distributed proportionally based on ownership.

First Quantum, as the majority stakeholder, will take the operational lead in advancing the project. Initial steps will focus on a meticulous feasibility study, aligned with an agreement with the Peruvian government.

First Quantum chief executive officer Tristan Pascall reacted to the JV.

“La Granja has the potential to be a large, long-life operation and supply the copper that will be needed as the world transitions to the greener economy and where responsible mining will be the only acceptable way to produce metals.”

“As operator, we will leverage our core strengths in mine design, project development and community engagement and look forward to developing our partnership with Rio Tinto.”

Rio Tinto has been ramping up its copper efforts, with chief executive Jakob Stausholm saying that the company aims to triple production at its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia by the end of the decade.

Production at Oyu Tolgoi (on a 100 per cent basis) increased by 40 per cent from the second quarter of 2022.

This was supported by a boost in head grades from 0.4 per cent to 0.52 per cent, as the company ramps up underground production at the mine.

https://www.australianresourcesandinves ... ern%20Peru.

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suite de ce post du 3 sept 2022 viewtopic.php?p=2351353#p2351353

Afrique du Sud : les ressources minérales du projet de cuivre Okiep revues à la hausse

Agence Ecofin 29 aout 2023

Alors qu’elle s’active pour concrétiser le potentiel de son projet de cuivre et zinc Prieska, Orion Minerals avance parallèlement dans l’exploration d’un deuxième projet en Afrique du Sud. Il s’agit du projet Okiep qui a déjà produit par le passé plus de 2 millions de tonnes de cuivre.

En Afrique du Sud, le projet Okiep héberge potentiellement plus de cuivre qu’initialement prévu par son propriétaire Orion Minerals. Dans une mise à jour opérationnelle publiée lundi 28 août, la compagnie cotée à Johannesburg a revu à la hausse l’estimation de ressources d’une partie du projet, en l’occurrence les gisements « Flat Mines ».

La société a identifié sur trois prospects une ressource totale de 9,3 millions de tonnes titrant 1,3 % de cuivre (130 000 tonnes de cuivre contenu), dont 7,4 millions de tonnes à une teneur de cuivre de 1,4 % classées dans les catégories « mesurée et indiquée ». Additionnée aux 2,5 millions de tonnes précédemment déclarées sur trois autres prospects, cela porte la ressource minérale de ces gisements à 12 millions de tonnes, à une teneur de 1,4 % de cuivre.

« Suite à un examen géologique détaillé, nous avons été en mesure d’augmenter les ressources minérales totales de la zone Flat Mines et plus important encore d’accroître la confiance dans le modèle de ressources. Il s’agit d’un résultat très positif qui a maintenant été intégré à l’étude de faisabilité bancable du projet OCP », a commenté le DG Errol Smart.

Il faut noter que la nouvelle estimation à Okiep intervient un mois seulement après la mise à jour des ressources minérales d’un autre projet de la compagnie en Afrique du Sud. Selon l’évaluation de fin juillet dernier, le projet Prieska héberge des ressources minérales totales de 31 millions de tonnes titrant 1,2 % de cuivre et 3,6 % de zinc, soit 370 000 tonnes de cuivre et 1,1 million de tonnes de zinc. Orion Minerals y exécute une stratégie d’exploitation minière précoce afin de lancer rapidement la production sur le site.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/cuivre/290 ... -la-hausse

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AuTECO agrees to acquire Green Bay copper-gold project in Canada

By NS Energy Staff Writer 01 Sep 2023

Located in the Baie Verte district of north-east Newfoundland, Canada, the Green Bay copper-gold project comprises the Ming Mine and Nugget Pond processing facility, previously operated by Rambler Metals and Mining Canada


Australian gold exploration company AuTECO Minerals has agreed to purchase the Green Bay copper-gold project in Newfoundland, Canada, for a total consideration of around A$65m ($42m).

AuTECO has submitted a bid for Rambler Group, under the sale and investment solicitation process ordered by the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, in March this year.

The bid includes the cancellation of all outstanding issued capital in the Rambler Group, and issuance of new shares in the company, and a reverse vesting order (RVO).

AuTECO will provide A$35m in cash, along with A$15m worth of shares in the company, amounting to around 600 million shares.

The acquisition is expected to AuTECO as a significant copper company, with Green Bay’s resources at 811,000t of contained metal at an outstanding grade of 2.1% CuEq2.

AuTECO managing director Steve Parsons said: “Green Bay is a rare and outstanding acquisition opportunity which had only come about because the company which owned it had been placed in the Canadian-equivalent of administration.

“It is very rare for a copper asset of this size and grade with a resource of this magnitude and such immense growth potential to come up anywhere in the world, let alone in a tier-one mining location like the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The potential to grow the mineral resource quickly is abundantly clear, with extensive high-grade mineralisation intersected down-plunge and highly promising exploration upside in positions parallel and along strike from the existing resource.”

The Green Bay project is located in the Baie Verte district of north-east Newfoundland, Canada.

It comprises the Ming Mine and Nugget Pond processing facility, previously operated by Rambler Metals and Mining Canada.

The Ming deposit is a high-grade copper-gold Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposit located ~9km east of the township of Baie Verte.

It includes an upper zone of multiple tabular copper-gold-rich sulphide horizons underlain by an extensive broad copper stockwork zone, known as the Lower Footwall Zone (LFWZ).

The Ming deposit currently holds 30.2Mt resource at 1.81% copper, 0.4g/t gold and 2.7g/t silver for 811,000 tonnes CuEq.3

The Nugget Pond processing facility is a 500,000t per annum plant that contains a conventional circuit that produces a high-quality concentrate typically grading 29% copper.

The facility features a crushing and grinding circuit made up of a two-stage jaw crusher, a semi-autogenous grind (SAG) and a ball mill, said AuTECO.

Parsons added: “Our initial focus will be solely on growing the resource as quickly as possible. We believe this is where the immediate value uplift for shareholders will arise. That’s why we have already planned 40,000m of diamond drilling.

“An increased resource is also the pathway to longer mine life and increased production rates, which will in turn significantly boost the project’s economic outlook and the returns for all stakeholders.”

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/a ... d-project/

[energy_isere]

Des projets de Cuivre en Serbie :

Apollo Minerals agrees to acquire Belgrade Copper Project in Serbia

By NS Energy Staff Writer 29 Aug 2023

The Belgrade Copper Project comprises Studena, Donja Mutnica and Kopajska Reka prospects that cover a total of 202km2 area, and hosts four mining licences that are highly prospective for copper-silver (Cu-Ag) mineralisation

Australian exploration company Apollo Minerals has agreed to acquire Edelweiss Mineral Exploration, a Serbian company that owns the Belgrade Copper Project in Serbia.

Apollo and its UK subsidiary Apollo Serbia (UK) have signed a conditional binding term sheet with Ropa Investments to acquire 100% issued shares of Edelweiss.

Under the terms of the binding agreement, Apollo will issue 30,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares and 10,000,000 options exercisable at A$0.05, expiring within three years from issue.

The Australian company will also issue 10,000,000 unlisted options exercisable at A$0.075 expiring three years from issue, and 20,000,000 deferred shares, subject to certain conditions.

Edelweiss will grant a 2% net smelter royalty on future production over the licences and licence applications.

The acquisition is expected to be completed within two months, subject to completion of due diligence and receipt of all necessary regulatory, ministerial, or third-party approvals.

If the conditions are not satisfied before 15 December 2023, either party may give notice to the other party that the agreement is terminated.

Apollo Minerals managing director Neil Inwood said: “Apollo Minerals is thrilled to secure an excellent portfolio of European copper exploration ground within Serbia’s renowned Carpatho-Balkanian Metallogenic Province.

“Reservoir Minerals, who put the project together, discovered the 20 million tonne Cukaru Peki copper deposits at Bor and consequently did not focus on the highly prospective ground we have acquired.

“Serbia is currently Europe’s second-largest copper producer and I am convinced there are world-class sedimentary-hosted copper discoveries to be made in the region.”

The Belgrade Copper Project comprises Studena, Donja Mutnica and Kopajska Reka prospects that cover a total of 202km2 area.

It hosts four mining licences that are highly prospective for copper-silver (Cu-Ag) mineralisation.
............................

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/a ... r-project/

[energy_isere]

L'article au dessus dit que la Serbie est le second minier de Cuivre en Europe, c'est pas ce que je vois par ailleurs sur Statista :

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 24 oct 2021 viewtopic.php?p=2329066#p2329066

Zijin plans $3.8bn investment to expand Serbian copper mine
The Cukaru Peki mine is estimated to hold 2.2 million tonnes of copper at its lower zone.

August 29, 2023

China’s Zijin Mining Group is considering an investment of approximately $3.8bn (27.71bn yuan) for the expansion of the Cukaru Peki copper and gold mine in eastern Serbia, reported Bloomberg News.

The move comes as the company aims to meet the surging demand for copper, which is vital to the global energy transition.

Zijin has invested $678m to develop the Cukaru Peki mine, which was commissioned in 2021.

The Chinese company now intends to undertake drill work at the project to depths of almost 2km.

Serbian official at the mine Branko Rakocevic was quoted by the news agency as saying: “These are vast reserves, which require additional infrastructure, additional investment of around $3.5bn to $3.8bn.”

The company’s proposed plan at the Cukaru Peki site includes road construction and the expansion of power supply and flotation facilities.

Located in Bor, the Cukaru Peki mine is estimated to hold 2.2 million tonnes (mt) of copper at the lower zone, at depths exceeding 460m.

Rakocevic said the deposits of the mine at the upper zone could be exhausted at around 2034 while the deeper operation is anticipated to start in seven to ten years.

By 2025, Zijin aims to produce about 1.2mt of copper. This would mark a sixfold increase in the company’s production levels in 2017.

Last month, Bloomberg News reported that Zijin Mining was in advanced talks with Argentinean company Camyen to develop a facility to produce lithium iron phosphate for cathodes.

The proposed facility is expected to have a production capacity of 50,000 tonnes per annum of lithium iron phosphate.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... r/?cf-view

[energy_isere]

Copper Fox reports indicated reserves of 71M tonnes on Eaglehead

By Canadian Mining Journal Staff August 30, 2023

Copper Fox Metals (TSXV: CUU; OTCQX: CPFXF) has updated the mineral resource estimate (MRE) on its 100%-owned Eaglehead copper-gold-molybdenum-silver porphyry copper project in northwestern B.C. The MRE was prepared by Moose Mountain Technical Serviceswith a $5.50 net smelter return (NSR) as the base case for the MRE.

Indicated in situ grades at that NSR are reported as 70.8 million tonnes at 0.221% copper, 0.0108% molybdenum, 0.061 g/t gold, 0.9 g/t silver or 0.326% copper equivalent.

Inferred in situ grades at $5.50 NSR cutoff are 242.3 million tonnes at 0.192 copper, 0.0035% molybdenum, 0.0434 g/t gold, 0.6 g/t silver or 0.246% copper equivalent.

This is the first time indicated resources were reported for Eaglehead. Copper Fox president and CEO Elmer B. Stewart described the MRE as a milestone.

“The current pit constrained resource estimate resulted from the geological modelling and compilation completed over the past year and shows a significant increase in project resources when compared to previous historical resource estimates,” he said.

Stewart added that the MRE represents the “upper level of a potentially much larger, open ended porphyry copper deposit.”

https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/n ... %3A21%20pm

On en est rendu à s'intéresser à du minerai à seulement 0.22 % de Cuivre !

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suite de ce post du 11 fev 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2362625#p2362625

Afrique du Sud : Orion lance la phase d’essai d’exploitation minière à la mine de cuivre-zinc Prieska

Agence Ecofin 7 sept 2023

Situé dans la province du Cap-du-Nord en Afrique du Sud, le projet Prieska héberge une ressource minérale de 31 millions de tonnes titrant 1,2 % de cuivre et 3,6 % de zinc, soit 370 000 tonnes de cuivre et 1,1 million de tonnes de zinc.

En Afrique du Sud, la compagnie minière Orion Minerals a annoncé le 5 septembre l’attribution d’un contrat d’essai d’exploitation minière à sa mine de cuivre-zinc Prieska. Le contrat a été obtenu pour six mois par le groupe sud-africain Newrak Mining Group qui utilisera deux différentes méthodes afin de comparer leur efficacité.

Selon le PDG Errol Smart, les derniers mois ont permis de réaliser certains travaux préparatoires comme l’installation de chambres de refuge souterraines, l’amélioration de la capacité de levage de l’escalier de secours vers la surface, ainsi que l’approvisionnement et l’installation d’équipements de ventilation.

« Ces préparatifs essentiels en matière de sécurité et d’environnement étant maintenant terminés, nous pouvons enfin mobiliser l’entreprise minière pour commencer le forage, le dynamitage et le transport du minerai à la surface », a-t-il ajouté.

Rappelons que le projet Prieska peut livrer une production totale de métaux payables de 226 000 tonnes de cuivre et 680 000 tonnes de zinc sur 12 ans, selon une étude de faisabilité bancable de 2020.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/cuivre/070 ... nc-prieska

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Le chinois CMOC veut produire 600 000 tonnes de cuivre en RDC dès 2024

Agence Ecofin 8 sept 2023

La RDC est devenue en 2022, le troisième producteur mondial de cuivre, devant la Chine. Le pays d’Afrique australe peut encore progresser dans le classement, grâce aux investissements consacrés ces dernières années par les compagnies pour agrandir leurs opérations ou développer de nouvelles mines.

En RDC, la capacité de production de la mine de cuivre et de cobalt Tenke Fungurume atteindra 450 000 tonnes l’année prochaine. Le propriétaire chinois de la mine, CMOC, précise qu’avec les 150 000 tonnes que devrait livrer la mine Kisanfu mise en service au deuxième trimestre 2023, sa production totale atteindra 600 000 tonnes de cuivre en 2024, rapporte Reuters.

Cette annonce intervient quelques mois après la résolution d’un différend avec la compagnie minière nationale congolaise, la Gécamines, qui a permis la reprise des exportations de CMOC bloquées depuis juillet 2022. Au premier trimestre 2023, la compagnie a produit un total de 156 318 tonnes de cuivre et 19 418 tonnes de cobalt sur ses deux opérations.

Notons que les prévisions concernant la production de cobalt pour l’année prochaine n’ont pas été fournies, mais la compagnie devrait supplanter le géant Glencore comme premier producteur mondial de cobalt l’année prochaine, voire même d’ici la fin 2023. Rappelons que le groupe suisse vise cette année une production de cobalt de 38 000 tonnes et a déjà produit 20 400 tonnes au premier semestre 2023.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/cuivre/080 ... c-des-2024

[energy_isere]

Un nouveau prospect pas encore évoqué : Ngami

Botswana : le projet Ngami

Agence Ecofin 4 sept 2023

En Afrique, les deux plus grands producteurs de cuivre sont la RDC et la Zambie. Cependant, d’autres produisent également du cuivre. C’est le cas du Botswana qui dispose d’une nouvelle potentielle source de production à Ngami dans la Kalahari Copper Belt.

La compagnie britannique basée en Australie Cobre Ltd croit détenir au projet Ngami, au Botswana, une ressource minérale de 103 à 166 millions de tonnes avec une teneur en cuivre de 0,38 à 0,46 %. C’est ce qu’elle a indiqué la semaine dernière après avoir bouclé des travaux pour une première évaluation de la taille et des teneurs de la minéralisation cuprifère.

Selon Adam Wooldridge, le CEO de la société, cette évaluation basée sur l’étude et la modélisation d’un ensemble de données de forage, géophysiques et géologiques, ne prend pas en compte toute l’étendue du projet. Il a aussi indiqué qu’il ne faudra pas un grand programme de forage pour réussir une première déclaration de ressources inférées d’environ 23 millions de tonnes.

Cobre envisage d’utiliser à Ngami une méthode de récupération in situ. L’idée est de dissoudre et extraire le minerai directement dans le gisement, ce qui devrait lui permettre de minimiser l’impact sur l’environnement.

Pour prouver la viabilité de cette méthode pour le projet, la compagnie prévoit d’effectuer des tests de pompage pour recueillir des informations hydrogéologiques détaillées à partir du dernier trimestre 2023, alors que d’autres résultats de tests métallurgiques concernant l’optimisation des récupérations de cuivre sont attendus avant la fin de l’année. Si les travaux sont concluants, la compagnie accélérera ses plans en 2024 pour concrétiser le potentiel de l’actif.

Pour rappel, le Botswana fonde de grands espoirs sur ses ressources de cuivre dans sa quête de diversification du secteur minier dominé par l’exploitation des diamants. Le pays compte déjà plusieurs projets de cuivre en production, dont les mines Khoemacau (Cupric Canyon) et Motheo (Sandfire), ainsi que plusieurs projets en phase d’exploration avancée.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/cuivre/040 ... -cobre-ltd

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 19 mars 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2365125#p2365125

Présentation du projet de Ivanhoe pour la future mine de cuivre de Santa Cruz, Arizona.

Ivanhoe Electric Announces Completion of the Initial Assessment for the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona
The IA applies modern mining technologies, including the use of railveyor technology for the efficient movement of mined mineralization from underground to surface

By NS Energy Staff Writer 07 Sep 2023

Ivanhoe Electric (NYSE American: IE; TSX: IE) Executive Chairman, Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer, Taylor Melvin are pleased to provide the results from the Initial Assessment3 (“IA”) for its Santa Cruz Copper Project, located west of Casa Grande, Arizona. The IA is a preliminary technical and economic study for the Santa Cruz Copper Project and associated high-grade mineral resources included in the Santa Cruz and East Ridge deposits. The study analyzes the potential for a high-grade underground copper mining operation supported by modern technologies to reduce environmental impact and powered predominantly by renewable energy.

Mr. Friedland commented: “Completing the Initial Assessment for our Santa Cruz Copper Project is an important achievement for Ivanhoe Electric as we work to advance a new source of responsibly produced “green” copper in the United States. Our goal is to develop a modern copper mine that produces copper with among the lowest levels of carbon dioxide output in the industry; a product we think has the potential to attract a premium price in the future. Using primarily onsite renewable electricity generation, and with the potential to increase that to meet the Project’s entire future needs, the Initial Assessment shows us that we are on the right track to achieving our goal at Santa Cruz and our larger goal of enhancing U.S. supply chain independence for critical metals. We are excited about the future for our Santa Cruz Project in Arizona.”

Mr. Melvin commented: “The Initial Assessment for the Santa Cruz Copper Project is the result of a tremendous effort by our team and an important milestone for the Project. The study provides a first look at our plans for a technologically advanced, underground copper mine in Arizona with attractive economics at today’s copper prices. We are designing the Project to minimize environmental impact through the use of modern technologies and renewable power. We believe the Santa Cruz Copper Project will become an industry-leading example of responsibly produced copper in the United States, and a source of high-quality jobs in Arizona during development and throughout its anticipated long mine life.”

The Santa Cruz IA outlines a potential 5.9 million tonnes per year underground mining operation, supported by 105.2 million tonnes of modeled mill feed with an average grade of 1.58% copper from the Santa Cruz and East Ridge Deposits, resulting in an estimated 20-year mine life.
............................

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/i ... n-arizona/

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Un très gros prospect de Cuivre que j'avais pas vu, en Indonésie, le projet Onto. Les premières explorations datent de 2010.

Indonesia Has the Potential of a World Class Gold-Copper Mine in Onto, NTB

Sat 23 Apr 2022,

Indonesia has the potential for a new world-class gold and copper mine located in Onto, Hu'u District, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara . This potential was revealed based on the results of research conducted by a mining company, PT Sumbawa Timur Mining . In a press conference that was held virtually on Thursday (21/4/2022), PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM) President Director Bede Evans explained that Onto's potential gold source in West Nusa Tenggara is 1.1 billion tons, consisting of copper , gold, Inferred mineral resources and others. The estimated potential for mineral resources has increased by 20 percent or 0.4 billion tons from the research results announced in December 2019.

It was stated that Onto's mineral resource potential was part of the Hu'u project owned by STM, the holder of the 7th generation contract of work signed by the Indonesian government on February 19, 1998. Meanwhile, Vale SA is the majority shareholder of STM through Esatern Star Resources Pty Ltd. 80 percent and PT Antam Tbk 20 percent. "This latest estimate of mineral resource potential reinforces our belief that Onto's mineral resource has the potential to be developed into a world-class copper mining operation," Evans explained.

Evans explained that the estimated mineral resource potential was the result of drilling 74 holes with a total depth of 74,130 meters. It is planned that drilling will resume in 2022 to support further studies to determine the size, area and characteristics of Onto's mineral resource potential. In addition, this follow-up drilling is also to provide more complete data for use in various engineering studies of the Hu'u Project. To date, in total, STM has completed 108 drill holes (total depth of 115,591 meters) within the KK return (at Onto and other prospects) since exploration began in 2010 When asked by Kompas.com about the potential revenue generated by STM as well as its contribution to the Indonesian government, Evans said that until now it has not been confirmed. "Currently we are conducting various engineering studies , it seems that we cannot project the revenue. Because it is still too far away. Production will only start in 2023-2025," said Evans.

Evans said that although he was happy with the potential of this mineral resource, his party still had homework to do, such as studying various technical, environmental, social and financial factors that were part of the feasibility study that was currently being carried out. "Primarily, we hope that the ongoing feasibility study phase will determine which mining operation is technically and economically feasible, and that STM can develop it further," said Evans.

https://indonesiaminer.com/news/detail/ ... n-onto-ntb

.....Vale is also conducting exploration at a copper mine in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara which could potentially be comparable to the Grasberg copper mine in eastern Indonesia in size.

https://www.mining.com/web/vale-base-me ... xt-decade/

sur le site de la société STM :

Press Release – Resource Estimate Of The Onto Deposit Increases To Over 2 Billion Tonnes

Jakarta, – 21 April 2022

PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM) announced today a newly concluded mineral resource estimate of the Onto copper-gold deposit in Nusa Tenggara Barat Province. The mineral resource estimate, which was completed in December 2021, reported a total Indicated mineral resource of 1.1 billion tonnes (Bt) @ 0.96% Cu and 0.58 g/t Au and a total Inferred mineral resource of approximately 1.0 Bt @ 0.7% Cu and 0.4 g/t Au.

The December 2019 mineral resource estimate reported a total Indicated mineral resource of 0.76 Bt @ 0.93% Cu and 0.56 g/t Au and a total Inferred mineral resource of 0.96 Bt @ 0.87% Cu and 0.44 g/t Au. The December 2021 mineral resource estimate increases the size of the Onto deposit by 0.4 Bt. This equates to a >20% increase since the December 2019 mineral resource estimate.

The Onto deposit is part of STM’s Hu’u Project, which is a 7th generation Contract of Work (CoW) entered into with the Government of Indonesia on 19 February 1998 located in Dompu and Bima Regencies in Nusa Tenggara Barat. STM is majority owned (80%) by Vale S.A., through Eastern Star Resources Pty Ltd, and Antam Tbk (20%).

Bede Evans, President Director of STM,said,“This latest mineral resource estimatestrengthensour view that the Onto deposit has the potential to be developed into a world-class copper mining operation. The increase in the Onto mineral resource by 0.4 Bt is the result of the effort, support and commitment of the Hu’u Project team over the last two years. This provides the STM shareholders and the STM team with cautious optimism as we enter into more advanced stages of project development .”

STM has conducted exploration activities within the Hu’u Project CoW since 2010. The mineral resource estimate is based on 74 holes, with a total length of 74,130 meters, drilled into the Onto deposit. Drilling will continue in 2022 and beyond to support studies to further define the size, extent and characteristics of the mineral resource and provide input to engineering studies. In total, STM has completed 108 drill holes (115,591 meters) within the CoW (at Onto and other prospects) since exploration began in 2010.
..........................
STM is currently undertaking feasibility studies aimed at further mineral resource definition and to assess hydrogeological, geothermal, and geotechnical characteristics of the deposit. Several technical challenges need to be overcome as part of the feasibility studies in order to confirm that the Onto deposit and Hu’u Project can be developed into a world-class underground mining operation.

https://sumbawatimurmining.co.id/press- ... on-tonnes/

Un futur successeur de la mine de Grasberg ?

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 3 oct 2021 viewtopic.php?p=2327833#p2327833

Cuivre: la Russie ambitionne de devenir un acteur important sur le marché mondial

Publié le : 14/09/2023 RFI

La Russie veut jouer un rôle plus important sur le marché du cuivre, un métal clé pour la transition écologique. Ce lundi, le plus grand gisement de cuivre inexploité du pays a démarré sa production.

Le gisement s’appelle Udokan, un site qui se trouve dans la Sibérie orientale, entre le lac Baïkal et l’océan Pacifique. Signe de l’importance du projet, c’est Vladimir Poutine lui-même qui a inauguré le début de la production lors d’une liaison vidéo. Dans un premier temps, ce complexe d’extraction et de raffinage produira 150 000 tonnes de cuivre par an. L’objectif est de tripler sa capacité de production d’ici à cinq ans.

Cela représentera une augmentation de près de 50% de la production actuelle russe. Pour y arriver, d’importants investissements seront nécessaires en raison surtout de la complexité géologique du terrain. L’oligarque russe Alisher Usmanov, exploitant du site, avec la bénédiction de Moscou, a déjà investi 3 milliards de dollars pour le démarrage de la première phase : ce montant devrait doubler, voire tripler pour que le site atteigne sa pleine capacité d’ici à 2028.

Un marché à fort potentiel de croissance

La viabilité économique du projet repose sur sa proximité avec le marché asiatique, surtout avec la Chine, le plus grand consommateur de cuivre au monde. Elle repose également sur la demande mondiale du métal qui va fortement augmenter dans les années à venir en raison de la transition énergétique. En effet, le cuivre, grâce à sa forte conductivité électrique, intervient notamment dans la composition des batteries de véhicules électriques.

D’autres projets miniers sont en cours de développement, à l’image de celui situé dans la république de Tuva, en Sibérie orientale. « Ils devraient permettre à la Russie d’occuper une place plus importante sur le marché du cuivre », estime Florian Vidal, expert du secteur minier russe et associé à l’Ifri, Institut français des relations internationales.

Aujourd’hui, le pays occupe la huitième place parmi les plus grands producteurs mondiaux et représente entre 3% et 4% du marché mondial. Selon l’expert, ces projets répondent à trois priorités de Moscou : « Revitaliser des territoires reculés de Sibérie en déclin démographique et économique, redynamiser le secteur minier et diversifier les marchés d’exportations ». En effet, pour contourner les sanctions occidentales imposées après l’invasion de l’Ukraine, l’économie russe s’oriente de plus en plus vers le marché asiatique.

https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/chroniqu ... A9-mondial

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 15 janvier 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2360968#p2360968

Taseko Mines secures final permit for Florence copper project in US

By NS Energy Staff Writer 15 Sep 2023

Once the Florence project begins commercial operations, it is expected to have an annual production capacity of 85 million pounds of copper over a 22-year mine life

Canada-based Taseko Mines has received the underground injection control permit (UIC) for the company’s fully owned Florence copper project located in Arizona, US.

The final permit for the American in-situ copper recovery project has been issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Taseko Mines president and CEO Stuart McDonald said: “Receipt of this final permit is an exciting milestone for Taseko and a testament to the project’s strong environmental attributes. We now have one of a very few construction-ready, fully permitted copper projects in North America.

“With approvals in place from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and now the EPA, we can commence construction of the Florence Copper commercial production facility.”

McDonald also said that procurement is well advanced at the copper project. He stated that it will be followed by the mobilisation of contractors for the wellfield and solvent extraction/electrowinning (SX/EW) plant construction.

Located midway between Phoenix and Tucson, the copper recovery project is being developed in two phases.

The Phase 1 production test facility, which started operation in December 2018, included 24 injection, recovery, and monitoring wells and an SX/EW plant.

Phase 1 is followed by the second phase commercial facility.

Once the Florence copper project begins commercial operations, it is expected to have an annual production capacity of 85 million pounds of copper over a mine life of 22 years.

According to the technical report released in March 2023, the American copper project has a post-tax net present value (NPV) of $930m.

Last year, Taseko Mines signed agreements with Mitsui to form a partnership to develop the Florence project.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mitsui would make an initial investment of $50m in the form of a copper stream agreement on 2.67% of the copper produced at the project.

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/t ... ect-in-us/