This Week's Top Five Stories in Mining
How are Robotics Transforming the Mining Industry?
Robotics in mining is becoming more common all the time, with businesses utilising technology to increase efficiency and safety across operations.
Ongoing skills gaps and increases in demand mean that the human workforce is no longer enough – instead, leaders are turning to robots and autonomous equipment to transform the mining industry.
Much of the advancements are in place to enhance safety across each site, reducing how much risk human workers are exposed to.
Canada's Critical Minerals Push: Meeting the Capital Gap
As countries look to diversify their critical mineral supply chains away from China, Canada has been aiming to increase its own sourcing capabilities.
In order to grow its own critical minerals industry, Canada requires a much larger capital than what it is currently dedicating to this project.
If it can succeed, the country can support its own, and other Western nations', attempts to diversify their critical minerals supply chains.
A report by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) explores what Canada needs to do in order to develop sourcing strength.
How Does US-Iran Conflict Shape Global Gold Prices?
In January, the price of gold surged past US$5,000 per ounce for the first time in history, but with ongoing uncertainty, it is continuing in an upward trend.
Geopolitical and economic turbulence is driving material cost shocks that are reshaping sourcing strategies and entire industries, such as mining.
Now, the escalating US-Iran tensions have caused the price of gold to surge once more.
Inside the Canada-India Critical Minerals Partnership
Canada and India have agreed on a wide-ranging strategic energy partnership, anchored by a C$2.6bn (US$1.6bn) uranium supply agreement and new cooperation across critical minerals, renewables and hydrogen.
The deal was secured during Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Mumbai and New Delhi, the first bilateral visit to India by a Canadian Prime Minister since 2018. It marks a reset in relations after several years of diplomatic strain.
India's energy demand is rising faster than any other major economy. With a population of 1.4 billion and rapid industrialisation, the country is scaling up nuclear, renewable and alternative fuels capacity to meet surging consumption while reducing emissions.
At the centre of the agreement is a long-term uranium supply contract between Saskatoon-based Cameco and India's Department of Atomic Energy. Under the C$2.6bn (US$1.9bn) deal, Cameco will supply nearly 22 million pounds of uranium to India between 2027 and 2035, supporting fuel requirements for the country's expanding nuclear fleet.
What is the Impact of the US December Copper Import Surge?
The US is facing a surplus of copper, caused by an ongoing period of trade instability.
Following the threat of copper tariffs, aggressive stockpiling has resulted in mountains of copper across warehouses.
Despite this, the market remains volatile as the US continues to leverage tariff costs.
