Sources claim that Indian state firms are interested in SQM’s lithium projects in Australia.
Four sources have confirmed that four Indian state firms were in discussions with Chilean mining company SQM about acquiring a 20% stake of its two projects in Australia. The deal would cost $600 million. This is New Delhi's largest effort to secure supplies for the metal used in EV batteries. Sources said that Khanij Bidesh India Ltd, a government-backed company, has partnered up with Coal India Ltd, Oil India Ltd, and ONGC Videsh in order to secure a 20% stake in SQM’s Mount Holland Lithium Project and Andover Lithium Project in Western Australia.
Russell: China's commodity imports will continue to decline until 2025 due to economic and trade concerns
China's imports have been weak in 2025. This is in line with the recent trend of a softer economy. According to data released by the official customs on Friday, imports of crude, natural gas and iron ore, as well as copper, have all decreased in the first half of this year when compared to the same period of last year. The January-February period saw a rise in coal imports compared with the same period of 2024. However, the figures were significantly lower than in November and Decemeber, indicating that China's appetite is decreasing for the fuel.
Russell: China's commodity imports will continue to decline until 2025 due to economic and trade concerns
China's imports have been weak in 2025. This is in line with the recent trend of a softer economy. According to data released by the official customs on Friday, imports of crude, natural gas and iron ore, as well as copper, have all decreased in the first half of this year when compared to the same period of last year. The January-February period saw a rise in coal imports compared with the same period of 2024. However, the figures were significantly lower than in November and Decemeber, which suggests that China is losing interest in this fuel.
The massive Simandou iron ore mine could end Australia's golden age of iron ore, or it can start a new one. Russell
It is overused to the point of being meaningless. But the Simandou mine, located in Guinea, West Africa is a game changer. It is expected that the full 120 million tons of cargo per year capacity will be reached fairly quickly. The four Simandou blocks are impressive for their size and infrastructure challenges. They boast a 620-kilometre rail line (384-mile) as well as a new port that has dedicated vessels to transship bulk carriers offshore. Simandou, however, is not just a technical marvel.
The massive Simandou iron ore mine could end Australia's golden age of iron ore, or it can start a new one. Russell
It is overused to the point of being meaningless. But the Simandou mine, located in Guinea, West Africa is going to change the iron ore seaborne market. It is expected that the full 120 million tons of cargo per year capacity will be reached fairly quickly. The four Simandou blocks are impressive for their size and infrastructure challenges. They boast a 620-kilometre rail line (384-mile) as well as a new port that has dedicated vessels to transship bulk carriers offshore. Simandou, however, is not just a technical marvel.
Australia's Santos posts 16% drop in annual profit on lower prices, slashes dividend
Santos, an Australian oil and natural gas company, reported a lower-than expected annual profit and declared a smaller payout on Wednesday. The lower realized prices and decreasing production were to blame. The oil and gas market remained volatile throughout the year. Supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical concerns and a slowdown in demand from China, the United States' largest trading partner, hurt sales and production. The average realized oil price for the year fell by 3%, to $84.76 a barrel.
Australia adopts tax incentives for critical minerals
Australia's Parliament has passed laws to give production tax breaks on critical minerals and renewable hydrogen, in an effort to boost energy transition plans, as the country aims for net zero emissions and reduce its dependence on China by 2050. The centre-left Labor Government said that the law passed on Tuesday will provide tax incentives of up to 10% for the processing and refining cost for 31 essential minerals for the fiscal years ending in June 2028 until 2040.
Potentia Energy purchases major Australian renewable energy assets
Potentia Energy is a joint venture of Italy's Enel and Japan's INPEX Corp. It announced Thursday that it will buy control stakes in renewable energy projects worth 1 gigawatt in Australia. This investment comes from investors in private equity funds and superannuation funds. Potentia stated that the acquisition included 700 megawatts in wind and solar assets and 430 Megawatts in late-stage projects, consisting of South Australian and Queensland Battery Energy storage system.
Glencore's and Rio Tinto’s mining operations
A person familiar with this matter stated that Glencore had approached Rio Tinto in late 2013 about merging the two major copper producers. However, the talks are no longer ongoing. Both companies declined to make any comment. The merger could be the biggest ever in the mining sector. GLENCORE is a London-listed company that produces lead, nickel, zinc, copper, and cobalt. Its biggest revenue-generating metals are copper and zinc, which the miner expects to produce 1 million metric tons of in 2023.
Wall Street Journal, Dec 19,
These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Woodside and Chevron announced they would streamline their oil and gas operations throughout Western Australia by announcing a stake exchange deal. This move will result in the Australian energy company exiting the $34 Billion Wheatstone LNG Project. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the pharmacy chain CVS for filling illegal prescriptions of opioids and billing federal insurance programs.
BHP and Rio Tinto will build a low-carbon iron plant in Western Australia
BHP Australia and Rio Tinto Australia will develop together a pilot plant for producing low-carbon iron using Pilbara ore as part of their efforts to accelerate decarbonisation within the steel industry. The companies announced this in a statement released on Tuesday. The facility will produce molten steel using direct reduced iron technology (DRI), and renewable energy in an electric melting furnace (ESF). It could have a production of up to 40,000 tons per year.
Chevron Australia signss long-term gas supply agreement with Alcoa
The Australian unit of U.S. oil company Chevron said Tuesday that it will supply 130 petajoules (petajoules) of gas over a period of 10 years, starting in 2028, to the aluminium manufacturer Alcoa. Chevron Australia announced in a press release that the gas would be supplied by its 530 terajoules per day Gorgon and Wheatstone plants, and North West Shelf Venture, located in Western Australia. Alcoa, on the other hand, said that it would use this gas to power its refineries for alumina in Western Australia.
Woodside's North West Shelf Project Extension approved by Western Australia
Woodside Energy, Australia's largest oil and gas producer in terms of market value, announced on Thursday that the state of Western Australia had granted Woodside Energy approval to extend the project life of its North West Shelf LNG (liquefied Natural Gas) until 2070. You can also find out more about the decision-making process by clicking here. Woodside announced Thursday that the approval marks the end to a six-year waiting period and restarts the federal approval process for environmental protection, which was halted because of pending appeals.
Woodside Energy closes Pluto LNG due to an 'unplanned' event
A spokesperson for Woodside Energy in Australia said that the shutdown of Pluto LNG was safe and effective on Monday, due to an unexpected event. The cause is still under investigation. The spokesperson stated that operations at the Karratha Gas Plant are normal. Pluto LNG is connected by a pipeline. Woodside, Australia’s largest independent oil and natural gas company, lowered its estimate for full-year production to a range between 189 million and 195 millions barrels of oil equal (boe), down from its previous forecast of 185 to 195 boe.
Shell sales increase in Q3 vs TotalEnergies due to higher Asian LNG prices
LONDON, October 31 - Analysts and traders say that higher production and sales of liquefied gas in Asia helped Shell to outperform TotalEnergies in the third quarter. However, group profits for both companies were affected by a drop in oil refining. Shell's quarterly profit of $6 billion beat forecasts by 12 percent, while TotalEnergies reported a profit of $4.1 billion that was slightly below expectations. Shell and TotalEnergies both reported quarterly profits that were down 70% and 82%, respectively.
Alchemy Resources, Australia, signs lithium partnership agreement with Japan's JOGMEC
Alchemy Resources, an Australian miner, announced on Monday that it had signed a deal with a Japanese government agency for the Japanese agency to fund up to A$6,000,000 ($4,15,000,000) in exploration costs to gain up to 51% ownership of Roe Hills in Western Australia. Alchemy Resources will manage the project for the duration of the partnership. Once the Japanese agency JOGMEC has acquired its vested interests in the tenements the two companies are expected to form a joint-venture, according to a company statement.
Fortescue prepares to meet the strong demand for green Iron in China
Fortescue, which is about to start production of green iron using renewable energy in the next year, said that Australia was well positioned to meet China's strong demand for this product. Christmas Creek, the fourth largest iron ore mine in the world, will produce high-purity green iron using solar power at its Christmas Creek operation in Western Australia. Mark Hutchinson (head of the green energy division) told analysts on a call that the company will begin production in 2025…
Woodside Energy's earnings to drop as investors focus on strategic deals
Woodside Energy is Australia's largest independent gas producer and on course to report a decline in its interim earnings on February 2, with investors focused on the company's deal-making strategies after a failed $52 billion merger between Santos. According to Jarden's Visible Alpha consensus, Woodside, based in Perth, is expected to report a underlying net loss after tax of $1.11billion for the six-month period ended June. This compares to $1.90billion reported a year earlier.
Woodside to Boost Vincent Crude Quality to Ride VLSFO Demand
Woodside Petroleum will improve the quality of Vincent crude by increasing its flash point from July so that it can be blended into very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and capture higher premiums, two sources told Reuters.Among crude grades, heavy sweet oil, with higher density and less sulfur, is most suitable for blending into VLSFO that meets the new marine fuel sulfur regulations dubbed IMO 2020. However, crude with a low flash point could…
Australian regulator: No decision on Woodside Browse Gas Project yet
Western Australia's environmental regulator announced on Monday that it will release recommendations in 2025 on Woodside Energy’s Browse gas project. A newspaper had reported earlier this week that the large project could be rejected. This $20.5 billion gas project off the coast of Western Australia, the largest in the country but still untapped resource has been on the drawing boards for years. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Monday that the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) sent preliminary comments to the company…
