Legacy Insiders Hub
Category

Investing

Category
In Investing

SSR Mining to Sell Çöpler Gold Mine Stake in US$1.5 Billion Deal

No Comments

SSR Mining (NASDAQ:SSRM,TSX:SSRM,OTCPL:SSRGF) has agreed to sell its majority stake in the Çöpler gold mine in Turkey for US$1.5 billion in cash, shifting the company’s portfolio towards the Americas as the yellow metal continues to surge amid rising geopolitical tensions.

The Denver-based miner announced it has signed a binding memorandum of understanding to sell its 80 percent interest in the Çöpler operation and related assets to Cengiz Holding A.S., one of Turkey’s largest industrial conglomerates.

Under the terms of the agreement, the full US$1.5 billion purchase price will be paid in cash at closing, which is expected in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions.

“Over the last two years, we have worked diligently to progress the Çöpler mine to allow for a safe and responsible restart of operations,” SSR Mining executive chairman Rod Antal said. “We have also concurrently worked closely with the Turkey government authorities to address each requirement to secure the necessary approvals to restart operations.”

“We are also conducting a strategic review of our remaining platform in Turkey, including our 20 percent earned interest in the Hod Maden development project,” Antal added.

SSR Mining said the transaction, alongside its 2025 acquisition of the Cripple Creek & Victor mine in Colorado, is a deliberate shift toward an Americas-focused portfolio.

Cengiz Holding, the buyer, is a major Turkish industrial group with operations spanning mining, construction, energy, metallurgy, and chemicals.

The transaction requires a US$100 million deposit from Cengiz Holding, which will be credited toward the purchase price at closing. The agreement also includes a reciprocal break fee of US$50 million.

Either party may terminate the agreement upon payment of the US$50 million termination fee.

The deal comes during a period of heightened investor interest in gold, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East push investors toward traditional safe-haven assets.

Gold prices recently surged close to record levels, climbing above US$5,400 per troy ounce at one point as escalating conflict involving Iran raised fears of a broader energy crisis.

Analysts say gold has benefited from a growing “global uncertainty premium” as investors reassess traditional defensive assets.

“We are seeing bonds again failing to provide protection against risk-off events, even as gold delivers,” Seb Barker, chief market strategist at hedge fund firm Marshall Wace, told the Financial Times.

At the same time, disruptions to global supply chains are adding another layer of volatility to the precious metals markets.

Dubai, which handles about 20 percent of the world’s gold trade, has seen logistics disruptions after air traffic was suspended following military strikes in the region.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More
In Investing

Teck VP Highlights China’s Major Role in Evolving Copper Markets

No Comments

Copper prices have surged since the middle of 2025, as tariffs, rising demand and supply disruptions came together to create the perfect storm for metals traders.

These factors are helping raise awareness of the challenges copper producers will face in the coming years, as supply deficits are expected to become more pronounced amid aging mines and a lack of new operations.

Colin Hamilton, Teck Resources’ (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK) vice president of market research and economic analysis, spoke on changing copper market dynamics at the 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention.

In his talk, Hamilton highlighted China’s role as the world’s largest consumer of copper, and the country’s increasing influence on the global copper market.

China’s role in copper markets

There are few parts of the economy that copper doesn’t touch. It’s used in construction, manufacturing, the transmission of electricity and in many high-tech products like mobile phones and electric vehicles.

Copper is a fundamental commodity for the global economy, and demand for it is only going to grow in the coming years on a variety of factors.

The red metal is essential for changing dynamics in the global south, where a greater share of the population is moving to urban centers and upward economic mobility is driving demand for household appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines.

Adding to this demand are emerging sectors like the energy transition, where wind and solar require greater copper inputs, as well as AI and the data centers that support it.

Hamilton told the PDAC audience that China, the world’s largest consumer of the red metal, sits at a confluence of demand generation.

The country is often considered the world’s factory for its manufacturing glut, it has a growing middle class, and its tech sector is booming. These factors are also driving significant growth in its electricity grid.

“A decade ago, China was more or less in parallel with the rest of the world,” Hamilton said. “China has surged ahead in terms of that electricity share, and it’s going to continue in a world where artificial intelligence is arguably the next geopolitical battleground.”

He explained that because of its manufacturing base, China’s energy grid has benefited from significant investment, a trend that is set to continue.

“China is planning to increase grid investment by 40 percent over the next five years. This is huge spending that is continuing to come through, and that will be copper-intensive spend,” Hamilton said.

China isn’t the only country that needs to expand its electrical grid. Hamilton also noted that Europe has an energy problem that it is solving, in the short term, by buying Chinese-produced solar technology, adding further copper demand to already constrained Chinese supply.

Smelting supply shortfalls

The biggest issue impacting copper markets and causing increased prices is a lack of supply.

This has led to a shortfall of copper concentrate supply for smelters to refine.

“To keep it in simple terms, we see a situation where smelting demand over 2025 is going to be 600,000 to 650,000 metric tons more than the available concentrate in the custom market,” Hamilton said. “That’s really what sets that raw material constraint. There’s just not enough copper supply to go around.”

The lack of supply in concentrates has pushed treatment and refining charges, which are typically paid by mining companies to smelters, down to zero. Hamilton said these historically low charges outline how acutely tight the market really is. He explained that it’s a trend that won’t moderate in the short term, as supply growth is failing to keep pace with refining capacity.

Hamilton noted that 10 years ago the expectation was that copper supply would be in the 20 million to 30 million metric ton per year range by 2026. In reality, supply is expected to be 23 million metric tons this year, closer to the lower end of the range.

“Not to say projects haven’t come online, but we have seen depletion of existing assets,” he said.

China’s copper supply strategy

In addition to being the leading consumer of copper, China is also leading in adding new supply to the market.

“Who has been successful at growing copper supply is China, not necessarily in the country, but a lot through investments, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” Hamilton said.

Those investments have contributed to the DRC adding 2.5 million metric tons of annual supply over the last decade, as well as increases in Peruvian production from the Las Bambas and Toromocho operations, owned by China-based MMG and Chinalco, respectively.

This dominance by China has led the rest of the world to play catch-up. Hamilton pointed to Chile, the world’s top copper producer, noting that Chilean production has been flat for 20 years. While there is growth planned, he said it’s going to take some time and a change in mindset within the industry.

In the long term, Hamilton suggests China will take what is available from the concentrate market; however, he pointed out that fallout from the copper tariffs last year led US traders to buy up significant quantities of copper cathode.

“Now that material is not available for price formation yet,” he said. “It is locked in economically to the US. It will come back to the market at some point. So we have to be aware that is a little bit of an inventory overhang, but I do believe trading houses will slowly bleed this out into the market in a managed form.”

What comes next?

The market needs to adapt to changing times, Hamilton emphasized, in much the way copper smelters have in the face of difficult copper market conditions.

“Smelters have really pulled the levers they can pull as the whole economics of the value chain changes to maintain profitability. That’s good, that’s what we like to see, that healthy change in business model to changing market conditions,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton suggested that there needs to be some evolving perspectives within the industry, in which every part of the value chain works together, and they should be able to make money.

China, he points out, has focused on a commodity-first business model, in which it imports raw materials from wherever they are available and uses its domestic processing capacity to upgrade them.

Although growth in its domestic processing capacity has stalled, he suggested that its funding of processors outside the country is likely to increase.

“China started to dominate the copper exports of (semirefined products) and cable into the world. I do think that’s a trend that will continue, though it does mean there will probably be some trade barriers,” Hamilton said, noting the trend could also extend to finished products.

He went on to say that copper has delivered consistent premiums, spending nearly 50 percent of the time since 2000 in the 90th percentile of the cost curve.

“The industry has just been using the money, the free cash flow, to do dividends and buybacks and servicing debt, but we haven’t actually seen that capital allocation back towards growth,” Hamilton said.

While keeping shareholders happy is important, so too is growth of the business.

“Capital intensity is hugely important. Where companies have got mining projects wrong, in many cases, over the past decade has been blowing out in terms of capital intensity, so you have to look for smart solutions,” he said.

Hamilton noted that the easiest copper resources have already been developed, and the next ones will become increasingly more challenging. With prices reaching record highs, it should unlock some projects.

“At these copper price levels, if you’ve got a shovel-ready project, you can bring it to market pretty quickly. Those big greenfield projects are much harder,” he said.

Using capital efficiently will be critical as companies look to open these new assets. However, Hamilton believes that copper’s solid fundamentals, and new energy sectors, will drive industry growth.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More
In Investing

CoTec Announces Acceleration of Warrants

No Comments

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSX-V:CTH)(OTCQB:CTHCF) (‘CoTec’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the accelerated expiry date of the common share purchase warrants (‘Warrants’) issued by the Company pursuant to the Listed Issuer Finance Exemption (‘LIFE’) Offering and Private Placement announced by the Company on May 20, 2025 and completed in tranches on June 18, July 3, July 16 and July 21, 2025 (together the ‘Financing’).

The Company issued an aggregate of 17,339,336 Warrants pursuant to the Financing entitling the holders thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (‘Common Share’) per Warrant at an exercise price of C$1.20 per Common Share for a period of 18 months following the date of issuance, subject to the Acceleration Clause (as defined herein).

The Warrants are subject to an accelerated expiry provision such that if, for any 15 consecutive trading days during the unexpired term of the Warrants, the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX-V exceeds $1.35 (the ‘Acceleration Trigger’), the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by way of an announcement (‘Acceleration Clause’).

The Company hereby advises that the Acceleration Trigger has been met as a result of the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSXV exceeding $1.35 for a period of 15 consecutive trading days ended March 3, 2026. Accordingly, the accelerated expiry date of the Warrants shall be Wednesday, April 10, 2026 (‘Accelerated Expiry Date’), being 37 days following the date of this notice. All Warrants that remain unexercised after 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the Accelerated Expiry Date will expire and become void and of no further force or effect.

To date, 5,132,643 Warrants have been exercised resulting in gross proceeds of $6,159,172 to the Company. If all the remaining 12,206,696 Warrants are exercised, the Company will receive further gross proceeds of approximately C$14,648,036.

About CoTec

CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSX-V:CTH)(OTCQB:CTHCF) is redefining the future of resource extraction and recycling. Focused on rare earth magnets and strategic materials, CoTec integrates breakthrough technologies with strategic assets to unlock secure, sustainable, and low-cost supply chains.

CoTec’s mission is clear: accelerate the energy transition while strengthening strategic mineral supply chains for the countries we operate in. By investing in and deploying disruptive technologies, the Company delivers capital-efficient, scalable solutions that transform marginal assets, tailings, waste streams, and recycled products into high-value critical minerals.

From its HyProMag USA magnet recycling joint venture in Texas, to iron tailings reprocessing in Québec, to next-generation copper and iron solutions backed by global majors, CoTec is building a diversified portfolio with long-term growth, rapid cash flow potential, and high barriers to entry. The result is a differentiated platform at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and strategic materials.

For more information, please visit www.cotec.ca

For further information, please contact:

Braam Jonker – (604) 992-5600
Chief Financial Officer

Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement

Statements in this press release regarding the Company and its investments which are not historical facts are ‘forward-looking statements’ that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, statements relating to the advancement, development, financing and potential construction of the Company’s projects and investments; anticipated economic metrics; expected production, permitting, engineering and execution milestones; potential strategic transactions or listings; future investment opportunities; and management’s expectations regarding the Company’s strategy and growth plans. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions regarding the continued advancement of the Company’s projects, availability of financing, receipt of required permits and approvals, commodity price assumptions, and general economic and market conditions. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, including, without limitation: risks relating to project development and execution; the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms or at all; changes in commodity prices; changes in government regulation or policy; permitting and environmental risks; joint venture and counterparty risks; and general economic, market and industry conditions. For further details regarding risks and uncertainties facing the Company, readers are encouraged to review the Company’s public disclosure documents, which are available under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: CoTec Holdings Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

News Provided by ACCESS Newswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More
In Investing

Surface Metals Inc. Announces Listing on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

No Comments

Surface Metals Inc. (CSE: SUR,OTC:SURMF) (OTCQB: SURMF) (FSE: V6X) (WKN: A417U2) (‘Surface Metals’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that its common shares have been accepted for listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (‘FSE’) and have started trading under the symbol V6X WKN: A417U2.

https://live.deutsche-boerse.com/equity/surface-metals-inc?mic=XFRA

Surface Metals Inc.’s common shares are now cross listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, OTCQB, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

The FSE is one of the world’s largest and most established international stock exchanges and serves as a key marketplace for European institutional and retail investors, particularly those with a long-standing interest in the natural resources sector.

About Surface Metals Inc.

Surface Metals Inc. (CSE: SUR,OTC:SURMF) (OTCQB: SURMF) (FSE: V6X) is a North American mineral exploration company focused on advancing a diversified portfolio of gold and lithium projects in Nevada, USA. The Company’s Cimarron Gold Project is located in Nye County, Nevada, in a historically productive gold district. Surface’s Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project hosts an inferred resource of approximately 302,900 tonnes LCE adjacent to Albemarle’s Silver Peak Mine. Surface Metals is also advancing a sedimentary claystone lithium project in Fish Lake Valley, Nevada.

For more information, please visit: www.surfacemetals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Steve Hanson
Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director
Telephone: (604) 564-9045
info@surfacemetals.com

Neither the CSE nor its regulations service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains certain statements which may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (‘forward-looking statements’). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects,’ ‘plans,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘intends,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘projects,’ ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will,’ ‘would,’ ‘may,’ ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur and in this news release include but are not limited to the attributes of, timing for and expected benefits to be derived from exploration, drilling or development at Surface’s project properties. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling, sampling and other technical results may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. Surface’s project location adjacent to or nearby other mineral projects does not guarantee exploration success or that mineral resources or reserves will be defined on Surface’s properties. Exploration, development, and activities conducted by regional companies provide assistance and additional data for exploration work being completed by Surface. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company’s properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from the Company’s operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Unless otherwise indicated, the market and industry data contained herein is based upon information from industry and other publications and the knowledge and experience of management. While we believe that this data is reliable, market and industry data is subject to variations and cannot be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties inherent in any statistical survey. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources referred to in this news release or ascertained the underlying assumptions relied upon by such sources. With regard to the Cimarron Project potential quantity and grade of mineralization described is conceptual in nature as there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in targets being delineated as a mineral resource. Surface Metals has not undertaken any independent verification of drill results from historical drilling not completed by Surface Metals. Surface Metals has not independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results and believes that the historical drill results may not all conform to the presently accepted industry standards and as such should not be relied upon by the reader. Surface Metals Inc. considers these historical drill results relevant as Surface Metals Inc. will use this data as a guide to plan future exploration programs. Surface Metals Inc. also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes, however, Surface Metal Inc.’s future exploration work will include verification of the data through drilling. All technical and scientific disclosure pertaining to our mineral property interests in this news release have been reviewed by a Qualified Person, meaning an individual who is an engineer or geoscientist with at least five years of experience in mineral exploration, mine development or operation or mineral project assessment, or any combination of these; has experience relevant to the subject matter of the mineral project and the technical report; and is a member or licensee in good standing of a professional association.

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286186

News Provided by TMX Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More
In Investing

Cameco Signs US$2.6 Billion Uranium Deal With India to Fuel Nuclear Expansion

No Comments

Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) has secured a nine-year uranium supply agreement with India worth an estimated US$2.6 billion, accelerating its nuclear power expansion as it deepens critical mineral ties with the country.

The Saskatoon-based uranium producer will supply nearly 22 million pounds of uranium ore concentrate (U3O8) to India’s Department of Atomic Energy between 2027 and 2035 under market-related pricing terms.

Cameco Chief Executive Officer Tim Gitzel attended a signing event in New Delhi alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.

“Cameco is proud to be a strategic partner with India to help meet its civil nuclear fuel needs and support its trade relationship with Canada,” Gitzel said. “India is embarking on an ambitious nuclear expansion to power its development plans and meet the future energy security needs of its people. That isn’t possible without a stable supply of uranium fuel.”

India currently operates 24 nuclear reactors and has outlined plans to deploy dozens more as it works toward a target of 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047.

The new agreement revives a trading relationship first established in 2015, when Cameco began supplying uranium to India under a five-year contract.

Gitzel also pointed to broader market dynamics. “Importantly, this demand underscores an emerging trend of sovereign buyers locking up large volumes from multiple suppliers, and in a window where demand continues to grow and available supplies continue to become more uncertain and constrained.”

Cameco operates the Cigar Lake and McArthur River/Key Lake uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan. According to the Saskatchewan Mining Association, uranium mining employs more than 2,300 people in the province, with nearly half of the workforce in northern operations drawn from local communities.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the contract would benefit both countries. “It’s going to be good for the electricity outbuild here in India as well as good for the economy in particular in northern Saskatchewan,” he told reporters in New Delhi as reported by CBC.

India continues to recently take steps to broaden its critical minerals strategy. Last month, the country announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazil to deepen cooperation on rare earths and other critical minerals.

“Increasing investments and cooperation in matters of renewable energy and critical minerals is at the core of a pioneering agreement that we have signed today,” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said at the time.

The country’s multibillion deal with Cameco first sparked rumors back in late 2025, when an earlier meeting between the two state leaders signaled the thawing of diplomatic tensions that started in 2023.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More
In Investing

The Digital Power Plant: Why AI Infrastructure is Outgrowing Venture Capital

No Comments

Private credit is cracking just as AI infrastructure spend surges into the trillions.

The tremor is fueled by software and IT companies seeing sharp drops in valuation as fears mount that AI advancements will render their core products obsolete.

Blue Owl Capital set off alarms in the private credit market, which has extended billions in financing, by selling assets across three funds and tweaking redemptions amid withdrawals tied to AI-threatened tech loans and stalled data centers. As UBS strategists recently noted, the worst-case default rate for private credit could climb as high as 15 percent as AI disrupts traditional software companies.

In the race to secure GPUs, neo-clouds – specialized providers that focus almost exclusively on high-performance AI compute – are ready to deploy the hardware powering the next generation of LLMs, but are being sidelined by underwriting processes that take months to move and equity models that demand too much control.

The financing bottleneck and the asset-backed solution

With global AI capital expenditures projected to reach trillions this decade, the mechanisms used to fund that growth cause delays that create supply bottlenecks.

Filichkin, Compute Labs’ chief business officer, described the dynamic clearly: operators are currently caught between slow banks and the limitations of venture capital.

Under the traditional model, a neo-cloud must raise massive venture rounds just to afford the down payments required by banks, forcing founders to give up control of their companies simply to buy the hardware needed to operate.

Zhang added that underwriting processes and capital structuring take several months, delaying off-take customers and forcing them to go elsewhere simply because they need capacity now. “Many AI customers… will simply go to some other providers, or they will just go to the market and then buy the capacity at a very high spot price,” he explained.

Capital inefficiencies also increase computing costs. When neo-clouds cannot deploy on time, demand pressure builds on existing providers, which allows them to charge more.

To bypass these delays, Compute Labs, a fintech that bridges neo-clouds and investors, packages GPU clusters for asset-backed deals. The company vets partners, secures senior debt and fundraises the missing 20-30 percent cash slice from investors to complete each deal. This lets neo-clouds deploy without equity dilution, while investors gain direct hardware yield from the contracts.

GPUs: The yield-generating asset class

A whitepaper co-published by the team at Compute Labs and The Family Office Association in December 2025 pitched GPUs as a new yield-generating asset class for family offices, like digital power plants producing steady cash from AI rentals for training and inference.

“When we work with these partners, one of the first things that they worry about is diluting their equity, and we know of an interesting business model that allows an investor just direct exposure to the most fundamental asset, which is the hardware,” explained Filichkin.

He noted the dual value points this structure serves: the neo-cloud avoids dilution, and the investor gains the raw hardware component without worrying about the volatility of the equity markets.

“More fundamentally,” added Hosseinion, “when we refer to a venture bet, we’re talking about VCs…betting on the founders to find product market fit, whereas (Compute Labs is) allowing investors direct access to the actual chips that power AI.”

These assets are secured by three- to five-year off-take contracts, a structure where end-users pre-commit to buying the compute power before it is even deployed. “The financial profile is a lot more similar to project finance… high upfront capex, the deployment phase, and then just a long tail of predictable yield.”

However, much AI infrastructure funding still relies on venture-style equity, despite the fact that typical VC rounds are often too small for major hardware buys.

‘Carfax for GPUs’

For GPUs to mature into a genuine asset class, the market requires a level of transparency that traditional tech lending has historically lacked. The current hesitation in private credit often stems from a “visibility gap” that prevents lenders from easily verifying the health, location or even the existence of the hardware they are financing.

Solving this requires what the Compute Labs team described as a “Carfax for GPUs” that employs a registry system that tracks the provenance, thermal history and real-time utilization of a chip, which would provide lenders the same level of auditability found in real estate or aviation.

While this strategy provides technical transparency, Compute Labs’ “revenue haircut” – where the 20 to 30 percent revenue share is the first to be sacrificed if performance targets are missed – provides financial safeguards that protect lenders from operational failures. This ensures that even if a neo-cloud struggles, the investors remain at the front of the repayment line.

Operational buffers are also becoming a benchmark for these deals; the team stressed that daily running costs, specifically electricity and maintenance, must typically remain under a quarter of the total income produced by the chips in order to maximize returns.

While concerns about technical obsolescence persist, the current supply-chain reality offers a natural hedge. Zhang noted that while new chips are announced frequently, it often takes up to 24 months for them to reach the market in significant volume at a reasonable price, providing a predictable “useful life” window for current-generation hardware.

Infrastructure before innovation

Ultimately, the shift toward asset-backed GPU financing is about unblocking what the team calls the “innovation funnel.” At the top of this funnel sit the thousands of AI applications and agents that promise to reshape the global economy. However, these innovations are entirely dependent on the physical infrastructure at the base.

By moving away from the slow, small financing models of the past and treating GPUs as a stable, bankable utility, the industry can finally provide the consistent power required to sustain the AI revolution.

However, if the bottom of the funnel remains choked by inefficient capital, the intelligence at the top will inevitably stall.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More
In Investing

Allied Critical Metals Announces Appointment of Hon. Marco Mendicino as Strategic Advisor

No Comments

Allied Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: ACM,OTC:ACMIF) (OTCQB: ACMIF) (FSE: 0VJ0) (‘Allied’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the appointment of the Honourable Marco Mendicino as a Strategic Advisor to the Company. The Honourable Marco Mendicino is Senior Counsel and Strategic Advisor to the firm at Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP. A former federal prosecutor, Cabinet Minister, and Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Mark Carney, he brings two decades of leadership in the law, government and public policy.

Mr. Mendicino led the Prime Minister’s Office through a national election and one of the most significant transitions of government in recent decades, advancing major projects legislation, working with Premiers and Indigenous leaders, and closely advising the Prime Minister while at the White House, NATO, and G7.

Elected three times as the Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence, Mr. Mendicino served in Cabinet as Minister of Immigration and Minister of Public Safety and chaired the Five Eyes on behalf of Canada.

A Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School, he contributes to national conversations on governance and the rule of law and frequently appears in the media as a commentator.

‘We are excited to add Marco Mendicino to our team as a Strategic Advisor. Mr. Mendicino brings decades of business, legal and political expertise to Allied,’ commented Roy Bonnell, CEO & Director of Allied. ‘Tungsten is a strategic asset globally and we will benefit from Mr. Mendicino’s global view on how to best develop our assets for the benefit of all shareholders.’

‘I am very pleased to join the team at Allied. Their tungsten assets in Portugal are strategically located in a NATO member state and have historically been very important assets from a global security perspective. Seeing these past producing mines come back into production will be a major development from a NATO security perspective,’ commented Honourable Marco Mendicino, Strategic Advisor to the Company. ‘We will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure these assets are developed for the benefit of Portugal and its allies.’

Mr. Mendicino joins a team that also includes the appointment of Major General (Ret.) James A. ‘Spider’ Marks and former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen as Directors of Allied’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Allied Critical Metals USA Inc. (‘Allied USA‘). Allied USA is dedicated to the importation, marketing and sales of tungsten into the United States.

About Allied Critical Metals Inc.

Allied Critical Metals Inc. is a Canadian-based mining company focused on the advancement and revitalization of its 100%-owned Borralha Tungsten Project and the Vila Verde Tungsten Project in northern Portugal.

The Borralha Project is one of the largest undeveloped tungsten resources within the European Union and benefits from a favourable Environmental Impact Declaration (DIA), positioning the Project for advancement toward feasibility and development. Vila Verde represents additional exploration upside within the same strategic jurisdiction.

Tungsten has been designated a critical raw material by the United States and the European Union due to its strategic importance in defense, aerospace, manufacturing, automotive, electronics and energy applications. Currently, China, Russia and North Korea account for approximately 87% of global tungsten supply and reserves, highlighting the importance of secure western sources.

Further details regarding the Borralha Project are available in the Company’s NI 43-101 Technical Report dated December 30, 2025, filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company’s website at www.alliedcritical.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
‘Roy Bonnell’

Roy Bonnell
CEO and Director

For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Dave Burwell
Vice President, Corporate Development
Email: daveb@alliedcritical.com
Tel: 403-410-7907
Toll Free: 1-888-221-0915

Please also visit our website at www.alliedcritical.com.

Also visit us at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-critical-metals-inc/
X: https://x.com/@alliedcritical/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alliedcriticalmetals/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliedcriticalmetals/

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains ‘forward-looking statements’, including with respect to the use of proceeds. Wherever possible, words such as ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘should’, ‘will’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘estimate’, ‘potential for’ and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of the Company’s management for future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities, and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, those listed in the Company’s filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca). Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed timeline and use of proceeds for exploration and development of the Company’s mineral projects as described in the Company’s news releases, and corporate presentations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company’s most recently filed management’s discussion and analysis, all as filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286145

News Provided by TMX Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More
In Investing

ILC Critical Minerals Ltd. Does Not Exercise Option to Buy Lepidico Mauritius Ltd.

No Comments

ILC Critical Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: ILC,OTC:ILHMF) (OTCQB: ILHMF) (FSE: IAH0) (‘ILC’ or the ‘Company’) announces that it has not exercised, nor has it been able to extend, its option to buy 100% of Lepidico (Mauritius) Ltd. (‘Lepidico Mauritius’) from Lepidico (Canada) Inc. (‘Lepidico Canada’) which expired on February 27, 2026. This company controls 80% of the Karibib lithium, rubidium and cesium project in Namibia.

The ILC board had carefully considered the financial and legal risks of the transaction, and supported the exercise of the option. The board had the required funding ready. However TSX Venture Exchange (‘TSXV’) did not give the required approval in time to ILC that would have enabled ILC to complete the transaction. It might have been possible to extend the expiry date of the option further, but this would have required ILC to provide additional working capital to Lepidico Canada. The TSXV went further and also prevented ILC from lending more money for working capital to Lepidico Canada. This had the practical effect on ILC that the option could neither be exercised nor extended.

This is a setback for ILC’s plans in Southern Africa because Karibib has a large lithium resource, the biggest known rubidium resource in Africa, and enough cesium for about one year of world use, and it had already reached Definitive Feasibility Study stage under JORC in 2020. Such advanced stage development projects are hard to find, and the board believed after months of work on the transaction that it could have added considerable shareholder value albeit with some risk.

Lepidico Canada’s board felt that it was not able to continue further as a viable company without the extra funds needed for its working capital needs. While ILC’s board would have been willing for ILC to offer this, the block by TSXV made this impossible to offer. As a result Lepidico Canada has now changed ownership. There is still a possibility of ILC being offered involvement in this project, in which case the ILC board would allow an extended period for TSXV’s review processes to complete in such a manner that gives a greater chance of allowing a favourable outcome from TSXV. Obviously however such an outcome cannot be assumed.

By order of the board 

John Wisbey
Chairman and CEO

About ILC Critical Minerals Ltd.

ILC Critical Minerals Ltd., formerly International Lithium Corp., has exploration activities in Ontario, Canada, with intentions to expand into Southern Africa. It has projects at various stages, ranging from Preliminary Economic Assessment at Raleigh Lake to Pre-Drilling at Wolf Ridge. The primary target metals in Canada are lithium, rubidium and copper. There are three projects (two in Ontario and one in Ireland) in which ILC has sold its share, but where the Company stands to receive future payments from either a resource milestone being achieved or from a Net Smelter Royalty.

While the world’s politicians remain divided on the future of the energy market’s historic dependence on oil and gas and on ‘Net Zero’, there is in any scenario an ever-increasing and significant demand for electricity driven by AI and data centres, and by a likely unstoppable momentum towards electric vehicles and grid-scale electricity storage. All of these contribute to rising demand for lithium, copper, and other metals. Rubidium is also a critical metal, strategic for high-precision clocks, space technology, and improving the performance of certain types of solar panels. ILC has seen the politically driven, increasingly urgent push by the USA, Canada, the EU, and other major economies to safeguard their supplies of critical minerals and to become more self-sufficient. The Company’s Canadian and Southern African projects, which contain lithium, rubidium, cesium and copper, are strategic in this regard.

The Company’s key mission for the next decade is to generate revenue for its shareholders from lithium, rubidium and other critical minerals while also contributing to the creation of a greener, cleaner planet and less polluted cities.

This includes optimizing the value of ILC’s existing projects in Canada as well as finding, exploring and developing projects that have the potential to become world-class deposits. The Company has announced that it regards Southern Africa as a key strategic target market and it has applied for and hopes to receive EPOs in Zimbabwe. The board hopes to make further announcements on the portfolio developments over the next few weeks and months.

The Company’s interests in various projects now consist of the following, and in addition, the Company continues to seek other opportunities:

Name Metal Location Stage Area in Hectares Current Ownership Percentage Future Ownership % if options exercised and/or residual interest Operator or JV Partner
Raleigh Lake Lithium
Rubidium		 Ontario Dec 2023 : PEA for Li completed Apr 2023 Maiden Resource Estimates for Li and Rb 32,900 100% 100% ILC
Firesteel Copper, Cobalt Ontario Initial Drilling 6,600 90% 90% ILC
Wolf Ridge Lithium Ontario Pre-Drilling 5,700 0% 100% ILC
Mavis Lake Lithium Ontario May 2023
Maiden Resource Estimate		 2,600 0% 0%
(carries an extra earn-in payment of AUD$ 0.75 million if resource targets met)		 Critical Resources Limited (ASX: CRR)
Avalonia Lithium Ireland Drilling 29,200 0% 0%
2.0% Net Smelter Royalty		 GFL Intl Co Ltd. (owned by Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. Ltd)
Forgan/
Lucky Lakes 		Lithium Ontario Drilling < 500 0% 0%
1.5% Net Smelter Royalty		 Power Minerals Limited (ASX: PNN)

 

The Company’s primary strategic focus at this point is on the Raleigh Lake Project, comprising lithium and rubidium, and the Firesteel copper project in Canada, as well as obtaining EPOs and mineral claims in Zimbabwe.

The Raleigh Lake Project now encompasses 32,900 hectares (329 square kilometres) of mineral claims in Ontario and represents ILC’s most significant project in Canada. To date, drilling has occurred on less than 1,000 hectares of the Company’s claims. A Preliminary Economic Assessment was published for ILC’s lithium at Raleigh Lake in December 2023, with a detailed economic analysis of ILC’s separate rubidium resource still pending. This showed, for the lithium only and not yet taking into account the rubidium, a Post-tax NPV of CAD$342.9 million and a Post-tax IRR of 44.3% p.a. This was based on a spodumene price of US$2,350 per tonne. As at March 3, 2026 the spot spodumene price was back up to US$ 2,220 per tonne. Raleigh Lake is 100% owned by ILC, free from any encumbrances and royalties. The Raleigh Lake Project boasts excellent access to roads, rail, and utilities.

A continuing goal has been to remain a well-funded, strategically run company that turns ILC’s aspirations into reality. Following the disposal of the Mariana project in Argentina in 2021, the Mavis Lake project in Canada in 2022, and the Avalonia project in 2025, ILC has continued to generate sufficient cash inflows to advance its exploration projects.

With increasing demand for high-tech rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, energy storage, and portable electronics, lithium has been dubbed ‘the new oil’. It is a key part of a green, sustainable economy. By positioning itself on projects with significant resource potential and solid strategic partners, ILC aims to become a preferred lithium and critical minerals resource developer for investors and to continue building value for its shareholders throughout the 2020s, the decade of battery metals.

On behalf of the Company,

John Wisbey
Chairman and CEO
www.ilccm.com

For further information concerning this news release, please contact info@ilccm.com or ILC@yellowjerseypr.com, or telephone +1 236 358 9100
 

 

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release or other releases contain certain ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this or other news releases may include: the timing of completion of any offering and the amount to be raised, the effect on results of anticipated production rates, the timing and/or anticipated results of drilling on the Raleigh Lake or Firesteel or Wolf Ridge projects, expected commodity prices, the expectation of resource estimates, preliminary economic assessments, feasibility studies, lithium or rubidium or cesium or copper recoveries, modeling of capital and operating costs, results of studies utilizing various technologies at the company’s projects, the Company’s budgeted expenditures, government permits or approval for licences and licence renewals, future plans for expansion in Southern Africa and planned exploration work on its projects, increased value of shareholder investments in the Company, the potential from the Company’s third party earn-out or royalty arrangements, the future demand for lithium, rubidium, cesium and copper, and assumptions about ethical behaviour by our joint venture partners or shareholders in our projects or third party operators of projects or royalty partners. Such forward-looking information is based on assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled ‘Risks’ and ‘Forward-Looking Statements’ in the interim and annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. While management believes that the assumptions made are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Forward-looking information herein, and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on expectations, estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are subject to significant business, economic, legislative, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change.

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286187

News Provided by TMX Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More
In Investing

Blackrock Silver Announces the Appointment of Bernard Poznanski and Susan Mathieu to the Board of Directors

No Comments

Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC,OTC:BKRRF) (OTCQX: BKRRF) (FSE: AHZ0) (‘Blackrock’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the appointment of Bernard Poznanski and Susan Mathieu as independent directors to the Board of Directors of the Company (the ‘Board of Directors’).

In conjunction with the appointments, Daniel Vickerman, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, has stepped down as a director of Blackrock. We sincerely thank Mr. Vickerman for his dedicated service and valuable contributions to the Board of Directors during his tenure, and look forward to his continued service in his role as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development of Blackrock.

Andrew Pollard, Blackrock’s President and CEO, commented: ‘We are honored to welcome Susan Mathieu and Bernard Poznanski to our Board at this pivotal stage as we advance Tonopah West toward development. Bernie’s extensive experience advising public companies on complex capital markets transactions, M&A and governance matters, together with Susan’s more than 30 years of global mining leadership spanning development, operations and sustainability, bring valuable and complementary expertise to the Company. With their appointments as independent directors, we continue to enhance the strength, independence and overall effectiveness of our Board as we position Blackrock for its next phase of growth. I would also like to sincerely thank Daniel Vickerman for his dedicated service as a director, and we are pleased that he will continue to play a key leadership role as our Senior Vice President, Corporate Development.’

About Bernard Poznanski

Bernard Poznanski, our former external legal counsel, is a highly experienced corporate and securities lawyer with more than 40 years of distinguished practice advising public companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, the NYSE American and NASDAQ on complex securities, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and mining law matters. He brings strategic legal insight to transactions across a broad range of industries, particularly in natural resources, technology and capital markets.

Mr. Poznanski’s experience encompasses all aspects of corporate and securities law. He has acted on major financings and strategic transactions, including cross-border offerings and bought deal prospectus financings for mining issuers, take-over bids and issuer bids, and a number of proxy contests. He has also played a pivotal role in significant mergers and acquisitions in complex public company transactions and in mineral property acquisitions. He has regularly represented boards of directors and special committees and advised on sophisticated corporate governance matters.

Mr. Poznanski holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (cum laude) from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Commercial Law from McGill University, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Guelph. He is admitted to practice in British Columbia and is recognized as a leading practitioner in securities and corporate law.

About Susan Mathieu

Susan Mathieu has over thirty years of international mining experience through exploration, project development, permitting, construction and operations. She has experience from mine-site to corporate leadership roles, with a proven ability to affect change in diverse organizational cultures through building relationships, leadership in executing work, and integrating compliance functions into governance systems and business processes. Her mining career has been built in several different commodity businesses, including precious and base metals, diamonds, potash and uranium.

Ms. Mathieu served on the MAG Silver Corp. board for 5 years prior to its acquisition, where she Chaired the Technical Committee, and was a member of the Compensation and the Sustainability/HSEC Committees.

In previous VP roles, Ms. Mathieu led the corporate environmental, safety and sustainability efforts for NexGen Energy (Saskatchewan), Centerra Gold (Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Turkey) and NovaGold (Canada and Alaska). As a senior mining consultant at Golder Associates, she led technical teams dealing with a tailings incident in Brazil, as well as large-scale mining development projects in Canada’s north. Ms. Mathieu gained solid technical grounding in mining during the early stages of her career with Placer Dome, Falconbridge and BHP in Canada, South Africa, Peru and Tanzania.

Ms. Mathieu holds a BSc. (Honours) and a MSc. in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan, and an Executive MBA from the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University. She has also achieved her ICD.D designation.

About Blackrock Silver Corp.

Blackrock Silver Corp. is an American-focused emerging primary silver developer systematically advancing the high-grade Tonopah West Project, situated in the historic ‘Queen of the Silver Camps’ in a jurisdiction consistently ranked as one of the top mining regions globally. The Company is backstopped by a veteran board and technical team with a proven track record of discovering, financing, and building major precious metal mines in Nevada and globally. Blackrock is committed to establishing a secure, high-margin, domestic supply of silver and gold.

Additional information on Blackrock Silver Corp. can be found on its website at www.blackrocksilver.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Pollard, President & Chief Executive Officer
Blackrock Silver Corp.
Phone: 604 817-6044
Email: info@blackrocksilver.com

Sean Thompson, Head of Investor Relations
Blackrock Silver Corp.
Email: sean@blackrocksilver.com

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286174

News Provided by TMX Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More
In Investing

Top 10 Copper Producers by Country

No Comments

In 2025, supply disruptions highlighted a growing concern as copper mines in the top copper-producing countries were aging without new mines to replace them.

Additionally, copper demand from electrification is expected to rise significantly in the coming years.

The competing forces of the global macroeconomic situation and a tightening supply and demand situation caused major swings in the copper price last year, and the red metal set a new all-time high in January 2026 as it moved above the US$6 per pound mark on the COMEX for the first time.

Despite a tight supply situation, demand from the energy transition has largely been muted as China, traditionally the largest consumer of copper for its infrastructure, works to stimulate its flagging economy.

The forecast for copper over the next few years is that supply deficits will continue to widen, which in turn should provide more tailwinds for the price of copper and greater upside to company balance sheets.

For investors interested in copper, it’s worth looking at copper production by country. According to the latest US Geological Survey data, global copper production reached 23 million metric tons (MT) in 2025.

Chile again took the crown to become the top copper producing country last year, but some of the others on the list may surprise you. Read on to find out the top 10 copper countries and what mines are driving each country’s copper output.

Bar chart of global copper production in 2025, led by Chile at 5.3M metric tons.

1. Chile

Copper production: 5.3 million metric tons

In 2025, Chile produced 5.3 million metric tons of copper, making it the world’s largest copper producing country with about 23 percent of the total global copper output. Its copper production dropped 210,000 MT in 2025 compared to its 2024 output. Chile also takes first place for copper reserves with 180 million MT.

Naturally, many of the world’s leading copper miners have substantial operations in Chile, including the state-owned Codelco, Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:AAUKF), Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF) and Antofagasta (LSE:ANTO,OTC Pink:ANFGF).

Chile is also home to BHP’s (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) Escondida, the largest copper mine in the world with an annual output in the 2 million metric ton range. BHP owns a 57.5 percent stake in the operation, with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) owning 30 percent and Jeco holding the remaining stake.

According to BHP’s 2025 annual report, the company’s portion of Escondida production came in at 1.13 million MT of copper in 2025.

Despite production disruptions at Codelco’s El Teniente, Chile’s copper production is expected to grow to 5.61 million MT in 2026, according to Chile’s copper industry watchdog Cochilco.

2. Democratic Republic of Congo

Copper production: 3.2 million metric tons

In 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) produced 3.2 million metric tons of copper, accounting for nearly 14 percent of global copper output.

The DRC has rapidly increased its copper production in recent years, and its 2025 output marked a continuation of the trend, rising from 2.99 million MT the previous year.

One of the country’s largest copper operations is the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN,OTCQX:IVPAF) and Zijin Mining Group (HKEX:2899,SHA:601899,OTCPL:ZIJMF). The operation’s Phase 3 expansion commenced commercial production in August 2024.

In 2025, Kamoa-Kakula produced 388,838 MT of copper, a significant decrease from the 437,061 MT produced in 2024. While its copper output was supported by Phase 3, it was impacted by a temporary shutdown of sections of the mine in May 2025 after seismic activity and flooding occurred at the complex. On January 2, 2026, the company announced that it was proceeding to stage 3 dewatering as it works to ramp up production at the affected areas of the mine.

3. Peru

Copper production: 2.7 million metric tons

In 2025, Peru produced 2.7 million metric tons of copper, accounting for just below 12 percent of the world’s copper output. Its total is down a slight 40,000 MT from its copper output in 2024.

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) operates Cerro Verde, the largest copper mine in Peru. In its Q4 2025 report, the company reported that the mine produced 863 million pounds of copper, equivalent to 391,450 MT. This was down from 949 million pounds in 2024.

Other significant copper operations in Peru include Anglo American’s (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:NGLOY) Quellaveco mine and Southern Copper’s (NYSE:SCCO) Tia Maria mine. The majority of copper produced in Peru is shipped to China and Japan, and South Korea and Germany are other top export destinations.

4. China

Copper production: 1.8 million metric tons

In 2025, China mined 1.8 million metric tons of copper, marginally lower than the 1.84 million metric tons produced in 2024. The country’s production hit a peak of 1.94 million MT in 2022.

While the country is fourth place for mine production, when it comes to refined copper production, China is by far the winner. In 2025, China’s refined copper production totaled 14 million metric tons, representing more than 48 percent of global refined copper production and six times the production of the DRC, the second highest refined copper producer.

Zijin Mining Group, a leading metal producer in China, owns a majority stake in the Qulong copper-molybdenum-silver-gold mine in Tibet, the largest copper mine in China.

Zijin reported the Qulong mine produced over 190,000 MT of copper in 2025. Phase 2 started production in January 2026, and is expected to raise its copper output to 300,000 MT in 2026.

5. Russia

Copper production: 1.3 million metric tons

Russia produced 1.3 metric tons of copper in 2025, a sizable increase from the 1.02 million MT produced the previous year.

One of the key contributions to the rise in Russian copper output is the ramp up of Phase 1 production at Udokan Copper’s Udokan mine in Siberia, which entered production in 2023. Phase 1 is expected to produce up to 135,000 MT of copper per year once fully online. This is expected to grow to 450,000 MT if Phase 2 enters production.

Although the copper hydrometallurgical plant at Udokan was delayed by fires in late 2023, copper mining was reported to be unaffected. Udokan pivoted to exporting its copper concentrate instead of refining it domestically, and in a September 2025 release, the company reported it had cumulatively exported 160,000 MT of copper equivalent since the start of production.

6. United States

Copper production: 1 million metric tons

The United States produced 1 million metric tons of copper in 2025. This was down slightly from 1.04 million MT of copper the prior year, and continued a downward trend from the 1.23 million MT the country produced in 2022.

The majority of US copper comes from Arizona, which accounts for 70 percent of domestic supply. Other states with significant copper output include Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and New Mexico. Overall, 17 mines are responsible for 99 percent of copper production in the United States.

Freeport McMoRan’s Morenci mine in Arizona, a joint venture with Sumitomo (OTC Pink:SSUMF,TSE:8053), is the largest copper mine in the US. According to Freeport’s Q4 2025 report, its combined US operations produced 1.3 billion pounds of copper over the course of the year, equivalent to 591,484 MT.

Other significant operations include Freeport’s Safford and Sierrita mines, at which copper production totaled 249 million MT and 165 million MT respectively.

7. Zambia

Copper production: 940,000 metric tons

In 2025, Zambia produced 940,000 metric tons of copper, up significantly from 823,000 MT in 2024. Production fell to 712,000 MT in 2023 after reaching 840,000 MT in 2021; however, over the last two years, production has rebounded.

There are four major mines that dominate the country’s copper production, including Barrick’s (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) Lumwana and First Quantum Minerals’ (TSX:FM,OTCPL:FQVLF) Kansanshi.

According to First Quantum’s fourth quarter report, Kansanshi produced 181,183 MT of copper during 2025, up from 170,929 MT the prior year.

Mopani Copper Mines is another major copper producer in the country. While the company was previously owned by a joint venture between Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTCPL:GLCNF) and First Quantum, the Zambian government, which previously held a 10 percent stake, acquired full ownership in 2021.

8. Australia

Copper production: 730,000 metric tons

In 2025, Australia produced 730,000 metric tons of copper, a slight decrease from the 765,000 MT produced in 2024.

The country’s largest copper operation is BHP’s Olympic Dam mine in South Australia. According to BHP’s annual report, its Australian operations produced 101,900 MT of copper in 2025, down from 106,300 MT in 2024.

The state of Queensland is home to the Mount Isa complex, run by a subsidiary of Glencore. While it was one of Australia’s largest copper producers, the operation was shuttered in July 2025 after a 70 year mine life.

Although it may have modest output compared to those at the top of the list, Australia holds the second highest copper reserves in the world at 100 million metric tons.

9. Indonesia

Copper production: 710,00 metric tons

In 2025, Indonesia produced 710,000 metric tons of copper. While the country’s output had been rising steadily in recent years, it plummeted last year from 1.01 million MT in 2024 due to an accident at the Grasberg copper-gold complex, the country’s largest copper mine.

Grasberg is a 51/48 joint venture between the Indonesian state-owned PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium and Freeport-McMoRan.

On September 8, 2025, a sudden ingress of wet materials at the mine’s primary Grasberg Block Cave killed seven workers. While Freeport was able to restart operations at unaffected portions of Grasberg during Q4 2025, the mine is unlikely to see full production return until sometime in 2027, with the companies projecting a 600,000 MT loss of contained copper by the end of 2026.

Another of the country’s largest operations is PT Amman Mineral’s (OTCPK:AMMNF,IDX:AMMN) Batu Hijau copper-gold mine. During the first nine months of 2025, the mine produced 145 million pounds of copper in concentrate, equivalent to about 65,770 MT. This marked a 51 percent decline from the same period in 2024 as Amman’s activities transitioned to Phase 8 of the operation. The company set full year 2025 copper guidance at 103,400 MT, and projected a significant increase to 220,000 MT in 2026.

10. Kazakhstan

Copper production: 710,000 metric tons

In 2025, Kazakhstan produced 710,000 metric tons of copper, slightly lower than the 724,000 MT produced in 2024. Still, Kazakhstan’s copper output has climbed substantially in recent years; it produced just 510,000 MT in 2021.

The nation plans to continue that trend, releasing a National Development Plan in February 2024 that aims to increase mineral production by 40 percent by 2029. The plan will involve increased exploration, project co-financing and tax incentives for investment.

Among the country’s largest mining companies is private firm KAZ Minerals, which owns the Aktogay mine. According to the company’s Q3 2025 production report, the mine produced 171,600 MT of copper during the first nine months of the year, in line with the 172,200 MT produced in 2024.

10. Mexico

Copper production: 690,000 metric tons

Rounding out our list of top copper producers, Mexico produced 690,000 metric tons of copper in 2025, a decrease from 2024’s 717,000 MT.

The country’s Sonora state holds Mexico’s two largest copper mines, Buenavista mine and La Caridad. Both mines are owned by Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO), a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico (OTC Pink:GMBXF,BMV:GMEXICOB).

According to the company’s Q4 2025 report, Buenavista produced 332,710 MT during the year, down from 348,960 MT in 2024.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
by
Read More