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Kamoa Capital

The Drill Down

Wednesday 25 March 2026 · Part 1 Edition

Commodity Prices

Precious Metals Price (USD/toz)
Gold
$4,474.62
+67.95 (+1.54%)
Silver
$71.24
+2.10 (+3.03%)
Platinum
$1,937.50
+57.00 (+3.03%)
Palladium
$1,435.50
+2.50 (+0.17%)
Base Metals (LME) Price (USD/lb)
Copper
$5.56
-0.0053 (-0.09%)
Nickel
$7.68
-0.0984 (-1.26%)
Zinc
$1.38
-0.0270 (-1.93%)
Aluminium
$1.47
+0.0095 (+0.65%)
Lead
$0.86
-0.0008 (-0.1%)

Prices updated as of 25 Mar 2026, 9:06 am AEST

Today's Stories

Australia's Diesel Crisis Plunges ASX Mining Stocks Into Bear Market

Source: AFR

Fund managers are dumping mining stocks amid fears that mines will run out of fuel, leading to higher costs and potential operational shutdowns. The diesel shortage has created significant operational challenges across Australia's mining sector.

Prolonged Iran War Would Hammer Top Copper Miners

Source: MINING.COM

Bloomberg Intelligence warns that oil above $150 a barrel in a drawn-out conflict would slow global growth, push copper below $10,000 a tonne, and create a refined surplus of 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes. Under that scenario, earnings could fall around 20% at Southern Copper, 32% at Antofagasta, and as much as 55% at First Quantum, with high-cost producers facing the sharpest margin compression.

Twiggy And BHP Lock Horns Over Diesel Excise Rebate

Source: Australian Financial Review

Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest has hit back at BHP for opposing his push to cut the $10 billion diesel excise rebate, arguing the Iran war energy crisis strengthens the case for accelerating the shift to renewables in major resources projects including the Pilbara. Forrest rejected BHP's position that decarbonisation technology is not yet ready, sharpening an already tense divide between Fortescue and the major miners over the pace and cost of the energy transition.

EU Trade Deal 'Major Boost' For Australian Mining Sector

Source: Mining.com.au

Australia and the EU have signed a long-awaited free trade agreement, concluded after eight years of negotiations, which removes tariffs on nearly all Australian critical minerals entering the EU. Prime Minister Albanese said the deal could add approximately A$10 billion annually to the Australian economy, while the Minerals Council of Australia described it as a major boost for critical minerals supply chains and investment confidence at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

Zijin's Congo Lithium Mine Set To Be Among World's Biggest

Source: Bloomberg

Zijin Mining Group's lithium mine planned to open this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo will rank among the world's biggest lithium operations. The project represents a major expansion of global lithium supply capacity.

Rio Gets $2B Taxpayer Handout To Turn Queensland Smelter Green

Source: AFR

Rio Tinto will receive $2 billion in taxpayer subsidies to secure the long-term future of its Boyne aluminium smelter in Queensland. The funding represents one of Australia's largest government subsidies to a mining operation.

Turkey Eyes $135 Billion Gold Reserves For Lira Defense

Source: MINING.COM

Turkey's central bank is preparing to potentially tap its $135 billion gold reserves to defend the lira from Iran war-related volatility. The move highlights gold's strategic importance during geopolitical tensions.

Battery Metal Curbs Sting Chinese Miners Who Spent Big In Africa

Source: Financial Post

African export restrictions on crucial battery metals are dealing a blow to Chinese companies that have spent billions developing mines on the continent. The restrictions are reshaping global supply chains for critical minerals.

South Africa's Gold Producers Stay In The Shallows As Prices Surge

Source: Reuters

South Africa's gold output has fallen to 90 tons from its 1970 peak of 1,000 tons, with mineral exploration spending down 95% over two decades. Record gold prices are pushing producers to find new recovery methods that sidestep traditional deep underground mining.

Rio Tinto Expects Resolution Copper Mine To Open By Mid-2030s

Source: Bitget

Rio Tinto has begun a $500 million drilling campaign to explore 30% of the Resolution Copper deposit it previously could not access. The research will help determine the full scope of the Arizona project, expected to open by mid-2030s.

Cyclone Set To Threaten Australia LNG, Iron Ore Operations

Source: Financial Post

A cyclone that menaced Australia's northeast coast now threatens to disrupt energy and mining operations in the west. The weather system poses risks to major LNG and iron ore facilities.

Nornickel Taps AI To Seek New Demand For Its Palladium

Source: MINING.COM

The world's biggest palladium producer aims to create 1.7 million ounces of new annual consumption for the metal. Nornickel is using artificial intelligence to identify new applications and markets for palladium.

Ontario Invests In 68 New Mining Exploration Projects

Source: ConstructConnect Canada

Ontario is supporting 68 early mining exploration projects through the Ontario Junior Exploration Program. The initiative aims to boost mineral exploration activity across the province.

Upcoming Industry Events

Sydney Mining Club

2 Apr 2026 · Luncheon · Ivy Ballroom, Sydney

6 May 2026 · Leading Edge · Hinchcliff House, Sydney

4 Jun 2026 · Luncheon · Ivy Ballroom, Sydney

1 Jul 2026 · Leading Edge · Hinchcliff House, Sydney

6 Aug 2026 · Luncheon · Ivy Ballroom, Sydney

2 Sep 2026 · Leading Edge · Hinchcliff House, Sydney

1 Oct 2026 · Luncheon · Ivy Ballroom, Sydney

3 Dec 2026 · Luncheon · Ivy Ballroom, Sydney

Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) 2026

14-15 Apr 2026 · Alice Springs Convention Centre

Resourcing Tomorrow Hong Kong

16-17 Apr 2026 · Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong

Sydney Resources Round-up

5-7 May 2026 · Hyatt Regency, Sydney

121 Mining Investment

11-12 May 2026 · London

15-16 Jun 2026 · New York

13-14 Oct 2026 · Global Online

23-24 Nov 2026 · London

26-27 Nov 2026 · Dubai

Gold Coast Investment Showcase

11-12 Jun 2026 · Gold Coast

RIU Resources Investor Roadshow

25 Aug 2026 · Melbourne

27 Aug 2026 · Sydney

RIU Uranium Investment Day

17 Sep 2026 · Perth

IMARC 2026

27-29 Oct 2026 · ICC Sydney

Mines and Money @ IMARC

27-29 Oct 2026 · ICC Sydney

South-West Connect ASX Showcase

28-29 Oct 2026 · Busselton, WA

Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF26)

12-13 Nov 2026 · Islamabad, Pakistan

Resourcing Tomorrow London

1-3 Dec 2026 · Business Design Centre, London

RIU Explorers Conference

16-18 Feb 2027 · Fremantle, WA


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