Latest News
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Vermilion Energy leaves the US with an asset sale worth $88 Million
Vermilion Energy, a Canadian gas producer, said it will sell its United States assets at a price of C$120,000,000 ($87.88,000,000). The proceeds from the sale will be used to pay off debts and complete its exit from the U.S. Vermilion Energy will be able to concentrate on its core assets, which are gas-weighted, in Canada and Europe, after the transaction closes in the third quarter. It sold its East Finn assets to the U.S. in 2023. Calgary-based company, Alberta Oil and Gas Corporation (Alberta), has raised its forecasted production for this year from 84,000 to 88.000 barrels of equivalent oil per day to between 117,000 to 122,000 boepd. The company has also reduced its capital budget for 2025 by approximately C$100,000,000 to between C$630,000,000 and C$660,000,000, as a result of the elimination of expenses related with the assets that were divested in Saskatchewan or the U.S. It is expected to have a net of C$1.3billion by the end of 2025. Vermilion Energy purchased privately-held oil and gas company Westbrick Energy earlier this year for C$1.075 Billion, strengthening its position within the Deep Basin in Alberta. The average natural gas price has risen in the last few quarters, and reached a 2-year high on 10 March. This was due to a strong demand for LNG export facilities as well as supply concerns.
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Ceria Nugraha, an Indonesian nickel company, plans to expand its capacity
A company official revealed that the Indonesian nickel firm PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama intends to increase its ferronickel capacity, despite the fact that the nickel market is expected to be oversupplied in the next few years. Ceria started its Rectangular Rotary Kiln Electric Fire in late April. It has the capacity to produce 63.200 metric tonnes of ferronickel per year. Additional production would also increase capacity in a similar way and require an investment of around $200 million. We are currently in the process to secure strategic funding from financial institutions. We plan to begin construction in this year if all goes according to plan," Imelda Kiagoes, Corporate Secretary told an industry conference organized by Shanghai Metals Markets. Nickel executives and industry analysts told a conference this week that the oversupply of nickel in the world market will continue for the next couple of years due to the expansion in production capacity, and the slower growth for the metals used in stainless steel and batteries. Kiagoes, however, said that there is still a demand for the product of the company in Europe and America. The product has a nickel concentration of 22%. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis; Bernadette Christopher)
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Thyssenkrupp executive: EU has tools available to help reduce the pain of steel tariffs
A member of the executive board of Thyssenkrupp said that the EU already has the tools it needs to mitigate the impact of Trump's tariffs and Chinese steel overcapacity. One of these is stopping Russian imports. After the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the European Union has banned all steel imports. Shipments will be reduced gradually. Thyssenkrupp's Ilse Henne, a board member of the company, said that the EU can help the steel industry to weather Trump tariffs as well as a Chinese glut in supply by stopping those practices completely. There is still Russian steel entering Europe. How much? "Three to four million (tons) a year," Henne said. "And it is very easy to stop this." "Security begins with ensuring that industries are able to survive today. For the steel industry, this means merely applying some of the defense instruments we already have." EU and India are also currently in negotiations for a trade deal, which is expected to be concluded by the end this year. India's federal Trade Minister Piyush Goyal stated in April that India is trying to gain greater access to its steel exports on various markets, which includes the EU. Henne stated that Europe was "on the edge" of its negotiations with India. She said that there was a "solution" or a "high risk" of Indians dumping their products on the market after the Chinese deals. As a result of Chinese state subsidies, the EU is already concerned that much of China's aluminium and steel production will be redirected from the U.S. into Europe. In April, the Commission tightened the existing steel import quotas to 15% and is now working on a new system that will be even more restrictive before they expire next year. The committee is also looking at how to establish aluminium safeguards and possible export duties for metal scrap. (Reporting and Writing by Julia Payne; Editing by Benoit VanOverstraeten, Jan Harvey, and Charlotte Van Campenhout)
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Centrica, a British company, signs a $27 billion gas deal with Equinor in Norway
British Energy's Centrica signed a 10-year contract worth over 20 billion pounds ($27.07billion) with Norwegian producer Equinor to receive gas, the companies announced on Thursday. Gas-fired power stations account for about a quarter (70%) of Britain's electricity. In a press statement, Centrica CEO Chris O'Shea stated that "this landmark agreement highlights the vital role natural gas plays in our transition to a low-carbon energy future." Equinor is supplying five billion cubic metres (bcm), or around 8%, of the gas required by Britain until 2035. The contract allows the sale of natural gas to be replaced in future with hydrogen. The Labour government announced that it would not be issuing any new oil or gas licenses in order to achieve its climate goals. Last year, Britain imported nearly two-thirds its gas needs. Half of these imports came from Norway. In June 2022, Centrica signed its last agreement with Equinor to supply additional gas to Europe for three winters. This was in response to the concerns about gas supplies in Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Centrica has also signed liquefied gas agreements with U.S. companies Coterra Energy, Delfin Midstream and Brazil's Petrobras. ($1 = 0.7389 pounds)
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Copper reaches two-month high due to supply concerns and declining LME stock
Copper prices reached their highest in two months Thursday. Speculators were boosted after copper surpassed technical levels, as inventories in London Metal Exchange stores decreased and amid concerns about supply after a large mine in Congo had been suspended. The London Metal Exchange's three-month copper rose 1.52%, to $9,761 per ton, at 1025 GMT. This is the highest since April 1. Traders said that copper gained momentum after it decisively broke through technical levels to the upside. This prompted some automatic purchase orders. Overall, copper is in a very good position at the moment. "You still have this build-up of Comex stocks, so there is a squeeze on LME," said Dan Smith. The U.S. investigation on potential new copper import tariffs has been re-focused by President Donald Trump’s decision to double the tariffs on aluminum and steel from 25% to 50%. This has increased the flow of copper into the United States. It includes inventories from the London Metal Exchange, as traders try to profit from the higher prices in anticipation of U.S. Tariffs on the metal. U.S. Comex Copper Futures climbed 2.5%, to $5.01 a lb. This increased the premium over LME Copper to $1,321 a tonne. LME copper inventories fell to 138,000 tonnes, the lowest in almost a year. They are down nearly half this year. Comex inventories have risen by 90% in the last two months . LME data showed on Thursday that copper inventories were also expected to continue dropping as holders of 11,625 tonnes of inventory notified the LME of their pending removals. Smith also added that the suspension of Kakula Copper Mine in Democratic Republic of Congo is also a concern. Ivanhoe Mines, a co-owner of the mine, announced on Monday that it would restart a portion of the mine in late this month. LME tin increased 0.4% to $22,145 per ton, after reaching a record high one week earlier on Wednesday. This was due to concerns that a resumption in supply from Myanmar's rich tin-rich Wa State might take longer than expected. Other London metals include LME aluminium, which rose 0.2% to $2.489 per ton, and LME nickel, up 0.8% to $15.520. Zinc was unchanged at $2.701 while lead fell 0.3% to $1.984. Click here to read the latest news in metals
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Profit booking on weaker edible oils rivals, palm oil ends lower
Malaysian palm futures continued to fall on Thursday as investors booked profits, and the prices of competing edible oils dropped. The benchmark contract for palm oil delivery in August on the Bursa Derivatives exchange fell 44 ringgit or 1.11% to 3,904 Ringgit ($923.59) per metric ton. Anilkumar bagani, the head of research for Mumbai-based Sunvin Group, said that palm oil futures had been trading lower due to profit taking, low energy prices, and weakness in other vegetable oil markets, such as those in China and the U.S. Dalian's palm oil contract, which is the most active contract, fell by 0.37% while soyoil prices dropped by 0.18%. Chicago Board of Trade soyoil prices were down by 0.58%. As palm oil competes to gain a share in the global vegetable oils industry, it tracks the price changes of competing edible oils. The oil prices stabilized on Thursday, after dropping more than 1% in the previous day due to a rise in U.S. gasoline inventories. Saudi Arabia also reduced its July prices for Asia. Palm oil is less appealing as a biodiesel feedstock due to the weaker crude oil futures. A survey on Wednesday showed that Malaysian palm oil inventories will rise for the third month in a row in May. This is due to a modest increase in production, despite a robust demand for exports. India's imports of palm oil in May rose to their highest level for six months, due to lower inventories as well as the discount offered by the tropical oil compared to soyoil or sunflower oil. AmSpec Agri Malaysia, an independent inspection company in Malaysia, reported that exports of palm oil products from Malaysia for May increased by 13.2%. Intertek Testing Services, a cargo surveyor and cargo inspector firm based in the United States saw a 17.9% increase.
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The Kremlin has said that Putin is willing to assist Trump in the Iran nuclear negotiations.
The Kremlin reported on Thursday that President Vladimir Putin had told Donald Trump, President of the United States, that he would use Russia's close relationship with Iran to assist in negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program. Trump told Putin in a telephone call on Wednesday that Iran had a limited time to decide on its nuclear program and that he thought Putin agreed with him that the Islamic Republic shouldn't have nuclear weapons. Trump said that Putin suggested that he take part in the talks with Iran, and that he "could, perhaps, help in getting this to a quick conclusion", even though Iran "slowwalked". Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, told reporters Thursday that "we have close partner relationships with Tehran" and that President Putin had stated that he was ready to utilize this level of partnership to help facilitate and to contribute to the ongoing negotiations to resolve the Iranian nuclear dossier. Peskov, when asked if Putin would join the talks with Washington and Tehran, said that they were continuing through different channels. Peskov stated that the president would be able intervene when needed. Ayatollah Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, said that abandoning the enrichment of uranium was "100% against" the interests of his country. He rejected a key demand from Washington in negotiations to settle a long-running dispute about Tehran's nuclear aspirations. Oman, the Middle East envoy of President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, mediated discussions between Iranian Foreign Ministry Abbas Araqchi, and Steve Witkoff, who presented the U.S. proposal to Iran for a nuclear deal. Iran has refused to send its entire stockpile highly enriched uranium abroad, which could be used as raw material in nuclear bombs, and Tehran refuses to ship it out. Khamenei has the final word on all state matters. He did not mention a halt to the talks but he said that the U.S. plan "contradicts the belief of our nation in self-reliance, and the principle 'We Can.'". Reporting by Dmitry Antonov, Writing by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Andrew Osborn
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The German wind energy supply nearly doubles, lowering the spot price
German spot electricity prices fell sharply Thursday, as the wind power supply was forecast to double in Germany and demand to decline. At 09:29 GMT, the German baseload contract for Friday had fallen 39.1% to 48.75 Euros per Megawatt Hour (MWH). The French equivalent contract increased by 133.3% to 21 euros/MWh as the renewable production in France is expected to fall and nuclear power is less available. According to LSEG analyst Florine Engl, residual load in Germany is expected to decrease on Friday as a result of a significant increase in wind energy supply. Exports are also expected into the evening. Data compiled by LSEG shows that the German wind output will jump to 31.9 GW this Friday, while France's supply is expected to drop 1.6 GW to 7.5 GW. The data also showed that the German solar power production has increased by 1.1 GW to 14.3 GW. The mix of power generated in Europe is likely to become dirtier this summer, after a prolonged dry spell has depleted the reservoirs and reduced hydro-electricity production. The French nuclear capacity has fallen by two percentage points, to 67%. LSEG data showed that power usage in Germany will drop by 210 Megawatts (MW), to 52.9 GW. In France, demand is expected to fall by 950 MW, to 42.2 GW. The German power contract for the year ahead was up 1.4%, at 88.80 Euros/MWh. In France, 2026 baseload contracts were untraded and had a range of bid-ask between 62.50 Euros/MWh to 63.50Euros/MWh. The benchmark European carbon permits increased 0.7%, to 73.16 Euros per metric ton. The International Energy Agency reported on Thursday that despite geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, clean energy investments will drive global energy investment to a record level of $3.3 trillion by 2025. (Reporting and editing by Forrest Crellin)
Metals, resources and development projects in Ukraine
Ukraine and the U.S. signed a deal on Wednesday that was heavily promoted by U.S. president Donald Trump. The agreement will grant the United States access to new Ukrainian mineral deals and funding for investment in Ukraine's rebuilding.
The following is a list of Ukraine's metal production, production capacity, projects for metals development, and resources or deposits.
Information sources: Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, US Geological Survey, International Aluminium Institute. Ukraine's Customs Service, World Nuclear Association. CEIC. Company data.
Exports
According to the customs services, Ukraine will export goods worth $41.6billion in 2024. Metals/metals products made up $4.4billion or 11%, and accounted for $4.4billion.
Ukraine will export $49.2 billion in 2020, which includes $7.7 billion worth of ferrous metals.
ALUMINA
By 2021, Mykolaiv's (Nikolaev's) Alumina Refinery will be refining imported Bauxite to 1.8 million tons of alumina per year. This alumina is then sent to Rusal.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, production was suspended at the refinery.
According to the International Aluminium Institute, Mykolaiv produced 1.3% of 138.6 millions tons worldwide in 2021. Global alumina production will reach 147 million tonnes in 2024.
Ukraine has coal mining, but it is mainly located in the east of Ukraine in Russia-occupied areas.
According to CEIC data, the coal production of Ukraine fell from 64.9 millions tons in 2013 to 23.3million tons in 2023.
GALLIUM
According to the USGS, Ukraine produced one ton of galium in 2021. China, on the other hand, produced 750 tonnes in 2024.
GRAPHITE
According to the USGS, Ukraine will produce 1,200 tons or 0.08% world total of graphite by 2024.
Zavalievsky Plant, currently the only graphite plant in Ukraine, is still operating. According to BMI, it restarted its production in October following a temporary stop due to lack of investment.
Balahovskoe Graphite Deposit is yet to be developed. In 2024, its operator BGV Graphite spent $10 million on a feasibility study and a preliminary economic assessment. The study was finished in early 2025.
IRON ORE
The Ukraine's iron ore exports increased by 90% on an annual basis to 33.7 millions tons in the last year, as a sea export corridor opened up in August 2023.
According to the USGS, Ukraine produced 3.2% of world iron ore and 1.5% pig iron by 2020.
LITHIUM
Two early-stage lithium project in Ukraine would mine hard-rock deposits.
Shevchenkivskyi, the largest of these four regions in Ukraine that Moscow claims as its own, is located in Donetsk.
Second, the Polokhivske & Dobra deposits in central Ukraine.
According to the State Geological Service of Ukraine, Ukraine has lithium deposits of 500,000 metric tonnes, which is equivalent to 1.7% of world total.
MANGANESE
According to USGS, Ukraine produced 3.1% of manganese ore in the world by weight as of 2020. Since then, however, production has decreased.
It added that at least two manganese mines and processing plants have been idle in Ukraine since November 2023, and two more resumed minimal production in the second half of 2024.
Interfax-Ukraine, citing the Ukrainian Association of Ferroalloy Producers, reported that in 2024 production of silicomanganese would fall by 45%, to 104.150 tons, and of ferromanganese by 66.5%, to 3,600 tonnes.
RARE EARTHS Elements
The Ukraine currently does not have any rare earth mines in commercial operation or deposits that are actively being developed.
China is the market leader in rare earths, with a near-monopoly of global supply.
According to the Institute of Geology of Ukraine, the country has rare earths like lanthanum and cerium. The data is classified.
According to USGS, rare earths are found in abundance around the world, but their concentrations can be mined less often than most other minerals.
The steel mills of Ukraine are located in the southern, central and eastern regions of Ukraine that is occupied by Russia.
According to the World Steel Association, Ukraine will produce 7.6 million tonnes of steel by 2024, which is 0.4% of global production, down from 21.42 million tons in 2010.
TITANIUM RAW MATERIALS
According to USGS data, which excludes U.S. output, Ukraine was the fifth-largest titanium sponge producer in the world with a 2.2% share of global output in 2020. It was also the sixth-largest ilmenite producer with a 5.8% share.
Since 2022, Ukraine is focusing on the production of an ilmenite-based concentrate that the chemical industry uses to produce pigments.
UMCC Titanium is a mining company and processing facility in the Northwest. Ukraine reprivatized it in late 2024. It resumed production in July.
According to data from the company cited by Ukrainian news outlet Liga.net, 110,000 metric tonnes of ilmenite concentrated were shipped to Europe and North America between January 2024.
URANIUM
According to the World Nuclear Association, Ukraine's uranium reserves are 12th in the world, with 107,200 tonnes, or 2% of global resources.
According to the association's statistics, Ukraine's production fluctuated over the last 10 years. It reached 455 tons, or 1%, of the total world in 2021. (Reporting and editing by Cynthia Osterman; Polina Devitt)
(source: Reuters)