Latest News
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Imperial Oil raises its 2026 spending and output forecast to boost cash flow and cut costs
Imperial Oil Canada announced on Monday that it will increase its capital expenditure and upstream production by?2026. The company is doubling down on high-return oil sands projects in order to reduce costs?and create a stronger cash flow. Oil companies are focusing more on efficiency and high-return projects, and less on large new developments. In September, the oil producer said it would 'cut about 20% of its staff by end-2027. This is part of a restructuring which will reduce its Calgary presence amid lower 'crude prices due to higher OPEC+ production and trade policy uncertainties. "Our 2026 Plan builds on Imperial's strong foundation and positions Imperial to structurally increase cash flow by moving?towards unit and volume cash cost targets in Kearl and Cold Lake," CEO John Whelan said. Imperial, which owns major oil sands assets across Canada including Cold Lake Kearl Syncrude and Syncrude sees capital and exploration expenses for '2026 between C$2.0 billion and C$2.2billion, an increase from C$1.9billion to C$2.1billion estimated for this year. The company expects upstream production to range between?441,000 and?460,000 barrels per day in 2026, compared with?433,000 to?456,000 boepd?it predicted for 2025. It expects to?throughput be between 395,000-405,000 barrels a day on the downstream front. This is down from 405,000-415, 000 barrels a day. The reason for this is planned turnaround activities at its Sarnia, and Strathcona, refineries. Reporting by Yagnoseni das and Varun sahay in Bengaluru, Editing by Vijay Kishore & Shailesh kuber
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Washington State flash flood warnings are issued after a levee rupture
Authorities announced on Monday that a levee break in Washington State following heavy rains has resulted in a flash flood alert and evacuation orders. National Weather Service?said?it issued a Flash Flood Warning after a failure of the Desimone levee in Tukwila, along the Green River about five miles from downtown Seattle. The National Weather Service said the 'waters are likely to be heading towards Interstate 405, which is a major road, and that an evacuation notice has been issued for a large part of King County. A social media message from the'service said: "Leave this area immediately if you find yourself there." The NWS stated that "conditions are dangerous, and access routes could be lost at any moment." Washington National Guard announced that it would be sending Guard members to King County. Over the weekend, the Guard helped flood-affected residents in the western part of Washington state. Levees have been breached in?Washington State for days, after torrential rains flooded a large swath of the Pacific Northwest. Rains began in the Pacific Northwest after a series of atmospheric riverstorms, which were vast?airborne?currents of dense moist air that had been sucked inland from the ocean. This included parts of northern Idaho and western Montana. Some areas received up to 20 inches of rainfall over a period of one week.
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Report: Chile copper mining is the most expensive in America, and this will discourage new investment.
According to a report published by the Chilean Copper Commission on Monday, Chile's copper industry has significantly higher operating costs than its?regional rivals, which could limit its ability to attract new investment, despite having?strong? geological resources. The study examined 67 greenfield copper project across the Americas and found that Chile has the highest capital intensity of all the countries studied for medium-capacity processing facilities, while ranking second for large-scale operations. Chile's energy costs for grinding range between $2.4 and $3 per metric ton processed. This is the highest cost in the region. * Labor costs in the country are lower than all regional competitors, with an average of $0.90 per tonne in medium-sized plants and $1.08 in large facilities. * The lower ore grade in Chilean deposits requires processing greater?mineral volume, increasing energy consumption as well as operational costs. * Chile's electricity rate is 31.3% more expensive than Peru's, and 35.2% higher than the United States. This is due to Chile's dependence on thermal power and its high transmission costs. According to the employment data in the report, there are 6,000 technical professionals affected by the?labor shortage every year. Reporting by Fabian Cambero, Writing by Kylie Madry
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Health ministry reports that Israeli forces killed a Palestinian teenager in West Bank.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, an Israeli soldier shot and killed a 16-year old Palestinian on Monday during a raid in the town of 'Tuqu'. This is the latest fatal incident in the recent violence that has erupted in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. According to a report from the Palestinian state-run news agency WAFA, citing the Tuqu' Town Council's head, the boy was shot after Israeli forces gathered late Monday in the town centre and started firing "indiscriminately". According to the report, Ammar Yaser Sabah was shot by the military with a live bullet in the chest. The report said that he was taken to hospital, but sadly he did not survive. The Israeli military informed? The Israeli military told? that soldiers used riot dispersal methods and then responded with fire after being pelted with rocks. The military said that the incident is being reviewed. Since the beginning of the two-year Gaza war in October 2023, violence has increased in the West Bank. Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians have 'increased sharply', while the military has tightened movement restrictions and conducted sweeping raids across several cities. According to the United Nations, more than 1,000 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank from October 7, 2023 until November 14, 2025. In the West Bank, 59 Israelis were killed over the same time period. According to official Palestinian statistics, 53 Palestinian minors were killed by Israeli forces this year in the West Bank. The West Bank is home for 2.7 million Palestinians, who enjoy limited autonomy under the?Israeli occupation. There are hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have settled in the West Bank. Many world powers consider Israel's settlements, which are located on land that it captured during a war in 1967, illegal. In addition, numerous U.N. Security Council Resolutions have called for Israel to cease?all settlement activities. Israel denies that the settlements are illegal, citing historical and biblical ties to the land. Israeli forces have cleared refugee camps forcing thousands of Palestinians to leave their homes. They are also maintaining the longest presence they've had in certain West Bank cities since decades. Human Rights Watch charged Israel with war crimes and crimes of humanity in November over forced expulsions it claimed to have occurred in the West Bank. Israel denies that it has committed such crimes. Reporting by Ali Sawafta, Pesha Magd and Aidan Lewis; writing by Pesha Magd. Editing by Aidan Lewis.
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US and Mexico sign new agreement regarding Tijuana river sewage crisis.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a statement Monday announcing that the United States and Mexico have signed a new agreement to address 'the ongoing Tijuana river sewage crisis. Mexico and the U.S. have been at odds for decades over the issue of Mexican sewage flowing across the border into the Tijuana River and then into the Pacific Ocean. The EPA stated that the 'new agreement' saw the U.S. - and Mexican Sections - of the International Boundary and Water Commission, agree on infrastructure projects, research and enhanced monitoring. "And planning for the operation and maintenance" of critical systems and sites, which will 'account for the future population growth in Tijuana, the EPA stated. Earlier this summer, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mexican Environment Minister Alicia Barcena in which Mexico 'agreed' to spend $93 million on improvements to Tijuana sewage systems and commit to a number of projects that would account for population growth and maintenance. (Reporting and writing by Ryan Jones; Editing by Franklin Paul).
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Gold gains are reduced as peace talks with Ukraine progress. US jobs data is the focus.
Spot gold retreated from its earlier gains after progress was made in the crucial?talks' between U.S. officials, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy?aimed at ending?the war. Traders awaited important U.S. employment data. By 01:55 pm, spot gold had risen 0.2% to $4,309.82 per ounce. ET (18:55 GMT), following a rise of more than 1% in the earlier session. U.S. Gold Futures closed 0.2% higher, at $4335.2 per ounce. Jim Wyckoff, senior analyst at Kitco Metals, says that the progress in Russia-Ukraine talks appears to be dampening demand for safe-haven gold. He also added that the gold market is under pressure due to profit-taking, and liquidation of futures contracts by traders who purchased them earlier. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine, said that "a lot of progress has been made in Ukraine discussions," while an?U.S. Officials from both sides said that they have made progress in reducing the differences between Russia, Ukraine and other countries. The Federal Reserve will release its non-farm payrolls and retail data on Tuesday. This information could provide traders with more clues about the direction of the Fed's policy. According to CME FedWatch Tool, the markets are pricing in 78% of a rate reduction in January 2026. Gold is traditionally seen as a safe haven asset. It tends to do well in times of geopolitical or economic uncertainty. Silver spot rose 2.6%, to $63.61, from a record high of $64.65 reached on Friday. It is still within striking distance of the $65/oz mark. Silver is the most popular precious metal. Bob Haberkorn, senior market strategist at RJO Futures, said that by the end of next year we could be trading above $65 and as early as quarter one of the following year I could see up to $70. While spot platinum rose 2.5%, to $1.788.55, its highest level since Sept. 2011, palladium also reached a new two-month high with a nearly?5% increase to $1.560.25 an ounce. Nornickel of Russia, the largest palladium producer in the world, stated that the market for palladium could be deficient by 0.2 million ounces, including investment demand.
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Sources: U.S. Treasury rejects Xtellus' bid for Lukoil Assets
Four people familiar with the matter said that the U.S. Treasury rejected an 'offer' from a group headed by U.S. Bank Xtellus Partners to buy foreign assets of Russian Oil Company Lukoil. Xtellus was in a race with Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Abu Dhabi Group International Holding Company. MOL from Hungary and the U.S. Private Equity firm Carlyle are also still involved. The U.S. Treasury declined comment. Lukoil was willing to sell its assets in October after the U.S. sanctioned it and Kremlin controlled rival Rosneft to encourage Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. Over a dozen companies bid on the assets of Lukoil, valued at approximately $22 billion. The assets include upstream gas and oil projects, refinery and more than 2,00 filling stations in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Sources said that Xtellus offered to arrange a swap between Lukoil securities owned by U.S. 'investors, in a cashless transaction? to return them to Lukoil for the Russian firm's global assets. Sources said that Lukoil preferred the Xtellus offer, but that it was difficult to implement. Xtellus advises bid partners Todd Boehly, an American billionaire, and Allied Investment Partners, a group of Emirati investors. According to one source, Lukoil has already signed a purchase agreement with the Xtellus led group. Source: The Treasury informed the group it didn't have permission for them to use sanctioned security in a transaction. This was the reason their proposal was turned down. The plan now is to take?their proposal to a senior decision maker and try to reverse the rejection. They said the group would also apply for a licence to access these securities. U.S. investment fund owners have large Lukoil?shares which were written off and frozen after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, costing them billions of dollars. The plan was to sell the assets and then pay investors, or to return the shares to Lukoil as an exchange for the assets. The U.S. last week extended the deadline to negotiate with Lukoil until January 17. Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and David Gauthier Villars, Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov, Editing by Tomasz and David Goodman
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Sources: U.S. Treasury rejects Xtellus' bid for Lukoil Assets
Three people familiar with the matter said that the U.S. Treasury 'has rejected the offer of a group led U.S. -based Xtellus Partners to purchase the foreign assets owned by Russian oil.company Lukoil. Xtellus was competing with U.S. oil giants Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Abu Dhabi Group International Holding Company. Hungary's MOL, and U.S. Private Equity firm Carlyle are also still in the race. The U.S. Treasury declined comment. Lukoil was willing to sell its assets after the U.S. sanctioned it in October, along with the Kremlin controlled rival Rosneft to try to?push Russia towards a peaceful deal with Ukraine. Over a dozen companies bid on the assets of?Lukoil, valued at approximately $22 billion. Assets include upstream oil and gas projects, refining, and more than 2,00 filling stations in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Sources said that Xtellus offered to arrange a swap between Lukoil securities owned by U.S. shareholders and the Russian?company’s global assets in exchange for a cashless transaction. Sources said that Lukoil preferred the Xtellus offer, but execution was difficult. Xtellus advises bid partners Todd Boehly, an American billionaire, and Allied Investment Partners of Emirati investors. U.S. investment fund owners have large amounts of Lukoil stock that was frozen and written off?after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, resulting in a loss of?billions? of dollars. The plan was to sell the assets and then pay investors. The U.S. last week extended the deadline to negotiate with Lukoil until January 17. Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and David Gauthier Villars, Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov, Editing by Tomasz and David Goodman
Argentina official says lithium, copper to drive metal exports to $10 bln by 2027
Argentina's mining exports will more than double to around $10 billion in 2027 from some $4 billion this year, the nation's Mining Secretary Luis Lucero told Reuters, driven by a wave of lithium jobs coming online and a nascent push into copper.
In his very first comments to worldwide media since taking office in April, Lucero stated electrical battery metal lithium would be the key driver of the mining export boom, with a batch of tasks set to go into production later on this year.
The South American nation is making an aggressive push to cement itself as an essential provider of lithium and copper, both important for the international drive to construct renewable resource to power electric lorries and artificial intelligence.
An effort to restart copper output, tempting majors such as BHP, Glencore, Lundin Mining, First Quantum and others, will also improve exports when a. appealing pipeline of jobs browses the web in coming years.
Argentina has an essential window of opportunity with. lithium and copper to be a supplier in the worldwide trade. of these metals, Lucero said in written reactions to Reuters. The secretariat decreased ask for a spoken interview.
Argentina's federal government under libertarian President Javier. Milei is making a significant pro-business push on mining, wanting to. pull the economy out of economic downturn after years of debt, currency. and inflation crises.
The nation is currently the world's No. 4 producer of lithium. and is wanting to capture larger producers Chile and China.
Lucero stated Argentina may be able to strike yearly capability of. 200,000 lots of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by the end of. next year or early 2026, up from simply under 140,000 heaps now. This would beat some previous federal government projections.
This would get us closer to third location among lithium. producing nations, Lucero stated, including Argentina might get to. 250,000 loads in the coming years. With these production levels,. lithium would end up being the nation's primary mineral export.
A still-swirling economic crisis remains a major challenge. with yearly inflation above 200%, difficult capital controls and a. deepening economic downturn, however Milei's federal government has won support from. markets and organization with incentive steps for big investment.
Lucero stated the brand-new steps, understood by the Spanish acronym. RIGI, include tax breaks and much better access to foreign currency. for big tasks. He stated this would assist bring an increase of. new financial investment.
He included key lithium projects required capital expenditure. over $8 billion to get up and running, while the main copper. tasks need some $20 billion. He mentioned significant difficulties of. enhancing energy facilities and road connectivity.
The mining secretary included that the government was looking. to extend the helpful life of mature however decreasing silver and. gold mines, previously the primary mining chauffeur, while there was. likewise smaller investments in expedition and growth..
(source: Reuters)