- Ontario will invest in 68 early-stage exploration projects through the Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) to support its critical minerals. The program can cover up to 50% of eligible exploration costs. With additional Indigenous Participation funding, prospectors can receive up to C$65,000 per project, while junior mining companies may receive up to C$215,000 per project. "To boost Canada's self-reliance, Ontario is investing heavily in early exploration to build a pipeline for new mines and new jobs," said Stephen Lecce, Canada's minister of energy and mines. READ MORE
- Chile's new government plans to slash bureaucracy for mining companies looking to increase production of copper, lithium and other minerals. Economy and Mining Minister Daniel Mas said that the government aims to transform almost 200 permits into signed authorizations, significantly reducing approval times. The first 90 permits could be ready within six months, he said, following a meeting with mining executives in Antofagasta, the heart of Chile's copper industry. READ MORE
- US critical minerals reserve open to all suppliers – US Ex-Im Bank chair. READ MORE
- March 2026 Finance Report – Broad-based recovery lifts February financing totals. READ MORE
- Exploration Report March 2026 – activity cools; market capitalization climbs. READ MORE
- BHP Group Ltd. began permitting for a new concentrator at its Escondida copper mine in northern Chile, with total investment for the project topping $5 billion. The new project will help keep copper production at current levels for decades to come, as the existing Los Colorados mill nears the end of its useful life and as mine conditions deteriorate. READ MORE
- Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has begun an environmental review process for a $7.5 billion expansion of the El Abra copper mine in Chile. The project includes development of a new concentrator to process copper sulfides and the addition of a new industrial water supply. READ MORE
- Higher royalty rates, triggered by surging gold prices and regulatory changes in key developing jurisdictions, will squeeze production costs and profitability across the gold sector in 2026, miners said on fourth-quarter 2025 earnings calls. Governments across emerging markets are moving to capture a larger share of the value from record gold prices by increasing royalty rates and renegotiating profit-sharing agreements. READ MORE
- Australian miners seek transparency as competition agency launches fuel inquiry. READ MORE
