Daily Mining Industry Report: July 1, 2025

Daily Mining Industry Report: July 1, 2025

🇨🇦 Canadian Highlights

Lundin Mining Announces Share Buybacks and Corporate Updates
Lundin Mining revealed a refreshed share capital structure, initiated a share buyback program, and disclosed both its ESTMA and Modern Slavery reports—demonstrating enhanced corporate governance and responsible sourcing transparency future-of-mining.com+5ca.finance.yahoo.com+5marketwatch.com+5.

Canada Invests in Critical Mineral Supply Chain
The implementation of the updated Minerals and Metals Policy underscores Canada’s commitment to supporting provincial mining jurisdictions while reinforcing federal coordination. This strategic alignment aims to ensure secure sourcing of critical materials pwc.com+2natural-resources.canada.ca+2arxiv.org+2.

🌍 Global Developments

China Ascends to Top Lithium Producer by 2026
Fastmarkets projects that China will extract 8,000–10,000 more tonnes of lithium annually than Australia by 2026, thanks to expanding lepidolite mining and state-backed production and refining capacity theaustralian.com.au+6reuters.com+6reuters.com+6.

Lithium Prices Plunge Amid Oversupply
Despite a 24% surge in demand last year, lithium prices have dropped over 90%, driven by Chinese oversupply. The industry is adjusting through cost-cutting, consolidations, and R&D into direct extraction technologies reuters.com.

Mali Finalizes State Takeover of Abandoned Gold Mines
The Malian government has assumed control of the Yatela and Morila gold sites, formerly inactive, opening discussions on rehabilitation or commercial reactivation reuters.com.

⚙️ Technological & Regulatory Trends

• Mining 4.0 Transformation
  PwC highlights a shift toward sustainable and digitally integrated operations, with AI-enabled decision-making and automation enhancing ESG outcomes and human-centred mining frameworks .

• UAV LiDAR in Action
  New research demonstrates the efficacy of UAV-mounted LiDAR and AI object detection—paving the way for real-time digital twins and improved safety in open-pit mines arxiv.org.

• Alberta Lifts Coal Moratorium
  Alberta rescinded its Eastern Slopes coal exploration ban, reopening approximately 190,000 hectares for development. The decision reignited concerns from environmental advocates and First Nations about land and water impacts en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.

📈 Market & Strategic Outlook

• Critical Metals Race: China’s lithium surge and price collapse demonstrate market challenges in supply-chain rebalancing and the need for extraction innovation.

• Governance & Social Consent: Canada’s policy updates and Alberta’s coal decision underline tensions between regulatory ambition and environmental/community concerns.

• Tech-Driven Resilience: Adoption of UAV sensing and Mining 4.0 frameworks supports sustainability, productivity, and future-proofing of operations.

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