Mining & Metals: The week in 10 stories

MEXICO

The US is plowing on with a Mexican steel dumping probe, as there is a reasonable indication that domestic producers are being harmed by dumped fabricated structural steel from Mexico, Canada and China.

Excellon was hit by concentrate theft when in transit from the Canadian company's Miguel Auza plant to Manzanillo port over a three-year period, resulting in a 10% blow to revenues.

PERU

Peru will pay compensation to clear a road used by Las Bambas as the China Minmetals' copper mine is unable to export its concentrates due to protests.

Peru's mining exports dropped in January, with lower metals prices affecting miners.

Sierra Metals Peru workers went on strike for second straight year, opposing a change in contractors.

CHILE

Chile's mining projects pipeline hit US$17bn at end 2018, rising from US$15.6bn a year earlier while those under evaluation have planned investment of US$35.3bn.

Antofagasta Minerals is mulling water asset sales at Centinela in a move to help fund a US$2.7bn expansion.

BRAZIL

A string of court orders suspending Vale's operations led to the shutdown of the company's Alegria mine, the seventh operation halted following the dam burst on January 25.

Novelis kicked off a US$170mn Brazil expansion, aimed at bringing total capacity of the Pindamonhangaba facility to approximately 680,000t/y of aluminum sheets and 450,000t/y of recycled metal.

Australia's Colomi is said to have earmarked US$3bn for a Brazil iron ore project comprising a mine, a railroad and a port in the state of Bahia.