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November 25, 2025

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Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY,JSE:HAR) announced that it has approved development of its Eva Copper project in Queensland after completing an updated feasibility study, with an estimated capital of US$1.75 billion across a three-year window.

The South African miner said Monday (November24) that its board signed off on the Final Investment Decision for the Eva copper project, a 100-percent-owned project in northwest Queensland expected to deliver high margins and a long operating life.

Harmony plans to build a low strip-ratio open-pit mine capable of producing about 65,000 metric tons of copper concentrate annually during its first five years, with an average life-of-mine profile of roughly 60,000 metric tons of copper and 19,000 ounces of gold per year over an estimated 15-year span.

The mine will process about 18 million metric tons of ore per year and carry an all-in sustaining cost of approximately US$2.50 per pound.

CEO Beyers Nel said the feasibility results confirm the company’s shift toward a balanced gold-and-copper portfolio.

“The Eva Copper Feasibility Study delivers a strong, high-confidence outcome that positions Harmony for the next phase of growth as we continue building a high-quality, low-cost portfolio,” he said.

Nel also tied Eva Copper to Harmony’s expanding strategy, pointing to the company’s recently completed MAC Copper acquisition.

“Eva Copper, together with our recent MAC Copper acquisition, creates a compelling platform that brings together the enduring value of gold with the future-facing strength of copper, enhancing cash flow resilience across commodity cycles,” he said.

Last month, Harmony completed its US$1.01 billion acquisition of MAC Copper, giving the company full ownership of the high-grade CSA copper mine in New South Wales.

The company said the purchase builds on its strategic push to strengthen its copper position in Tier-1 jurisdictions. It also expects its two major Australian copper assets to deliver a combined 100,000 metric tons of copper annually once fully commissioned.

Meanwhile, the Eva Copper project was acquired by the company in October 2022 and has since completed 166,000 metres of drilling. The current two-million-metric-ton copper resource underpins the potential for future extensions to the mine’s life.

Harmony anticipates first production in the second half of 2028, a timeline it says aligns with a structural deficit in copper supply that could support stronger prices.

Board approval moves the project into the execution phase. Mobilization to site is expected in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, subject to amendments to the project’s Environmental Authority.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) has taken a major step toward ending its months-long standoff with Mali, confirming a deal that will restore its control over one of Africa’s most productive gold operations.

After reports that the two sides had reached an agreement in principle circulated last week, Barrick confirmed on Monday (November 24), it will withdraw its arbitration claim at the World Bank’s dispute-resolution center.

Mali’s government has committed to dropping all charges, releasing detained employees and returning full operational authority for the Loulo-Gounkoto complex.

Tensions spiked in January when Mali’s military government halted gold exports, detained senior Barrick personnel and seized several tonnes of gold from the site.

A local court later appointed former health minister Soumana Makadji to run the operation under state oversight, effectively pushing Barrick out of a mine it has long managed through a joint venture.

The agreement marks a significant reversal of that intervention and paves the way for Loulo-Gounkoto to return to normal operations.

Production only resumed in late October after a separate deal to restart payments to local contractors, though at that time Barrick did not comment publicly on the arrangement.

Monday’s settlement with the government now sets the stage for a full restoration of the joint venture.

The breakthrough also comes as the company faces intensifying pressure on multiple fronts, as activist investor Elliott Investment Management has recently acquired a major stake worth at least US$700 million in the company.

Elliott is known for forcing corporate overhauls in the mining sector, and its arrival has sharpened scrutiny of Barrick’s performance after a year marked by falling production and rising costs.

The company has lagged peers despite record-high gold prices, with analysts citing the setbacks in Mali, ongoing concerns around the massive Reko Diq project in Pakistan, and turbulence in the executive ranks.

That turbulence erupted publicly in September with the abrupt exit of longtime chief executive Mark Bristow, whose relationship with Barrick chair John Thornton had reportedly deteriorated after years of missed guidance and strategic disagreements.

Sources told the Financial Times the two had barely been speaking by the time headhunters were commissioned to evaluate successors.

Interim chief executive Mark Hill has been trying to stabilize the company with a sweeping reorganization. In an internal memo reviewed by Bloomberg, he said Barrick would fold the Pueblo Viejo mine into its North American division and merge its Latin America and Asia Pacific operations.

He also announced leadership changes to sharpen the focus on Barrick’s Nevada mines, one of the company’s most valuable assets but also the site of serious safety lapses this year.

The restructuring has revived speculation about whether Barrick could eventually split its portfolio into separate companies or become a takeover target.

Currently, the company trades at a lower valuation multiple than rivals, making its assets particularly attractive if separated into a North America-focused unit and other housing operations in Africa, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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In its 2025 federal budget, the Canadian government lays out a bold blueprint to foster competition, innovation and inclusion in the financial sector by accelerating open banking adoption.

With the Big Six banks holding 93 percent of banking assets, this consumer-driven reform aims to dismantle longstanding barriers, giving Canadians and small businesses greater control over their financial data and choices.

The promise of open banking in Canada

Open banking, also known as consumer-driven banking, enables secure, reliable and affordable sharing of financial data between banks and third-party service providers. The goal of this framework is to empower consumers by bringing them more customized and transparent financial products and services.

The Canadian government’s recent announcements, including legislative proposals and an oversight shift from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) to the Bank of Canada (BoC), signal a serious commitment to delivering a competitive and consumer-centric financial ecosystem. Boms explained that, if implemented correctly, open banking could drive innovation and inclusion across Canada’s financial sector.

“It means a more holistic picture of your total financial life, including your investment portfolios,” he commented. “It’s also something that every other G7 country has and has had for quite some time, and so it provides the basis for a more competitive, more innovative and more efficient financial system.”

One shift in the proposed framework that Boms said is vital is the BoC taking control of regulatory oversight.

‘The FCAC, where (oversight) lived originally, really didn’t have any experience in creating a regulatory framework for non-banks,’ he said. In contrast, the BoC has direct experience in licensing for non-banks serving consumers. It oversees fintech firms such as Wealthsimple, Koho, Brim Financial and Venn under the Retail Payments Activities Act.

Smaller financial institutions, including credit unions, will stand to benefit significantly from this change, leveling the playing field with the Big Six banks, which, as mentioned, currently dominate banking assets.

However, Boms emphasized the importance of a risk- and size-based regulatory approach to ensure these smaller players can innovate without undue burdens: “You have to recognize that fundamentally smaller financial institutions, smaller fintechs, don’t have the same resources as bigger incumbents.”

Canadian budget measures supporting competition

This year’s Canadian federal budget introduces several important measures to enhance competition and give consumers more choice beyond the dominant bank oligopoly. One of the flagship promises is to ban transfer fees for investment and registered accounts, fees that currently cost Canadians around C$150 per account.

Draft regulations are expected by spring 2026 to enforce this ban, reducing friction and costs for consumers. Additionally, the budget includes initiatives to simplify switching primary chequing accounts between financial institutions, further lowering barriers for Canadians to move their banking relationships.

The budget also targets cross-border transfer fees by improving transparency, including fees related to foreign exchange margins, so consumers can better understand the costs of sending money internationally.

Accessibility to cheque funds will be improved by raising the dollar threshold and shortening hold periods on cheque deposits, benefiting Canadians who rely on cheques.

To support smaller lenders and foster broader financial inclusion, legislative amendments will make it easier for federal credit unions to scale and for provincial credit unions to enter the federal regulatory regime.

“If (smaller financial institutions) can get access to consumer data digitally, they can then become much more competitive without having to build the same type of infrastructure the biggest banks can afford to build,” said Boms.

A voluntary code of conduct is planned to improve smaller financial institutions’ access to brokered deposit channels, a vital funding source for growth. Furthermore, changes to the Bank Act and Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act will raise public holding requirement thresholds for smaller institutions.

That will allow them more flexibility to grow before triggering changes in ownership structure.

While Canada is still rolling out its open banking framework, countries like the UK and Australia demonstrate how open banking adoption fuels economic resilience and consumer benefits.

“Canada has learned from the experiences of (other) jurisdictions, good and bad, and taken those learnings and implemented (them) into what we see here,’ said Boms.

The future of open banking in Canada

With a 2026 target for full read access, market participants are gearing up for a transformative shift in how financial data is handled. This initiative marks a pivotal move toward democratizing financial data and services in Canada.

The BoC’s expanded oversight role, coinciding with the launch of the real-time rail payment infrastructure and phased “write access” capabilities by mid-2027, will accelerate the system’s rollout.

This evolving infrastructure will facilitate instant payments and empower consumers with the ability to initiate actions like bill payments and account switching seamlessly.

Boms and FDATA Canada stand ready to guide this transformation, ensuring that open banking in Canada not only enhances competition, but also maintains safety, security and consumer protection.

Open banking’s architecture also presents fresh opportunities for digital currencies, with new legislation introduced requiring stablecoin issuers to maintain adequate high-quality reserves, clear redemption policies and robust risk management and security standards. Stablecoins could complement open banking by enabling faster, cheaper cross-border payments and settlements, especially for consumers and small businesses.

As open banking takes shape, Canadians and small businesses will gain unprecedented control over their financial lives, a change poised to ignite innovation, unlock economic potential and reshape the country’s banking landscape.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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BTU METALS CORP. (‘BTU’ or the ‘Company’) (TSXV:BTU)(OTCQB:BTUMF) announces that, further to the news release of November 11, 2025, the Company has closed the previously announced, over-subscribed non-brokered private placement of flow-through common shares by the issuance of 17,700,000 flow-through shares at a price of $0.05 per FT Share (the ‘FT Offering’), for gross proceeds of $885,000.

Each flow-through unit shall be comprised of one common share of the company issued on a flow-through basis and one-half of one common share purchase warrant to be issued on a non-flow-through basis. Each whole warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share of BTU at a price of $0.09 for a period of 12 months following the closing of the offering. The flow-through shares will qualify as flow-through shares (within the meaning of Subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and Section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec).

In connection with the oversubscribed offering, the company paid finders’ fees to eligible finders consisting of $58,450 in cash and 1,106,000 non-transferable common share purchase warrants. Each finder warrant is exercisable to acquire one common share in the capital of the company at an exercise price of $0.05 per common share for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance. Closing of the offering is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued under the offering, and any Shares that may be issuable on exercise of any such securities, will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance of such securities.

‘The overwhelming response for this financing demonstrates strong market support for BTU’s portfolio of Ontario-based exploration projects in both the prolific Red Lake and Wawa mining districts,’ stated Paul Wood, CEO. We look forward to advancing all of our projects immediately and into 2026.’

About BTU
BTU Metals Corp. is a junior mining exploration company. BTU’s primary assets are the Dixie Halo Project located in Red Lake, Ontario (optioned to Kinross) immediately adjacent to the Kinross Great Bear Project, the Dixie East project and its gold and critical minerals properties in the active Wawa gold district. The Company continues to look to acquire high quality exploration projects to add to its portfolio for the benefit of its stakeholders. The Company has no debt and minimal property obligations.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Paul Wood

Paul Wood, CEO, Director
pwood@btumetals.com
BTU Metals Corp.
Telephone: 1-604-683-3995
Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770

Cautionary Statement
Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. The information in this release about future plans and objectives of the Company is forward-looking information. Other forward-looking information includes but is not limited to information concerning: the intentions, plans and future actions of the Company.

Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as ‘expects’, or ‘does not expect’, ‘is expected’, ‘anticipates’ or ‘does not anticipate’, ‘plans’, ‘budget’, ‘scheduled’, ‘forecasts’, ‘estimates’, ‘believes’ or ‘intends’ or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results ‘may’ or ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’ or ‘will’ be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information.

This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time it was made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others: risks relating to the global economic climate; dilution; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for the Company to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on the Company and the industry; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the normal course of business. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law.


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