Exiro Minerals, Orion Resource Partners and Canada Growth Fund have acquired an 81.1% stake in Vale’s Thompson nickel operations in northern Manitoba, committing up to US$200 million to sustain and develop the six-decade-old complex. The new vehicle, Exiro Nickel, takes over day-to-day control of two operating underground mines, the adjacent concentrator and exploration ground along the 135 km Thompson Nickel Belt, while Vale Base Metals retains an 18.9% interest. A multi-year offtake agreement keeps Vale buying nickel concentrate from the Thompson mill, providing a defined outlet for future production.

Moeve and Emerita Resources have signed Spain’s first mining-sector agreement to deploy 100% renewable diesel (HVO) at industrial scale, designating Moeve as preferred supplier of this second-generation biofuel. The HVO, derived from waste and residue feedstocks rather than food crops, is claimed to cut lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional diesel. For mine operators, the drop-in fuel compatibility with existing diesel engines offers a near-term route to decarbonise haul trucks and auxiliary fleets without major equipment changes.

US government-backed Project Vault is preparing up to $1 billion in loans for more than a dozen US OEMs in a first tranche, using its VaultCo-managed stockpiling facility to secure critical minerals, processed alloys, powders and specialised magnets against future supply disruptions. The scheme sits on a $10 billion EXIM Bank loan plus nearly $2 billion in private capital, including $500 million each from Glencore and Mercuria, with Mercuria already delivering 12,000 tonnes of Congolese copper into the reserve. More than 70 companies are in talks, signalling strong demand for tailored, manufacturer-specified inventories rather than generic strategic stockpiles.