China’s sudden halt of sulfuric acid exports, after shipping 4.65 million tonnes in 2025 (about 40% from metal smelters), has doubled delivered acid prices to Chile since February and is squeezing heap-leach copper operations in Chile, the DRC and Zambia. Randy Allen argues that for each tonne of copper from sulfide concentrates, 3–3.5 tonnes of sulfuric acid can be generated and monetised, alongside co-products such as ferrous sulfate and iron oxides. He points to pressure oxidation and electrochemical reductive leaching as non-combustion routes to capture copper and fully valorise sulfur, cutting SO₂ emissions and acid mine drainage risks.

CIM has appointed Lucy Potter, currently general manager of technical and sustainability at Rio Tinto’s Iron & Titanium and Diamonds division, as president-elect for the 2028–29 term, following John Rhind (2026–27) and Randy Smallwood (2027–28). With more than 25 years’ experience across exploration, mineral resource stewardship, operations and technical governance at Rio Tinto and Glencore, Potter has previously served as global head of geology and mineral resources. Her mandate will centre on technical assurance, enterprise risk and sustainable production, with a strong emphasis on value-chain-wide knowledge sharing.

Militant attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, including a 31 January raid by about 500 Baloch Liberation Army fighters that killed nearly three dozen people and cut road access to Reko Diq, are forcing Barrick Mining to slow development of its $9 billion copper-gold project towards mid-2027. The two-stage mine is designed to produce 200,000 tonnes of copper concentrate and 250,000 oz. of gold annually in a $5.5 billion first phase, doubling output in a $3.5 billion second phase, from 1.5 billion tonnes of reserves grading 0.48% Cu and 0.28 g/t Au. Security instability now threatens both the project’s projected $74 billion in free cash flow over 37 years and a $1.3 billion US-Pakistan investment pact aimed at countering Chinese-backed infrastructure in Balochistan.