Latest Environmental Impact News

Buru Energy has formally referred its 100%-owned Rafael Conventional Gas Project to Western Australia’s environmental regulator, with a decision on whether the project requires assessment expected by late 2026. The referral keeps the company’s targets of a final investment decision in the second half of 2027 and first gas in early 2029 in view, subject to approvals.

Patriot Resources has established a 31.4 million-ounce silver-equivalent inferred resource at its Tassa project in Peru, but the company's annual report warns that further capital raising is required to sustain operations. The explorer recorded a $4.82 million loss and remains dependent on final drilling approvals.

Piche Resources has identified a broad gold-silver system at Toro Hosco in Argentina after completing its maiden 5,911-metre drilling campaign. The exploration progress came alongside a $5.27 million annual loss, $5.22 million operating cash outflow and reliance on post-year-end equity funding.

Global Gold Mining ended 2026 with $7.7 million in cash and a cleaner balance sheet, but remains loss-making and dependent on future funding as it pushes Sturec towards a pre-feasibility study. The company’s new identity and board are now attached to a project with 2.686 million ounces of gold, no declared Ore Reserve and several technical milestones still outstanding.

Titanium Sands has warned of material uncertainty over its ability to continue as a going concern, with just $112,578 in cash and $1.8 million of convertible notes due for repayment or conversion. The warning comes as the company prepares to submit the Environmental Impact Assessment for its Mannar Island mineral sands project in October.

St George Mining’s Araxá project now boasts a 111.2Mt rare earths resource after a major post-year-end upgrade, alongside 630,000 tonnes of contained niobium. The 2026 annual report shows a company moving rapidly towards development, but still without an ore reserve, mine design or production decision.

Hot Chili’s La Verde copper-gold discovery has expanded rapidly enough to become a cornerstone of the Costa Fuego project, while new funding gives the company room to pursue the next studies and permits. The key test now is whether drilling can translate into a maiden resource and a credible development case.

Lake Resources has secured the primary provincial environmental permit for its Kachi lithium project in Argentina, clearing the way for detailed engineering and financing work. The approval removes a major development hurdle, but FEED, funding, RIGI approval and a final investment decision remain ahead.

QEM Limited (ASX:QEM) has suspended non-essential work at its Julia Creek vanadium project after metallurgical results undermined the 2024 Scoping Study. The loss-making explorer is now relying on newly acquired Idaho projects, fresh capital and further exploration to justify its next chapter.

Raiden Resources posted a wider FY2026 loss after impairing A$8.86 million of exploration assets, while its cash and term deposits fell to A$11.98 million. The company is now concentrating on Brazil’s Crixás gold tailings project, Bulgarian exploration and a proposed divestment of most of Mt Sholl.

Cobalt Blue has cleared important technical and regulatory hurdles at its Kwinana refinery, but the pre-revenue developer says further funding is needed and auditors flagged material uncertainty over its ability to continue as a going concern. The company reported an A$8.797 million loss for FY2026 despite ending the year with A$4.265 million in cash.

Lake Resources has reduced Kachi’s estimated capital cost by US$220 million and outlined a 25-year, 25,000-tonne-per-year operation. But the lithium developer still needs further funding, environmental approval, offtake and a final investment decision before construction can begin.