Latest Materials News

Tolu Minerals has set out a Q1 2027 restart target for its Tolukuma gold-silver mine in Papua New Guinea, backed by a recently upgraded 909,000-ounce resource and refurbishment of an existing processing plant. The company says it has sufficient funding to reach production, but the timetable remains dependent on mine development, plant work and operating execution.

Yancoal has completed its US$1.85 billion purchase of an 80% interest in Queensland’s Kestrel metallurgical coal mine, materially expanding its operating portfolio. The deal also leaves up to US$550 million in contingent payments tied to future coal prices.

Australian Foundation Investment Company (ASX:AFI) plans to pay a fully franked 37 cents per share in FY27, including a 10-cent special dividend. The listed investment company will also replace its traditional payment pattern with four quarterly distributions of 9.25 cents.

Lynas Rare Earths has agreed to acquire Meteoric Resources in an all-share deal valued at about A$968 million, adding the Caldeira rare earths project in Brazil to its portfolio. The proposed transaction would materially expand Lynas’ resource base, but still depends on shareholder, court and Brazilian regulatory approvals.

Acusensus has exercised a second six-month extension to its NSW mobile speed camera agreement, adding an estimated $16 million in contracted value through June 2027. The more consequential question remains unresolved: whether the company can convert the ongoing tender into a longer-term deal.

Ampol will acquire Evie Networks for $225 million in a debt-funded deal that would more than triple its public charging footprint to approximately 1,425 bays. The transaction offers a faster route into Australia’s expanding EV infrastructure market, but its earnings case depends on regulatory clearance, integration and rising utilisation.

Native Mineral Resources has produced 313.6oz of gross doré in its latest Blackjack smelt, with preliminary laboratory assays indicating about 157.4oz of contained gold. Mining is scheduled to resume at Mid Pit and Podosky as the company prepares for final refinery results and North Pit drilling updates.

Terra Metals has reported its largest continuous high-grade reef yet at the Southwest PGM-copper-nickel discovery, with a 336.9-metre intercept among new assay results. Heritage access is now cleared across the drilling footprint, while more than 40,000 assays remain pending ahead of a maiden resource estimate planned for Q1 2027.

Metallium has completed a 12-hour campaign using three Flash Joule Heating reactors to process platinum-group-metal-bearing catalytic converter material under reactive chlorination conditions. The milestone advances the company’s scale-up program, but recovery results, product economics and feedstock grades remain unverified.

Helix Resources is shifting its exploration focus from Arizona towards Pilbara gold after a year of acquisitions, portfolio reassessment and a narrowed annual loss. The strategy reset comes with only $83,676 in cash, a stated need for further funding and a proposed Mosquito Creek acquisition awaiting shareholder approval.

Lenders to Sheffield Resources’ Thunderbird joint venture have extended repayment deferrals and covenant waivers until 31 October 2026, buying more time for debt restructuring talks. A proposed standstill could defer Kimberley Mineral Sands’ obligations until June 2027, but has not yet been agreed.

Camplify Holdings cut its FY26 net loss by 95% and returned to profit in the second half as cost reductions and MyWay Mutual reshaped the business. The turnaround remains incomplete, with negative operating cash flow, a net current liability position and an auditor’s material uncertainty warning.