--- title: "Mining — News & Analysis | Model Diplomat" description: "Browse 11 stories and expert analysis tagged Mining on Model Diplomat — diplomacy, politics, and global-affairs coverage for Model UN." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/tag/mining" --- > For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://modeldiplomat.com/llms.txt). Skip to main content ## 11 Stories [africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/congo-ships-first-lithium-beijing-wins-race) ### [Congo Ships First Lithium, Beijing Wins Race](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/congo-ships-first-lithium-beijing-wins-race) [Zijin Mining ships DRC's first lithium exports to China, locking in a first-mover advantage as U.S. legal and infrastructure efforts fail to deliver a single tonne of concentrate.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/congo-ships-first-lithium-beijing-wins-race) [2026-07-19](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/congo-ships-first-lithium-beijing-wins-race) [africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/china-wins-the-lithium-race-at-manono) ### [China Wins the Lithium Race at Manono](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/china-wins-the-lithium-race-at-manono) [China's Zijin Mining ships first lithium concentrate from DRC's Manono deposit, winning a three-year legal and infrastructure race against Western rivals. The $1 billion bet on production over arbitration cements Beijing's control of Africa's largest hard-rock lithium deposit.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/china-wins-the-lithium-race-at-manono) [2026-07-19](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/china-wins-the-lithium-race-at-manono) [africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/cameroons-31b-mining-gap) ### [Cameroon's $3.1B Mining Gap](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/cameroons-31b-mining-gap) [Cameroon's $3.1 billion mining pivot from oil to iron ore faces a funding gap: only the Minim Martap bauxite project has financing, while three iron ore projects lack construction capital.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/cameroons-31b-mining-gap) [2026-07-19](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/cameroons-31b-mining-gap) [climate_energy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/copper-supply-gap-threatens-electrification) ### [Copper supply gap threatens electrification](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/copper-supply-gap-threatens-electrification) [Rising copper demand for EVs and renewables outpaces supply as ore grades decline and new mines take 16+ years. World Bank warns 230% production increase needed by 2050.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/copper-supply-gap-threatens-electrification) [2026-07-18](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/copper-supply-gap-threatens-electrification) [climate_energy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/drc-tax-raid-threatens-us-9b-congo-minerals) ### [DRC Tax Raid Threatens US $9B Congo Minerals](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/drc-tax-raid-threatens-us-9b-congo-minerals) [DRC tax authorities seal Glencore's Kamoto offices over transfer-pricing dispute, threatening US-backed $9 billion critical minerals deal for 40% stake in copper-cobalt mines.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/drc-tax-raid-threatens-us-9b-congo-minerals) [2026-07-16](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/drc-tax-raid-threatens-us-9b-congo-minerals) [latin_america](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/kasts-mining-reform-bets-chiles-104bn) ### [Kast's Mining Reform Bets Chile's $104bn](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/kasts-mining-reform-bets-chiles-104bn) [Kast's National Reconstruction Bill proposes tax cuts and investment shields to revive Chile's $104 billion mining pipeline, but Senate support is uncertain.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/kasts-mining-reform-bets-chiles-104bn) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/kasts-mining-reform-bets-chiles-104bn) [economics_markets](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/sherritt-exits-cuba-ofac-sanctions-impact) ### [Sherritt Exits Cuba: OFAC Sanctions Impact](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/sherritt-exits-cuba-ofac-sanctions-impact) [Sherritt International suspends its Cuban joint venture after US sanctions target GAESA executive, impacting cobalt prices and Cuba's economy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/sherritt-exits-cuba-ofac-sanctions-impact) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/sherritt-exits-cuba-ofac-sanctions-impact) [climate_energy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trump-greenlights-hermosa-mine-in-arizona) ### [Trump Greenlights Hermosa Mine in Arizona](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trump-greenlights-hermosa-mine-in-arizona) [The Trump administration approves South32's Hermosa Mine, a $3.3 billion project, as a strategic move against Chinese mineral dependency.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trump-greenlights-hermosa-mine-in-arizona) [2026-07-07](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trump-greenlights-hermosa-mine-in-arizona) [climate_energy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/greenmets-rare-earths-hub-and-pentagon-ban) ### [GreenMet's Rare Earths Hub and Pentagon Ban](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/greenmets-rare-earths-hub-and-pentagon-ban) [GreenMet unveils a $150M rare earths processing hub in West Virginia, timed with the Pentagon's 2027 ban on Chinese-origin materials.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/greenmets-rare-earths-hub-and-pentagon-ban) [2026-07-07](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/greenmets-rare-earths-hub-and-pentagon-ban) [africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/bikita-minerals-bets-400m-on-lithium-plant) ### [Bikita Minerals Bets $400M on Lithium Plant](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/bikita-minerals-bets-400m-on-lithium-plant) [Sinomine's $400M lithium sulphate plant in Zimbabwe aims to transform the country into a key player in the battery supply chain, enhancing China's control.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/bikita-minerals-bets-400m-on-lithium-plant) [2026-07-07](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/bikita-minerals-bets-400m-on-lithium-plant) [us politics](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-senate-repeals-minnesota-mining-ban-boosts-twin-metals-project) ### [Senate Repeals Minnesota Mining Ban for Twin](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-senate-repeals-minnesota-mining-ban-boosts-twin-metals-project) [The Senate's repeal of a 20-year mining moratorium in Minnesota allows Twin Metals to proceed, raising concerns over environmental impacts and foreign ownership.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-senate-repeals-minnesota-mining-ban-boosts-twin-metals-project) [2026-04-17](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-senate-repeals-minnesota-mining-ban-boosts-twin-metals-project)