Stories covered: 1. Barrick's Loulo-Gounkoto Mali complex: multiple unions file strike notices with September 28 deadline — mine workers, catering staff, and Mali's mining regulator all included 2. Copper mine supply heading for first annual decline since 2017 — Sprott Asset Management report; Chile down 9.4% YoY, 600,000 tonnes removed from Grasberg and Kamoa-Kakula 3. US DFC approves $414 million for Global Atomic's Dasa uranium project in Niger — highest-grade deposit in Africa, conditions remain 4. Venezuela and opposition near deal to transfer $4 billion in gold from Bank of England to New York Fed 5. Weekly metals wrap — gold $4,380 (+0.73% week), silver $66.35 (+3.05% week), copper outperforms, iron ore producer equities diverge
Sources: - Reuters (Barrick Mali strike): https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/multiple-unions-threaten-strikes-barricks-flagship-mali-gold-mine-documents-show-2026-09-18/ - Sprott Asset Management (copper supply): https://sprott.com/insights/copper-s-rally-meets-a-deepening-supply-crunch/ - Reuters (Niger uranium): https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-seals-big-uranium-investment-niger-two-years-after-troops-left-2026-09-17/ - Reuters (Venezuela gold): https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuela-nears-deal-move-4-billion-gold-reserve-new-york-ft-says-2026-09-18/ - The Rio Times (weekly metals): https://www.riotimesonline.com/gold-silver-precious-metals-saturday-september-19-2026/
