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The 830-kilometer Lobito Corridor railway — the biggest new build in Zambia since the 1970s — secured $1.32 billion in committed financing at a Nairobi conference on April 24. Africa Finance Corp. ($500M), African Development Bank ($500M), and Italy ($320M) committed the funds. Total project cost is up to $5 billion. EPC bids are due in May, contractor selection targeted by July-August, groundbreaking before year-end 2026 or early 2027, financial close in Q4 2027, completion in 2030. The railway cuts copper cargo transit time from Zambia's Copperbelt to shipping from 16 days to 7. AFC CIO Sameh Shenouda: "We already have commitments for a million tons and we have clear visibility to get to 5 million tons."
Agnico Eagle (NYSE/TSX: AEM) announced three simultaneous acquisitions on April 20 to consolidate Finland's Central Lapland Greenstone Belt: (1) Rupert Resources — Ikkari deposit (3.5M oz probable reserves, 52M tonnes at 2.10 g/t), ~$2.87B CAD upfront (67% premium) plus up to $3.00/share CVR, closing early Q3 2026; (2) Aurion Resources — 761 km2 exploration land, ~$481M CAD cash (46% premium), closing early Q3 2026; (3) B2Gold's 70% Fingold JV stake — US$325M cash, closing April 2026. Combined land: ~2,492 km2. Platform targets ~500,000 oz/year gold within a decade. Up to $500M in synergies from Ikkari-Kittila integration. CEO Al-Joundi: "These transactions deliver on our long-standing regional strategy."
China and Myanmar's military government opened consultations on restoring cross-border trade and mining cooperation for jade and rare earth minerals disrupted by the 2021 coup and ongoing civil conflict in Shan and Kachin states. No formal agreement signed; diplomatic signaling stage. Myanmar is world's largest jadeite producer and a significant rare earth feedstock supplier to China.
