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Today on The Mining Insider: First Quantum Minerals released its first quarter 2026 financial and operating results on April 28, with Sentinel's ball mill constraints remaining a drag and Kansanshi's S3 expansion continuing its ramp. Separately, Fortescue is moving toward a long-term iron ore supply deal with China Mineral Resources Group following BHP's recent settlement. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa has unveiled a $100 million US- and UAE-backed paramilitary mining security force — with plans for 3,000 armed guards by December and more than 20,000 by 2028. And in Brazil, a Supreme Court challenge threatens to block USA Rare Earth's $2.8 billion acquisition of Serra Verde, putting one of the most strategically significant rare earth transactions in years in a holding pattern.
Stories covered: - First Quantum Minerals Q1 2026 results — Sentinel ball mill constraints, Kansanshi S3 commercial production, Cobre Panamá stockpile processing timeline - Fortescue–CMRG iron ore long-term supply deal in final stages after BHP's breakthrough - DRC: $100M US/UAE-backed paramilitary mining security force — 3,000 guards by December 2026, 20,000 by 2028 - Brazil: Supreme Court petition filed to halt $2.8B USA Rare Earth acquisition of Serra Verde
Sources: First Quantum Minerals (first-quantum.com), Bloomberg, Mining.com, Al Jazeera, USA Rare Earth (investors.usare.com), PR Newswire/Franco-Nevada
