News in Numbers

The China National Petroleum Corporation has begun drilling a borehole to a depth of 11,100m in the Taklamakan Desert.

The Indian Government has set royalty rates for lithium mining at 3% above the London Metals Exchange’s prevailing rate.

Metals Acquisition Corp’s purchase of Cobar and its copper mine will cost $1.1bn, with $775m paid in cash.

The central bank of Iraq has purchased another 2.5 tonnes of gold bullion, bringing its total reserves to 132.7 tonnes.

Canadian miner Cornish Metals has announced the start of pump installation at its South Crofty Tin Project, previously closed since 1998.