Canada puts its big miners off limits just as M&A is heating up

The Tia Maria mine has been on hold for years amid community opposition over fears of the mine's environmental impact.

It is the same mine where an explosion in May 2020 critically injured five workers.

Vedanta now needs to follow the court ruling by releasing $250 million to settle debts that KCM owes to contractors and suppliers.

The offer unveiled earlier this month was less than the government's target, but Vale has expressed hope that a "consensus" would be achieved by the end of month.

The question of where the M&A spotlight is next going to fall has a sector newly buzzing with intrigue.

Billionaire Anil Agarwal’s firm is ready to pay $250 million to settle debts owed by the Konkola mine.

The Codelco-SQM agreement is a major plank of the Chilean government's aim to take a stronger role in lithium output.

Oversupply from China and a softening of aggressive EV adoption rates has dragged lithium prices down more than 80% in the last year.

Teck has set ambitious targets in sustainability, including being carbon neutral by 2050.