Kazera Global's Aftan Project Attracts Major Investments, Amid Rising Tantalum Demand

[SMM Tantalum-Niobium News] In July 2026, the Penouta mine in Galicia, Spain, completed the final approval and officially revitalized production, becoming the only primary tantalum-niobium supply base in the European Union. The mine was previously shut down due to operator bankruptcy, and Australian ETM company acquired the mining rights for 5.20 million euros and received a capital increase of tens of millions of Australian dollars. The mine area is equipped with mature infrastructure and a complete beneficiation production line, which is in line with the core goal of reducing dependence and building a local industrial chain under the European Union's key raw material law. The company has finalized its operational plan and is expected to achieve monetization of tantalum, niobium, and tin concentrates in 2027.

【SMM Tantalum & Niobium Flash News】Skyline Construction has entered into a merger agreement with Kove Kazakhstan Capital to form a NASDAQ-listed enterprise, Hasa Resources, which will focus on the development of strategic minerals including tungsten, tantalum, niobium and rare earths in Kazakhstan. Its core asset, the North Katpar Tungsten Mine, boasts huge reserves with high-quality associated tantalum and niobium resources, and it has jointly developed multiple mineral projects with Kazakhstan's state-owned mining group. The project has secured a total of USD 1.6 billion in financing from two major US Financial Institutions, and the new company plans to list between late 2026 and early 2027, primarily serving the mineral supply chains of the US military industry and high-end manufacturing sectors.

[SMM Express] Zimbabwe's long-standing strategy to expand domestic chrome beneficiation continues to attract industry attention as the country seeks to increase local ferrochrome production and capture more value from its abundant chromite resources. The policy direction remains centered on encouraging in-country processing while gradually reducing reliance on exports of unprocessed chrome ore. Market participants continue to monitor investment in new smelting capacity and the implementation of beneficiation measures, as these developments could progressively reshape regional chrome ore trade flows. If Zimbabwe succeeds in increasing ferrochrome production, a larger share of domestically mined chrome ore would be consumed locally, potentially reducing ore availability for export while increasing the country's presence in the global ferrochrome market.