The MiningWrap BriefNo. 30
Namibia and China sign nine deals covering uranium and lithium cooperation
The week in African mining — 9 July 2026.
1PolicyNamibia and China sign nine deals covering uranium and lithium cooperationNamibia and China signed nine cooperation agreements during President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's state visit to Beijing in July 2026, including a green minerals agreement naming uranium, lithium and rare earths as strategic priorities.
2Energy & InfrastructureLobito Corridor operator plans to double mineral cargo in 2026Lobito Atlantic Railway is aiming to roughly double the tonnage of copper and cobalt it carries in 2026, as weekly train frequency rises toward a longer-term capacity target of 4.6 million tonnes a year.
3MarketsIron ore holds near $109 a tonne as China's record stockpiles cap gainsIron ore prices in China stood at $109.43 a tonne in June 2026, with record port stockpiles and weak construction demand offsetting stronger manufacturing steel use.
4GoldKiniero runs well above nameplate as Guinea's newest gold mine ramps upThe Kiniero gold mine in Guinea produced 54,252oz in the second quarter of 2026, up about 38% on the first, as throughput ran at roughly 9Mtpa against a 6Mtpa nameplate.
5ExplorationWest African Resources' Kiaka mine produces 4.15 tonnes of gold in first halfWest African Resources' Kiaka gold mine produced 133,274 ounces in the first half of 2026, keeping the company on track for annual guidance as Burkina Faso's government increases its equity stake.