Centinela Output Could Halve in November, Indonesia Weighs a Nickel Smelter Moratorium, and Kazatomprom Picks China

Unions say Centinela's copper output could fall by half in November as the Yangshan premium hits its highest since 2022. Indonesia is weighing a moratorium on new semi-finished nickel smelters as nickel sits near a year-to-date low. MMG defended its US$500 million bid for Anglo American's Brazilian nickel business before EU regulators. LG Energy Solution signed a 240,000-tonne spodumene offtake with Elevra. Kazatomprom shareholders approved a uranium sale to China and withheld on a Russian deal.

Show Notes

Unions Say Centinela Output Could Halve in November as Copper Premiums Climb: First, copper, where a strike in Chile is meeting a thin market. Reuters reports unions at Antofagasta's Centinela mine said Thursday that the full impact of their strike is expected in November, when production could decrease by half. They say early effects will worsen gradually because a large amount of waste rock has to be removed. The unions say they represent more than half of the mine's critical operators and over 60 percent of its equipment maintenance workers. Antofagasta declined to comment on the estimate and has said it will maintain production guidance. Indonesia Weighs a Moratorium on Semi-Finished Nickel Smelters: Next, nickel, where Indonesia is considering a brake on its own growth. Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia said the government is weighing a moratorium or restrictions on new smelters that produce semi-processed nickel, the Jakarta Post reports. He put nickel supply ahead of demand by about 2.5 million tonnes, and said 50 to 60 percent of Indonesia's smelters still make semi-processed products. MMG Calls EU Concerns Over Anglo American Nickel Deal Unsupported: Meanwhile, in Brussels, MMG defended its 500 million dollar bid for Anglo American's Brazilian nickel business at a day-long hearing on Thursday, Reuters reports. The European Commission opened a full-scale investigation and warned last month that MMG could redirect ferronickel supplies away from Europe, which could hurt the bloc's stainless steel producers. LG Energy Solution Signs 240,000-Tonne Spodumene Deal With Elevra: Next, lithium, where a battery maker is locking in non-Chinese supply. LG Energy Solution said Thursday it signed a multi-year binding offtake agreement with Elevra Lithium for 240,000 dry metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate over four years. The supply comes from Elevra's operating North American Lithium project in Quebec, with deliveries expected to begin later this year. Kazatomprom Shareholders Approve China Uranium Sale, Reject Uranium One Deal: Finally, uranium. Shareholders of Kazatomprom approved a spot-term sale of uranium oxide concentrate to China's State Nuclear Uranium Resource Development Company, known as SNURDC, and did not approve a proposed supply agreement with Russia's Uranium One, according to results reported from the October 7 meeting. SNURDC is a subsidiary of State Power Investment Corporation. Sources: - Reuters via LSE.co.uk — Unions Say Centinela Output Could Halve in November as Copper Premiums Climb: https://www.lse.co.uk/news/strike-could-cut-november-output-at-chiles-centinela-copper-mine-by-half-unions-say-pjian0jxhzg1ffe.html - The Northern Miner — Unions Say Centinela Output Could Halve in November as Copper Premiums Climb: https://www.northernminer.com/news/copper-price-gains-as-chile-strike-threatens-output/1003895558/ - Reuters via Asharq Al-Awsat — Unions Say Centinela Output Could Halve in November as Copper Premiums Climb: https://english.aawsat.com/business/5327654-london-copper-rises-supply-risks-china-buying - The Jakarta Post (smelter moratorium) — Indonesia Weighs a Moratorium on Semi-Finished Nickel Smelters: http://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2026/10/08/indonesia-mulls-nickel-smelter-moratorium-as-global-supply-swells - Antara — Indonesia Weighs a Moratorium on Semi-Finished Nickel Smelters: https://en.antaranews.com/news/434681/indonesia-considers-moratorium-on-semi-finished-processing - The Jakarta Post (Weda Bay launch) — Indonesia Weighs a Moratorium on Semi-Finished Nickel Smelters: https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2026/10/09/prabowo-launches-10-2b-nickel-downstream-projects-at-weda-bay - Reuters — MMG Calls EU Concerns Over Anglo American Nickel Deal Unsupported: https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/mmg-accuses-eu-antitrust-regulators-ignoring-evidence-backing-anglo-american-2026-10-08/ - LG Energy Solution — LG Energy Solution Signs 240,000-Tonne Spodumene Deal With Elevra: https://news.lgensol.com/company-news/press-releases/5412/ - Elevra Lithium (ASX release) — LG Energy Solution Signs 240,000-Tonne Spodumene Deal With Elevra: https://aapnews.aap.com.au/aapreleases/globenewswire9841837 - Mugglehead — Kazatomprom Shareholders Approve China Uranium Sale, Reject Uranium One Deal: https://mugglehead.com/kazatomprom-china-uranium-sale-vote-uranium-one-proposal/ - Kursiv Media — Kazatomprom Shareholders Approve China Uranium Sale, Reject Uranium One Deal: https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2026-10-08/engk-tank-kazatomprom-rejects-deal-with-russias-uranium-one-approves-contract-with-china/ - SP Angel via Share Talk — Kazatomprom Shareholders Approve China Uranium Sale, Reject Uranium One Deal: https://www.share-talk.com/sp-angel-todays-market-view-thursday-8th-october-2026/

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