Liberty Steel secures creditor protection for Ostrava
Beleaguered Czech steel producer Liberty Ostrava has secured a moratorium against its energy supplier Tameh Czech.
The company applied for the moratorium in the regional court in Ostrava under Czech preventive restructuring rules, which enable troubled companies to restructure outside of formal insolvency proceedings.
The ruling "will allow the business to finalise and execute its restructuring plan, which will involve the restart of the blast furnace No.3 and the ramping up of the steel works", a company spokesperson told Argus. "This step aims to allow the business to negotiate terms on securing energy at normal market rates".
Ostrava took its only operational blast furnace off line in October with weaker demand and it has remained shut since. The company's other European blast furnace in Romania's Galati is also off line. Galati applied to Eximbank Romania for "working capital support" under the country's Framework State Aid Scheme Ukraine.
Ostrava has been in talks with Tameh Czech about what it owes. Tameh representatives walked out of the last meeting, according to sources close to parent Liberty Steel. European steel producer ArcelorMittal, which is seeking payment of a €140mn arbitration award from Liberty Steel, owns 50pc of the energy supplier.
Part of Liberty Steel's restructuring plan included the entrance of a strategic partner and the sale of part of its properties. It has 30 days to submit the plan. Liberty is also looking to offload assets in other countries as it looks to ease its working capital issues.
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India to launch policy to boost critical mineral supply
India to launch policy to boost critical mineral supply
Mumbai, 20 May (Argus) — India is working on a critical mineral policy to boost domestic supplies, and plans to collaborate with resource-rich countries in critical minerals mining and processing. The mines ministry and related government institutes like the Geological Survey of India (GSI) are working on a policy to drive domestic exploration and processing of critical minerals, a source close to the development told Argus . Discussions are currently progressing, the source added without providing details on the timeline. India is looking into all aspects to boost domestic production of critical minerals, the source said. India is also seeking critical mineral supplies from overseas to feed burgeoning demand from the green energy and electric vehicle (EV) industries. The Indian government is in talks with several countries including Chile, Australia, and some African countries, over opportunities for mining and technology collaboration for lithium processing and other critical minerals. Critical minerals like copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earths are important for the development of clean energy technologies, including wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles and battery storage. It is crucial for India, which currently relies heavily on imports of lithium-ion cells from China, Japan and South Korea, to develop a robust battery supply chain to meet its ambitious target of 30pc EV penetration by 2030. India is currently conducting feasibility tests on five projects of lithium and cobalt in Australia , said Ministry of Mines' secretary VL Kantha Rao at Khanij Bidesh India (Kabil)'s office opening ceremony on 11 May. Kabil, a joint venture between state-run Nalco and Hindustan Copper and Mineral Exploration, was formed to explore and produce strategically important minerals overseas. The firm in January signed an agreement with Argentinian state mining company Catamarca Minera y Energetica Sociedad del Estado (Caymen) to explore five lithium brine blocks in the Catamarca province of Argentina. India's mines ministry and Rao held several meetings over the past two months with the Chilean government and Chilean state-owned firms such as Empresa Nacional de Mineria and Codelco on critical minerals opportunities. India has also spoken with deputy minister of mining and heavy industry of Mongolia, Uyanga Bold, on co-operation in the critical mineral sector. By Samil Surendran Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Trade curbs spur Chinese battery firms to look overseas
Trade curbs spur Chinese battery firms to look overseas
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US inflation slows broadly in April
US inflation slows broadly in April
Houston, 15 May (Argus) — US consumer price gains eased in April, with core inflation posting the smallest gain in three years, signs the economy is slowing in the face of high borrowing costs. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by an annual 3.4pc in April, easing from 3.5pc over the prior 12-month period, the Labor Department reported on Wednesday. Core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy, rose by 3.6pc, slowing from 3.8pc the prior month. The easing inflation comes as the Federal Reserve has pushed back the expected start of interest rate cuts after holding its target rate at a 23-year high since July 2023 as the US economy has continued to grow and generate jobs at greater than expected rates. Job growth however slowed to 175,000 in April, the lowest since October 2023, and job openings and wage gains have also slowed while a measure of manufacturing has contracted. The CME FedWatch tool boosted the probability of Fed rate cuts in September to about 72pc today from about 65pc on Tuesday. The energy index rose by 2.6pc over the 12 months ended in April, accelerating from 2.1pc. The gasoline index slowed to an annual 1.2pc in April from 1.3pc The food index rose by an annual 2.2pc, matching the prior month. Shelter slowed to 5.5pc from 5.7pc. Services less energy services slowed to 5.3pc from 5.4pc. Transportation services accelerated to an annual 11.2pc, led by insurance costs, from 10.7pc in the 12 months through March. On a monthly basis, CPI inflation slowed to 0.3pc in April from 0.4pc the prior two months. Core inflation slowed to 0.3pc from 0.4pc the prior three months. Energy held flat at a monthly 1.1pc. Services less energy services slowed to a monthly 0.4pc gain from 0.5pc. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Liberty looks to sell or recapitalise EU rolling lines
Liberty looks to sell or recapitalise EU rolling lines
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