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This year is shaping up to be another tough one for the world’s lithium producers, but the Australian sector is taking new price lows in its stride.

A First Nation group has asked the Yukon government to initiate steps to remove the management of Victoria Gold Corp, citing failure of the top executives to contain the environmental damage caused by the company’s Eagle gold mine.

The Yukon government is taking over more tasks in the cleanup effort at Victoria Gold’s (TSXV: VGCX) Eagle mine, as the company has missed more conditions of the remediation plan.

Europe-focused Metals One (AIM: MET1) announced Thursday that Kingsrose Mining (ASX: KRM), partner and operator of its Råna nickel-copper-cobalt project in Norway, has entered into a contract to begin core drilling at the Rånbogen prospect in August.

Zambia has asked mining companies in Africa’s second-biggest copper producer to double their power-saving efforts to 40% of normal demand, as the worst drought in decades saps hydroelectric generation.

Indonesia’s nickel production surge is crushing competitors and challenging the West’s ambitions of diversifying its critical metals supply chains.

The danger of cyanide contamination following the accident at Victoria Gold’s (TSXV: GCX) Eagle mine in Yukon might be fading after the latest test results show low levels of the chemical in water bodies.

Africa-focused Montage Gold (TSX-V: MAU) has secured the final mining permit for its flagship Koné project in Côte d’Ivoire, which allows it to begin mine construction and is valid for 20 years.

Less than a month after landing a potential debt financing deal to redevelop its past-producing La Cobaltera project in northern Chile, Chilean Cobalt (US-OTC: COBA) has signed a letter of intent with Glencore (LSE: GLEN) for an offtake agreement covering the first five years of production.

Gem Diamonds (LSE: GEMD) has announced the recovery of a 123.2-carat type II white diamond at its Letšeng mine in Lesotho.

Victoria Gold (TSXV: GCX) faces charges after a heap leach pad (HLP) accident this week at its Eagle mine in Yukon caused a landslide and potential cyanide leak, the second landslide this year, the government said Friday.

South African gold miner AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE: AU; ASX: AGG; JSE: ANG) plans to spend 1.1 billion reais (US$198 million) in Brazil this year, mainly on exploration.