A financing deal could be reached in the second half of 2020.

Production at its biggest mine Aktogay rose 6.9% to 37.3 kt in the quarter.

The government plans to create parameters, such as size of concession versus area explored, to measure exploration efforts.

RTG Mining acquired a 90% stake in the high-grade Chanach gold and copper project.

Copper prices surged to a one-month high on Monday, on potential supply disruptions owing to violent protests in Chile.

China is likely to become the first country in the world to start mining seabed minerals if the international rules for exploitation are approved next year.

The company has been shifting to underground mining from an open pit at its giant Grasberg mine in Indonesia and had previously warned that production would take a hit.