Aura Energy raised C$10M for its Swedish battery metals project via a reverse takeover, planning a 2026 TSX Venture listing, while Rio Tinto explores a $260B merger with Glencore amid surging demand for copper and critical minerals.

Aura Energy raised C$10 million for its Swedish Häggån polymetallic project through a reverse takeover involving newly formed SIU Metals Corp, retaining a 78.7% stake and planning a TSX Venture listing in 2026. The funds will advance permitting, exploration, and development amid growing demand for battery metals. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto is pursuing a potential $260 billion merger with Glencore, a non-binding move under a February 5, 2026, regulatory deadline, reflecting a major industry shift toward copper and critical minerals driven by the energy transition and rising demand from electrification and AI infrastructure.