Today’s Key Takeaways: Pantheon raises millions to support Alaska. AKLNG future of natural gas in US? China breaks records on mining investment.
OIL:
Pantheon Resources raises $16.25m to support Alaska
Proactive Investors, July 7, 2025
Pantheon Resources PLC (AIM:PANR, OTCQX:PTHRF) has announced a $16.25 million equity raise, with proceeds set to fund the planned Dubhe-1 appraisal well on Alaska’s North Slope.
A placing and subscription price the new shares at 21.15p each.
A portion of the funds will also be used to support the Ahpun development planning, gas monetisation activities and preparing a US stock exchange listing by late 2025 or early 2026.
“This placement strengthens our hand in discussions around gas commercialisation and in dealings with other potential field development project stakeholders,” executive chair David Hobbs said.
“We now have a clear timetable for drilling of the Dubhe-1 well without risking operational commitments in excess of our financial resources.
Hobbs added: “We made the decision to accept a reasonably priced offer of funding with an eye to our longer-term opportunity set and are grateful to investors for presenting this option to the company.”
GAS:
Alaskan LNG: The Future of Natural Gas
Hiroshi Hashimoto, The National Interest, July 7, 2025
The future of natural gas in the United States will likely be augmented by the construction of a new pipeline in Alaska.
The potential for Alaskan LNG has been attracting attention in the LNG industry for some time. The short paper presents a few points of interest from an eye of a Japanese analyst.
It is a great step for Alaska. According to the latest announcement from the project sponsor, the Alaska LNG “pipeline will be built in two independent, financially viable phases.” The first phase of the pipeline is to supply gas to the domestic market. If the pipeline is developed, it would certainly serve as a solid foundation for a future LNG export project. Contributions to the local energy supply, as well as improved stability and security are important ingredients for a successful gas resource development project around the world.
Alaskan LNG Would be Advantageous
The Alaska LNG project is a project located in the strongest partner country for Japan. The project — if the export phase is developed — can enhance diversification of the energy supply — security of supply — for an LNG-importing country. The project would be advantageous in terms of marine transportation, as it is much closer to the Japanese and other Asian markets than projects in other parts of the United States. It also does not have to go through difficult marine transportation routes.
MINING:
China’s mining investment sets new record
Cecilia Jamasmie, July 7, 2025, Mining.Com
China’s overseas mining investment has soared to its highest level in over a decade, driven by Beijing’s push to secure critical raw materials amid rising geopolitical tensions.
There were 10 deals worth more than $100 million in 2024, the most since 2013 according to data from S&P and Mergermarket data, cited by the Financial Times. Separate research from the Griffith Asia Institute found that last year was the most active for Chinese overseas mining investment and construction since at least 2013.
Long the world’s biggest consumer of many strategic resources, China has invested abroad for years to shore up supply. But analysts say this latest wave reflects an urgent shift. Chinese firms are accelerating acquisitions before mounting political resistance in countries like Canada and the United States shuts more doors.
That urgency remains has remained evident this year. Last week, Zijin Mining announced plans to buy the Raygorodok gold mine in Kazakhstan for $1.2 billion.
In April, China’s Baiyin Nonferrous Group acquired the Mineração Vale Verde copper and gold mine in Brazil from Appian for $420 million.