BHP Port Hedland Strike Looms as Angus Taylor Invokes the 1980s, Mozambique Mandates 15% State Ownership, POSCO Enters Mongolia, and The Metals Company Eyes the First Deep-Sea Mining Permit

Today on The Mining Insider: The BHP Port Hedland labor dispute has escalated to approximately 450 workers with strikes possible as early as this week. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor warned that WA is repeating the 1980s. A full port shutdown would cost over $120M per day in revenue and $7M per day in state royalties. Bargaining session June 23. Mozambique enacted 15% mandatory state ownership in all mining ventures — third African nation after Zimbabwe and DRC to tighten critical minerals terms. POSCO International signed an MOU with Erdenes Mongol to develop copper, coal, rare earths, and lithium in Mongolia — world second-largest copper reserve nation. The Metals Company received NOAA certification of its USA-B application for 65,000 sq km of Pacific seabed polymetallic nodule mining; commercial permit expected Q1 2027; ISA Secretary-General calls it a violation of international law. Sources: The West Australian (https://thewest.com.au/business/wa-lost-badly-angus-taylor-calls-on-history-in-warning-against-bhp-port-hedland-strike-c-22420455), Mining Digital (https://miningdigital.com/news/top-5-stories-of-the-week-in-mining-digital-june-13-2026), Seoul Economic Daily (https://en.sedaily.com/business/2026/06/13/posco-international-enters-mongolias-mineral-development), Caliber.az (https://caliber.az/en/post/canadian-firm-eyes-first-deep-sea-mining-permit-despite-challenging-un-framework)