BHP Advances Renewable Power Supply and Storage at Escondida & Spence
BHP has signed long‑term agreements with renewable‑technology firm Sungrow to build solar farms and battery storage at its Escondida and Spence copper mines in Chile. The projects will deliver 110 MW of solar and 540 MWh of storage at Escondida and 85 MW of solar with 420 MWh of storage at Spence, enabling on‑site 100% renewable electricity by fiscal year 2029. The initiative builds on BHP’s 2022 achievement of fully renewable power and aims to meet rising electricity demand as copper production expands.
Sandvik, Rio Tinto Partner to Advance Autonomous Open-Pit Drilling
Swedish equipment maker Sandvik and mining giant Rio Tinto have signed a partnership to co‑develop autonomous drilling solutions for open‑pit mines. The collaboration will integrate Sandvik’s i‑series surface drill rigs with Rio Tinto’s Autonomous Drilling System, leveraging AutoMine® technology and...
Beyond Pit-to-Port – Engineering South Africa’s Mining Beneficiation Future
Chris Campbell, CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa, warns that the country’s traditional pit‑to‑port model—exporting raw minerals at roughly ZAR 48 ($2.6) per tonne—drains economic value and job creation. He urges a shift toward beneficiation, citing recent tariff cuts for ferrochrome...
Evonik Partners with University of Guanajuato on Sustainable Mining Chemistry
Evonik has teamed up with the University of Guanajuato’s School of Mining to create sustainable, low‑toxicity chemicals for mineral processing. The collaboration taps Evonik’s industrial‑scale biosurfactant platform to meet soaring demand for copper, gold, rare‑earths and other essential ores while...
Metso Receives Repeat Order to Replace & Modernise Railcar Dumper in APAC
Metso secured a repeat contract to replace and modernise a rail‑car dumper for an Asia‑Pacific mining client, valued at over €10 million (approximately $11 million) and booked in the Minerals segment’s Q1 2026 order book. The scope includes a fully assembled dumper cage...
Komatsu, ABB Working on Joint Dynamic Energy Transfer Proposition
Komatsu and ABB are expanding their dynamic energy transfer technology beyond trolley‑assist systems, developing a “side arm” rail solution to be demonstrated at Komatsu’s Arizona Proving Grounds. The joint system aims to deliver up to 40 MW per galvanic section, enabling...
Haultrax – 100% Growth in Mining Deployments Following New FMS Launch
Haultrax reported a 100% increase in active mining fleet‑management system deployments after unveiling a new commercial model, user interface and HXTag hardware at IMARC 2025. In just four months the company achieved a 24‑fold rise in quarterly customer acquisition, with...
MinRes Commits to Mt Marion Lithium Expansion Including Flotation Plant
Mineral Resources (MinRes) has given the final investment decision to invest about A$490 million (≈US$323 million) in expanding its Mt Marion lithium operation in Western Australia, partnering with Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium. The plan adds a US$158 million flotation plant, underground pre‑production development and ancillary...
Sandvik Launches AutoMine® Aura ‘First-of-Its-Kind’ Automation Platform
Swedish equipment maker Sandvik unveiled AutoMine® Aura, a next‑generation underground mining automation platform. The system adds a 3‑D perception navigation suite that has demonstrated a 15% increase in material moved in a harsh underground mine. Aura integrates with existing mine...
ARLYX ‘Complete Autonomous Solution’ for Underground Material Handling
ARLYX Technologies unveiled the first fully electric, autonomous material‑handling solution designed specifically for underground mines. The system combines a utility vehicle with an AutoLatch™ module that can transport, load and unload up to 5,000 kg without human presence, even during blasting...
Meiteng’s Full-Size Intelligent Coal Dry Separation Plant in Mongolia
Meiteng Technology has operated a full‑size intelligent coal dry‑separation plant in Mongolia’s Gobi region since October 2025. The water‑free system processes 285 t/h, raising coal calorific value by roughly 2,200 kcal/kg while cutting ash by 25‑28%. Leveraging its proprietary TDS® and TGS®...
Sandvik Upgrades Toro LH208L Loader with Stage V Engine, Safety Enhancements and More
Sandvik Mining has unveiled an upgraded Toro LH208L loader aimed at low‑profile underground mines. The new model offers a Volvo Penta Stage V engine that delivers 14% more power and up to 36% more torque, while fitting tunnels with as little as 1.8 m...
MaxMine Deploys Production-Grade Machine Learning System at Australian Mine Sites
MaxMine has rolled out a production‑grade machine‑learning system for load‑and‑dump classification across several Australian mining operators, including Glencore, NRW Holdings and Macmahon. The solution, now six months live, leverages more than 14 million hours of labelled operational data to deliver higher‑accuracy...
Rio Tinto Marks 8 Billion Tonne Iron Ore Shipment Milestone
Rio Tinto announced that its Pilbara operations have shipped a cumulative 8 billion tonnes of iron ore, a milestone reached 60 years after the first export to Japan. The latest cargo left Cape Lambert on May 19, 2026, bound for long‑time partner Nippon...
Core Lithium Kicks Off Open-Pit Mining at Grants Deposit
Core Lithium Ltd has started open‑pit mining at the Grants deposit, the first phase of its Finniss Lithium Operation in Australia’s Northern Territory. The pit contains roughly 784,000 tonnes of ore and is designed to produce about 134,000 tonnes of...