Ivanhoe Buys $64.7M Robbins TBM for Arizona Mine
Ivanhoe Electric announced the purchase of a Robbins Crossover XRE tunnel boring machine for $64.7 million to develop a 4‑kilometre decline at its Santa Cruz copper project in Arizona. The 9.3‑meter‑diameter TBM will create a large‑diameter underground access tunnel, accelerating the mine’s development schedule. The acquisition underscores Ivanhoe’s commitment to modern, high‑capacity mining infrastructure as copper demand rises. The machine includes an integrated material‑handling system to streamline ore transport and waste removal.
Reko Diq Contracting Strategy, Capital Key to Restart
Barrick Mining has initiated a 12‑month review of its paused Reko Diq copper‑gold development in Pakistan to better understand the capital required and refine its contracting strategy. The review follows a shift in the project's partnership dynamics, notably the changed...
Global Copper Smelting Nosedives in April
Global copper smelting activity plunged in April, driven by a confluence of factors rather than a single event. Maintenance schedules in China curtailed production, while major smelters in Iran and Australia were offline. Chile's flagship Chuquicamata plant reported patchy operations,...
NESI and Vulcan Break Ground on German Lithium Refinery
NESI and Vulcan have begun construction on a 24,000‑tonne‑per‑year lithium refinery in Frankfurt, marking Europe’s first commercial‑scale electrochemical lithium‑refining facility. The plant is designed to produce enough lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) for roughly 500,000 electric‑vehicle batteries each year. NESI recently...
FMG to Pay $150M for Solomon Hub Disruptions
Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) has been ordered by a Federal Court judge to pay just over $150 million to the Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation for economic and spiritual losses tied to disruptions at the Solomon Hub in Western Australia. The hub,...
Indonesia Postpones Royalties Bump
Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources announced a postponement of the scheduled increase in mine royalties. Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the delay is intended to allow the government to develop a more beneficial formulation of the royalty structure. The...
Ionic Closes Recycled Rare Earth Loop
Ionic Rare Earths (IonicRE) announced the first fully circular supply chain for permanent‑magnet rare earths used in electric‑vehicle motors, delivering a Ford EV rotor made entirely from recycled material. The project demonstrates that rare‑earth magnets can be produced without any...
Rosebery Cuts First New Portal in 30 Years
MMG has opened a new underground portal at its Rosebery Mine in Tasmania, the first such development in three decades. The portal, named after Tom McDonald who discovered the orebody in 1893, is part of a multi‑million‑dollar expansion designed to extend...
Elemission Wins GRX26 Global Innovation Challenge
Canadian exploration technology firm Elemission has won the Global Open Innovation Colab challenge at the GRX26 conference, beating five other finalists including Australia’s Opticlino. The competition, part of the GRX26 Pitch Battle, spotlighted cutting‑edge solutions for mineral discovery. Elemission’s expertise...
Freeing AI Projects From Pilot Purgatory
Mining firms are increasingly experimenting with artificial‑intelligence tools, but many pilots never leave the testing phase. The industry faces a “pilot purgatory” where proof‑of‑concept projects stall despite promising results. Analysts attribute the bottleneck to unclear business cases, fragmented data environments,...
Yindjibarndi in Rio Tinto Power Play
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation, a joint venture between the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and ACEN, has secured a 30‑year power purchase agreement with Rio Tinto for its upcoming Jinbi Solar Project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The agreement will see the solar farm...
Rolls-Royce Wants to Cut Mining's Biggest Fuel Bill by 30%
Rolls‑Royce Power Systems is developing a hybrid drive system for open‑pit mining haul trucks that could cut fuel consumption by roughly 30%. The company plans to start field testing the technology at an active mine site in autumn 2026. If...
Loadquip Salt Harvester for Mardie
Loadquip, an Australian OEM, has delivered a 1,500‑tonne‑per‑hour salt harvester to BCI Mineral for its Mardie operation on the Pilbara coast. The machine moves across salt ponds, scoops bulk salt and directly loads it onto trailers, automating a task traditionally...
Julie Bishop's Five Rules for Resources Diplomacy
Former Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop outlines five guiding principles for resources diplomacy, arguing that the current geopolitical realignment makes resource security a strategic priority for both governments and corporations. Her framework stresses early engagement with host nations, diversification of...
Strategic Finds More Tin in Historic Drill Cores
Strategic Minerals has re‑assayed 428 historic drill cores from its Redmoor project in Cornwall using new analytical technology. The upgraded assays reveal significantly higher tin concentrations than previously recorded, despite the project’s original focus on tungsten. The findings suggest a...
South African Miners Pivot to Atlantic Diesel Supplies
South African mining firms are redirecting diesel purchases from the Middle East to suppliers in the United States and Brazil. The shift follows a sharp rise in diesel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which now...
Konecranes to Supply Overhead Cranes to Indonesian Steel Processor
Finnish crane maker Konecranes secured a contract to supply nine overhead cranes to PT Tata Metal Lestari’s steel processing plant in Sadang, West Java. The equipment, equipped with the company’s TRUCONNECT remote‑monitoring system, will be delivered and installed in the...
'Seamless, End-to-End Workflow': Leapfrog's Big Update
Seequent, a Bentley Systems company, has launched Leapfrog 2026.1, a major upgrade to its Geo and Edge platforms. The release introduces an advanced stratigraphy surface, new interaction tools, and tighter integrations with GIS and data‑management systems, promising a seamless end‑to‑end workflow...
Bechtel and Eimisa Partner to Deliver to Chilean Mining
Global engineering leader Bechtel announced a formal partnership with Chilean construction and industrial services firm EIMISA. The joint venture will deliver integrated engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) solutions for upcoming mining projects, beginning with the expansion of Antofagasta’s Los Pelambrees...
McEwen Files Tartan Technical Report
Canada‑based McEwen Mining has lodged an independent technical report for its Tartan Mine near Flin Flon, Manitoba, confirming a gold resource exceeding 611,000 oz. The filing paves the way to restart the legacy underground operation, which the company plans to scale up...
China Tightens Screws on Rare Earth Production
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced draft regulations that would impose strict production quotas and licensing requirements on rare‑earth miners. The measures target over‑production that has depressed global prices and aim to stabilize the market ahead of President...
Schaeffler and CiDi Join Hands for Truck Autonomy
German automotive supplier Schaeffler has signed a strategic agreement with Chinese autonomous‑driving firm CiDi to fuse Schaeffler's electric drive hardware with CiDi's autonomy software for mining trucks. The partnership designates each company as a strategic supplier and preferred customer, leveraging...
Heidelberg Materials Makes Autonomy Moves
German building‑materials giant Heidelberg Materials has signed deals with California‑based Applied Intuition and AI‑driven platform Pronto to deploy autonomous haulage systems (AHS) at its quarry in Australia, with a roadmap to expand across North America. The collaboration combines Applied Intuition’s...
Mastermyne to Appeal A$7.3M Penalty for Crinum Death
Australian underground coal contractor Mastermyne has been fined A$7.3 million (about $4.8 million USD) and ordered to pay A$300,000 in court costs after a judge ruled that the September 2021 death of 62‑year‑old Graham Dawson was avoidable. The conviction will be recorded against...
Strategic Reliability in an Uncertain Global Market
Mining operators face soaring risks as crude prices swing, base‑oil supplies tighten and logistics bottlenecks threaten production. A single crusher outage can cost more than $100,000 per day, prompting maintenance teams to seek supply‑assurance partners rather than simple lubricant vendors....
Cool in a Crisis: How RHIM Mitigated the Middle East Supply Shock
RHIM, a global refractories supplier headquartered in Dubai, faced a sudden supply shock after regional attacks in the Middle East. The company shut its Dubai office immediately, mirroring actions taken by many local firms. Leveraging its worldwide manufacturing footprint, diversified...
Maricunga District Promises Long Life for Kinross
Kinross Gold has secured mining rights in Chile’s Maricunga district, targeting the Marte gold project. The company projects the mine will sustain more than a decade of production, bolstered by the recent surge in gold prices. Local officials anticipate significant...
Sandvik Gives Annual Award to Its Electric Train
Sandvik awarded its own “electric train” system the company’s annual sustainability prize. The fully integrated, electrified crushing and screening solution combines two all‑electric machines with a hybrid unit, delivering a 25% reduction in fuel consumption. The award, presented to the...
Mariana Minerals Starts Its Copper Mine
Mariana Minerals has restarted the Copper One mine in Utah, formerly known as Lisbon Valley, positioning it as an autonomous‑first copper producer. Backed by Silicon Valley capital, the project aims to leverage end‑to‑end automation to cut operating costs and boost...
Cleanova: Tailings Management for Operational Continuity
Cleanova, traditionally a filtration specialist for energy and marine sectors, is extending its technology to mining tailings management. By deploying advanced filtration systems, the company aims to improve solids separation, recycle water, and enhance tailings stability, thereby supporting continuous mine...
Resolute Unaffected by Mali Violence
Armed groups linked to Al‑Qaida‑affiliated JNIM launched coordinated attacks in Mali’s capital Bamako and four additional cities, prompting a swift response from Defence Minister Sadio Camara. Despite the heightened violence, the mining operation known as Resolute reported no interruption to...
Ecuador Signs Deal with CMOC for US$1.7B Los Cangrejos
Ecuador's Ministry of Energy announced a mining exploitation contract with a subsidiary of CMOC Group for the Los Cangrejos project. The agreement commits CMOC to invest approximately $1.7 billion, targeting copper and gold deposits. The government projects the venture will generate...
Intelligence Newsletter - 28/04/2026
A Mining IQ Leadership Survey reveals that 51.6% of industry professionals view public trust in mining as low or very low, despite 82% acknowledging significant ESG improvements over the past decade. Only 11.9% rate trust as high or very high,...
Mining Contractors Facing 'Renewed Activity', Says Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton’s latest advisory report says the mining contracting sector is entering a period of renewed activity, driven by robust copper and gold prices and early signs of a lithium market rebound. The uplift in commodity prices is expected to...
The Cracks in Mineral Traceability
Mineral traceability is emerging as a critical compliance and financing issue as governments worldwide tighten regulations. A recent survey shows 11% of mining companies still have no plans to implement traceability systems, despite pressure from U.S. tax credits, EU due‑diligence...
BelAZ Teams up with Nornickel as Russia's Equipment Shortage Bites
BelAZ, the Belarusian maker of ultra‑large dump trucks, has entered a joint venture with Russia's Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) to construct a new mining‑equipment factory near Krasnoyarsk in Siberia. The partnership responds to a growing shortage of heavy‑duty trucks and other...
Anglo Asian Upgrades Azerbaijan Processing Plants
Anglo Asian Mining announced upgrades to the processing facilities at its Gedabek and Demirli copper mines in Azerbaijan. The company installed nine high‑efficiency Imhoflot pneumatic flotation cells at Gedabek, while Demirli received modernized flotation equipment. Vice‑president Stephen Westhead highlighted the...
Chile Braces for Bad Acid Trip
Chile’s mining sector is confronting a looming shortage and price surge for sulphuric acid, a critical reagent for copper processing. The disruption stems from the Iran‑Israel conflict and the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which have choked global...
Militants Strike at Exploration Project in Pakistan
Militant gunmen attacked a copper‑gold exploration project owned by National Resources in Pakistan's Balochistan province, killing at least ten people, including mine workers. The site, still in the exploration stage, targets high‑grade copper and gold deposits that are critical for...
Fortescue Tips Another $1B Into Pilbara Green Energy Infrastructure
Fortescue Metals Group’s board approved an additional US$680 million (approximately A$954 million) to accelerate the 200 MW Pilbara Green Energy Project in Western Australia. The funding will expand solar and battery infrastructure that will supply renewable power to Fortescue’s mines and third‑party customers...
Behind the Headlines: Tim Foden Talks Arbitration in Mining
Tim Foden, a veteran mining‑law specialist, has spent more than two decades representing mining firms in arbitration against sovereign governments. He has overseen dozens of high‑stakes disputes that often involve billions of dollars in compensation and project‑rights issues. Foden’s aggressive...
Achieving Maximum Separation Precision
Doppstadt announced that its new SW6 spiral shaft separator will debut at IFAT 2026, a leading environmental trade show. The SW6 combines a hopper and tracked chassis to tackle challenging, high‑moisture material flows with greater precision. Designed for flexibility, the...
Firebird Battery Making Tech Gets $2M ARENA Grant
Firebird, an Australian battery‑technology startup, received a $2 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to build a demonstration plant for its novel process that converts manganese ore directly into high‑purity manganese sulphate monohydrate, a key cathode precursor. By...
MicroVision Attempts 'Lidar 2.0' Comeback
MicroVision, the Redmond‑based lidar specialist, announced that its next‑generation "lidar‑2.0" sensors have moved beyond pilot trials and are now operating in active mining environments. The company, which endured a challenging 2025, highlighted deployments at multiple mine sites in both the...
LHM Transforms Botswana Mine House as FATs Due
LH Marthinusen (LHM), a division of Actom, has finished manufacturing two 30 MVA high‑voltage transformers for a mining house in Botswana. The delivery comes after the existing power infrastructure proved insufficient for the mine’s growing energy needs. LHM’s engineered transformers are...
'It's Not Zero': WAF's Hyde on Kiaka's Sale Price
West African Resources (WAF) is negotiating the sale of a 25% stake in its Kiaka gold mine to the Burkina Faso government for an estimated A$175 million (about $115 million USD). Managing director Richard Hyde emphasized that the price is "not zero,"...
Sandvik's Storming March Quarter
Sandvik reported record orders for its March 2026 quarter, with order intake climbing 23% at constant exchange rates to SK 36.8 billion (approximately US$4 billion), a 12% rise in real terms. The surge marks an all‑time high and reflects the growing market advantage...
Komatsu Hits Autonomous Milestone
Komatsu announced it has commissioned its 1,000th autonomous ultra‑class haul truck, cementing its role as a pioneer in driverless mining equipment. The milestone centers on the company’s 930E‑5 electric haul truck, which can transport a 290‑metric‑ton payload. By reaching this...
Friedland: We Have Never Been so Close to Global Conflict
Ivanhoe Mines CEO Robert Friedland warned that the world is nearer than ever to a global conflict, citing rising geopolitical tensions that could jeopardize critical mineral supply chains. He highlighted the vulnerability of diesel logistics, a lifeline for remote mining...
Zoomlion Adds Mining to Its Territory
Zoomlion, China’s leading construction‑equipment OEM, announced a strategic expansion into the mining sector by unveiling a new line of electric‑powered mining machines. The move follows the company’s broader push toward electrification across its product portfolio. Zoomlion plans to roll out...