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Global mining majors added $250 billion in value in early 2026, lifting the MINING.COM Top 50 to a combined $2.41 trillion despite the US–Iran war and volatile gold at about $4,700/oz and silver above $70/oz, both off record spikes. BHP briefly exceeded a $200 billion market capitalisation, copper contributed $7.95 billion to its half‑year operating earnings, and six miners – including Agnico Eagle, Zijin Mining, Southern Copper and Newmont – now sit in the $100‑billion club. At the other end, Amman Minerals fell 27% on Indonesian smelter delays and Ivanhoe Mines cut Kamoa‑Kakula 2026 copper guidance to 290,000–330,000 tonnes, dropping it below the $18 billion Top 50 cut‑off.

Canadian processor pH7 Technologies is expanding its Vancouver facility, backed by up to C$4 million from NRC IRAP, to scale its organo-electrochemical platform that recovers platinum, palladium and rhodium from secondary materials without toxic reagents or tailings wastewater. The commercial plant already processes spent catalytic converters, producing 30,000–40,000 oz of platinum-equivalent PGMs per year under a tolling and offtake model involving partners such as Mitsubishi. pH7 is now piloting electrochemically generated oxidants to heap leach chalcopyrite and other sulphide ores without cyanide, targeting on-site mine deployment within 1–2 years across South America, Africa and Australia.

Dellner Bubenzer is supplying a wide range of industrial brakes and couplings for mining hoists, slewing drives and belt conveyors, developed in long-term collaboration with OEMs. The company focuses on both service and emergency braking solutions tailored to heavy-duty mining duty cycles and harsh environments, addressing controlled hoisting, precise slewing and high-tension conveyor stopping. For engineers, the key point is an integrated approach to drivetrain and braking design, rather than bolt-on safety systems, across multiple critical mining applications.

China’s Zijin Mining is expanding RG Gold’s Raygorodok operation in Kazakhstan with a $500 million processing plant while deploying SKRI’s ‘phytocapture’ system, planting over 100,000 Scots pines across more than 20 hectares about 1.7 km downwind of the open pit. Supercomputer modelling using regional wind-rose data sets tree species and spacing to form multilayered vegetative barriers, not simple landscaping. SKRI reports particulate-matter reductions above 40%, with the forest belt expected to capture roughly one-third of dust emissions as mining advances towards the barrier.

Barrick Mining has warned of “significant increases” to the capital budget and schedule for the 50%-owned Reko Diq copper-gold project in Balochistan, where Phase 1 was previously costed at US$5.6–6.0 billion and Phase 2 at US$3.3–3.6 billion, with first production targeted by end-2028. Citing escalating security risks in Pakistan and the wider region, Barrick will slow field development and extend the technical and financing review to mid‑2027, while keeping the project under “active management” with reduced capital spend. The porphyry deposit, holding an estimated 15 million tonnes of copper reserves and modelled for a 37‑year mine life, remains central to Barrick’s Tier 1 copper strategy and its long-term community commitments in Balochistan.

Orica is targeting smaller North American mines and quarries with the same digital blasting toolkit used on large sites, including its BlastIQ cloud platform for blast design and performance tracking and on-bench digital loading systems. Area Business Manager Elliott Giles told IM that these operations, aggregated, form a major explosives volume market, and are now adopting electronic detonators and precise blast modelling to cut oversize and improve fragmentation. For geotechs and drill‑and‑blast engineers, the shift means more consistent burden control, tighter vibration management and better data for pit wall stability assessment even on “small” jobs.

Komatsu Germany Mining Division has launched the PC9000-12 hydraulic mining excavator globally, after an initial rollout in Canada, positioning it as the largest and most advanced unit in Komatsu’s surface mining fleet. The machine targets large-scale open-pit operations, pairing with ultra-class haul trucks and leveraging Komatsu’s global dealer network for deployment and support. For mine planners and maintenance teams, the PC9000-12 signals further upscaling of primary loading fleets, with implications for bench geometry, truck fleet sizing, and pit infrastructure design.

United States Antimony Corp. has restarted mining at its Stibnite Hill property in Montana after a near five‑month weather-related halt, resuming ore supply to its Radersburg flotation mill and Thompson Falls smelter, the only antimony smelter in the US. The integrated route can currently produce about 15 million lb/year of antimony oxide or 5 million lb/year of antimony metal, with expansion underway and early test work suggesting the ore can be upgraded to meet military specifications. The 2026 programme adds on-site chipping for mulch-based concurrent reclamation and GPS base stations on adjacent peaks to improve vein mapping on strike and down dip.

Atlas Lithium’s Neves project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, has been named in the US-Japan critical minerals cooperation joint fact sheet as the only Brazil-based lithium asset under consideration for government-backed funding, following last month’s US-Japan Critical Minerals Investment Ministerial in Tokyo. The pre-production project will process ore from the Neves deposit through a dense media separation plant to produce lithium concentrate, targeting 300,000 tonnes per year. A 2025 definitive feasibility study projects an after-tax IRR of 145%, NPV of $539 million and an 11‑month payback, supported by a $30 million Mitsui & Co. investment and offtake deal.

First Majestic Silver plans to restart the fully permitted Jerritt Canyon gold mine in Nevada by late 2027, backed by a 2026 spend of US$75 million on technical work, underground development, exploration and plant upgrades and a PFS due in Q4 2026. Updated resources stand at 54.3 million measured and indicated tonnes at 2.35 g/t Au (4.1 Moz) plus 46.6 million inferred tonnes at 2.44 g/t Au (3.66 Moz), following an 18,000-metre 2025 drill campaign and 42,000 metres planned for 2026. The revamped plan combines existing underground workings with new open‑pit potential around the SSX and Smith deposits, seeking to optimise long-term throughput through the roaster-based processing plant.

Cerrado Gold has filed an injunction against Portugal’s environmental regulator APA over the rejection of its Lagoa Salgada copper-zinc project in the Iberian pyrite belt, arguing procedural flaws including an eight-day instead of legally required 10-day consultation and a late-stage objection over a deep, sulphide-contaminated third aquifer earmarked for mine water use. Municipal authorities near Grândola cite conflicts with land-use plans and water risks, despite the project’s Project of National Interest status and extensive hydrological studies. CEO Mark Brennan still targets first production in 2028, with cash flow from the 50,238 oz Au-eq/y Minera Don Nicolás mine and potential offtake/streaming expected to fund development.

Vale Base Metals plans to deploy coarse particle flotation at the Salobo III copper operation in Brazil, with COO Alfredo Santana flagging the project during VBM Day on 31 March 2026 as a key example of its operational “excellence” drive. Coarse particle flotation typically targets significantly larger grind sizes than conventional cells, cutting energy use in comminution and improving water recovery, which is critical for large-scale copper concentrators. For Salobo, this points to potential debottlenecking of milling circuits and higher overall copper recovery without major new grinding capacity.

Wheaton Precious Metals has agreed a US$4.3‑billion silver stream with BHP, securing 33% of silver output from the Antamina copper‑zinc mine in Peru, dropping to 22.5% after 100 million oz, with ongoing transfer payments fixed at 20% of spot and settlement via metal credits. In parallel, Wheaton will invest US$275 million in KGL Resources’ fully permitted Jervois copper project in Australia, taking staged gold and silver streams starting at 75% of payable production and tapering to 25% over mine life. The deals extend Wheaton’s exposure to large, long‑life base‑metal operations while diversifying into Australia.

Electrification of mining fleets is advancing beyond early pilots, with battery-electric haul trucks, loaders and light vehicles moving from trial phases into multi-year deployment contracts despite recent pull-backs in some OEM roadmaps. Dan Gleeson details how mines are pairing 6–8 MWh battery trucks with on-site fast-charging bays and trolley-assist lines, and integrating underground BEVs with upgraded 11 kV substations and ventilation recalculations. Operators are reassessing mine plans, ramp gradients and power quality to manage peak loads, charger placement and heat rejection from high-capacity battery systems.

Metso has launched the Outotec Robotic Split Strip, a compact hydraulic‑robotic system for separating copper cathode sheets from mother plates in electrorefining circuits, designed for both greenfield and brownfield plants. The unit uses robotic handling and flexible tooling to improve stripping precision and reduce sheet damage and copper waste compared with conventional mechanical strippers. For plant engineers, the modular layout and automation focus allow retrofit into existing cells with minimal footprint, supporting tighter process control and more consistent cathode quality.

Aggreko has signed a minimum 15‑year power purchase agreement with Harmony Gold to build and operate what is described as Australia’s largest off‑grid renewable hybrid power facility for the Eva copper project in northwest Queensland. The build‑own‑operate arrangement will combine on‑site renewables with thermal generation and battery storage to supply continuous power to the remote open‑pit operation. For mine planners and process engineers, the long‑term PPA locks in a dedicated low‑emission power source, influencing pit expansion options, processing throughput and future electrification of mobile fleets.

Tega Industries’ DynaPrime mill liner system targets large Australian SAG, AG and primary ball mills, where unplanned downtime can cost operators millions in lost production. The design combines customised composite lifter profiles with high-wear rubber or hybrid liners, engineered to suit specific mill diameters and charge trajectories rather than relying on standard liner geometries. For plant metallurgists and maintenance teams, the key promise is longer wear life and faster relines, directly affecting mill availability and throughput on constrained grinding circuits.

Exploration activity across Australia’s gold and critical minerals sector is intensifying, with Kali Metals and Kairos Minerals (soon to be renamed) among juniors reporting new results. Kali has intersected shallow, high-grade gold, signalling potential for low-strip, open-pit development and relatively simple geotechnical access compared with deeper lode systems. For mine planners and drill contractors, the focus now shifts to tighter step-out drilling, resource definition, and early metallurgical testwork to confirm recoveries and guide pit shell optimisation.

Northern Star Resources’ March quarter gold sales have surged, signalling a production ramp-up across its Western Australian assets including Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines and the Super Pit. Management is positioning for record output in FY25–26 as processing throughput and mine development advance at key hubs such as Yandal and Pogo, supported by higher mill utilisation and improved grade control. For contractors and suppliers, the trajectory points to increased demand for underground development, open-pit fleet capacity, and plant optimisation services over the next 12–18 months.

Ausenco has secured an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract for the Hillside copper project, signalling progression towards full project execution after a prolonged permitting and feasibility phase. The mandate covers process plant design, materials handling and associated infrastructure, positioning Ausenco to define key specifications for concentrator throughput, tailings management and power supply. For geotechnical and civil teams, the EPCM scope will drive final decisions on pit geotechnics, foundation systems for heavy plant and haul road geometry ahead of construction mobilisation.

ION Minerals has expanded its lithium brine portfolio to just over 280,000 mineral acres across the Smackover Formation in East Texas/Arkansas, the Texas Panhandle and Saskatchewan’s Duperow Formation, with adjacent Smackover projects reporting 47–60 tonnes LCE per acre. The company now controls nearly 50,000 acres between Tetra Technologies’ Evergreen Brine Unit and Standard Lithium’s Reynolds and Franklin units, plus 65,000 acres in the Texas Panhandle where internal work suggests up to 2.4 million tonnes LCE in place. A further 165,000 acres in southeast Saskatchewan could host up to 2.5 million tonnes LCE, with multi-bench Duperow drilling and testing scheduled for summer 2026.

Global tungsten producer EQ Resources has appointed former Newcrest chief development officer Michael Nossal as independent non-executive chair, replacing Oliver Kleinhempel from March as it advances its tungsten growth strategy. The board reshuffle comes as EQ Resources continues to position its Mt Carbine operation in Queensland and other assets in a tight global tungsten market dominated by Chinese supply. Governance stability and Nossal’s project development background will be closely watched by offtakers and financiers assessing long-term tungsten supply security.

Victory Metals has reported “exceptional” metallurgical leaching results from its 100 per cent-owned North Stanmore heavy rare earth project in Western Australia, with a particular uplift in yttrium recoveries. The company is advancing column leach tests and optimisation of acid consumption after earlier bottle-roll work, targeting a clay-hosted rare earth system amenable to low-cost in-situ or heap leach-style processing. For geometallurgy and mine design, the results point to potential simplification of beneficiation flowsheets and greater emphasis on leach pad hydrology and solution management rather than complex concentrator circuits.

Aggreko has signed a long-term power purchase agreement with Harmony Gold to build and operate what is billed as Australia’s largest hybrid power facility for the Eva copper mine project in northwest Queensland. The off-grid system is expected to combine high-penetration solar PV with thermal generation and battery energy storage, replacing conventional diesel-heavy supply for the planned open-pit copper operation. For mine planners and owners, the deal signals growing bankability of large-scale hybrid PPAs to cut power costs and emissions on remote greenfield sites.

American rare earth refiner ReElement Technologies has secured a strategic investment and collaboration with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation to pair MMC’s feedstock sourcing and recycling network with ReElement’s patented chromatography-based separation and purification platform. The partnership targets US midstream bottlenecks by supporting ReElement’s Noblesville, Indiana refining operations via feedstock supply, tolling and offtake, and by jointly assessing rare earth and critical mineral recycling projects in Japan using MMC’s existing recycling infrastructure. ReElement’s modular, chromatography-based plants are designed to process recycled materials, mine waste and primary ores into high-purity oxides with lower capex and operating costs than conventional solvent extraction.

Kinross Gold has lodged its $1.5 billion Lobo-Marte project with Chile’s Environmental Impact Assessment System, proposing sequential open-pit mining of the Marte and Lobo deposits in the Atacama region over a 16-year life. The plan centres on a static, six-phase heap leach pad and plant processing about 35,000 tonnes per day, supplied by freshwater piped from existing Mantos de Oro wells near Nevado Tres Cruces National Park and power from a 220 kV line. A 3.5-year build is envisaged, with production of roughly 4.7 million oz at an AISC of $680/oz, starting after La Coipa closes 50 km away.

Allied Gold shareholders have approved Zijin Gold International’s C$5.5 billion all-cash takeover at C$44 per share, giving Zijin control of the 80%-owned Sadiola mine in Mali plus the Bonikro–Agbaou complex in Côte d’Ivoire and the Kurmuk development in Ethiopia. Sadiola’s Phase 1 expansion, centred on a new comminution circuit treating higher-grade transitional and oxide ore, lifted 2025 output to 193,880 oz within group production of 379,000 oz, slightly above guidance. Allied is keeping 2026 guidance at 385,000–425,000 oz from existing mines plus 100,000–150,000 oz from Kurmuk, targeted to start up mid-2026.

Aura Minerals has more than doubled its proven and probable reserves to 7.22 million gold-equivalent ounces (GEOs) from 3.44 million, spanning six operating mines and two development projects across the Americas. Key drivers include a 170% reserve increase at the Borborema mine in Brazil following pit expansion, updated geological models and higher gold price assumptions in a new feasibility study, plus added underground reserves at Almas and the June acquisition of the Mineração Serra Grande mine from AngloGold Ashanti. Aura drilled over 106,500 metres in 2025 on US$21.8 million of exploration spend and is targeting 600,000 GEOs/year versus 280,000 GEOs produced in 2025.

Gold prices extended their rally on Wednesday, with spot gold up 1.8% to about $4,760/oz and US futures approaching $4,800/oz, taking gains to 4.5% over four sessions after President Trump announced a pause in missile strikes against Iran. De‑escalation signals, including Trump’s claim that US forces could leave the region “within two weeks, maybe three”, eased inflation fears, pushed the US dollar lower and revived expectations that the Federal Reserve has “limited bandwidth” to raise rates. JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and BNP Paribas all maintain bullish targets between $5,400 and above $6,000/oz, with some strategists seeing $5,000/oz as plausible on renewed rate‑cut bets.

BHP, Atalaya Mining and Xtra Energy Corp. led MINING.COM’s March Global Mining Power Rankings as investors favoured operational delivery and exposure to copper, potash, lithium and antimony amid conflict-driven spikes in oil and shipping costs. BHP secured 10.7% of large-cap votes on the back of its July CEO transition to Brandon Craig, roughly $20 billion committed to copper and potash growth, and the Jansen potash build, while Atalaya topped small caps with 8.2% after delivering about 51,000 tonnes of 2025 copper and raising roughly £127–130 million for expansion. Micro-cap Xtra Energy drew 17.1% of votes after test work produced ~63% antimony concentrate at ~97% recovery, signalling potential near-term US supply of this critical mineral.

OceanaGold’s latest drilling at the Wharekirauponga low-sulphidation epithermal system, 10 km north of Waihi on New Zealand’s North Island, has defined a new high-grade zone on the southern extent of the East Graben vein, with hole WKP144A returning 5.4 m at 25.8 g/t Au from 483 m and WKP144B cutting 14.9 m at 16.3 g/t Au from about 467 m. The emerging zone spans roughly 150 m of strike and remains open, complementing December 2025 resources of 2.63 Mt at 17.3 g/t Au (1.46 Moz) measured and indicated plus 2.9 Mt at 8.5 g/t Au inferred (800,000 oz). OceanaGold is running three drill rigs, with two more due in Q2, and is studying an underground mine that would tie into existing Waihi infrastructure, subject to permitting and further definition drilling.

Ivanhoe Mines has cut 2026 Kamoa-Kakula copper anode guidance to 290,000–330,000 tonnes (from 380,000–420,000 tonnes) and 2027 output to 380,000–420,000 tonnes (from 500,000–540,000 tonnes), after a new reserve model reduced contained copper by 24.7% and reserve grade by 28%. The mine plan now caps underground extraction at about 60% versus previous 70–80% assumptions, widens pillars, excludes inaccessible zones and prioritises 2026–27 development, rehabilitation and faster backfill sequencing, lifting cash costs. Ivanhoe still targets >500,000 tonnes per year from 2028, but its shares have fallen about 35% year-to-date, with BMO cutting its price target from $23 to $16.

Sandvik Mining has secured a large order from Aris Mining to supply underground loaders, trucks and multiple development, production and longhole drill rigs for the Marmato gold mine expansion in Colombia. The fleet will support deeper underground mining below the existing operation, where ramp haulage and high-intensity stope production will demand high-availability loading and haulage units. For mine planners and engineers, the deal signals a shift towards more mechanised, drill-and-blast stoping at Marmato, with corresponding implications for ground support, ventilation and power distribution design.

Ausenco has secured the EPCM contract for Rex Minerals’ Hillside copper-gold project on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, about 150 km west of Adelaide, one of the country’s largest undeveloped copper assets. The mandate covers full engineering, procurement and construction management for the greenfield operation, positioning Ausenco to define plant layout, materials handling systems and tailings and water management infrastructure. Geotechnical and civil design decisions at Hillside will be closely watched, given its scale and coastal setting with associated foundation, groundwater and environmental constraints.

EPCA has signed an agreement to convert a Caterpillar 988 wheel loader to full battery-electric drive for EMJC, delivering a complete electric powertrain retrofit rather than a new OEM unit. The E-988 project will draw on EPCA’s prior experience electrifying large mining assets, targeting zero tailpipe emissions and reduced diesel-related maintenance on a high-duty-cycle load-and-haul machine. For mine operators, the conversion pathway signals growing options to decarbonise existing medium–large wheel loader fleets without immediate fleet replacement.

Perenti Limited has appointed Dr Vanessa Torres as managing director and chief executive officer, succeeding long‑serving CEO Mark Norwell at the ASX‑listed mining services group that operates Barminco and Ausdrill across underground and open‑pit contracts. Torres, a former chief technical officer at South32 and senior executive at BHP and Vale, brings deep experience in large‑scale iron ore, base metals and coal operations, including brownfield expansion and asset optimisation. The leadership change signals continuity for Perenti’s contract mining, drill‑and‑blast and underground development business while positioning it to pursue more technically complex projects and decarbonisation initiatives.

Rio Tinto has committed $1.8 million to Lifeline WA to fund crisis support volunteers answering calls across Western Australia, with a focus on remote mining communities in the Pilbara. The three-year funding package will support recruitment, training and retention of telephone crisis supporters, who handle calls from FIFO workers, contractors and families affected by isolation, shift work and mental health pressures. For mine operators, the move signals continued expectation for structured psychosocial risk management alongside traditional safety systems on large iron ore operations.

Tungsten prices hitting record highs have prompted Larvotto Resources to fast‑track work at its Hillgrove polymetallic project in New South Wales, targeting historically mined tungsten–antimony–gold lodes within an existing underground mine and processing footprint. The company is reviewing past production data and existing plant configuration to define a restart pathway that can exploit current prices without greenfield capital intensity. For mine planners and metallurgists, the key question is how far the legacy stopes, tailings and circuit can be re‑optimised for higher tungsten recoveries under today’s market conditions.

Ardea Resources has secured more than $1 billion in backing from Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation to advance its Goongarrie Hub nickel–cobalt project, part of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project in Western Australia. The partners are targeting a high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) operation treating laterite ore to produce mixed hydroxide precipitate for battery supply chains, with front-end engineering design and approvals now the key gating steps. For geotechs and process engineers, the scale of HPAL infrastructure on deeply weathered profiles will drive complex foundation design, tailings storage, and water management requirements.

Australian-listed Vulcan Energy is developing Europe’s first integrated, low‑carbon lithium supply chain in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley, with geothermal brines, direct lithium extraction and chemical conversion all controlled within a 100km radius of its Lionheart project. The company plans to co‑produce baseload renewable geothermal power and heat while extracting lithium hydroxide for European battery plants, targeting short, intra‑EU logistics instead of importing spodumene or brine products. For geotechnical and process engineers, the project couples deep geothermal wellfields with closed‑loop brine handling and on‑site refining, tightening interfaces between subsurface, plant design and offtake.

Cobalt Blue has signed a consortium agreement with US-based Glomar Minerals to deploy its Australian-developed cobalt processing technology in the United States, targeting domestic production of battery-grade cobalt sulphate. The partnership centres on applying Cobalt Blue’s proprietary sulphide-to-sulphate flowsheet, originally engineered for Broken Hill-style deposits, to US feedstocks to reduce reliance on imported intermediates. For process and project engineers, the move signals potential demand for new hydrometallurgical plants, tailings handling systems and permitting work around cobalt-bearing ore bodies in the US.

Donaldson Filtration Solutions has launched the SSG+ Donaclone air cleaner, a high‑capacity pre-cleaner and filter unit designed for heavy-duty mining engines operating in extreme dust loads. The system combines axial seal primary elements with Donaclone pre-cleaner tubes to eject a large proportion of coarse dust before it reaches the filter media, extending service intervals on haul trucks, loaders and drills. For mine maintenance teams, the unit targets reduced unplanned downtime, more stable engine performance and lower filter consumption in high‑particulate pit and haul road environments.

NCC has secured a SEK 650 million (US$68.6 million) order from LKAB for initial concreting and groundworks on the new iron ore sorting plant at Vitåfors in Gällivare, northern Sweden. The package covers major foundation pours and site preparation for the primary sorting facilities under an existing partnering agreement between the two companies. Early geotechnical and civil decisions on bearing capacity, frost protection and heavy plant load paths will strongly influence future crusher, conveyor and stockpile layouts at this key LKAB operation.

Perpetua Resources has entered the final approval stage for a proposed US EXIM $2.7 billion financing package, including a $2.2 billion direct loan, to cover the estimated $2.58 billion initial capex for its Stibnite gold‑antimony project in central Idaho, with a board vote expected shortly after a 25‑day Congressional notice. The updated technical summary outlines a 15‑year mine life producing over 4.2 million oz gold and 106.5 million lb antimony, with a base‑case after‑tax NPV5 of $3.5 billion, 23.5% IRR and 2.4‑year payback at $3,250/oz gold.

Santana Minerals has locked in build slots with Komatsu New Zealand for the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project mining fleet, securing delivery of key mobile units ahead of a Fast-Track Approval decision due on 29 October 2026. The procurement followed a comparative assessment of conventional, electric and hybrid equipment options, with Komatsu units selected to meet the project’s construction and early production schedule. Early fleet commitment reduces lead-time risk for primary loading and haulage assets, giving mine planners firmer dates for pre-strip, waste movement and initial ore production.

Cornish Tin has raised over £2.2 million ($3 million), giving it a £29 million pre-money valuation, to accelerate drilling and resource definition at the Great Wheal Vor tin project and the Tregonning South lithium project in Cornwall. Great Wheal Vor consolidates 26 historic producers in the Breage district, where recorded grades averaged 3% Sn and locally exceeded 5.5%, which the company says would rank among the top three tin mines globally if replicated today. At Tregonning, exploration is targeting lithium mineralisation associated with the rare G5 topaz granite, which makes up only about 1.4% of Cornwall’s outcropping granites.

Vale’s base metals unit is targeting a 20% increase in Canadian and Brazilian mineral reserves and resources between 2024 and end‑2027, building on 2024 gains that lifted total copper reserves and resources 6% to 53 million tonnes and nickel 13% to 14 million tonnes, with copper resources now covering more than 65 years at current production rates. Proven and probable reserves stand at 1.25 billion tonnes grading 0.66% Cu (8.2 Mt contained) and 419.3 million tonnes grading 1.42% Ni (5.9 Mt contained), supporting CEO Gustavo Pimenta’s plan to double copper output from 382,000 tonnes to 1 Mt/y over the next decade. Exploration priorities for 2026 include doubling drilling in Brazil’s Carajás to over 120,000 m and intensifying brownfield work at Sudbury and Voisey’s Bay to extend near‑mine, satellite and down‑plunge mineralisation.

Johnson Matthey’s DPFi electrically regenerating diesel particulate filter has secured Canadian Standards Association (CSA) certification for underground mining and tunnelling, adding to existing approvals from Canmet Materials and a third independent body. The system uses active electrical regeneration rather than exhaust heat to burn off soot, enabling tighter control of backpressure and emissions on diesel equipment operating in confined headings. CSA certification gives mine operators a recognised safety benchmark for retrofitting diesel fleets to meet stringent underground particulate limits in Canada.

CleanTech Lithium’s pre-feasibility study for the Laguna Verde brine project in Chile sets a pre-tax NPV of $1.37 billion on a 25-year operation producing 15,000 t/y of battery-grade lithium carbonate via direct lithium extraction, with a 24.2% pre-tax IRR and roughly four-year payback. Probable reserves total 378,000 t LCE at 186 mg/L, supporting steady-state output at operating costs of $5,768/t and initial capex of $748 million, placing it in the global lower cost quartile. A 40-year CEOL, on-site lithium chloride production with conversion in Copiapó, and proximity to ports reduce permitting and infrastructure risk as CleanTech courts strategic partners.

Sandvik has secured an order from Codelco for 13 Toro® LH515i load–haul–dump loaders for the Chuquicamata Underground copper operation in Chile, with deliveries starting in March 2026 and running through to November 2027. The 15 t capacity LH515i units, designed for 4.5 m x 4.5 m headings, will support production ramp-up and fleet expansion for a new mining panel as Chuquicamata continues its transition from open pit to large-scale block caving. For mine planners and maintenance teams, the staged delivery allows progressive integration of the new LHD fleet into existing development and production schedules.