Sandvik Mining has committed €80 million to expand its Tampere engineering hub, targeting a new generation of autonomous underground machinery. Central to this push is “Amelia,” a drilling robot undergoing rigorous underground testing designed to navigate independently, analyse rock conditions in real time, and adjust drilling paths based on ground feedback. The platform aims to reduce human exposure in deep-level environments and tighten drilling accuracy for complex ore bodies.
Barrick Mining Evaluates a Structural Split
Barrick is assessing a plan to divide the company into two standalone entities, a move that would separate its core gold assets from its growth and development holdings. The review follows pressure to sharpen portfolio focus and could lead to different capital strategies, governance structures, and regional investment priorities if adopted.
Hexagon Extends Lead in Mine-Safety Engineering
Hexagon collected several global awards for its 2025 safety suite, which integrates AI-guided drilling assistance, real-time collision prevention, fatigue analytics, and automated vehicle intervention. Mines running the full package are reporting sustained decreases in near-miss incidents and smoother fleet performance, with operators noting that the system actively corrects risky behaviour rather than simply issuing warnings.
AI Becomes Core to Control-Room Decision Cycles
Rio Tinto, BHP, and Anglo American deepen their use of AI inside plant control rooms, deploying models that tighten processing set-points, predict mechanical failures days before they surface, and cut energy demand across grinding and pumping circuits. These operators are also expanding remote-haulage programs where full truck fleets run under surface-based supervision, reducing operator exposure and stabilising overnight cycle performance.
Rosond Deploys Solar Command Units in Remote Drilling
Rosond is rolling out solar-powered command units across South African exploration rigs, replacing diesel setups traditionally used in remote bush operations. The units stabilize power availability, cut noise footprints, and remove the need for frequent fuel runs—an operational advantage in inaccessible terrain where transport risks and costs escalate quickly.
Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles Enter Heavy-Duty Mine Testing
Johannesburg hosted a demonstration of a platinum-catalysed hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle engineered for mine-duty workloads. The vehicle showed strong torque, quiet operation, and long-cycle performance suited for haul roads and underground travel. The test strengthens South Africa’s effort to position PGMs at the centre of a hydrogen-powered mining fleet, supported by plans for the first locally assembled refuelling station.
Platreef Phase 1 Starts Multi-Metal Output
Ivanhoe Mines has started Phase 1 production at Platreef in Limpopo, unlocking one of the world’s thickest PGM-rich ore bodies. The operation delivers platinum, palladium, nickel, rhodium, copper, and gold with a long-life profile. Ivanhoe is now raising $700 million to ramp up Phase 2, which will expand throughput and enable access to deeper high-grade zones under its staged mining plan.
Copper and Gold Markets Shift Upward
Copper prices are strengthening after Cochilco raised its 2025–2026 forecasts, pointing to weaker than expected production from key South American and Asian suppliers. Gold is also on an upward track, with UBS projecting a rise to $4,500/oz by mid-2026, driven by persistent geopolitical strains and record central-bank stockpiling that continues to tighten the physical market.
Codelco and NTT DATA Launch Digital Operations Alliance
Codelco has entered a technology partnership with NTT DATA to modernise operational oversight across its assets. The initiative includes new IoT deployments, asset-health modelling, and predictive safety analytics designed to improve maintenance timing, reduce unplanned stoppages, and strengthen oversight at ageing underground and open-pit operations.
Angola Cuts Permit Timelines to Attract New Capital
Angola has implemented a revised permitting framework that shortens approval timelines for mining rights. The shift targets increased investment for copper, manganese, lithium, and rare-metal projects, and responds to investor concerns that long delays previously discouraged exploration ventures and slowed drilling campaigns.
Bibemi Project Clears Environmental Approval in Cameroon
Oriole Resources secured environmental and social approval for the Bibemi gold project in northern Cameroon, enabling the company to move into the next stage of field preparations. The clearance follows detailed site assessments and sets the platform for advanced exploration and design studies.
G20–Africa Discussions Centre on Critical-Mineral Supply Lines
South Africa hosted a G20–Africa roundtable focused on stabilising and scaling critical-mineral supply chains for battery metals and transition minerals. The discussions highlighted bottlenecks in cross-border transport and emphasised shared approaches to responsible sourcing amid rising global competition for strategic mineral inputs.
West Wits Nears First Gold Pour at Qala
West Wits Mining is progressing toward its first gold pour at the Qala project as underground development advances and commissioning work intensifies. The project is positioned as a key contributor to the company’s South African portfolio once initial production comes online.
South Africa Shows Modest Production Lift
South Africa recorded a 1.2 percent year-on-year increase in mining production for September. The uptick reflects improved output in several metal groups, although the broader sector remains affected by logistical constraints and power disruptions.
BME Technical Summit Highlights Operational Discipline
BME’s latest technical summit brought together blasting specialists, safety leads, and operational managers to examine advancements in explosive engineering, on-site hazard control, and cost-efficient blast design. The sessions underscored the growing demand for precision blasting in tight-margin environments.
Kore Potash Secures Added Funding
Kore Potash raised $12.2 million through share subscriptions to support its ongoing development work. The funding strengthens the company’s position as it advances design and preparation activities across its project pipeline.
Blencowe Nears DFS Completion at Orom-Cross
Blencowe Resources is nearing completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study for its Orom-Cross graphite project in East Africa, a key step toward advancing one of the region’s emerging large-scale graphite developments. The DFS will define mine design, processing flows, and commercial readiness as the project moves closer to financing and construction decisions.
AVZ Runs Competitive Partner Search for Manono Project
AVZ Minerals is running a competitive process to secure a new counterparty for its Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company is evaluating multiple proposals as it works to unlock development of one of Africa’s most significant hard-rock lithium deposits.
South African Processing Specialist Wins Industry Award
Tebogo Kale, a South African entrepreneur, received the Innovator of the Year award for developing advanced mineral-processing technology capable of improving recovery efficiency and reducing energy intensity. As CEO of Gravitas Minerals, he earned the 2025 award for the Optima Process, a waterless coal separation system designed to tackle South Africa’s water constraints while delivering higher-quality coal with lower energy use.
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