Glencore Mining and Rio Tinto confirmed on January 9, 2026, that they are holding early-stage discussions on a potential merger. The companies are seeking scale in copper and other critical minerals to meet long-term energy-transition demand. A deal would create the world’s largest mining group with a combined market value of nearly US$207 billion and a dominant position in global copper supply.
Anglo American–Teck merger advances toward completion
Anglo American secured Canadian government approval for its proposed merger with Teck Resources. The transaction now awaits EU antitrust clearance, which analysts expect in the coming weeks. The merger would strengthen Anglo American’s copper and base-metals exposure while streamlining its portfolio.
Gold and silver deal activity accelerates
Apollo Silver completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Athena Claims at Langtry, expanding its silver portfolio. Galantas signed an agreement to acquire the Andacollo gold project in Chile, adding near-term development optionality. On January 6, 2026, McEwen Inc. and Canadian Gold Corp. finalised their business combination, consolidating gold assets under a single corporate structure.
Copper, Africa and Project Developments
Patriot Resources secures high-grade Zambian copper
Patriot Resources agreed to acquire 100% of the Sugarloaf copper deposit in Zambia’s Mumbwa Copper District. The project’s proximity to Sinomine’s Kitumba processing plant and smelter provides potential development synergies. Sinomine expects the Kitumba facilities to come online in late 2026.
Kamoa-Kakula smelter reaches first-anode milestone
The Kamoa-Kakula smelter in the Democratic Republic of Congo produced its first copper anodes, marking a critical step in commissioning. The smelter forms part of a 500,000-tonne-per-year processing facility designed to support long-term copper output growth.
Kitumba mine targets mid-2026 start-up
Sino-Mine Kitumba Minerals confirmed that the Kitumba copper mine remains on schedule to begin production by June 2026. The operation is targeting annual output of approximately 50,000 tonnes and plays a role in Zambia’s strategy to raise national copper production to 3 million tonnes by 2031.
Jubilee Metals accelerates Zambia pivot
Jubilee Metals secured US$10 million in funding to expand its Zambian copper strategy. The company confirmed that its Roan and Sable processing plants are fully operational, supporting increased copper output and retreatment activities.
DRC outlines mining modernisation roadmap
The DRC government defined a 2026 strategic roadmap aimed at modernising the mining sector. The plan prioritises Special Economic Zones, new refineries and domestic processing to increase value addition and attract long-term investment.
Burkina Faso meets gold production targets
West African Resources reported that its Sanbrado Gold Mine exceeded 205,000 ounces of gold production in 2025, meeting guidance. The company continues to optimise operations while advancing regional exploration.
Cameroon bauxite project stays on track
Canyon Resources said its Minim Martap bauxite project remains on schedule for first production and an initial shipment in late June 2026, with mining, logistics and funding milestones progressing as planned.
Nigeria sees offtake deals and arbitration
Chariot signed a memorandum of understanding covering offtake agreements at its Nigerian projects. Separately, Jupiter Lithium initiated arbitration proceedings against the Nigerian government, highlighting ongoing sovereign-risk concerns.
South Africa posts strong early-2026 output
South Africa’s mining sector recorded a strong start to 2026, supported by improved gold production and higher operational stability at key assets.
Tanzania encourages small-scale mining
Tanzania’s state-owned Mwanza Gold Refinery reported a shortage of gold feedstock, constraining throughput at the facility. In response, the Tanzania government urged citizens to apply for small-scale mining licences to increase domestic gold supply and formalise artisanal production. Authorities are aiming to channel more locally mined gold into the refinery while expanding participation in the small-scale mining sector and improving traceability.
Technology, Automation and AI
ATN rolls out AI across multiple licences
ATN announced in early January 2026 that it has deployed AI-driven exploration tools across several copper and critical-mineral licences. The company aims to improve target generation speed and reduce discovery risk by integrating machine learning into geological analysis.
Autonomous mining reaches new scale
Caterpillar reported that its autonomous haulage systems have now moved more than three billion tonnes of material worldwide, marking a major milestone in large-scale mining automation. The fleet, operated through the company’s MineStar Command for hauling platform, continues to expand across iron ore, coal and copper operations, where miners are using autonomy to improve productivity, lower operating costs and reduce safety risks by removing operators from active haul roads.
Epiroc expands autonomous footprint
Epiroc reported that its OEM-agnostic LinkOA autonomous haulage solution has now moved more than 200 million tonnes of material across multiple operating sites. The system allows mines to deploy autonomous haulage without being locked into a single equipment supplier, improving flexibility and lowering integration costs.
In addition, Epiroc deployed its first fully autonomous SmartROC D65 surface drill rig in the U.S. aggregates market. The drill operates without an onboard operator and uses advanced navigation, obstacle detection and precision drilling algorithms to improve consistency, reduce rework and increase utilisation. The deployment marks a step toward wider adoption of autonomous drilling beyond large-scale metal mines.
Electrification and Equipment
Battery-electric trials expand
Caterpillar advanced trials of its battery-electric R1700 XE LHD and 793 XE electric haul truck at operations run by BHP and Rio Tinto. The trials are testing machine performance in high-production environments, with a focus on payload capacity, duty cycles, charging times and heat management.
Caterpillar is also assessing how electric fleets integrate with existing infrastructure, including power supply stability and charging logistics, as miners evaluate large-scale electrification pathways.
OEMs push BEV innovation
Hitachi Construction Machinery invested in mobile energy storage systems in Europe to support electrified mine fleets. These systems aim to stabilise power supply, reduce peak-load pressure and enable charging in remote or grid-constrained locations.
New equipment enters the market
Caterpillar confirmed it will launch the D11 XE and D10 XE dozers, expanding its electric-drive portfolio for large-scale mining applications. The machines use an electric drive system that delivers higher torque at lower engine speeds, improving fuel efficiency, reducing maintenance requirements and cutting emissions compared with conventional mechanical-drive models. Caterpillar is positioning the dozers for high-load, continuous operations where productivity and energy efficiency are critical.
Bell Equipment expands heavy-duty African fleet
Bell Equipment released new articulated dump truck models alongside a 27,000-litre off-road water tanker, targeting mining and large construction sites across Africa. The additions are designed to support higher payloads, improved reliability and site water management, reflecting continued demand for robust, region-specific equipment in African operating environments.
Infrastructure, Rail and Corridors
Lobito Corridor funding exceeds US$6bn
Funding commitments for the Lobito Corridor rail project exceeded US$6 billion following a US$535 million financing package finalised in December 2025. Key backers include development finance institutions and private-sector partners.
The corridor links Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Atlantic ports, cutting transport times and reducing reliance on longer eastern export routes. The project is expected to play a central role in supporting future copper and cobalt production growth from Central Africa.
ESG, Safety and Policy
ESG constraints stall copper supply
GEM Mining Consulting estimates that more than 6.4 million tonnes of global copper production capacity over 25% of current supply remains stalled or suspended due to ESG-related challenges. The firm points to permitting delays, environmental opposition and community disputes as the main constraints, with Peru, the United States and Chile accounting for the largest volumes of delayed capacity. GEM warns that unless approval processes and social licensing improve, copper supply will struggle to keep pace with rising demand from electrification and the energy transition.
Copper Mark advances ESG standardisation
The Copper Mark organisation launched work on a single, unified ESG standard across metal supply chains. The initiative aims to improve disclosure consistency, strengthen traceability and give investors clearer benchmarks when assessing mining projects.
Safety incident triggers enforcement calls
A mine explosion in Australia killed two workers, prompting renewed calls for stricter safety enforcement and potential industrial manslaughter prosecutions. Regulators and unions have since urged operators to accelerate adoption of collision avoidance systems, proximity detection and real-time monitoring technologies.
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