THE MINING WRAP

Ivanhoe Mines has begun the heat-up and commissioning phase of its 500,000 tpa direct-to-blister copper smelter at the Kamoa-Kakula Complex. The facility will significantly increase in-country processing capacity, reducing the need for third-party smelters while improving value retention within the DRC’s copper supply chain.

Sandvik Technology Unlocks Higher Throughput in Ghana
Gold operation in Ghana has reported notable production gains after installing the Sandvik CH865i cone crusher. The equipment upgrade strengthens operational stability and enhances ore throughput for the site.

Harmony Gold Selects Metso for Advanced Processing at Eva Copper Project
Harmony Gold continues investing in high-precision processing systems, awarding Metso a contract to supply TankCell flotation cells, a Vertimill, and advanced online analyzers for the Eva Copper Project in Australia. The equipment improves mineral recovery, water efficiency, and real-time process control.

Bell Equipment SA Strengthens Predictive Maintenance Offering
Bell Equipment Sales South Africa is expanding its preventative and predictive maintenance programs using advanced diagnostic tools. The approach improves component lifespan, reduces downtime, and provides customers with stronger aftermarket and extended-warranty support.

Bioleaching, Digital Mining and Connectivity

Rio Tinto Produces First Copper Using Nuton Bioleaching
Rio Tinto has achieved first copper output using its Nuton bioleaching technology at the Johnson Camp mine in Arizona. The process enables extraction from previously uneconomic sulphide resources with potentially lower environmental impact and energy use.

Harmony Gold awarded Metso an additional automation package for Eva Copper, including automated filters, analyzers, and cells designed to improve recovery efficiency and optimize water use.

Corporate Strategy and Market Shifts

Rio Tinto Plans Asset Sales Eramet Targets Manganese and Lithium Growth
Rio Tinto is preparing significant divestments to streamline its asset base, while Eramet is ramping up investments in manganese and lithium, capitalizing on rising demand for battery-grade minerals.

Safety, Monitoring and Systems Integration

Fire Suppression Upgrades at FQM Kalumbila
Fogmaker fire suppression units have been deployed on new heavy-duty trucks at FQM’s Kalumbila mine, marking a safety milestone for vehicle-related risk mitigation.

Becker Mining Unveils Smartflow Mine Management Platform Becker Mining South Africa has launched Smartflow a fully integrated mine management solution that connects hardware, monitoring sensors, and control systems into a unified digital platform. Smartflow provides real-time insights into ventilation, energy consumption, equipment status, and environmental measurements. Its hardware-agnostic design also allows seamless integration with mixed-vendor equipment fleets.

Regulatory and Market Updates

Chrome Industry Rejects Proposed Export Tax
South African chrome producers and ferrochrome smelters have rejected the proposed chrome ore export tax, arguing it would impact competitiveness and hinder investment.

Innovation, Electrification and Automation

Hitachi Invests in Rithmik to Advance AI-Driven Mining Intelligence
Hitachi Construction Machinery has invested in Rithmik Solutions to accelerate the development of open, AI-enabled monitoring tools for equipment performance and predictive analytics.

Fortescue Diversifies Electric-Vehicle Supply Chain
Fortescue is expanding its battery-electric vehicle supply chain as it advances toward its Real Zero emissions goal, focusing on reducing dependency risks and securing long-term supply.

South Africa Opens First Underground Gold Mine in 15 Years
A new underground gold mine has officially opened west of Johannesburg the first in more than a decade showing renewed investment in the country’s gold sector.

BHP and Rio Tinto Test Jointly Developed Battery-Electric Haul Trucks
BHP and Rio Tinto have commenced field trials of their first jointly developed battery electric haul trucks as part of efforts to transition away from diesel and achieve operational net-zero targets.

Remote Diagnostics Becoming Standard in South African Mining
Suppliers including Bell Equipment and BMG are standardizing remote diagnostics and predictive analytics across fleets to prevent failures and optimize maintenance scheduling.

Tru-Trac is deploying AI-powered belt-scale systems that provide continuous, real-time measurement accuracy for conveyor operations. The technology helps mines track tonnage more precisely, reduce material-loss discrepancies, and enhance production reporting.

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