Global Scans · Mining · Weekly Summary

• [New] Half of mining companies plan to invest in predictive maintenance in the next two years, with cloud-based monitoring, digital twins, and machine learning already common in maintenance functions. Octave
• [New] Deep-sea mining could help the U.S. and its allies reduce dependence on China, which produces 90% of the world's rare earths. Politico
• [New] MMG's $700 million expansion investment demonstrates Chinese confidence in Botswana's mining jurisdiction stability and long-term resource potential. Discovery Alert
• [New] The U.S. is hellbent on building mining stations on the moon before China does because of another kind of dust, moondust, replete with helium-3, touted to be the fuel for an emerging technology that will provide clean, abundant energy. International Action Center - Founded in 1992 by Ramsey
• [New] Hydrogen fuel cell powertrains are in advanced pilot stages at multiple large mining operations, with commercial availability expected by 2027-2028. DirtMatch
• [New] Australian mining giant Fortescue, led by billionaire Andrew Forrest, has signed agreements with Pecem potentially worth USD 18 billion, with final investment decisions by 2026 and production targeted by end-2027. The Rio Times
• [New] Australian mining giant Fortescue has accelerated its timeline for deploying a 1.8 GW renewable energy portfolio, paired with 4-5GWh of batteries, which it now expects to begin commercial operation by 2028. PV Tech
• [New] China is still elevating blockchain as a strategic infrastructure technology even while maintaining a ban on crypto trading and mining, and Sweden is warning that digital finance dependency can create systemic cyber risk. News, Events, Advertising Options
• [New] The growth of the mining industry is expected to be the primary avenue through which AI will contribute to bolstering growth in Argentina in the next few years, especially in response to the increasing demand for copper and critical metals such as lithium. economic-research.bnpparibas.com
• [New] The Congo copper cobalt Iran war supply disruption exemplifies how regional conflicts, infrastructure bottlenecks, and chemical processing requirements create cascading disruptions that extend far beyond immediate conflict zones, forcing mining operations to rapidly adapt their strategic frameworks. Discovery Alert
• [New] Brazilian mining giant Vale is pushing the boundaries of maritime decarbonization with plans to deploy the world's first ocean-going vessel powered primarily by ethanol - a move that could slash greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%. gCaptain
• [New] The US$ 165 billion export target by 2035 represents substantial growth from current mining export levels, requiring successful attraction of major international mining investments and development of multiple large-scale mining projects. Discovery Alert
• [New] Newer frameworks like the United States' Artemis Accords introduce concepts such as exclusive safety zones around lunar activities, which could include mining of water or helium-3. The Conversation
• [New] USCM is focused on mining projects that will further secure the US supply of critical metals, which are essential to fueling the new age economy. Junior Mining Network
• [New] Global mining giant Rio Tinto has approved a $473 million investment to extend the life of its Zulti South Project in South Africa through to 2050. MiningFocus Africa
• [New] By 2026, over 60% of new mines will deploy automatic mining systems for sustainable resource extraction. Farmonaut
• Zimbabwe's earlier-than-expected export ban on lithium concentrate has added further fuel to the bull case fire, with elevated spodumene prices likely to speed up the resumption of mining activities at mothballed Australian mines, wrote Fastmarkets' Lusty in a March report on the lithium industry. Investing News Network (INN)
• X will significantly expand MP's fully integrated U.S. rare earth magnetics manufacturing platform, which already encompasses mining and refining, metallization and alloying, sintering, finished magnet production, and closed-loop recycling. Financial News Media
• Microsoft Power Automate has embedded Copilot across cloud flows, desktop flows, process mining, and its automation centre-IDC projects 1.3 billion AI agents in the Microsoft ecosystem by 2028. whitehat
• For responsible mining and land stewardship, tools such as Farmonaut's satellite-based mineral detection are now indispensable-speeding up exploration, reducing environmental risk, and making global land use innovation both effective and ethical. Farmonaut
• GM-assisted phytoremediation (using plants to draw out and stabilize soil contaminants) could hasten revegetation post-mining. Farmonaut
• Hochschild Mining exhibits strong growth potential with earnings forecasted to grow at 27.17% annually, significantly outpacing the UK market's 12%. Yahoo Finance

Last updated: 24 April 2026