Global Scans · Mining · Weekly Summary

• [New] 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)
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] GM-assisted phytoremediation (using plants to draw out and stabilize soil contaminants) could hasten revegetation post-mining. Farmonaut
• [New] Hochschild Mining exhibits strong growth potential with earnings forecasted to grow at 27.17% annually, significantly outpacing the UK market's 12%. Yahoo Finance
• [New] By adopting integrated approaches and the latest data-driven technologies, Africa's mining, agriculture, and forestry sectors can harmonize growth, embracing opportunities and addressing challenges as one interconnected system. Farmonaut
• [New] Environmental stewardship initiatives in U.S. mining are expected to increase by 25% by 2026, driving sustainable growth. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2026, U.S. mining sector investments in critical minerals are projected to rise by 18% compared to 2023. Farmonaut
• [New] Major mining companies establish sustainability targets that necessitate fleet electrification, with timeline commitments extending through 2030 and beyond. Discovery Alert
• [New] Key Insight: The adoption of Joy continuous miner remote box systems is set to transform the mining sector - with expected efficiency boosts up to 30% and a strong shift toward remote, data-driven operations by 2026. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2026, successful mining enterprises will unify data, systems, and people under open, interoperable platforms-unlocking safer, more productive, and future-ready value chains. Farmonaut
• [New] Remote-controlled mining equipment is projected to reduce on-site workforce needs by 40% in major operations by 2026. Farmonaut
• [New] Nigeria, which has 44 identified minerals and is reopening over 2,000 mines to unlock its mining sector potential, is advancing regional integration through frameworks such as the African Mining Vision and the Africa Mineral Strategy Group. African Mining Week 2025
• [New] Mongolia will provide France with critical mineral resources from its mines / / Mining Technology. PIR Center
• [New] Ghana is projected to be Africa's highest gold-producing country in 2026, surpassing South Africa and Sudan, due to new mining ventures, investments, and advanced exploration methods. Farmonaut
• [New] Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo are forecasted to lead Africa in diamond production by 2026 due to their stable mining operations, established infrastructure, and massive resource base. Farmonaut
• [New] Gold mining in Africa is expected to grow 15% by 2026, influencing sustainable agriculture and forestry practices continent-wide. Farmonaut
• [New] Africa, home to some of the world's richest mineral regions, is not only expected to deliver more than 60% of global diamond output, but also to set new benchmarks in sustainable mining approaches, revenue management, and local community empowerment. Farmonaut
• [New] Africa is projected to produce over 60% of the world's diamonds by 2026, leading global sustainable mining efforts. Farmonaut
• [New] The fastest-growing segment from 2025 to 2032 is anticipated to be autonomous drilling, attributable to the industry-wide initiatives to boost safety, precision, and operational efficiency in increasingly complex mining environments. Persistence Market Research
• [New] A lucrative opportunity lies in deploying AI-based predictive maintenance solutions tailored for underserved regions with growing mining activities, such as Latin America, Africa, and parts of Asia Pacific. Persistence Market Research
• [New] By 2026, over 60% of mining companies are projected to adopt autonomous haulage systems for increased efficiency. Farmonaut

Last updated: 10 April 2026