Emirates Global Aluminium and Century Aluminum will build Oklahoma Primary Aluminum, a 750,000‑tonne‑per‑year smelter at Inola that will more than double current US primary aluminium output and be the first new US smelter since 1980. EGA will hold 60% of the joint venture and Century 40%, with construction targeted to start by end‑2026 and first metal by around 2030, creating 4,000 construction and 1,000 permanent jobs. US Aluminum is separately evaluating a co‑located fabrication plant to convert liquid metal into products for electrical, defence, aerospace, automotive and machinery applications.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 WA Mining Conference & Exhibition in Perth, following a record 2025 event that drew strong attendance from mine operators, OEMs and METS suppliers across Western Australia’s iron ore, gold and battery minerals sectors. The 2026 program is expected to again focus on automation, decarbonisation and electrification of haulage and processing fleets, alongside data-driven mine planning and remote operations. For engineers, the event offers concentrated access to equipment demonstrations, brownfield upgrade case studies and regulatory updates relevant to WA’s large-scale open-pit and underground operations.

Aeris Resources has reported a 62 per cent jump in first-half FY26 net profit to $25.6 million, with cash on hand rising to $87.9 million, driven by stronger copper output and prices from its Tritton operations in New South Wales. Group copper production reached 13,000–14,000 tonnes for the half, with all-in sustaining costs held near prior-period levels despite higher development spend at Tritton’s Budgerygar and Avoca Tank underground mines. The stronger balance sheet gives Aeris more room to fund mine-life extension drilling and incremental plant upgrades without relying on new debt.