Bechtel has signed an agreement with Chilean contractor Echeverría Izquierdo Montajes Industriales SA (EIMISA) to jointly deliver selected large-scale mining and infrastructure projects in Chile and wider South America. The partnership combines Bechtel’s EPC and megaproject management capability with EIMISA’s local industrial construction and erection services, targeting major copper and other hard‑rock developments as regional mining investment accelerates. For owners, the move signals stronger integrated delivery capacity for complex process plants, materials handling systems and associated civil works under Chilean regulatory and labour conditions.

Minimising unplanned downtime in mining fleets is being tackled through smarter drivetrain selection and maintenance strategies, focusing on high-torque, low-speed applications in large haul trucks and loaders. The whitepaper examines trade-offs between conventional mechanical drivetrains and electric or hybrid-electric systems, including modular gearbox designs and condition-based monitoring of critical components such as final drives and torque converters. For mine planners and maintenance engineers, the key message is that drivetrain choices directly affect mean time between failures, spare parts inventories, and planned shutdown durations.

Metso is expanding its presence in Argentina with new local capabilities in San Juan, the country’s key copper and gold mining hub, entering a new growth phase from the second quarter. The investment is aimed at building long‑term in‑country capacity for equipment support and services, reducing reliance on imported expertise and long supply chains. For mine operators, closer access to OEM support in San Juan should cut downtime on critical process equipment and improve lifecycle management for large copper and gold concentrator assets.