China’s sudden halt of sulfuric acid exports, after shipping 4.65 million tonnes in 2025 (about 40% from metal smelters), has doubled delivered acid prices to Chile since February and is squeezing heap-leach copper operations in Chile, the DRC and Zambia. Randy Allen argues that for each tonne of copper from sulfide concentrates, 3–3.5 tonnes of sulfuric acid can be generated and monetised, alongside co-products such as ferrous sulfate and iron oxides. He points to pressure oxidation and electrochemical reductive leaching as non-combustion routes to capture copper and fully valorise sulfur, cutting SO₂ emissions and acid mine drainage risks.

Carmeuse is deploying Caterpillar’s MineStar Command for hauling across its fleet of Cat 777 rigid dump trucks at the Drummond Island limestone quarry in Michigan, with implementation delivered by Caterpillar and dealer Fabick Cat. The retrofit autonomous haulage system will convert the existing 777 fleet rather than replace it, signalling growing OEM support for autonomy on mid-size quarry trucks rather than only ultra-class units. For geotechnical and quarry planners, this raises the bar on traffic management design, berm standards and interaction rules for mixed autonomous–manual operations.

Militant attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, including a 31 January raid by about 500 Baloch Liberation Army fighters that killed nearly three dozen people and cut road access to Reko Diq, are forcing Barrick Mining to slow development of its $9 billion copper-gold project towards mid-2027. The two-stage mine is designed to produce 200,000 tonnes of copper concentrate and 250,000 oz. of gold annually in a $5.5 billion first phase, doubling output in a $3.5 billion second phase, from 1.5 billion tonnes of reserves grading 0.48% Cu and 0.28 g/t Au. Security instability now threatens both the project’s projected $74 billion in free cash flow over 37 years and a $1.3 billion US-Pakistan investment pact aimed at countering Chinese-backed infrastructure in Balochistan.