LEEA has launched a procurement-focused survey to feed into a new white paper scheduled for release on Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD) on 2 July 2026, with details hosted on the updated campaign site globalliftingawarenessday.com. Targeted at stakeholders who specify or purchase cranes, hoists, slings and other lifting accessories, the initiative centres on the theme “Not all lifting equipment is…”, aiming to capture how compliance, whole‑life cost and inspection regimes are currently weighted in buying decisions. Mining owners, EPCMs and contractors can use the findings to benchmark procurement practices against industry expectations and tightening safety standards.

Three 296 t class Hitachi EH5000 rigid dump trucks at Barrick’s Lumwana copper mine in Zambia have each passed 100,000 operating hours, an unusually high lifecycle for ultra-class haulage equipment in hard-rock copper operations. The milestone, marked at a joint Barrick–Hitachi recognition ceremony, points to effective component rebuild strategies, condition-based maintenance and strong dealer support for the EH5000 fleet. For mine planners and maintenance teams, it signals potential to extend truck life beyond typical replacement cycles, with implications for capex timing and fleet renewal strategies.

Zijin Mining Group is rolling out a 290-strong battery electric truck fleet at its Wulagen lead-zinc mine in Wuqia County, Xinjiang, replacing conventional diesel haulage and creating one of the largest single-site BEV truck deployments worldwide. The mine, operated by Xinjiang Zijin Zinc, is shifting to fully electric underground and surface haul routes, relying on high-capacity battery packs and fast-swapping or fast-charging systems to keep utilisation high. For mine planners and geotechnical teams, the move reduces diesel ventilation demand and heat load, potentially allowing deeper or denser development with lower airflow requirements.