BHP Invent has signed two Memorandums of Understanding with China ENFI, a subsidiary of China Metallurgical Group Corporation, and BGRIMM Technology Group to co-develop technologies for mineral processing, leaching and complex ore treatment. The partnerships focus on flowsheet innovation and metallurgical testwork for challenging ores, including operations in high-altitude environments common to western China. For miners, this signals potential new process routes and reagent schemes for low-grade or refractory deposits, with Chinese engineering houses positioned as key design and pilot-plant partners.

Oxford University spinout Ascension has raised £1.7 million in new funding, combining a £670,490 Innovate UK Growth Catalyst grant with £1 million from UKI2S, Oxford Science Enterprises and East X, bringing total capital raised to £6.2 million. The company’s Selective Recovery programme targets rare earths and other critical minerals in deep volcanic glass, aiming to separate metals in situ and cut surface processing stages. Ascension’s process uses natural geothermal heat in volcanic rock deposits, avoiding excavation, high-temperature surface processing and associated land disturbance.

Holcim UK is deploying 20 LiuGong 870HE pure electric wheel loaders across its quarry fleet, expanding one of the highest-tonnage battery-electric loader deployments in the sector. The 870HE units, among the largest pure electric loaders currently available, are targeted at high-duty quarry loading cycles traditionally dominated by diesel machines. For geotechnical and quarry operators, this signals accelerating adoption of heavy battery-electric equipment for primary load-and-haul, with implications for power supply design, charging infrastructure layout and ventilation requirements in future pit and plant planning.