Epiroc has secured a large order to supply a fleet of Pit Viper 351 surface blasthole drill rigs to a major Peruvian copper mine operated by a consortium of leading Chinese investment firms and an Australia-headquartered global miner. The Pit Viper 351 units, typically configured for large-diameter production holes and high bench heights, will be deployed to support a mine expansion phase. For drill and blast engineers, the standardisation on a single large-rig platform signals higher bench productivity and tighter control of fragmentation and blast patterns.

Copper demand is projected to surge over coming decades as electrification, large-scale renewables, AI workloads and hyperscale data centres drive intensive use of copper-heavy power electronics and modern grid infrastructure. Adelaide’s Copper to the World conference and exhibition will focus on this demand profile, linking new transmission build-out, electric vehicle charging networks and high-capacity data centre cabling to long-term red metal consumption. For miners and project developers, the event signals sustained interest in copper supply pipelines, processing capacity and exploration portfolios.

Global Lithium Resources is acquiring IGO’s Nova nickel operation in Western Australia via its subsidiary GL1 HoldCo No 3 Pty Ltd to fast‑track development of the nearby Manna lithium project and cut upfront capital. The deal gives Global Lithium access to Nova’s existing underground mine, processing plant and site infrastructure, enabling potential shared power, camp, haulage and permitting synergies rather than building greenfield facilities at Manna. For engineers, the transaction signals a shift towards hub‑and‑spoke use of established base‑metal plants to de‑risk new lithium assets.