Lynas Rare Earths has signed a binding letter of intent with the United States Department of War to finalise a long-term supply agreement for separated rare earth oxides into the US defence industrial base. The deal is expected to draw on production from Lynas’ Mt Weld mine and its cracking and leaching plant in Kalgoorlie, alongside downstream separation capacity in Malaysia and planned US facilities. For mining and processing engineers, the agreement signals sustained demand for high-spec NdPr and other magnet materials, reinforcing the case for process debottlenecking and capacity expansions.

Leading miners have already committed to the dedicated Mining Pavilion at the Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME) 2026 in Mackay, signalling strong demand for exhibition space focused on Queensland coal, critical minerals and METS technology. The pavilion will again consolidate OEMs, contract miners and technology suppliers in a single hall, streamlining access to drill-and-blast systems, fleet management platforms and underground automation solutions for site decision-makers. For engineers and mine managers, QME 2026 offers a concentrated venue to compare equipment specifications, digital tools and brownfield upgrade options against current site constraints.

Australian Power Equipment is working with Australian miners to align high-voltage maintenance strategies with rapidly expanding electrified fleets and fixed plant, focusing on 11–33kV distribution, substations and mobile charging infrastructure. Co-directors Andrew Cockbain and Abby Crawford are pushing condition-based maintenance using online partial discharge monitoring, thermography and detailed asset registers instead of purely time-based shutdowns. The shift aims to reduce unplanned outages on critical circuits feeding draglines, crushers and underground ventilation fans, while keeping maintenance windows compatible with production schedules and statutory inspection requirements.