International Council on Mining and Metals CEO Rohitesh Dhawan warns a looming “space race” for global mineral supremacy could sharply accelerate government backing for new mining projects and approvals. Organisers say IMARC 2026 in Melbourne will be a key test of this shift, with Dhawan and other senior international delegations expected to gauge policy support, permitting pipelines and cross-border investment appetite. For project developers and consultants, the event is likely to signal how aggressively governments will pursue critical minerals, infrastructure and ESG frameworks over the next decade.

EU regulators are preparing a formal statement of objections to MMG’s planned acquisition of Anglo American’s Brazilian nickel business, which includes two ferronickel operations and two greenfield projects, amid concerns MMG could divert ferronickel away from European stainless steel producers. The Hong Kong-listed miner, controlled by China Minmetals, has already triggered a separate investigation by Brazil’s competition authority after a complaint from regional competitor CoreX Holding. Any EU charge sheet would force MMG to propose remedies or risk the deal being blocked, testing Europe’s stance on Chinese control of critical minerals.

Brazil’s Senate has approved a National Policy for Critical and Strategic Minerals, creating a presidential council empowered to review changes in control of companies holding critical mineral rights, scrutinise foreign influence and tie exports to value‑addition and processing commitments. The move comes as USA Rare Earth’s US$2.8 billion acquisition of Serra Verde and its 15‑year offtake of mixed rare earth carbonate, plus Australian‑backed projects like Viridis’ Colossus ionic‑adsorption clay deposit, position Brazil as a key rare earths supplier. Incentives include a 2‑billion real mineral guarantee fund and up to 5 billion reais in tax credits over five years for processing and transformation plants.