Minimum viable solutions (MVS) are being promoted by Worley’s Dr Alan Monaghan as a new way to de-risk mining projects facing technology integration, decarbonisation targets and volatile supply chains. Instead of fully defined, linear project pathways, MVS focuses on delivering smaller, testable production increments, using modular process units and staged automation rollouts to prove value before full-scale capital commitment. For geotechnical and processing teams, this implies earlier field trials, tighter feedback loops between pilots and design, and more flexible mine plans that can absorb technology and market shifts.

STEINERT is expanding its presence in Mexico to offer direct regional support for its ore sorting and separation systems, following recent 2024–2025 investments to boost production capacity at STEINERT UniSort and STEINERT MSort in Germany. The move targets growing demand for on-site service, spare parts and application engineering for sensor-based sorting in Mexican mining operations. For operators, closer access to STEINERT’s XRT, colour and multi-sensor sorting platforms should shorten commissioning and maintenance cycles and support higher plant uptime.

Energy is rapidly shifting from a background utility to a core design and investment driver in mining projects, with SLR Consulting pointing to rising power prices and decarbonisation pressures as key catalysts. The firm is seeing mine plans, processing routes and pit-to-port logistics increasingly constrained by grid access, renewable integration potential and exposure to diesel for haulage and power generation. For geotechnical and mine planners, this means earlier coupling of pit design and plant layout with power-supply studies, microgrid options and long-term carbon pricing assumptions.