Founders Factory and Rio Tinto have selected a fifth cohort of five start-ups for their Mining Tech Accelerator, targeting high-impact operational challenges across the mining value chain. The global programme backs early-stage ventures developing tools such as advanced orebody characterisation, digital mine planning, and AI-driven decision support for processing and logistics. For engineers, the accelerator signals continued demand for deployable technologies that integrate with existing fleet management, plant control, and geoscience data systems rather than standalone pilots.

Metso has signed an agreement to modernise and repower thickeners at a Chilean mine, targeting higher throughput, greater operational robustness and increased underflow density. The upgrade focuses on boosting water recovery rates from the thickener underflow, reducing fresh make-up water demand and supporting more sustainable process water management in a high-tonnage operation. For process and tailings engineers, the project signals continued pressure to extract more water from tailings streams through improved thickener design, control and retrofits rather than new-build capacity.

Macmahon Underground Pty Ltd has secured a two-year extension from Vault Minerals to continue providing underground mining services at the Daisy Milano gold mine in Western Australia’s Kalgoorlie region. The scope covers ongoing mine development and production activities, maintaining contractor continuity at a site where Macmahon has been operating since 2024. For geotechnical and production teams, the extension signals stable planning horizons for development drilling, ground support regimes and scheduling of stoping sequences over the next two years.