Thiess has mobilised a fourth Liebherr R 9800 hydraulic excavator to Jellinbah Group’s Lake Vermont coal mine in Queensland, expanding a fleet already built around ultra-class loading units. The R 9800, typically paired with 220–300 t class haul trucks and capable of 40–80 m³ bucket capacities depending on configuration, is being deployed to meet rising production requirements and tighten truck–shovel match. The move signals continued capital commitment to high‑productivity primary loading assets and supports longer-term planning for efficient strip mining and overburden removal.

Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (INO) mine rescue team has taken the 2026 Ontario Mine Rescue overall champion title in Sudbury, outperforming seven other regional winners in a province-wide final. The team completed a complex mock underground emergency scenario designed by Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR), typically involving live-fire suppression, casualty extrication and use of closed-circuit breathing apparatus under time and communication constraints. For mine operators, the result reinforces the value of rigorous, scenario-based training regimes and standardised emergency procedures across multi-level, deep nickel operations.

Ioneer has signed non-binding letters of intent with Korea’s state-backed KIND and Hyundai Engineering to advance the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada, a key US source of battery-grade lithium carbonate and boric acid. KIND, mandated by South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to support overseas infrastructure, is expected to focus on project financing and risk mitigation, while Hyundai Engineering is positioned for EPC and process plant roles. The pacts signal potential Korean capital and engineering input into mine, concentrator and downstream processing design.