Mineral Resources and Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium have approved a A$490 million brownfield expansion at the Mt Marion lithium operation in Western Australia, adding an underground mine and new flotation plant to increase recoveries and throughput. The final investment decision covers transitioning from a purely open-pit operation to a combined open-pit/underground layout, with flotation enabling higher-grade concentrate production from existing ore types. The partners expect the upgrade to materially extend Mt Marion’s mine life by decades, with implications for long-term tailings, water balance and underground geotechnical design.

Elizabeth Gaines will resign as executive director of Fortescue after 13 years with the iron ore major, including four years as chief executive officer. During her CEO tenure she oversaw the ramp-up of the 30–40Mtpa Eliwana mine and rail project in the Pilbara and advanced the 22Mtpa Iron Bridge magnetite project towards production. Her departure signals further leadership transition as Fortescue pursues its green hydrogen and decarbonisation strategy alongside its core hematite export business.

NEXT Cooling South Africa has secured a contract to design and supply a four-cell fibre reinforced polyester (FRP) condenser cooling tower for a Tanzanian gold mine, forming part of a central refrigeration plant expansion led by BBE Group. The package includes all cooling tower internals, including process piping, high-surface-area fill and drift eliminators, indicating a fully engineered thermal and hydraulic solution rather than a shell-only supply. For mine operators, the FRP construction points to reduced corrosion risk and lower structural weight compared with conventional steel or concrete towers, easing installation and long-term maintenance.