BHP incoming chief executive Brandon Craig has met Chinalco chair Ao Hong in Beijing, signalling a renewed alignment between the world’s largest diversified miner and China’s biggest state-owned aluminium producer. The talks centre on long-term supply security for iron ore and copper, with BHP’s Pilbara operations and Escondida copper mine likely to feature in any expanded offtake or joint development arrangements. For miners and project developers, the move points to continued Chinese backing for large-scale steel and energy-transition metals demand, supporting new brownfield expansions over greenfield risk.

Australian mining equipment, technology and services (METS) suppliers are being urged by Austmine to target the US market ahead of the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington DC from 23–26 June 2024. Austmine is promoting opportunities linked to US critical minerals policy, including demand for Australian-developed ore sorting, mine automation and tailings monitoring technologies in states such as Nevada and Arizona. For METS firms, the push signals growing scope for export of drill-and-blast optimisation software, remote asset monitoring systems and specialist consulting on ESG-compliant mine design.

Atlas Copco is targeting mineral processing plants with its oil-free ZS screw blowers, designed to deliver clean, ISO 8573-1 Class 0 compressed air for flotation cells, pneumatic conveying and filter presses. The units use variable speed drives and high-efficiency screw elements to cut specific energy consumption compared with conventional lobe blowers, while maintaining stable low-pressure air in the typical 0.3–1.5 bar(g) range. For plant engineers, the main gains are reduced blower-room power draw, lower heat load on ventilation systems and more consistent air supply to critical process circuits.