Rio Tinto has secured a US$1.175 billion financing package from four international lenders to advance construction of its Rincon lithium brine project in Argentina’s Salta Province. The package combines loans from the International Finance Corporation, IDB Invest, Export Finance Australia and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, signalling strong multilateral backing for large-scale lithium chemicals capacity. For project engineers and contractors, the funding de-risks early works, evaporation pond construction and processing plant delivery, and locks in capital for associated power, water and access infrastructure in the high-altitude Puna.

Nordec has agreed with Gruvaktiebolaget Viscaria to deliver the full processing plant structure for the restarted Viscaria copper mine in Kiruna, Sweden, covering groundworks, foundations, structural steel and concrete framing, and the building envelope. The contract places Nordec in charge of integrating civil works with the process plant layout, a critical interface for heavy equipment loads, vibration control and serviceability in Arctic conditions. For engineers, early coordination of foundations and steelwork with crusher, mill and materials-handling loads will be central to programme and cost control.

Chile’s new president José Antonio Kast has merged the Mining and Economy ministries under agronomist Daniel Mas, prompting concern from industry groups that a sector generating 11–12% of GDP is losing technical focus just as projects face “cursed” permitting processes requiring 500+ approvals. Copper output fell 2% in 2025 and Cochilco now sees production peaking mid-decade before sliding towards about 4.4 Mt by 2034 unless stalled projects advance. At the same time, Chile is pushing a 14‑mineral critical strategy and new lithium JVs such as Codelco–SQM’s Nova Andino Litio and Codelco–Rio Tinto at Maricunga amid tighter state control and volatile copper prices around $13,098/t.