Caterpillar Product Support Manager Jeremy Byrd details how field trials of battery‑electric and trolley‑assist haul trucks are shaping the company’s electrification support model for large open pits. Recurrent customer questions centre on duty‑cycle modelling, charger placement around shovel faces and dumps, grid stability for multi‑megawatt fast chargers, and integration with existing diesel fleets. Byrd points to early projects using Cat® MineStar™ data, real‑time energy monitoring and iterative route redesign as critical for sizing on‑board energy storage and planning phased infrastructure roll‑outs.

Lynas Rare Earths has reported record profits on the back of surging global demand for rare earth oxides used in permanent magnets for EV motors and wind turbines, enabling accelerated expansion of its Mt Weld mine and downstream processing. CEO Amanda Lacaze is pushing ahead with capacity growth at the Western Australian concentrator and the new Kalgoorlie cracking and leaching plant, designed to reduce reliance on offshore processing. For mine planners and process engineers, the move signals sustained demand for high-grade monazite-hosted rare earth ores and long-term justification for beneficiation and hydrometallurgical upgrades.

BHP chief executive Mike Henry has reaffirmed the company’s iron ore advantage, citing world‑leading EBITDA margins and stronger free cash flow from its Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) operations compared with Rio Tinto and Vale. He pointed to sustained low unit costs across BHP’s Pilbara hubs and a high proportion of lump and premium fines products as key drivers of realised price and margin resilience through the cycle. For mine planners and process engineers, the message is continued emphasis on low‑strip orebodies, efficient rail‑port integration and product quality control to defend cost and price premia.