Rio Tinto has energised a new 25 MW solar plant at its Kennecott copper operations in Utah, adding to a 5 MW solar facility completed in 2023 to expand on-site renewable power. The project showcases a circular critical-minerals supply chain, with tellurium recovered at Kennecott used in manufacturing the solar panels that now supply the mine. For mine planners and process engineers, the build-out signals further integration of site-derived critical minerals into decarbonised power infrastructure for large-scale copper operations.

Digital integration of geotechnical data at Anglo American’s Barro Alto nickel mine in Brazil is using Seequent’s Central and Leapfrog Geo platforms to create a single, live subsurface model for risk management. Drillhole, mapping, monitoring and laboratory data are being federated into a cloud-based environment, enabling near real-time updates to pit slope designs and geotechnical domains. The approach is cutting manual data handling, improving traceability of design decisions and giving geotechnical engineers faster decision cycles for slope stability and mine planning.

Programmed has secured a contract with Pilbara Minerals (PLS) to provide village management services at the Pilgangoora lithium operation in Western Australia’s Pilbara, billed as the world’s largest independent hard-rock lithium mine. The partnership covers support for daily life in remote workforce villages, including accommodation, catering and facilities management for fly-in fly-out crews. For mine operators, the move signals further outsourcing of non-core site services at large-scale lithium projects to specialist camp and village providers.