Newmont has commissioned a Cat 6040 next generation hydraulic mining shovel at its Ahafo South gold mine in Ghana, its first deployment of the 400 t-class unit and one of only three mine sites globally using this model. The 6040, designed for large-scale hard rock operations, pairs with ultra-class haul trucks and incorporates Caterpillar’s latest cab ergonomics, hydraulics and machine health monitoring. For Ahafo South, the shovel is expected to lift loading productivity and reduce exposure around highwall and pit-floor digging zones.

Glencore Technology will install its Albion Process oxidative leaching circuit at Rox Resources’ Youanmi gold project in Western Australia to treat refractory and semi-refractory ores that are not amenable to conventional cyanidation. The fine-grinding plus oxygenated leach system is designed to oxidise sulphide-hosted gold at atmospheric pressure, offering a lower-capex alternative to pressure oxidation or roasting for “next generation” deposits. For process and geomet teams, this signals growing commercial acceptance of Albion flowsheets for challenging gold mineralogies in Australian hard-rock operations.

Cummins has announced upgrades to its QSK60 high-horsepower mining engine alongside new capabilities for its PrevenTech remote monitoring platform, targeting better fuel efficiency, uptime and total lifecycle cost in large haul trucks and shovels. The QSK60 updates focus on combustion optimisation, extended overhaul intervals and improved parts commonality, while PrevenTech adds enhanced fault diagnostics, predictive maintenance analytics and fleet-wide performance benchmarking. For mine operators, the package aims to cut unplanned downtime, stabilise engine performance in high-altitude and high-dust environments, and support longer rebuild cycles.