PLS delivered record quarterly spodumene concentrate output of 267,600 tonnes from its Pilgangoora operation in Western Australia, a 25 per cent increase driven by the restart of the Ngungaju processing plant. Additional Ngungaju throughput is complementing higher-grade or more consistent feed from the main Pilgan plant, lifting overall plant utilisation early in the 2026–27 financial year. The step-up in concentrate tonnage will pressure mine scheduling, tailings capacity and haulage logistics, and may justify further debottlenecking of crushing and classification circuits.

A new Minerals Council of Australia report, Territory Ready: Building Territory capability for the next generation of resource development, maps how the Northern Territory can staff upcoming critical minerals, gas and conventional mining projects by strengthening VET-to-degree pathways and on-the-job training. Recommendations include structured partnerships between NT mines and Charles Darwin University, targeted interstate and international recruitment for specialist roles such as process engineers and geoscientists, and expanded apprenticeships in remote communities. For operators, the message is to lock in workforce pipelines early or risk project delays and higher labour costs.

Nova Minerals has secured final Alaska Department of Natural Resources approvals for its Department of War-funded antimony project, completing permitting for stibnite mining at the Styx and Stibium prospects, ore sorting at the Whiskey Bravo site within the Estelle gold project, and downstream refining at Port MacKenzie. The 42.81-acre Port Mac refinery site near the West Susitna Access Road will produce military-grade antimony trisulfide and grade II antimony metal (>99.65% Sb) from 2027, backed by US$43.4 million in federal funding. All major long-lead mining and processing equipment is already procured and delivered, with flowsheet engineering and metallurgical test work completed.