Hudbay Minerals and Mitsubishi Corporation have approved development of the Copper World project in Arizona after completing a definitive feasibility study and related prefeasibility work, positioning it as one of the largest open-pit copper mines in the US. The DFS defines a large-scale open pit with associated concentrator and downstream facilities sized for long-life production, though detailed tonnage and throughput figures have not yet been released. For geotechnical and mine planning teams, the decision signals imminent detailed design of pit slopes, waste dumps and water management for a Tier-1 scale operation in arid conditions.

Thiess has secured two five-year contracts in Mongolia to deliver underground mining services at Rio Tinto–managed Oyu Tolgoi and asset management services for Energy Resources’ Ukhaa Khudag coal mine. The Oyu Tolgoi scope centres on long-term underground development and production support at one of the world’s largest copper-gold deposits, while Ukhaa Khudag work focuses on maintaining a large truck–shovel fleet and fixed plant. The deals extend Thiess’ Mongolian presence and signal continued demand for outsourced underground and maintenance expertise in complex brownfield operations.

PT Pani Industri Nusantara, a subsidiary of PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk, has awarded Doppelmayr a contract to install Indonesia’s first RopeCon® system to move crushed gold ore from its Sulawesi mine directly to a carbon-in-leach processing plant. The fixed elevated conveyor-ropeway hybrid is designed to span difficult terrain with minimal tower foundations, reducing haul road construction and diesel truck use. For mine planners and geotechnical teams, the choice signals a shift towards long-distance, low-footprint ore transport in steep, infrastructure-poor topography.