Strikes, severe weather, accidents and geotechnical issues are putting an average 5.2% of output at Chile’s 14 largest copper mines at risk, with GEM Mining Consulting’s new Production-at-Risk Index scoring El Teniente at 9%, Los Pelambres at 8% and Escondida at 7.5%. The model compounds eight disruption categories—labour, water, weather, geotechnical, metallurgy/grades, ramp-up, safety and permitting—where a single high rating equates to an expected 3% annual loss, or about 11 days of production. Current events validate the exposure, with over 700 workers on strike at Centinela, Escondida halted after a fatal accident, and storms disrupting Los Pelambres and Caserones.

MACH Energy has pledged to continue operating its Mount Pleasant thermal coal mine in the NSW Hunter Valley in line with the legal framework set by the High Court’s ruling on its proposed expansion and any subsequent NSW Parliament decisions. The company is signalling ongoing engagement with state regulators, government and local stakeholders as it reassesses plans to increase production and extend mine life. Geotechnical and mine planning teams can expect permitting, design envelopes and progressive rehabilitation schedules to remain contingent on evolving court and legislative constraints.

Stellar Resources has extended high-grade tin mineralisation at the Heemskirk project in western Tasmania, with step-out drilling north of the Severn deposit intersecting 3.9m at 0.82 per cent Sn from 206.1m, including 2.1m at 1.40 per cent Sn. Additional mineralised intervals in hole ZM194 include 3.7m at 0.41 per cent Sn, supporting a larger, structurally continuous tin system. For mine planning and geotechnical teams, the deeper, high-grade intercepts point to potential expansion of underground resource envelopes and revised stope designs.