Minerals Council of Australia has been confirmed as Endorsing Partner for the Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX26), positioning the event as a ‘by industry, for industry’ platform for Australia’s mining and METS sector. The MCA, the peak body for major iron ore, coal, gold, copper and critical minerals producers, will use the partnership to promote technology-led productivity, decarbonisation and skills development. For engineers and suppliers, GRX26 now offers a more direct channel to operators and policy influencers shaping mine automation, electrification and processing innovation in Australia.

Sandvik has launched the DD423i automated twin-boom development drill rig, built on the DD422i platform but engineered for higher drilling accuracy, automation readiness and data integration in underground hard-rock mines. The rig is designed for multi-face development with intelligent drilling controls, compatibility with Sandvik’s AutoMine and OptiMine systems, and upgraded onboard diagnostics to reduce unplanned downtime. For mine engineers, the DD423i targets tighter drill-and-blast control, improved overbreak management and more consistent advance per blast in high-cost development headings.

Core Lithium has awarded NRW Pty Ltd a circa A$50 million surface mining services contract for open-pit mining at the Grants deposit within the wholly owned Finniss Lithium Operation in Australia’s Northern Territory. The package covers all key activities required to deliver ore from the Grants pit, including drill-and-blast, load-and-haul, and associated mine services for the spodumene-bearing pegmatite. For geotechnical and mine planners, the award signals continued development of Finniss as a conventional truck-and-shovel open pit rather than an early shift to underground methods.