Natural Resources Canada is directing C$73 million into 12 mining projects, with a significant share earmarked for battery-electric vehicle (BEV) trials and early deployments in underground operations. Announced on 26 June by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, the funding targets mine fleets and supporting infrastructure, including charging systems and power management, to cut diesel use and ventilation loads. For engineers, the programme signals federal backing for BEV-ready mine designs, electrical reticulation upgrades and revised ventilation and heat-load calculations.

RCT – Powered by Epiroc has deployed its Pedestrian Alert System (PAS) across a northwest Queensland mining and smelting complex to reduce collision risk between heavy mobile equipment and on-foot workers. The PAS uses personnel tags and machine-mounted detection units to identify people within configurable exclusion zones around loaders, trucks and other plant, triggering in-cab alarms and external visual warnings. Integration with existing fleet and radio infrastructure allows site-specific zoning in high-traffic areas such as crusher feed pads and smelter transfer bays, targeting known near-miss hotspots.

Queensland has committed $15 million from the Queensland Investment Corporation’s Critical Minerals Fund to fast‑track redevelopment of the historic Mount Chalmers copper mine, 17 km east of Rockhampton. The funding backs QMines’ plans to restart the long‑idle volcanogenic massive sulphide operation, targeting copper, gold, zinc and silver in a brownfield setting with existing underground workings and surface disturbance. For geotechnical and mine planners, the move signals state support for re‑entering historic stopes and upgrading legacy infrastructure rather than greenfield copper builds.