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Balfour Beatty’s UK Construction division has finally exceeded its long-stated 3% margin goal, lifting operating margin to 3.5% in 2025 on £3,112m revenue, with underlying operating profit up 35% to £110m even after stripping out an £11m insurance recovery. Group revenue rose 7% to £10.77bn and reported pre-tax profit jumped 50% to £323m, aided by a £25m non-underlying credit versus a £49m charge in 2024. The UK Construction order book swelled 44% to £8.9bn, heavily supported by Sizewell C nuclear works and the Net Zero Teesside carbon capture project.

Heidelberg Materials has produced 1,303 tonnes of asphalt at its Criggion quarry in Powys using 100 per cent hydrogen in place of liquid fossil fuels, in what is claimed as the UK’s first hydrogen-fuelled asphalt production run. The trial, part-funded under DESNZ’s Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator, consumed 4,522 kg of hydrogen and cut scope 1 emissions by 76 per cent, equating to a 23 per cent reduction in product carbon footprint and 25,105 kg of CO₂ saved. If replicated across UK asphalt plants, the approach could abate around 450,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, pending proof of commercial viability.

The first completed UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard has been released as a free, voluntary framework defining net zero for both embodied and operational carbon, following pilot testing on more than 200 projects and review of over 3,000 public comments. Version 1 adds annexes for office buildings, allowing separate tenant-only or landlord-only verification where whole-building data are unavailable, and a ‘Practical completion on track’ route to confirm alignment at handover. Independent verification, being developed with Bureau Veritas, is scheduled to go live in Q2 2026, giving clients and designers a formal route to validate net zero claims.

Rio Tinto has secured a US$1.175 billion financing package from four international lenders to advance construction of its Rincon lithium brine project in Argentina’s Salta Province. The package combines loans from the International Finance Corporation, IDB Invest, Export Finance Australia and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, signalling strong multilateral backing for large-scale lithium chemicals capacity. For project engineers and contractors, the funding de-risks early works, evaporation pond construction and processing plant delivery, and locks in capital for associated power, water and access infrastructure in the high-altitude Puna.

Liebherr Chile has commissioned two PR 776 G8 mining dozers fitted with the LiReCon teleoperation system for SQM at the Nueva Victoria iodine operation in northern Chile, the world’s largest iodine producer. The remotely operated dozers are being used for heavy pushing duties in iodine-bearing caliche, where early results show strong pushing power combined with improved fuel efficiency compared with SQM’s existing fleet. For mine operators, the package signals growing deployment of teleoperated dozers for high-exposure working areas and long shifts in remote desert conditions.

Nordec has agreed with Gruvaktiebolaget Viscaria to deliver the full processing plant structure for the restarted Viscaria copper mine in Kiruna, Sweden, covering groundworks, foundations, structural steel and concrete framing, and the building envelope. The contract places Nordec in charge of integrating civil works with the process plant layout, a critical interface for heavy equipment loads, vibration control and serviceability in Arctic conditions. For engineers, early coordination of foundations and steelwork with crusher, mill and materials-handling loads will be central to programme and cost control.

Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) needs tighter alignment with national and local growth strategies and clearer joint working between Whitehall and northern authorities if it is to realise its promised economic uplift, the National Audit Office has warned. The watchdog questions current governance and delivery arrangements for the multi‑billion‑pound rail upgrade, which spans key city pairs across the North and interfaces with existing main lines and urban transport plans. For engineers, the warning signals potential uncertainty around phasing, scope definition and integration with local rail and station redevelopment schemes.

An independent panel has allowed five objecting water companies to recover only 17% of the additional revenue they sought from customers following challenges to Ofwat’s 2025–30 price control. The ruling materially constrains bill-funded capital programmes for network renewal, treatment works upgrades and resilience schemes, potentially forcing rephasing or downsizing of major pipeline, storage and wastewater projects. Contractors and consultants can expect tighter cost scrutiny, value engineering pressure and possible deferral of non-regulatory enhancement works across the AMP8 period.

Hydrogen has been used by Heidelberg Materials UK to decarbonise asphalt production on an industrial scale for the first time in the UK, replacing conventional fossil fuel combustion in the drying and heating phase of the mixing process. The trial, conducted in a full-scale asphalt plant rather than a laboratory rig, demonstrates that hydrogen burners can maintain production temperatures and binder performance within standard specification limits. For pavement designers and contractors, this signals emerging scope to cut Scope 1 emissions from asphalt plants without changing mix designs or laying procedures.

National Highways has completed a major restoration of the 19th-century Riddings Viaduct, stabilising the disused masonry structure to secure its long-term integrity while retaining key heritage features such as its original brick and stone detailing. Works focused on structural repairs to the arches and piers, targeted masonry repointing and waterproofing to reduce water ingress, and strengthening of the deck to manage future loading and environmental deterioration. The project provides a reference for balancing conservation requirements with modern structural safety interventions on ageing rail viaducts.

Chile’s new president José Antonio Kast has merged the Mining and Economy ministries under agronomist Daniel Mas, prompting concern from industry groups that a sector generating 11–12% of GDP is losing technical focus just as projects face “cursed” permitting processes requiring 500+ approvals. Copper output fell 2% in 2025 and Cochilco now sees production peaking mid-decade before sliding towards about 4.4 Mt by 2034 unless stalled projects advance. At the same time, Chile is pushing a 14‑mineral critical strategy and new lithium JVs such as Codelco–SQM’s Nova Andino Litio and Codelco–Rio Tinto at Maricunga amid tighter state control and volatile copper prices around $13,098/t.

Resource nationalism and security stockpiles are reshaping metals markets, with Indonesia capping 2025 nickel ore output at about 200 million tonnes and the US launching Project Vault, a US$12 billion critical minerals stockpiling programme, while Canada commits C$2.5 billion under a Defence Production Act-style framework. China still refines roughly 60% of global lithium and cobalt and produces about 69% of rare earths and 83% of tungsten, pushing buyers to prioritise NATO alignment, energy reliability and governance over pure cost. Canada’s advantage in stability, tax incentives such as the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (to March 2027) and deep mining finance is narrowing unless operators accelerate electrification, automation and digital operations.

EACON is adding 12 more RTE136 battery-electric autonomous haul trucks to China Baowu Steel Group’s Taihe iron ore mine, expanding what it describes as a zero-emission AHS deployment in a metallic ore operation. The new trucks integrate with EACON’s existing autonomous haulage system, using high-precision positioning and fleet management to coordinate fully electric haulage on established iron ore routes. For mine planners and electrical engineers, the scale-up signals growing requirements for pit power distribution, fast-charging infrastructure, and traffic control tailored to BEV-AHS fleets.

SpectraFlow Analytics has secured an order for a SpectraFlow Crossbelt Analyzer at Daye Non-Ferrous Metal Group’s Ausmelt TSL copper smelter in Huangshi, China, one of the world’s five largest raw copper producers. The online analyser will measure concentrate chemistry directly on the conveyor, enabling tighter control of the Ausmelt TSL furnace feed mix in real time. For process engineers, this supports more stable bath conditions, improved sulphur and flux balance, and reduced reliance on intermittent grab sampling.

XCMG has delivered its first large XDE260 diesel-electric AC-drive mining trucks to Australia, marking the Chinese OEM’s entry into the country’s ultra-class haul truck segment. The XDE260, typically configured for around 240–260 t payloads and used in large open-pit operations, positions XCMG against established competitors such as Caterpillar 793/Komatsu 830E in high-production iron ore and coal mines. For mine planners and maintenance teams, the move signals another OEM option for fleet standardisation, parts support, and diesel-electric haulage strategies in Australian conditions.

Thiess plans to retrofit a Caterpillar 793D haul truck with a FLANDERS hybrid diesel‑electric kit as part of its 2025 Sustainability Report roadmap, targeting lower emissions from ultra‑class fleets while acknowledging that net zero‑capable propulsion for large trucks is not yet commercially ready. The FLANDERS system, previously used to boost productivity and cut fuel burn on large excavators and drills, will be adapted to the 793D’s existing electric drive to recover and reuse braking energy. For mine operators, the trial offers a near‑term retrofit option to reduce diesel consumption and validate hybrid performance on a widely used 220–240 t class truck.

Battery-powered mobile pump systems are emerging as an alternative to mains- and diesel-driven units on mine dewatering lines as Tsurumi trials containerised battery storage with its electric submersible pumps. The concept targets reduced local emissions, lower noise for underground and near-community operations, and greater flexibility where grid access is limited or generator logistics are costly. For engineers, the key questions now centre on achievable duty cycles, kW draw versus battery capacity, and integration with existing pump control and monitoring systems.

Work is commencing on upgrading Toowoomba–Athol Road, a key freight and commuter link between Toowoomba and Queensland’s south‑west that now carries a growing mix of heavy vehicles and urban traffic from rapidly expanding Westbrook and Wyreema. The project focuses on safety and capacity planning along this rural–urban corridor, where increasing freight volumes and commuter flows are stressing the existing two‑lane geometry and intersections. Outcomes will guide future widening, intersection treatments and pavement strengthening to support higher traffic loads and reduce crash risk.

Consultation on England’s revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) closed today, with engineers and planners warning the draft offers “all bark and no bite” on issues such as mandatory housing targets and delivery of nationally significant infrastructure. Critics argue the text weakens enforceable requirements on local plans, five-year housing land supply and brownfield-first development, while adding vague language on design quality and net zero. Concerns centre on greater scope for local refusal of dense schemes near transport hubs, potentially constraining urban regeneration and delaying major transport and energy projects.

Treotham has installed an igus roller chain energy supply system for a Shark Bay, Western Australia operation where mobile machines travel long distances, cutting drag forces by up to 75 per cent compared with conventional cable carriers. The polymer roller chain runs in a low-friction trough with integrated rollers, allowing longer travel strokes with reduced drive power and lower wear on cables and hoses. For mine operators, the system offers scope to downsize drive motors, extend maintenance intervals on travelling equipment and improve reliability on long conveyor and reclaimer runs.

ESS Engineering is rolling out practical conveyor control strategies to cut fugitive material loss and unplanned downtime on high‑throughput belt systems. The company is focusing on correctly sized and positioned primary and secondary belt cleaners, skirting and sealing systems, and improved transfer‑chute design to reduce carryback, spillage and dust at loading and discharge points. For mine operators, the approach targets lower maintenance at height, reduced clean‑up around conveyor structures, and more stable belt tracking and idler life.

ALLU screening and crushing buckets supplied by Total Rockbreaking Solutions are being used in Australian quarrying and mining operations to convert oversize and waste rock into saleable aggregate and fill. By processing byproduct in-situ on loaders and excavators rather than hauling it to fixed plants or waste dumps, sites can recover usable fractions, cut transport and tipping costs, and reduce stockpiled waste volumes. The approach is particularly relevant for brownfield pits with limited space and variable feed, where mobile, attachment-based processing can extend resource life.

Thiess executive general manager Rae O’Brien has been named Exceptional Woman of 2026 at the Queensland Resources Council and Women in Mining and Resources Queensland awards, recognising her leadership across large open-cut coal and metals operations. O’Brien has overseen multi-year productivity and safety programmes at Thiess, including deployment of autonomous haulage fleets and advanced fleet-optimisation analytics on east coast sites. Her recognition signals continued industry emphasis on senior female leadership in mine planning, contractor management and technology-enabled production improvement across Queensland’s major resource projects.

Lynas Rare Earths has extended its supply and funding agreement with Japan Australia Rare Earths (JARE) to 2038, locking in long-term offtake for Japanese customers and continued support for its Mt Weld mine and downstream processing assets. The deal secures financing flexibility through JARE’s existing loan facilities while underpinning feedstock for Lynas’ cracking and leaching plants in Kalgoorlie and Kuantan. For rare earths project developers, the move signals sustained Japanese backing for non-Chinese NdPr and heavy rare earth supply chains.