Geomechanics.io

The Department for Transport has reiterated that it “remains committed” to the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) scheme, but says the long-awaited upgrade will only be “considered carefully as further funding becomes available”. The programme is intended to relieve the heavily constrained Ely North and Ely Dock Junctions, a key bottleneck for freight from the Port of Felixstowe and passenger services across East Anglia. Continued uncertainty over funding timing leaves planners and contractors unable to firm up designs, phasing or possession strategies for the multi-junction rail works.

Three major European tunnelling contractors have been appointed to develop the next phase of fixed-link proposals that could replace several Shetland inter-island ferry routes with subsea road tunnels. The firms will assess technical and economic feasibility for a test-case tunnel, likely involving long subsea drives in complex North Atlantic geology with high overburden, strong currents and aggressive marine conditions. Outcomes will influence design standards, ground investigation scope and construction methodology for any future multi-tunnel programme across the archipelago.

Northern Star Resources reports strong exploration results across its Australian hubs, with deep extensions and high‑grade gold intercepts at operations including Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines in Western Australia. Drilling has identified mineralisation continuing at depth beneath existing workings, with multiple emerging zones that could support life‑of‑mine extensions and higher‑grade feed to existing mills. For mine planners and geotechs, the focus now shifts to underground access design, ground support in deeper stress regimes, and sequencing to integrate new stopes into current production.

Regis Resources is flagging a “significant pipeline” of near-mine and regional exploration targets across its Duketon and Tropicana gold operations in Western Australia, aiming to extend mine life and lift mill feed quality. The company is focusing on brownfields drilling around existing open pits and underground workings, plus greenfields prospects along under-tested shear zones within its Duketon belt and the Tropicana joint venture corridor. For geotechs and mine planners, the message is to expect ongoing resource definition drilling, updated pit shells and potential underground studies rather than major new project footprints.

Custom steel bushings engineered for excavators, loaders, rope shovels, dozers and drill rigs are being tailored to withstand high-load, abrasive and shock-intensive mining conditions. Supplier Sibo is focusing on precision machining and finishing of steel bushings to control clearances, surface hardness and lubrication behaviour, aiming to reduce wear in pivot points and boom joints. For maintenance and reliability teams, the move towards application-specific bushing geometry and metallurgy signals more scope to extend component life and lengthen shutdown intervals in heavy mobile fleets.

XCMG Australia is pushing a net-zero strategy in mining fleets using battery-electric haul trucks and loaders engineered for high-duty cycles and harsh pit conditions. The company is pairing electric drivetrains with advanced thermal management and fast-charging systems sized to typical shift patterns, aiming to minimise downtime without major changes to existing haul road geometries. For mine planners and geotechnical teams, the shift implies rethinking power distribution corridors, substation locations and pavement design to handle heavier battery vehicles and different torque–traction behaviour on ramps.

BHP and Rio Tinto have begun large‑scale trials of Caterpillar 793 XE “Early Learner” battery‑electric haul trucks in Western Australia’s Pilbara iron ore operations, marking the first deployment of this class of BEV truck in the region. The trials will test truck performance on long, high‑temperature haul profiles typical of Pilbara pits, including payload, cycle times and battery endurance under >40°C ambient conditions. Outcomes will directly influence future pit design, power infrastructure sizing and trolley or static fast‑charging layouts for ultra‑class fleets.

Harmony Gold has advanced its Eva copper project in Queensland by awarding Metso a major equipment contract as the greenfield mine moves towards site construction. The deal covers key comminution and processing plant components, with Metso to supply crushing and grinding equipment sized for large-scale copper throughput at one of Australia’s biggest planned copper developments. The contract signals design lock-in for the process flowsheet and allows detailed engineering, foundation design and construction scheduling to proceed on a firmer basis.

Mineral Resources (MinRes) has broken ground at its Lamb Creek iron ore project in the Pilbara, signalling the next phase of its onshore iron ore growth alongside existing hubs such as Iron Valley and Koolyanobbing. The project is expected to leverage MinRes’ integrated model of mine-to-port logistics, including its privately operated haulage and transhipping infrastructure, to move ore efficiently from remote deposits to coastal export points. For geotechnical and civil teams, early works will centre on pit development, haul road construction and foundation preparation for crushing and screening facilities in a cyclonic, high-temperature environment.

Argentina is being framed as the “Chile of 50 years ago”, with the same Andean porphyry copper belt that hosts Chile’s giant copper-gold systems but almost no large-scale development due to decades of political and economic instability. President Javier Milei’s post‑2023 austerity reforms have cut inflation, lifted bond prices and lowered the country‑risk index to a five‑year low, triggering renewed interest from majors. BHP’s multi‑billion‑dollar move on Filo Mining and Glencore’s review of two copper projects totalling about US$13.5 billion signal a step‑change in exploration and project pipeline risk for Argentina.

British Columbia’s Court of Appeal has ruled in Gitxaala v. British Columbia that the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) incorporates UNDRIP and creates legally enforceable obligations, overturning a 2023 Supreme Court finding that DRIPA was not justiciable. The court held that B.C.’s automatic online mineral claim-staking system under the Mineral Tenure Act, used to grant claims on Banks Island between 2018 and 2020, is inconsistent with UNDRIP because it provides no opportunity for prior consultation. All B.C. mining-related statutes and regulations must now be interpreted as consistent with UNDRIP, signalling tighter consultation requirements at the mineral claims stage.

Australia’s first Cat 793 XE Early Learner battery-electric haul trucks have arrived at BHP’s Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara, where BHP and Rio Tinto will jointly test Caterpillar’s BEV heavy haulage platform under production conditions. The two 220‑t class trucks, supplied under an industry‑first shared development agreement, will be evaluated on typical Pilbara duty cycles, ramp profiles and ambient temperatures. Data from Jimblebar will feed into Caterpillar’s commercial 793 BEV design, with direct implications for trolley, charging and pit power infrastructure planning across large open pits.

Registration has opened for PDAC 2026, scheduled for 1–4 March 2026 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, positioning Toronto again as the main global hub for mineral exploration and mining deal-making. The four-day event will bring together exploration geologists, mine developers, investors, governments, students and Indigenous communities, with a programme typically spanning technical sessions on drilling, resource estimation and project finance alongside a large core shack and trade show. For engineers and project owners, early registration is key to securing meetings with equipment suppliers, drilling contractors and potential JV or offtake partners.

Boliden is accelerating deployment of “green fleets” across its European copper, nickel and zinc operations, building on its position as the continent’s largest copper and nickel producer. The miner is pushing mine electrification with battery-electric mobile equipment and trolley-assist haulage to cut diesel use and associated ventilation demand in deep underground workings. As a Miner Partner sponsor for International Mining’s Electric Mine events, Boliden is using field data from Scandinavian sites to refine charging strategies, power infrastructure design and fleet selection for cold-climate, high-latitude operations.

Sandvik has broken ground on an C$85 million, state-of-the-art facility at 2555 Maley Drive in Greater Sudbury, with construction formally launched at a ceremony on 5 December 2025. The project, backed by up to C$4 million in provincial grant funding, will consolidate and expand Sandvik’s Canadian operations hub for underground mining equipment and services. For mine operators in the Sudbury Basin and across Canada, the site is expected to shorten supply chains for OEM parts and support, and increase local capacity for equipment rebuilds and technology upgrades.

Haver & Boecker has marked 50 years in Brazil, with Sales Manager for Mineral Processing Equipment Denilson Moreno outlining at Exposibram 2025 how the company is expanding its Latinoamericana footprint in screening, washing and pelletising systems for iron ore and other bulk commodities. He points to Brazilian demand for high-capacity vibrating screens and modular screening media tailored to wet, abrasive ores, plus local manufacture of key components to cut lead times. For plant designers, the message is tighter integration of classification, dewatering and pellet feed preparation to stabilise throughput and product quality.

Metso has launched its Grande Series™ of high-capacity stationary screens, introducing three new types – GLH, GMF and GFF – for demanding mining and aggregates applications. The range targets high-throughput, multi-deck screening duties where conventional units struggle with capacity, blinding or large feed size. For plant designers and process engineers, the new models expand options for fixed crushing and screening circuits needing greater tonnage and sharper separation without moving to multiple parallel screens.

National Grid has appointed consultancy Dalcour Maclaren to deliver land and property services for the proposed Cross Border Connection, a new 400kV electricity transmission link between Scotland and north‑west England. The role will cover route safeguarding, landowner negotiations and access rights along the cross‑border corridor, a critical step before detailed design and consenting. For civil and geotechnical teams, the appointment signals early progression towards corridor definition, ground investigation access and future construction compounds for this high‑voltage reinforcement of the GB grid.

Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure has commissioned mapping specialist Gaist to deliver a network-wide digital stock-take of its road assets using AI-based condition assessment. High-resolution imaging and machine-learning classification will be used to catalogue carriageway defects, drainage features and street furniture, creating a georeferenced inventory to support maintenance planning amid a mounting roads backlog. For asset managers and pavement engineers, the move signals a shift towards data-driven prioritisation of resurfacing, patching and drainage interventions across the regional network.

Capacity concerns around the UK Infrastructure Pipeline are shifting from labour shortages to whether suppliers can deliver standardised, factory-made components at scale for major road, rail and water schemes. The commentary argues for a product-based approach using platform design, repeatable bridge and tunnel elements, and offsite-manufactured M&E modules, rather than bespoke, project-by-project solutions. For engineers and contractors, this signals growing pressure to adopt design-for-manufacture, common specifications and long-term framework agreements with Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers.

Ed Miliband has confirmed the government will deliver a full implementation plan within three months for the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce’s recent review recommendations, signalling a rapid timetable for regulatory change across the UK nuclear programme. The taskforce’s work is expected to affect licensing and consenting pathways for new large-scale reactors and small modular reactors, with direct implications for design approvals, site investigations and construction sequencing. Civil and geotechnical teams on nuclear projects should anticipate tighter programme constraints and potential revisions to safety case documentation and regulatory interfaces in early 2026.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has expanded its Cyber Runway Critical National Infrastructure programme with innovation accelerator Plexal to bring more cybersecurity SMEs into protecting UK energy, transport, water and digital networks. The scheme targets operational technology and industrial control systems used in assets such as substations, treatment works and tunnels, where legacy SCADA and remote monitoring are increasingly exposed to cyber-physical attacks. For civil and infrastructure engineers, this signals closer integration of cyber risk into asset design, condition monitoring and resilience planning.

London Gatwick has become the first airport globally to achieve PAS 2080:2023 certification for carbon management across its buildings and infrastructure assets. The BSI-verified standard requires quantified whole-life carbon baselines, option appraisal and reduction pathways for capital works, including terminals, piers, pavements and associated civil engineering. For designers and contractors working at Gatwick, future schemes will need to evidence embodied and operational carbon performance alongside cost, influencing material choices, construction methods and asset renewal strategies.

BHP and Rio Tinto have begun joint trials of two Caterpillar Early Learner 793 XE battery-electric haul trucks at BHP’s Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara, testing whether fully electric haulage can handle large-scale iron ore operations across 18 Rio Tinto mines and BHP’s Western Australia portfolio. The programme focuses on validating truck battery performance, high-capacity charging infrastructure and associated supply chains under Pilbara duty cycles. Results will determine whether the miners progress to broader trials or fleet integration as they target net zero operational emissions by 2050.