This Week's Top Five Stories in Mining

US Steel's $1.9bn Investment for Mining Efficiency

United States Steel Corporation has announced a US$1.9bn investment to construct a direct reduced iron facility at Big River Steel Works in Osceola, Arkansas.

The project creates a direct connection between the company's Minnesota mining operations and its steel production capacity.

The facility will use direct reduced-grade pellets from US Steel's Minnesota Ore Operations Keetac plant.

This could create an integrated supply chain from iron ore extraction through to finished steel products.

How Extractive Companies Can Put Biodiversity Into Strategy

Businesses, policymakers and civil society once viewed biodiversity mainly through a regulatory compliance framework. That perspective could be changing as biodiversity becomes recognised as a foundation for economic and social stability.

The extractive sector has long understood biodiversity due to its connections with land and natural resources. Companies in this sector are now undergoing a change in how they approach biodiversity management.

Biodiversity integration into core business strategies was arguably viewed as optional. That view appears to be shifting towards recognition as a requirement for operations. The change matters for nature and for associated areas including risk management, value creation over time and maintaining social licence to operate.

The Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) has released a guide called Biodiversity Considerations for the Extractive Sector. The guide examines how companies can use biodiversity data and information to screen risks, identify challenges and opportunities and monitor effects across project lifecycles.

Australia & Japan: A New Critical Minerals Partnership

Critical minerals supply chains have been a core topic of discussion in recent years, as they become more sought-after and the need to diversify becomes heightened. 

Amid a state visit, Australia and Japan have signed a series of agreements on critical minerals, energy and food supply chains.

This agreement will help protect both economies and will strengthen relationships between the nations. 

How Glencore is Using Real-Time Monitoring Across Operations

Glencore has selected FIS to deliver technological infrastructure for a US$2.55bn trade receivables securitisation programme in the oil and gas sector.

The partnership will provide real-time monitoring capabilities across the supply chain finance operation.

According to FIS, this represents one of the largest oil and gas trade receivables transactions executed to date. The programme is backed by six financial institutions.

Australia's Mining Sector Funding Amid Global Disruption

Australia's mining sector has received substantial support in the 2026 Federal Budget announced 12 May, with the government maintaining current tax settings and introducing fuel security measures.

The budget comes amid global oil shocks triggered by Middle East conflict and trade tensions alongside climate concerns that have marked the year.

The Albanese government has allocated funding across technologies such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel and artificial intelligence tools while continuing support for the resources sector.

According to the Minerals Council of Australia, mining is the nation's largest taxpayer.