This Week's Top Five Stories in Mining

What Rio Tinto & Glencore Merger Collapse Means for Mining

After a period of unsettled discussions, Rio Tinto and Glencore have called off their US$260bn merger, citing the inability to reach a satisfying deal.

With plans to create the world's main copper producer, the two mines had been hoping to boost capabilities for the mines and their shareholders.

However, following Rio Tinto's proposal to maintain both the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles, as well as proforma ownership of the company, Glencore cited that this deal undervalued its contribution.

How BHP’s Procurement is Unlocking Revenue in Mining

BHP’s Western Australian Iron Ore (WAIO) haul trucks are set to deliver tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue each year thanks to a targeted engineering fix developed through collaboration between procurement, engineering and suppliers.

The WAIO haul truck fleet is tipping around an extra 127,000 tonnes of iron ore a month, or about 1.52 million tonnes a year, with the help of newly designed and developed hoist cylinders fitted under the trays of the trucks. 

Previously, some trucks within WAIO were unable to fully empty their loads because the trays were limited by how high they could hoist and tip. 

Thanks to innovation from BHP’s South Flank Operations and Engineering teams, the newly produced hoist cylinders allow the trays to tip higher, reducing the number of times product is carried back in the trucks by 54%. 

The Global Implications of the US-Argentina Mining Alliance

Argentina has strengthened its status as a premier strategic ally of the United States, signing a comprehensive trade and investment agreement designed to isolate critical mineral supply chains from non-market influences.

The alliance, forged under a broader strategy to establish a Western trade bloc, confirms Argentina as a central partner in the Trump administration’s "supply-chain sovereignty" push.

By aligning the Argentine mining sector with American industrial demand, the two nations aim to unlock billions in financing for the extraction and processing of materials essential to the global energy transition and national defence.

How African Mining Holds the Key to Global Economic Security

Africa holds 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, a statistic that positions the continent at the centre of the global energy transition and the ongoing realignment of industrial supply chains.

With global mineral demand projected to increase four-fold by 2050, Africa’s geological wealth is a cornerstone of international economic security.

It is within this high-stakes context that Energy Capital & Power's African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, scheduled for October in Cape Town, emerges as a vital platform for converting raw potential into bankable projects and integrated value chains.

TOMRA Mining: Turning Waste Into Infrastructure

According to the European Commission, mining waste is one of the largest waste streams in the EU.

Some of this waste can include dangerous substances and poor management can lead to harsh impacts on people and the environment.

However, TOMRA is helping mining companies turn mining waste into clean and profitable infrastructure.