South32: strong quarter offsets weather impacts

Metso has reported increased demand in its Life Cycle Services (LCS) offering for pumps as mining operators shift towards long-term service-based equipment models. Following the model’s introduction in 2025, the company has secured several small- and mid-sized multiyear contracts across Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas.  In February, Metso also signed two five-year agreements covering the servicing of more than 100 slurry pumps for mining customers.  The aggregate value of the combined orders has not been?disclosed. LCS for pumps is Metso’s performance-based service model designed to improve equipment availability, extend component wear life and reduce total cost of ownership through long-term service agreements. Metso pump services vice president Roshan Kadanthode says the model reflects a broader shift in the mining sector away from transactional equipment purchases and towards lifecycle-focused service partnerships.   “Our customers want a partner who supports them throughout?the full lifecycle of their pumps,” he said.  “With LCS, we bring a?performance-based approach aligned with their operational and financial?targets, helping customers reduce downtime, improve efficiency, enhance safety, and secure reliable pumping performance?year-round.”? The company reports that the service model has measurable operational improvements include a 5-10% increase in pump availability and 15-25% extension in component wear life. Standardised maintenance practices and improved planning have also been associated with a 20-30% reduction in unplanned pump-related downtime.  Furthermore, improvements in energy and water efficiency were reported between 5-10%, alongside enhanced safety outcomes linked to a reduction in maintenance interventions and standardised servicing procedures.  Metso says its global service network — covering equipment delivery, repair, testing and recycling — underpins the rollout of the lifecycle service model across key mining regions. 

New research from Monash University has identified the pre-treatment stage of lithium-ion battery recycling as a significant contributor to both environmental impact and material recovery efficiency.  The study published in Nature Sustainability found that pre-treatment can account for 16-38% of the environmental impact of lithium-ion battery recycling, accounting for significant material losses, with outcomes varying by battery type and processing route.  Pre-treatment is the first processing step that producing “black mass” from which valuable materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt can be extracted. The study suggests that this step is often overlooked in recycling strategies.  The study by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering compared three main industrial approaches — mechanical, thermal and chemical pre-treatments — for environmental performance, recovery efficiency and operational complexity.  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering deputy head and Professor Victor Chang says the findings indicate that decisions made during the early stages of recycling can influence both system efficiency and long-term resource recovery.  “Our work highlights an important aspect of the process — the pre-treatment stage. This step is often overlooked, but it can be critical in determining the efficiency, safety, and overall effectiveness of downstream recycling processes” he said.  According to Monash University, the findings could act as critical guidance for policymakers and industry as countries build new battery systems.  Professor Chang says lithium-ion battery recycling is not just a technical challenge but a system design challenge.  “While many countries are planning to invest in and scale up battery recycling industries, our work highlights an important aspect of the process” he said.  “Pre-treatment shapes both recovery efficiency and environmental outcomes. Decisions made at this stage will affect system performance for decades, so it’s vital that they are guided by robust evidence.” 

Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) and Curtin University have advanced research into environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring, building on their three-year collaboration to demonstrate the technology’s potential to support biodiversity surveying in remote and sensitive environments. The program explored how eDNA could complement traditional survey methods by providing a faster, scalable and potentially less intrusive way to monitor ecosystems, particularly for species that are difficult to identify or detect. MinRes biodiversity principal Adam Cross says the research offers an opportunity to improve how environmental data is collected across challenging landscapes. “Every organism leaves behind traces of its presence in shed DNA in the form of faeces, hair, scales, pollen and other materials” he said. “Collecting samples from different parts of an ecosystem such as soil, water, leaves, animal scats and cobwebs, eDNA analysis can give a rapid and powerful snapshot of which species are present in an area.” The collaboration comprised five research projects, including development of monitoring guidelines, testing spiderwebs as natural DNA traps, comparing different sample types and conducting an airborne eDNA transect spanning more than 1000km from Perth to Cocklebiddy in WA.  Curtin Research associate Joshua Newton said the work scaled from novel sample methods through to the largest terrestrial eDNA survey to date.  “This collaboration with MinRes has allowed us to rigorously test environmental DNA-based biodiversity assessment in terrestrial environments” he said.  “The hope is that this type of research helps bring biodiversity monitoring into a space where it is faster, more scalable and genuinely useful for both science and industry decision-making.” The research found eDNA has practical applications for real-world monitoring while also underscoring the importance of careful sampling and processing methods to ensure robust and repeatable results. According to MinRes, the work represents a step toward more adaptable biodiversity monitoring, while supporting environmental management and compliance across operations.   

A new report commissioned by the Mineral Councils of Australia (MCA) Victoria has found that lifting Victoria’s gold production to 1mozpa by 2035 could support more than 10,000 jobs across mining and related services.  The industry body is now calling for policy settings to support a new wave of mine development and exploration.  “Despite the increased price of gold in recent years, production has fallen from its 2021 peak, reinforcing the need for better policies to encourage mining investment and exploration – converting advanced gold projects into new mines,” the MCA Victoria said. “Tripling gold production would also quadruple gold royalties to $188mpa to fund vital services and infrastructure across the state.  “In this context, the Victorian Government should support new mines and increased production, because royalties on increased production will deliver significantly more for all Victorians – especially if a share of royalties is allocated to regions where mines are located. “All parties contesting this year’s Victorian state election should commit to more efficient permitting processes, bringing more royalties back to local communities, investing in geoscience education and incentivising exploration and processing to make the most of Victoria’s mineral endowment and ensure workers share the benefits.” Regional Victoria is identified as a key beneficiary, with existing gold operations in Bendigo, Ballarat and Stawell, alongside prospective developments in Maldon, Kilmore and the Loddon Shire. The report notes Victoria’s historic status as a major gold province and says modern mining practices present an opportunity to expand gold production, provided exploration access, investment setting and permitting processes support development.